A Guide to University www.exploreuni.co.uk What is university?

University is a place where you something that is worth investing can study once you are 18 or time and money into. older, after you have completed University is very different to your GCSEs and your post-16 school and instead of having qualifications. You usually study lessons from 9 – 3 every day one (or maybe 2) subject(s) in you are likely to have things depth over 2 - 5 years and when called lectures and seminars, you have finished you will get a and depending on the subject degree. University is the next step you are studying you might only in your education after Sixth Form have 6 – 8 hours of teaching or College and will lead to you time a week. That doesn’t mean gaining a degree which can help the rest of your time is work free you to further your career in the as you will be expected to do a future. On average graduates can lot of independent study! The earn over £100,000 more over advantage of this is that you their lifetime than non-graduates can do it at any time of the so university can certainly be day that suits you.

2 Facts about university

A university is a place where you can study when you are U U U U U U U U U U U There are U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U currently U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U18 U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U universities133 in the UK or older

The oldest university student graduated at age 91. He is called Bertie Gladwin and he got a degree in military intelligence

There are currently just over Business subjects are the most 2 million popular courses studentsstudying in all of the universities across the UK

Students from across In 2015 86% of the world study at UK students said they universities. 20% of all were satisfied international students with their course come from China

Most students apply to university through a system called UCAS

You can study over University is often referred 50,000 to as Higher courses at university Education 3 Why go?

There are lots of reasons why you might decide that you want to go to university:

YOU are more likely to get a job University offers with better pay and promotion a way of making the transition prospects, for example between the cosy graduates can earn over world of home and the “Real World” easier. You’ll £100,000 be treated as an independent adult but there’ll be the support there if more over their lifetime you need it compared to non-graduates

You will develop lots If you’ve always of key skills, such You wanted to follow as communication, will make a vocation, organisation, time a wide circle such as being a of friends, most management, likely from different team-work, leadership, areas of the country, presentation and and different backgrounds problem-solving and cultures DOCTOR

There are different ways of studying and learning – choose your course carefully and do plenty of VET research on the course you are planning to study

TEACHER

or LAWYER you’ll need a degree and you’ll often find that these career paths are only open to graduates

4 Studying for a degree teaches you to be an independent thinker, improves your analysis skills, and challenges the way you think about many aspects of life

Many industries have There is a much wider choice graduate schemes which of jobs and careers for people who allow you to progress in have studied to degree level your career faster than without a degree

As well as training You will have your mind you’ll the opportunity to develop develop many new, new interests, highly transferable benefit from skills, including new experiences how to work in and try out new a team, how to hobbies and deliver an effective pastimes presentation, and how to communicate well with others

You will have the opportunity to take part Only in broad range of social 15% activities and clubs Depending on the university you go to, you You don’t have to may get the opportunity pay for university to study at a university up front – you can of graduates in another country from the last get a student loan 6 years are You will learn more to help cover your unemployed about yourself and what tuition fees and (compared to you can achieve. Your your living costs 27% for non- confidence and self- graduates) awareness will increase 5 What to study?

You may have an idea of what you then do some research as to what would like to study at university or degree subjects you might need you might not have a clue! Both are for this. If you don’t have a career in okay and you don’t need to decide mind yet then you might just want just yet what subject you would like to study something you enjoy in to do. It’s worth thinking about what more depth. subjects you enjoy doing at school, Remember there are over 50,000 what hobbies and interests you degree courses, with a much larger have outside of school and what range of subjects than you study you might want to do in your career in school, so you should be able when you are older. If there is a to find something you enjoy! specific career you are interested in

6 Course examples

There are over 50,000 Media Circus and Physical courses on offer so you Computer Science Performance should be able to find …there are also a lot of Sports Coaching something you enjoy! subjects that you might Golf Management As well as some of the not have expected! Special Effects Make Up typical subjects you might for Film, TV and Theatre Fire and Rescue expect at university, like: Airline and Airport Armed Forces Management English Animal Behaviour and Baking Technology Maths Welfare Management Chemistry Dance Floral Design Biology Drama Theatre Practice and Physics Event and Festival Puppetry History Management Adventure Education Geography Computer Games Technology Languages To find the whole range Food Technology of courses available to Law Digital and Social Media study in the UK, visit Music http://search.ucas.com/ Robotics Psychology Viking Studies Business Studies Surf Science and Marketing Technology

7 University life

University is about much more than just Each University’s Halls of Residence will achieving a degree, it is your opportunity look slightly different but generally you to become an independent adult and will have a room with a bed, desk, chair gain lots of extra-curricular skills and and wardrobe, with shared facilities like a experiences. kitchen and a bathroom (though you can choose to pay extra to have an en-suite Students union room to have your own bathroom). The Students Union supports and represents students, campaigning on Money their behalf on the issues that affect You might be worried about how you them the most. They are also very will be able to afford to go to university, social spaces, with bars, shops and but there is lots of financial support cafés, where they host lots of different available which can help you. events and clubs, providing lots of You can get student loans to cover opportunities to get involved with what the cost of your study (a tuition fees) is going on! and to help you with the cost of Sports teams and societies accommodation, books, transport, utility Universities have a huge range of sports bills and a social life. You only need to teams to join which are looked after by begin to repay these loans once you an Athletic Union. Students compete have graduated and are earning over against other universities and there £21,000*. Even then you only pay a is a wide variety of different sports, small percentage of your monthly wage. including Quidditch and Cheerleading! You may be eligible for other types of If sport isn’t your thing then you can financial support, including bursaries join a society. A bit like a club, people and scholarships (which you don’t have in societies come together to enjoy to repay). different hobbies or interests, from You can find a part time job to fit around dance, drama and music to Harry Potter your course to boost your income. and Lego. * These figures are accurate for 2016, Halls of Residence though may change by the time you These are shared blocks of go to university. accommodation which students can live in, usually in their first year.

