AN INTRODUCTION TO

HIGHER EDUCATION

Choosing university courses and places

Andrea Bell

UK Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer

2

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Choosing a course

• Choosing a University

• Russell Group universities

• Employability/links with industry

• League tables

• Student experience

3

CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY

700,000

450,000

70,000

350

plus applicants, chasing…

places, on over…

different degree courses at…

higher education institutions.

4

WHAT WILL UNIVERSITY MEAN TO YOU?

opportunity

for new

experiences

unlimited

academic

possibilities

independence

and freedom

an

investment

for the future

good nights

out

the most

exciting time

of your life…?

A great

graduate

job/career

55

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Course

Career?

66

77

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Course

Career?

What really interests you?

89

9

TEST DRIVE YOUR SUBJECTS

• What have you done to

develop your interest in

your subject area of

choice?

• MOOCs

• Journals

• Set texts

• EPQ

• Social media

10

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN…

Art:

Biochemistry:

Biology:

Geography:

History:

Law:

Languages:

Media Studies:

Philosophy:

television, arts admin, web page design, tourism

forensic science, management, IT, sales

environmental consultancy, finance, marketing

journalism, banking, accountancy, law, sales

law, finance, IT, management, computing

accountancy, banking, the media, industry, sales

law, tourism, civil service, diplomatic service

personnel, marketing, public relations

law, finance, local government

11

TARGETED BY TOP EMPLOYERS

“…last year, almost half our graduate recruits had degrees in arts and

humanities, science, law or social sciences.

Surprised ? Don’t be. We see your degree as just the start…”

The second largest professional services firm in the world, and is one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, EY and KPMG

12

TYPES OF COURSES AVAILABLE

• Single honours

• Joint honours

• Major/minor combinations

• Sandwich courses

• Bachelor’s degree

• Masters degree

12

BA HistoryBA History and PoliticsBA History with Politics

Study – Years 1 & 2

Study – Year 4

Placement Year

1313

1414

You can

search by

course,

location,

institution

You can

refine a

course

search

using the

filters

1515

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Course

Career?

What really interests you?

What do you need to get on the course?

16

• What are they?

• Are they achievable?

• Are there any specific requirements?

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

17

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Are there any

additional

requirements such

as work experience –

particularly for

vocational or health-

related courses such

as Nursing or

Medicine, or

admissions tests?

18

WILL YOU BE QUALIFIED?

Section 1

Personal

details

Chosen

courses

Section 2

Your

qualifications

Grades

obtained

Predicted

grades

Section 3

Personal

Statement

Section 4

Reference

1919

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Course

Career?

What really interests you?

What do you need to get on the course?

Reputation

Reputation of course and institution

Russell Group institution?

20

21

22

MAKING AN EDUCATED CHOICE

• Doing the research and find the right university…

…offering you the right course

• The good news is the UK is one of the best places to study in

the world!

23

THE GLOBALISATION OF HE –

QS World Rankings 2018

23

USA - 31

UK - 16

Australia - 7

Canada - 4

Switzerland - 4Japan - 5

Hong Kong - 4

France - 2

Singapore - 2

Ireland - 1

South Korea - 4Netherlands - 2

China - 6

Denmark - 1

New Zealand - 1

Belgium - 1

Sweden - 2

Taiwan - 1

Germany - 3

Finland - 1

2411

Cambridge

Imperial

Oxford

Edinburgh

Manchester

Kings

Bristol

Warwick

LSE

Birmingham

Sheffield

GlasgowNottingham

Durham

RG universities in

World Top 100

QS World University Ranking 2017-18

UCL

GLOBAL GRADUATES

25

RESEARCH INTENSIVE UNIVERSITIES

national

reputation

international

reputation

highly

competitive

high grades

city

based

campus

based Research

Universities

26

THE RUSSELL GROUP

27

NOT ALL UNIVERSITIES ARE THE SAME

• The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities

• Committed to maintaining the very best research, and

offering outstanding teaching and learning experiences

• Strong links with business and the public sector

• “So should I just apply to Russell Group Universities?”

