Recognition Guide Realising Opportunities – Supporting Progression to Leading Universities

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Recognition Guide Realising Opportunities – supporting progression to leading universities. www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk Realising Opportunities Welcome to Realising Opportunities (RO), an innovative, national programme offering you increased access to some of the country’s leading universities. Taking part in Realising Opportunities (RO) is not only going to give you additional recognition and the potential to receive a lower offer through UCAS from the Partner universities, but will also provide invaluable opportunities to develop your skills which will be of benefit to you during your current studies and time at university.

This RO Recognition Guide explains the benefits of taking part in RO and the recognition each Partner university will give to an application from an RO student.

Contents: 2 The Benefits of Realising Opportunities 4 Recognition From Partner Universities 20 Making Sure You Get The Recognition 21 Key Contacts

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 1 The Benefits ofRealising Opportunities Realising Opportunities will give you support during your post- 16 studies to develop your skills to be successful at university.

As a Realising Opportunities (RO) student While taking part in the Programme you will: you will benefit from increased information, Increase your knowledge about research advice and access to some of the country’s intensive universities and what they are able leading research intensive universities. You will to offer you. See the RO Discover Research follow a programme which will ensure you are Intensive Universities guide for more information. better equipped for university life and what Have increased access to the Realising research intensive universities can offer. Opportunities Partner universities (all of which When applying through UCAS, your application to are leading research intensive universities) any of the RO universities will be given additional through the programme of events and activities consideration. If you are given an offer from one on offer and the National Student Conference. of the RO universities, many will also give you Develop your skills in analysis, critical thinking an alternative RO offer worth up to two A Level and evaluation, along with research experience grades or equivalent. through taking either the Extended Project All offers given through UCAS are dependent Qualification or Academic Assignment. on the university and course you apply for. Developing these skills now will stand you For exact details of what this would mean in great stead for any university course. for your application please contact the Receive support in how to plan, research and universities you are interested in directly write your own piece of original research work by or visit www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk taking the skills4uni online study skills module. Have access to information, advice and guidance on a range of professions.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 2 The Benefits ofRealising Opportunities (Continued)

