Truths and Myths about University

Session Plan

Aims: To improve understanding of the nature of higher education and to dispel common misconceptions.

Objectives: To assess the level of understanding about higher education in the group. To improve the accuracy of pupils’ understanding about higher education. To identify where pupils get their information and discuss what makes a reliable source.

duration Activities resources

10 mins Divide into groups (pairs work well, more than 4-5 becomes White board & Pens/flip difficult). chart & pens

Ask each group to brainstorm a list of the sources they get Pens & paper information from (this doesn’t just have to be info about higher education) & also where they think myths (such as ‘urban myths’) come from.

Feedback: Ask each group to give one or two examples of sources of information & write these up

Ask if their understanding of higher education is gained from the sources mentioned or do they think they’re myths? 5 mins Get each group to discuss among themselves what worries them Pens & paper most about going to University or what they are unsure about.

Ask each group to write a question (or 2) to which they would like to know the answer on a slip of paper.

Collect these in. 10 mins Give each group a set of Truths and Myths statements (cut into Truths and Myths strips) Activity 1 – List of Ask them to sort them into three piles ‘Truth’, ‘Myth’ and ‘Don’t Statements - one per know’ group (printed out and Warn them that they will have to justify their decision to place cut into strips) each statement in a particular pile. 15 mins Feedback How many of each type did each group have? Are there any big differences between the number of ‘Truth’ statements identified by the groups? Choose a statement and ask a group to say whether they think it is true and why – does anyone disagree? Add additional detail from the Detailed Explanations sheet if appropriate. Truths & Myths of Continue through the statements as time allows. University – Detailed Explanations 5 mins Using the slips of paper that you collected in earlier, convert the questions that the groups wanted answering into statements and ask whether the class thinks they are a Truth or a Myth.

Teaching Note: Most of the questions should be answered by the detailed explanations sheet but you may have to provide an answer and assign ‘truth’ or ‘myth’ status for some of them 0-5 mins Optional:

Conclusion: Discuss where the ideas came from for statements that were wrongly assigned. Where does that misconception come from? What would be reliable sources of information if pupils want to find out more about higher education? (see end of detailed explanations sheet for a list of websites)

Optional: Pupils can be given handouts of the explanation sheets Detailed Explanation to take away – you can reduce the 4 pages onto 1 A4 sheet while Sheet – 1 per student still being able to read them. 40-45 Total time mins

Resources used:

Truths and Myths About University Activity 1 - Statements Truths and Myths About University – Detailed Explanations Paper and pens White board & pens/Flip chart & pens

Truths and Myths about University Activity 1 List of Statements

1. You have to do A levels to go to university

2. A full-time course means being at university from 9am until 5pm

3. You can live at home and still go to university

4. Many universities employ students in part-time jobs while they are studying

5. Tuition Fees have to be paid to the university before you start your degree

6. There are lots of non-repayable grants available for students

7. When you start work, the rate at which you repay your student loan depends on how much you earn not how much you borrowed.

8. Higher Education courses last for 3 years

9. You can do a degree if you have dyslexia

10. A personal tutor will check that you are doing your homework every week

11. All HE teaching is done in large lecture theatres

12. There are computers available for anyone to use in most Learning Resource Centres (University libraries)

13. There is no-one to turn to if you are finding it difficult to cope

14. An undergraduate is someone who is waiting to go to university

15. You don’t have to be rich to go to university

16. There is no point in going to university when you could be gaining work experience during those years

17. Only practical courses like Business Studies or Law help you get a job

18. If you find you have chosen the wrong course you can change to another subject

19. You can take higher education courses in surfing and knitwear

20. You have big exams at the end of each year but only the ones in the final year count.

Truths and Myths about University

2012 Entry- Detailed Explanations

1. You have to do A levels to go to university False There are many qualifications that are accepted by Universities – AS and A2, Key Skills, 14-19 Diploma, BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma, Access courses and International Baccalaureate (IB). Some courses ask for GSCE qualifications at Grade C or above, usually in Maths and English Language and sometimes in Science and Languages. Check the prospectus for the specific course requirements as each course at each university and college will be different. If you’re not sure whether your qualifications will be suitable it is worth contacting the university to ask.

2. A full-time course means being at university from 9am until 5pm False Some courses have very full timetables. Practical subjects with lab work, and Teacher Training courses tend to have the largest amount of contact (direct teaching) time. Many other courses will expect students to do most of the work independently in their own time. As a guide you might expect to be in university three of four days a week, and will be expected to do a significant amount of independent study, a bit like homework.

3. Everyone who goes to university lives away from home False Some students choose a course at a university away from their homes. It may be that a particular course is only available at that university or that they want to get to know a new city, town or part of the country. Living in halls of residence can provide an opportunity to become immersed in student life or some students want the added independence of living away from home while studying. An increasing number of students attend universities and colleges that are close enough to allow them to remain at home. This means they can stay in the area that they know, they have the support of their family, it is usually cheaper to live at home, they might have a part-time job that they want to keep, their friends may all be staying locally or they may help to look after the younger or older members of the family. Some students start off living at home and move into shared houses later in the course; others spend the first year in halls and then move back home.