8 9 Things to think about

Once you have an idea of what subject consider other information about the you would like to study then it is worth university. You might want to think looking at whether this course requires about whether you would like to live at you to have certain GCSE or A-Level/ home or move away, you might want BTEC subjects in order to study it, as to be close to a city centre or you might this might help you when making your prefer to be out in the country! All of options choices. Universities will all ask these are important considerations for different grades so it is important to when deciding what university you make sure you are working hard during might like to go to. Universities hold your GCSEs and A-Levels/BTECs to Open Days and it is important to go to make sure you get good grades. these once you are in Year 12 or Year 13 to get a feel for the university and As well as thinking about the subject whether you think it is right for you. you want to study, you should also

10 Where to find out more

Worried about the cost? Students can get loans to cover their fees and living expenses. Find out more at: www.gov.uk/student-finance www.thestudentroom.co.uk/studentfinance www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk

Not sure what to study? Want to know which universities offer your chosen course? Use the UCAS Progress database to find out more about the 50,000 degree courses available in the UK: www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses

Want some general careers advice? www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Want to compare universities and their courses www.unistats.direct.gov.uk

Want to know more about Explore University? www.exploreuni.co.uk

11 Glossary

Alumni: People who have Graduate: A student who has graduated (completed a course completed and successfully passed and gained a qualification) from their university degree. a particular university or college. Graduation: A celebration Bursary: A non-repayable sum of ceremony once a student has money awarded to students who passed their course where they are given a degree certificate. fulfil specific criteria. Halls of Residence: Shared blocks Campus: The buildings, facilities of accommodation where students and surrounding area of a can live, mainly during their university. Students will usually first year. spend most of their time here. Higher Education: The learning Course: The subject or subjects that takes place at universities, that a student is studying at colleges and other institutions university. that award degrees or professional Degree: What a student receives qualifications. when they complete their studies. Halls: Where students usually live They will receive a certificate during the first year of their degree. showing what they studied and how well they did. Lecture: A method used to teach students. A large group of students Essay: A piece of written work, assemble in a room and take notes usually around 2,000 words, on what their lecturer is saying. where students show that they have done some research and Lecturer: Someone who are able to write about what they teaches students and is very found out. The marks for this work knowledgeable in their subject go towards their degree. because they do lots of specialised research and teaching. Fresher: A student who is in their first year at university.

12 Module: A unit of learning on Student Loan: Money which you a certain topic. You would study can borrow from the government a number of different modules to cover your tuition fees and each year. living costs. This is repayable but only when you are earning over Postgraduate: A student who £21,000*. is currently studying for further qualifications after they have Students Union: An organisation completed their first degree. run by students for students. They offer many services and facilities, Prospectus: A brochure that gives including bars, restaurants, clubs information about a university and and societies. the courses you can study there, as well as information about clubs Tuition fees: Something that and accommodation. universities charge for students to study there. Students normally get Seminar: When a small group of a student loan to cover this cost. students meet with a lecturer to They cover the cost of teaching, discuss the research they have resources, exams and assessment. been doing or ideas they have about a subject. UCAS: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Scholarship: Cash grants which A national organisation that do not have to be repaid. They processes applications to are usually awarded for academic, universities and colleges in the UK. sporting or music excellence. Undergraduate: A student who Societies: Clubs where students is currently studying for their with similar hobbies can share first degree. their beliefs, hobbies or play sports together.

13 Explore University

Explore University is a network of universities that delivers a range of activities aimed at helping young people understand higher education, career choices and issues such as student finance, accommodation and university life.

If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved in our activities, please look at our website www.exploreuni.co.uk. Information about our partner Universities and college is provided below.

University of Wolverhampton

A leading university contributing to knowledge transfer, economic development, wealth creation and social justice. It is a beacon for widening participation in education and The University of Opportunity.

www.wlv.ac.uk

University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1LY

The largest campus-based university in the UK. It is renowned for its exciting approach to higher education, strong community spirit and excellent student life.

www.keele.ac.uk

Keele University Staffordshire ST5 5BG

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Staffordshire University is the University that opens minds. We’re all about independent thinking, and growing people who think and act for themselves. www.staffs.ac.uk

Staffordshire University College Road Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DE

The UK’s leading specialist university for agriculture, the food chain and related land-based subjects. It has strong business and research links across the agri-food chain and a consistently high graduate employment rate. www.harper-adams.ac.uk

Harper Adams University Newport TF10 8NB

Telford College of Arts and Technology

TCAT offers a wide range of full-time and part-time vocational study programmes including a range at higher education level. They also offer Apprenticeships, Traineeships, GCSE’s and Vocational Courses. www.tcat.ac.uk

Telford College of Arts and Technology Haybridge Road Wellington Telford TF1 2NP 15 For more information please contact:

01902 322035 [email protected] www.exploreuni.co.uk

The Gateway @ Shire Hall Market Square Stafford ST16 2LD

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