Programme: Benefits: Either the Extended Project Qualification All RO universities will give additional (EPQ) or the Realising Opportunities consideration to an application to them Academic Assignment. through UCAS. The skills4uni online study skills module. Many of the Partner universities will Launch event. give an alternative RO offer worth up to two A Level grades or equivalent. National Student Conference. Skills development. Range of events and activities at Partner universities (you must attend at least one Informed decisions about your future. in addition to the above). Understand what a research intensive Ementoring. university can offer you. Access to careers information from professionals employed in the field.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 3 Recognition FromPartner Universities Partner universities will recognise successful completion of the RO Programme through their admissions processes. The following pages explain how each of the Partner universities will consider your application to them through the UCAS system. It is important to note that each university offers different recognition. You should read each university statement carefully so you can understand what this means for you and the courses you may be interested in.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 4 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Birmingham Additional consideration Other recognition Your application as an RO student will receive For Medicine and Dentistry applicants the additional consideration when you apply to the selection process also includes special University of Birmingham through UCAS. This consideration over GCSE achievement. is dependent on you meeting all other admissions criteria which can include subject-specific Other information requirements such as LNAT for Law applicants, RO applicants for Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, interview performance, work experience and Nursing and Physiotherapy will be invited to GCSE grades. attend an interview workshop and an induction day with Access to Birmingham students. Alternative offers If you are given an offer then you will also For further information receive a dual offer recognising your successful For more information on the range of courses completion of the RO Programme. This is available and typical entry requirements please equivalent to up to 40 UCAS tariff points and visit www.birmingham.ac.uk Remember that equates to an entry requirement reduction of: it is important that you check the individual Up to 2 A Level grades or requirements for the course you are interested Up to four International Baccalaureate in and what this means for you. points (subject to a 28 point minimum) or One full BTEC National Diploma grade or A reduced number of distinctions required for an Access to HE course. Medicine and Dentistry Alternative RO offers will be made for all degree courses at the University of Birmingham. For Medicine and Dentistry, the alternative offer will be one A Level grade lower than the standard requirement, plus successful completion of the programme.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 5 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Bristol AND An RO offer of Additional consideration — up to 2 A Level grades lower than the As an RO student your application will receive standard offer additional consideration when you apply — up to 4 IB points below the standard to the University of Bristol, through UCAS. offer for those taking the International This is dependent on you meeting all other Baccalaureate admissions criteria. — if an RO offer for BTEC National Diploma Alternative offers students is made, it will be for 1 grade reduction in 1 area For the majority of courses RO students will receive a ‘guaranteed offer’. This means RO students with predicted grades up to 2 The RO offer will only be valid on successful A Level grades lower than the standard course completion of the RO Programme. requirements will be guaranteed an offer, as long Although RO applicants for the Medicine (A100), as they meet all other admissions criteria (see Dentistry (A206) and Veterinary Science (D100) the University prospectus for further details). courses are eligible for additional consideration Any specific grade requirements for A Level and the 2 grade lower RO offer; they will not be subjects must be met (at the level required for guaranteed an interview. All offers for these courses the ‘contextual offer’ as seen in the prospectus). will require an A grade in A Level Chemistry. For language courses, at least a B grade at A Level is needed for the required languages Course exemptions specified in the prospectus. For Physics courses the ‘guaranteed’ RO offer is If you receive an offer from the University of ABB (to include an A in Maths and a B in Bristol, you will receive a dual offer consisting of: Physics) – 1 grade lower at A Level, than the A standard offer for the course for which you standard offer. are applying. (This may be Bristol’s ‘contextual Applicants for Veterinary Nursing and offer’, which is usually one A Level grade lower Bioveterinary Science (DC37) are eligible for a than the standard offer, given to students guaranteed offer, but there is no grade reduction. from ‘low performing’ schools/colleges – see prospectus for further details.) For further information For more information on the range of courses available and typical entry requirements please visit www.bristol.ac.uk study Remember that it is important that you check/ the individual requirements for the course you are interested in and what this means for you. Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 6 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Essex Additional consideration Course exemptions Your application as an RO student will Not applicable. receive additional consideration when you apply to the University of Essex For further information through UCAS. This is dependent on For more information on the range of courses you meeting all other admissions criteria. available and typical entry requirements please visit www.essex.ac.uk/coursefinder Please check Alternative offers the individual requirements for the course you are If you apply to the University of Essex through interested in and any pre-requisite subjects that UCAS for 2014 entry, the University of Essex are required for entry. will recognise successful completion of the RO Programme by issuing a typical offer for the course you are applying to and an alternative RO offer. Any offer will be dependent on you meeting all other admissions criteria and subject to University Admissions Regulations. An alternative offer could be: Up to two A Level grades. Up to one BTEC National Diploma/ BTEC Extended Diploma grade. Up to three points in the International Baccalaureate.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 7 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Exeter Additional consideration An interview preparation day will be offered Your application as an RO student will to successful applicants. receive additional consideration when you Subject to passing the interview students will apply to the University of Exeter through be made an alternative offer of AAB (subject UCAS. This is dependent on you meeting to successful completion of RO). You will all other admissions criteria. also be required to meet the subject-specific requirements of studying A Level Chemistry Alternative offers and either Biology or Physics. Biology must If you receive an offer from the University be achieved at a minimum of Grade C at of Exeter it will be a Realising Opportunities AS Level if not studied at A Level. dual offer which will consist of the following: For further information A standard offer for the course to which you are applying. For more information on the range of courses available and typical entry requirements please An RO alternative offer of up to two A Level visit www.exeter.ac.uk or contact Melissa grades or equivalent below the standard Ruddock on [email protected] entry offer, valid only upon successful Remember that it is important that you check completion of the RO Programme. the individual requirements for the course you Medicine are interested in and what this means for you. Alternative Realising Opportunities offers of two A Level grades will not be made for courses offered by the University of Exeter Medical School, however the university will be able to offer the following to candidates who apply before the 15th October application deadline and who pass the UKCAT: All students predicted AAB or better will be guaranteed an interview.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 8 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

Goldsmiths, University of London Additional consideration Other recognition If you successfully complete the RO Programme Your offer may also include: your application will receive additional Extended Project Qualification or Academic consideration when you apply to Goldsmiths, Assignment accepted in lieu of a fourth subject University of London through UCAS. You will still at AS Level. need to meet our general admissions criteria. Course exemptions Alternative offers Not applicable If your application is favourably considered then you will receive an alternative offer recognising For more information your successful completion of RO. This means For more information on the range of courses that, in addition to the standard offer (which will available and typical entry requirements please be in accordance with our published entry criteria) visit www.gold.ac.uk ug you will also receive an alternative RO offer of: Remember that it is important/ that you check the Up to 2 A Level grades (or 40 UCAS tariff individual requirements for the programme you points) lower than the standard offer for entry to are interested in and what this means for you. that programme. Whilst this alternative offer will apply for the academic entry criteria (A Level or equivalent grades) many of our programmes will also ask for supplementary evidence of your readiness to study at Goldsmiths. This may include portfolios of art or design based work, or examples of your written work or projects. For many practice based subjects including art, design, music and drama you may also be expected to attend an interview and talk about your work and, in some cases, take part in a performance piece. You will need to successfully complete this process in order to be made an offer.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 9 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