4. Many universities employ students in part-time jobs while they are studying True Most students combine study and work in some way, either during term time, at weekends and/or in the holidays. Universities and colleges often employ students to work in their enquiries offices, in the catering and grounds departments, as note takers for students with disabilities or in occasional work as guides at Open Days, school liaison events etc. Universities and colleges that have a policy of employing students are usually understanding about the demands of exams and assessments at certain times of year.

5. Tuition fees have to be paid to the university before you start your degree False Tuition fees for 2012 entry can be between £6,000 and £9,000, with the average fees being £8,500. Students can receive a loan to cover these costs each year (irrespective of family income) and can defer paying this loan back until after they finish their course, start working and are earning over £21,000 per year. (Full or partial ‘fee waivers’ or reductions maybe available depending on household income from some universities and these amounts will vary e.g. the University of offers the following partial fee waivers in each year of study (all dependent on household income): Fee waiver of £3,000 if the household income is below £16,000; £2,000 if the household income is between £16,001 to £20,000; £1,000 if the household income is between £20,001 to £25,000. Care Leavers will receive a waiver for the full fee for each year of study.

6. There are no grants anymore False Most students take out student loans to help with their living expenses, but there are still some sources of money, available to certain students, that do not have to be repaid. . If you are from a household with an income up to £42,600 you will be eligible for a government Living Costs

Grant of up to £3250 per year (this is measured on a sliding scale: households with an income of £25,000 or less will receive the full amount and households with an income of over £42,601 will not receive any grant).

Students may also be entitled to a non-repayable bursary from the institution to which they apply. These amounts will vary from institution to institution and will depend on household income. E.g. The will provide the following bursaries based on different household incomes: Income up to £25,000: Bursary of £1,500; Income between £25,001 to £35,000: Bursary of £1,000; Income between £35,001 to £42,600: Bursary of £500.

There are also grants if you have dependents, a disability, extra travel costs, or are a care leaver. Each university also has an Access to Learning Fund for students in financial hardship.

Most academic institutions also offer merit-based scholarships and sponsorships, generally based on achievement and potential in a certain field and each with it’s own conditions, which range from a couple of hundred pounds to several thousand.

7. You don’t have to repay the current student loan until you have started work, and then the amount you repay depends on how much you earn. True You do not begin repaying your student loan and any deferred tuition fees until the April after you finish your course, and only if you are earning more than £21,000 per year. At £21,001 per year you would repay £23 per month and at £25,000 it would be £30 per month. These deductions would usually be made automatically through the tax system and any outstanding balance will be written off after 30 years.

8. Higher Education courses last for 3 years False Many degrees last 3 years but there are many others that don’t. Foundation degrees, which tend to be work-based or work-related are two-year courses. Sandwich courses tend to last 4 years and include periods working in related industries. Foreign language courses will often include a year studying abroad. A large number of people study part-time for their degrees and the length of time this takes is very variable. Some courses have an additional Foundation Year at the beginning to allow entry by people who may not have the standard entry qualifications or who have qualifications in non-related areas.

9. If you have dyslexia you can’t do a degree False Dyslexia is not a reflection on a person’s intelligence: Alan Sugar, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Eddie Izzard all have or had dyslexia. Many universities have a dedicated dyslexia service to provide diagnosis, support, advice and the practical help students need to succeed. One of the grants that is currently available is the Disabled Students’ Allowance which helps with extra costs incurred whilst studying such as specialist equipment. There is also help with provision of materials in a suitable format and extra time for assessments and exams etc.

10. A personal tutor will check that you are doing your homework every week False Some universities and colleges, and some courses, allocate a personal tutor to each student, but others offer a range of people; the lecturers for each subject, the senior tutor responsible for the degree programme and post-graduate students who run tutorials. None of these people will check to see you are doing your ‘homework’ every week. You will be given deadlines to meet, presentations to give, reports to write and you are expected to meet those commitments without significant supervision.

11. All Higher Education teaching is done in lectures, when someone stands up in front of a large group of students and talks for an hour and a half False Mostly this isn’t true anymore. There is more emphasis on workshops, seminars and group work, but some parts of most courses will be in the form of lectures to which you listen and take notes. The style of teaching is something you should look into when thinking about courses.

12. There are computers available for anyone to use in most University libraries

True Libraries in universities and colleges tend to be more than traditional libraries. They will have books and journals but they are likely also to have computers loaded with a variety of software and internet access, CD-Roms, audio and video collections, graphic and media services.

13. There is no-one to turn to if you are finding it difficult to cope False There are a whole range of support networks. The Student Union/Guild has dedicated welfare teams with expertise in finance, academic support and accommodation. There are Counselling services that offer confidential advice and support. Often there is a chaplaincy service which will provide pastoral as well as religious support to all students regardless of faith. Each academic department will have tutors responsible for the progress of students and they can often help with both academic and non-academic difficulties.