28

TARGETED BY TOP EMPLOYERS

2929

THINGS TO CONSIDER…

Course

Career?

What really interests you?

What do you need to get on the course?

Academic facilities

Extra-curricular offer

Support, social life, location

Student

Experience

Reputation

Reputation of course and institution

Russell Group institution?

Employability & Student Satisfaction

30

WHAT SIZE OF

UNIVERSITY?

• Campus based –

(10 –to 15,000 students)

York, Durham, Oxford,

Warwick, St Andrew’s...

• City/Campus-based –

(20 –to 40,000 students) :

Manchester, Southampton,

Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds,

Nottingham, Edinburgh...

31

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE COURSE

Facilities:

Social life:

Accommodation, library, computer

labs, teaching rooms - 24 hour

access?

Cafes, restaurants, bars, night-clubs,

sports, societies, shops, friends for

life...

Opportunity to study abroad?

Work-placements? Sandwich year?

Contact hours? Class sizes?

Local area, transport links, distance from home

Other attractions:

32

Over 300 societies

Over 80 sports clubs

31 Performing Arts groups

33

AERIAL

SPORTS

SOCIETY

CHAMBER

OPERA

CHESS

CLUB

CHEERLEADING

COCKTAIL

SOCIETY

CYBER

SECRUITY

SOCIETY

DODGEBALL

DABKE

SOCIETY

POLITICS

SOCIETY

ENACTUS

FEMINIST

SOCIETY

MASONIC

SOCIETYMEDSOC

PAINTBALL

SOCIETY

POTTERY

SOCIETY

ROLLLBALL

CLUB

SAVING

FACES

FISH ON

TOAST

LABOUR

CLUB

CONTEMPORARY

DANCE SOCIETYWIRELESS

SOCIETY

JAZZMANIX

FIRST AID

SOCIETY

YOGA

SOCIETY

COMEDY

SOCIETY

SHOWSTOPPERS

SAILING

BHANGRA

BRASS

BAND

BELLY

DANCING MENTAL

HEALTH

CIRCUS

SOCIETY

ROWING

MAGIC

SOCIETY

QUIZ

SOCIETY

JAZZMANIXSTEAMPUNK

SOCIETY

BUDDHIST

MEDITATION

SOCIETY

ACROYOGA

KORFBALL

ROBOGALS

CAKE

DECORATING

SOCIETY

AMNESTY

INTERNATIONAL

LACROSSE

STRING

ORCHESTER

POLO

WESSEX

SAILING

CLUB

HYDRO

TEAM

BRASS

BAND

HACKASOTON

LANGUAGE

SOCIETY

MIXED

MARTIAL

ARTS

TRAVELLING

SOCIETY

TCHOUKBALL

CAMEROON

CATALYST

ART

SOCIETY

ROCK AND

METAL MUSIC

SOCIETY

HISTORY

SOCIETY

UNION

FILMS

MARINE

CONSERVATION

SOCIETY

IRISH

DANCING

AIKIDO

LUXURY

LIFESTYLE

SOCIETY

ZUMBA +

REAL ALE

AND CIDER

SOCIETY

BULGARIAN

SOCIETY

BALLET

SOCIETY

JIU-JITSU

QUIDDITCH

CLUB

WAKEBOARDING

34

START RESEARCHING

34

3535

Southampton Rank Trend

25

22

18

28

22

24

19

14

16

35

23

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Rank Posit

ion

Guide Year

Southampton rank over time

• Source: Institutional Research, Guardian 2019

37

UCAS WEBSITE

38

HOW DO YOU APPLY ?

• Get a signed up with UCAS Apply in school/college

• Apply to up to FIVE Universities (4 for some courses)

• UCAS deadline is January 15th

2019 (Oct 18 for Oxbridge)

• Universities offer places, conditional/unconditional

• UCAS Extra

• Deferred Entry – GAP Years

Universities & Colleges

Admissions Service

STANDING OUT FROM

THE CROWD

Advising students on excellent Personal Statements

Andrea Bell

Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer

June 2018

40

PLAY YOUR UNIVERSITY CARDS RIGHT!