King’s College London Additional consideration In addition to standard admissions criteria Your application as an RO student will receive for this course, we would also like candidates additional consideration when you apply to any to have taken up all opportunities available programme at King’s College London through to them through RO for attending medically- UCAS. This is dependent on you meeting all themed outreach events, and would ask for other admissions criteria. evidence of that in your UCAS statement. RO candidates who are successful at Alternative offers interview may receive an alternative offer, See other recognition below. and this would be decided in light of where the candidate has been to school, and Other recognition would be no lower than BBB. The Extended Project Qualification or RO Academic Assignment will be accepted For further information in lieu of a fourth subject at AS Level. For more information on the range of courses available and typical entry requirements please Dentistry (A205) visit www.kcl.ac.uk Remember that it is important As a RO student, you will receive an automatic that you check the individual requirements for interview for this course. If you are successful the course you are interested in and what this at interview, completion of the RO Programme means for you. will form part of any conditional offer made. Extended Medical Degree Programme (A101) The Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP) admits 50 students a year from eligible non-selective state schools in Greater London, but will offer up to five places each year to RO candidates from any RO school in the UK who meet all eligibility criteria and are successful at interview. Candidates in the Greater London area must be attending an EMDP eligible school/college. If you are successful at interview, completion of the RO Programme will form part of any conditional offer made.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 10 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Leeds Additional consideration Course exemptions Your application as an RO student will Not applicable. All undergraduate programmes receive additional consideration when you at the University of Leeds provide Realising apply to the University of Leeds through Opportunities applicants with additional UCAS. This is dependent on you meeting consideration and an alternative offer, all other admissions criteria. where offers are given.

Alternative offers Further information If you are given an offer then you will receive For more information on the range of courses a dual offer recognising your successful available and typical entry requirements completion of RO. You will receive a standard please visit www.leeds.ac.uk Remember offer as well as an alternative RO offer of: that it is important that you check the individual Two A Level grades or 40 UCAS points requirements for the course you are interested below the standard offer. in and what this means for you.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 11 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Leicester Additional consideration Course exemptions Your application as an RO student will receive Alternative Realising Opportunities offers will additional consideration when you apply to not be made for the University’s Medicine course the University of Leicester through UCAS. but RO applications will be given additional This is dependent on you meeting all other consideration by selectors when shortlisting admissions criteria. for interviews. This additional consideration will include: Alternative offers Bonus points within the selection process If you are made an offer, you will receive at the point of shortlisting for interview. two conditional offers through UCAS. You will be made a typical offer for the course you are For a full overview of the Medicine course applying to, and an alternative offer recognising admissions process, please visit the University’s your successful completion of RO. website and download the ‘How we score applications for the A100 course’. This document For students taking A Levels, your alternative can be found at www2.le.ac.uk/departments/ RO offer will be: msce/undergraduate/medicine/mbchb5yr/ Up to 40 UCAS tariff points, or two A Level the-selection-procedure-a100 grades below the standard offer. For further information For students taking the International For more information on the range of courses Baccalaureate (IB), your alternative RO offer available and typical entry requirements please will be: visit www.le.ac.uk Remember that it is important Up to 4 IB points below the standard offer. that you check the individual requirements for the course you are interested in and what this means for you.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 12 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Liverpool Additional consideration Course exemptions Your application as an RO student will receive Not applicable. The University of Liverpool additional consideration when you apply to will make RO offers for all courses. the University of Liverpool through UCAS. This is dependent on you meeting all other admissions Other recognition criteria (for example UKCAT test, interview RO students applying to Medicine, Dentistry and performance, subject-specific requirements Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool and GCSE grades). may not be required to meet the strict GCSE entry requirements outlined in the University’s Alternative offers guidelines. Applicants should check the GCSE If you are given an offer then you will receive requirements with the relevant department. a dual offer recognising your successful completion of RO. You will receive a typical Further information offer as well as an alternative RO offer of: For more information on the range of courses Up to 40 UCAS tariff points, or 2 A Level grades. available and typical entry requirements For students taking the International please visit www.liverpool.ac.uk Remember Baccalaureate (IB) – up to 40 UCAS tariff that it is important that you check the individual points or two IB points. Students must also requirements for the course you are interested successfully pass the IB Diploma as a whole. in and what this means for you. For students taking a BTEC Extended Diploma – up to 40 UCAS tariff points or one grade, for example where the standard offer is DDD the student must achieve DDM overall in the BTEC Extended Diploma with 100 out of 180 credits at Distinction.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 13 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Manchester Additional consideration For International Baccalaureate (IB) students, Your application as an RO student will receive successful completion of the RO Programme additional consideration when you apply to The will normally be recognised as equivalent to University of Manchester through UCAS. This two points in the IB. is dependent on you meeting all other admissions BTEC National Diploma and IB applicants are criteria such as GCSE requirements, admissions advised to contact the RO Team at Manchester tests, subject-specific requirements, predicted directly as the recognition may vary for specific grades etc. programmes at the University.