14. An undergraduate is someone who hasn’t got to university yet False Undergraduate is the term used to describe a student who is studying for their first degree. When you finish the course you graduate, and if you then go on to take a higher degree, you become a postgraduate student. Foundation degrees are awarded as Foundation Science (FdSc) or Foundation Art (FdA); Honours degrees are awarded as Bachelor degrees - Bachelor of Art (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Education (BEd); and higher degrees are awarded as Masters degrees – Master of Art (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Business Adminstration (MBA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

15. You have to be rich to go to university False A huge range of people go to university – single parents, retired grandmothers, 18 year olds straight from school, long-term unemployed people, people who have taken a year out, people who have worked and are returning to education, people who have worked and want to change their careers. Most will work at some time to help finance their study. Most will have student loans and other debts to pay off when they finish.

16. There is no point in going to university when you could be gaining work experience during those three years False Graduates on average earn £100K more over their lifetime, than non-graduates and are twice as likely to get a job. While first jobs out of university may not be highly paid, the top pay for non-graduates is much lower than for graduates. Look at the job adverts in the national papers and see how many specify that you need a degree. Many degrees now are work-based or work-related so you gain direct experience while you are studying. All degree programmes should focus on the transferable skills that will increase your employability by the time you finish.

17. Only practical courses like Business Studies or Law help you get a job False For some careers there are obvious degree choices – medicine, music, etc. There are some careers that you can qualify to do after you have done a first degree – for example, you can take a one-year conversion course as a first step to becoming a lawyer. Again, if you look at job adverts many will specify that you need a degree but not what that degree should be in. If you have a career path in mind do some research, you may find the requirements are more flexible than you think. If you aren’t so focused maybe a combined degree, something with something, or something and something (such as Business and Spanish) would make more sense. All degrees will give you transferable skills that make you a more attractive employee.

18. If you find you have chosen the wrong course you can change to any other subject or combination of subjects False While at most universities it is possible to change courses in the early weeks of the first year you have to fulfil the entry requirements of the new course, and there have to be spaces available. If the course is a modular one (built up in sections each of which is worth a certain number of credits) it may even be possible to change to a different university. Many degrees offer the flexibility to tailor the options you choose to reflect the way your interests develop throughout your degree. Even here though, there are likely to be a core of compulsory subjects and then a range of options. It is sometimes possible to change from a single subject degree to a joint honours degree later in the course, but again, you will need to make sure you have the entry requirements and have taken any required units of work.

18. You can take higher education courses in surfing and knitwear True - BSc Hons Degree in Surf Science and Technology- covering areas of oceanography, sports science, business, technology and design, practical work and research skills. (Sept 2011) Nottingham Trent - BA Hons Degree in Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles- a fusion of fashion and fabric design. Modern design and production practices, giving students the knowledge to develop and innovate - BA Hons Degree in Contour Fashion (underwear design) - Specialise in lingerie, underwear, body wear, swimwear and corsetry Oxford Brookes University – BSc Motorsports and BEng/MEng in Motorsport Engineering (F1 cars)

The UCAS or Hotcourses websites let you search all sorts of HE courses.

19. You have big exams at the end of each year but only the ones in the final year count. False Most courses have assessments throughout, and many spread the marks that contribute to your final grade across two or more years. Very few degrees are awarded on ‘Finals’ alone.

Useful sources of information

www..ac.uk www.hotcourses.com www.direct.gov.uk (Education & Learning) www.prospects.ac.uk www.nexstep.direct.gov.uk www.push.co.uk http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher www.unistats.com www.unofficial-guides.com www.direct.gov.uk (Student Finance)

University websites and prospectuses (see below for examples in the South West)

HEI’s in the South West With the incorporation of Dartington College of Arts into University College Falmouth, there are now 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the South West: eight universities, four university colleges (the Arts University College at now has University College Status) and the operation in the region: The Arts University College at Bournemouth www.aucb.ac.uk/ www.bathspa.ac.uk www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ University College Marjon, Plymouth) www.marjon.ac.uk Royal Agricultural College www.rac.ac.uk/ University College Falmouth www.falmouth.ac.uk (incorporating Dartington College of Arts) www.bath.ac.uk/ www.bris.ac.uk/ University of Exeter www.exeter.ac.uk University of Gloucestershire www.glos.ac.uk/ www.plymouth.ac.uk University of West of England, Bristol (UWE) www.uwe.ac.uk/

In addition, there are 28 Further Education colleges (FE colleges) teaching recognised courses of HE. 10 are listed below www.bicton.ac.uk College www.cornwall.ac.uk Exeter College www.exe-coll.ac.uk Penwith College, Cornwall www.penwith.ac.uk (formerly East and College) www.petroc.ac.uk of Art www.pcad.ac.uk (formerly Plymouth College of Further Education) – www.pcfe.ac.uk Somerset College (a University of Plymouth College) www.somerset.ac.uk www.southdevon.ac.uk Truro College, Cornwall www.trurocollege.ac.uk