• Let’s look at applications for some Russell

Group Universities for the 2016/17 entry year

41

PLAY YOUR UNIVERSITY CARDS RIGHT

41

Applications 2016 Acceptances 2016

Oxford

Cambridge

LSE

Southampton

York

Edinburgh

King’s College

Warwick

Durham

Liverpool

19,750 3,295

16,795 3,440

17,660 1,625

42,405 5,360

25,955 4,525

61,650 6,250

44,060 6,010

36,760 5,070

29,485 4,475

41,245 5,955

42

WHAT ADMISSIONS TUTORS LOOK FOR

Section 1

Personal

details

Chosen

courses

Section 2

Your

qualifications

Grades

obtained

Predicted

grades

Section 3

Personal

Statement

Section 4

Reference

43

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

Why is Personal Statement important?

Standing out from

the competition

Will form the core of

questioning if interviewed

An ‘electronic’ interview?

Only chance to ‘talk’ directly with

admissions staff?

44

PERSONAL STATEMENT

• It’s talking about yourself and being persuasive.

• What do students really want to say?

• What do lots of students say?

• Is there a problem of sounding like everyone else…

45

THE RISK OF BEING FORMULAIC?

From a young age I’ve enjoyed studying my [subject]

I liked GCSEs and I’m doing okay in my A Levels

I enjoy socialising with my friends

I sometimes go to the theatre or a concert

I like reading

I have an elder brother at University

My teacher told me to say this…

… and I can’t think of anything else to say...

Basically, I have no friends...I’m…#tragic...

My teacher said I have to sound sophisticated...

….I’ve never read a book but I promise if you’ll just

give me a place at uni...

I hate him. He’s the real reason I have to apply, the swot!

46

IMAGINE YOU’RE BEING INTERVIEWED

• Personal Statements should answer this question:

“So: why do you want to study this subject, and what

makes you the right person for the course?”

• Remember: you can’t guarantee getting an interview –

your Personal Statement is your chance to say something.

• So say something

47

The Sutton Trust

“Students are losing out as teachers’ and university

tutors’ ideas about what makes a good personal

statement are a “world apart”

“Applicants should be asked to reflect on which attributes they

would bring to a course or university, rather than simply listing

their previous achievements.”

• Recommendations you can read here:

www.suttontrust.com/researcharchive/the-personal-statement/

48

HOW DO YOU SOUND?

I feel I have several areas of interest that prepare me for university. I

am interested in travelling and go to Tuscany most years with my

family, where we have a small villa. I also enjoy sport and play football

for my school and golf for pleasure.

I enjoy socialising with my friends, listening to various forms of music,

and going to the cinema. I intend to take a GAP year and am hoping to

combine travelling through Asia with some voluntary work.

49

PERSONAL STATEMENTS: A CHECKLIST

• Don’t repeat information -

it wastes space and suggests you

have nothing else to say...?

• Don’t offer an undeveloped list or use clichés

• Do think about spelling, grammar, vocabulary choices

• Do add comments, views, explanations where helpful

50

HINTS AND TIPS: POSITIVE PHRASING

At present, I am studying A2s in English Literature, French and

Media Studies. I cope with the work quite well and meet the

deadlines. I have learnt a variety of skills – French language

skills, and English has honed my analytical skills in analysing

poetry and prose.

51

HINTS AND TIPS: POSITIVE PHRASING

At present, I am studying A2s in English Literature, French and

Media Studies. I cope with the work quite well and meet the

deadlines. I have learnt a variety of skills – French language

skills, and English has honed my analytical skills in analysing

poetry and prose.

52

HINTS AND TIPS: POSITIVE PHRASING

At present, I am studying A2s in English Literature, French and

Media Studies. I cope with the work quite well and meet the

deadlines. I have learnt a variety of skills – French language

skills, and English has honed my analytical skills in analysing

poetry and prose.