Alternative offers Course exemptions As an RO student, if you are made an offer Not applicable. The University of Manchester at The University of Manchester you will receive will make RO offers for all courses. a dual offer: A standard offer for the course you have For further information applied to and For more information on the range of courses An alternative RO offer recognising your available and typical entry requirements please successful completion of RO as equivalent to visit www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/courses up to 40 UCAS tariff points or two A Level grades. Remember that it is important that you check the individual requirements for the course you For BTEC National Diploma students, successful are interested in and what this means for you. completion of RO will be recognised as one grade in one area (for example, where a typical offer for a course is DDD, your RO alternative offer would be DDM).

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 14 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

Newcastle University Additional consideration Other information Your application as an RO student will For courses that require an additional selection receive additional consideration when you process, such as an interview or submission of apply to Newcastle University through UCAS. a portfolio, Realising Opportunities applicants This is dependent on you meeting all other will still be required to take part in this before admissions criteria. any offer is made.

Alternative offers For further information If you are given an offer then you will receive For more information on the range of courses a dual offer recognising your successful available and typical entry requirements please completion of RO. You will receive a typical visit www.ncl.ac.uk Remember that it is important offer as well as an alternative RO offer of: for you to check the individual requirements for Up to 40 UCAS tariff points, or 2 A Level the course you are interested in and what this grades for all courses at Newcastle University means for you. (with the exception of NN14 Business Accounting and Finance with PwC).

Course exemptions Alternative Realising Opportunities offers will not be made for Business Accounting and Finance with PwC (NN14).

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 15 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Sheffield Additional consideration For further information If you successfully complete the RO Programme For more information on the range of courses your application will receive additional available and typical entry requirements consideration when you apply to the University please visit www.sheffield.ac.uk Remember of Sheffield through UCAS. This is dependent that it is important that you check the individual on you meeting all other admissions criteria. requirements for the course you are interested in and what this means for you. Alternative offers For further information about the University If you are given an offer then you may receive of Sheffield’s contribution to the Realising an alternative offer recognising your successful Opportunities Programme, contact Denise completion of RO. You may receive a typical Brooks, [email protected] offer as well as an alternative RO offer of: Up to 2 A Level grades below the standard offer or Up to 3 International Baccalaureate points (subject to a 29 point minimum) below the standard offer or 1 full BTEC National Diploma grade below the standard offer.

Course exemptions Alternative Realising Opportunities offers will not be made for courses in Medicine.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 16 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Sussex Additional consideration For further information If you successfully complete the RO Programme For more information on the range of courses your application will receive additional available and typical entry requirements consideration when you apply to the University please visit www.sussex.ac.uk Remember of Sussex through UCAS. This is dependent that it is important that you check the individual on you meeting all other admissions criteria. requirements for the course you are interested in and what this means for you. Alternative offers If you receive an offer from Sussex, it will normally include alternative conditions recognising your successful completion of RO. The RO alternative conditions will be: Up to two A Level grades lower than the standard A Level offer (subject to successful completion of the RO Programme).

Course exemptions Alternative Realising Opportunities offers will not be made for the degree in Medicine at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 17 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of Warwick Additional consideration Other information Your application as an RO student will receive Whilst it is important that you meet the additional consideration when you apply to admissions criteria for your chosen course the University of Warwick through UCAS. If (these are available via the University’s you apply to Warwick, the University will ensure prospectus or online), Warwick pays particular that the admissions tutors considering your attention to an applicant’s personal statement in application give due consideration to your the admissions process. It is therefore advisable participation in the programme and that this that your statement draws upon your experience is considered in the offer making process. on the RO Programme, what you have learnt on the programme and how this applies to your Alternative offers chosen course. See other recognition below. For further information Other recognition For more information on the range of courses Warwick accepts the Extended Project Qualification available and typical entry requirements please (EPQ) and the Realising Opportunities Academic visit www.warwick.ac.uk/study Assignment (AA) as part of its entry criteria. Where offers typically include a fourth subject at AS Level, achieving the relevant grade in the EPQ or a pass in the AA will normally be accepted in lieu of this requirement. Applicants presenting the EPQ/AA are encouraged to discuss their research as part of their personal statement and to explore how completing this research has prepared them for undergraduate study at Warwick. If you accept an offer from Warwick but your results narrowly miss the terms of that offer, every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 18 Recognition From Partner Universities (Continued)

University of York Additional consideration Course exemptions Your application as an RO student will receive Alternative Realising Opportunities offers additional consideration when you apply to will not be made by the Hull York Medical the University of York through UCAS. This is School for admission to Medicine. dependent on you meeting all other admissions criteria (for example subject-specific requirements For further information or a successful interview where applicable). For more information on the range of courses available and typical entry requirements please Alternative offers visit www.york.ac.uk Remember that it is important If you are given an offer then you will receive a that you check the individual requirements for dual offer recognising your successful completion the course you are interested in. of RO. You will receive the typical offer for the programme to which you are applying as well as an alternative RO offer which will recognise successful completion of the Realising Opportunities Programme. The alternative offer will be reduced, as appropriate, by: Up to 2 A Level grades (for example an AAB offer may be made at ABB or BBB) or Up to 2 points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma (for example a 36 point offer may be made at 35 or 34 points) or One grade in a BTEC National Diploma offer (for example a DDD offer may be made at DDM).

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 19 Making Sure You Get The Recognition Important information In order to receive recognition for successful completion of RO from Partner universities you should apply through UCAS using the online Apply system in the normal way. The online Apply system allows you to identify yourself as an RO student. The RO Applying to Higher Education booklet tells you how to do this. This is available on our website at www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk

WRITE ROP HERE

FEBRUARY 2013 PUT DURATION AS 1 PUT YEAR AS 13 PUT LOCATION AS YOUR HOST UNIVERSITY SELECT REALISING OPPORTUNITIES FROM HERE

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 20 Key Contacts The Realising Opportunities Central Team, based at Newcastle University, lead the Programme on behalf of the Partner universities. We will communicate regularly with you via the ementoring site, email and post. We are your first point of contact for RO.

Our contact details are: Each of the Partner universities has a key contact for RO, and you may wish to contact them if you The Realising Opportunities Central Team, have a question about recognition or admissions c/o Marketing and Student Recruitment, through UCAS to that particular university. Newcastle University, King’s Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU Key contact details are provided on the next page. T 0191 208 8923 E [email protected] W www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 21 Key Contacts (Continued)

Contact List

UNIVERSITY CONTACT NAME PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS University of Lucy Hall 0121 414 8729 [email protected] Birmingham University Rachel Hogg 0117 331 7645 realising-opportunities@ of Bristol bristol.ac.uk University John Orchard 0120 687 3752 [email protected] of Essex University Melissa Ruddock 0139 272 6181 [email protected] of Exeter Goldsmiths, Lucy Jenks 020 7078 5077 [email protected] University of London King’s College, Widening Participation 020 7848 3043 [email protected] London Department University Tracey Crow 0113 343 8952 [email protected] of Leeds University Andy Johnson 0116 223 1872 [email protected] of Leicester Clare Chisholm 0116 252 3931 University Michael Mohebbi 0151 794 5122 [email protected] of Liverpool University of Katie Muscat 0161 275 3079 katie.muscat@ Manchester manchester.ac.uk Newcastle Gemma Kirkbride 0191 222 6148 realising.opportunities@ University ncl.ac.uk University Denise Brooks 0114 222 9872 [email protected] of Sheffield University Sarah Cullen 0127 387 7909 [email protected] of Sussex University Hywel Rowles 024 7615 1428 [email protected] of Warwick University Amy Clow 0190 432 3020 [email protected] of York

Realising Opportunities Recognition Guide 22 Designed and Produced by The Roundhouse Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 274 1685 274 0191 Tyne upon Newcastle Roundhouse The by Produced and Designed

Realising Opportunities c/o Newcastle University King’s Gate Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU T 0191 208 8923 F 0191 208 8685 E [email protected] W www.realisingopportunities.ac.uk