Furthermore Enabled me In addition

Use my initiative Thrive Strengthen

Enhance Explored Gained

Participated Learnt from Reinforced

Furthered Commitment Taking part

Efficiently Hard work Interested

Acquired Broadening Improved

Passion Developed Rewarding

53

WRITING YOUR STATEMENT

• Rule One: draft and redraft. Then…

redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft,

redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft,

redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft,

redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft,

redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft, redraft …

• Keep editing until it is as good as it possibly can be!

54

STOP PROCRASTINATING: START WRITING

• You only write x 1statement for up

to five courses

• UCAS limit the length of text you

can submit – 47 lines of text,

approx.600 words

• You’re aiming for x 1 side of typed

A4 of about 4 paragraphs

55

PERSONAL STATEMENT STRUCTURE

65 – 70% academic content

Additional experience and skills

Hobbies and interests

Summary – i.e. why you’d be a good choice

56

WHAT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE

• Paragraph 1: Introduction

• What was your personal trigger?

• How does your subject relate to society or current affairs?

• Which aspects of the course are you really looking forward to

studying in more detail and why?

57

WHAT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE

• Paragraph 2: Your interest in the subject

• What have you done in school/college to develop your interest

in the subject? (trips/books/wider reading documentaries...)

• What have you done outside school or college you can link to

your subject? (work experience, volunteering, part-time job...)

• Do you have a career aspiration?

58

WHAT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE

• Paragraph 3: Wider skills

• Give an account of your non-academic achievements

• Talk about what skills you’ve gained (team building,

leadership, MOOC, EPQ, research skills, confidence)

• Gap Year – are you taking a year out? If so, why – what are the

benefits?

59

Write a list of everything you have done over the last two or

three years including:

VolunteeringPaid

employmentExtra curricular

groups

Travel

Work

experience

For each one consider:

• What did you learn?

• Does it relate to your subject in some way?

• What transferable skills did you gain?

• Can they be useful to you in university life?

Student Union

Student

paper

Prefect

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

60

Proactivity

Commitment

Independent

thinking

Initiative

Intellectual

flexibility

Decision

making

Problem

solving

Time

management

Enthusiasm

Response to a

challenge

Analysis

Research Skills

Team work

Leadership

Communication

PresentingBusiness

acumen Networking

Self-awareness

Foreign

languageNumeracy

Attention

to detail

Flexibility

Critical

thinking

Motivation

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

61

Avoid a list of hobbies, e.g. ‘reading’, ‘socialising

with friends’, ‘going to the cinema’, ‘hanging out in

town’

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Activity (what have you done)

Benefit (skills its given you)

Course (how it relates to the course)

63

WHAT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE

• Paragraph 4: Summary

• Finish with a one or two line summary recapping why you want

to go to university and study the course

• Why do you deserve to be offered a place?

64

BE ORIGINAL…

“I want you to tell me about you as a real,

three-dimensional person.”

Dr Jon Scott, University of Leicester

“It is important that you write it in

your own style rather than trying to conform to what

someone else thinks is right.”

University of Bristol UCAS application dos and don’ts www.bristol.ac.uk/study/schools/factsheets

“Be yourself; it's a pleasure (though a surprisingly rare

one) to read a statement where the candidate's own

voice comes over clearly.”

University of Southampton English Department http://www.southampton.ac.uk/english/undergraduate/ucas_application.page

“I tackle the tasks presented to me with wisdom and sincerity”

“In my part time job – everything I touch turns to SOLD”

You are applying for University, not the Apprentice!

65

BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD…

66

RESOURCES

• UCAS – worksheets, videos,

mind maps, top tips

67

SOME FINAL ADVICE

• Start early

• Make use of the resources: UCAS/Student Room

• Plan out the structure with bullet points and headings, then

turn these into full sentences and paragraphs

• Draft in Microsoft Word, spell check AND proof read it before

you paste it into UCAS

• Keep a copy in case you are called to interview

• Don’t plagiarise

68

AND REMEMBER…

IT’S PERSONAL!

• It’s all about you – use your voice and be persuasive

• There’s no such thing as the perfect statement

• Show an interest, Personal insight, Sell yourself

69

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Good Luck with your applications