Information for Adult Learners Information for Adult Learners
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Information for Adult Learners Information for Adult Learners CONTENTS Welcome 1 What is a degree? 2 Type of degrees that are available 3 What do you need to get in to University? 4 Step by step guide 5 Can I fit study into my life? 6 Student profile and sample timetables 7 Can I afford to return to learn? 8-10 Financial Support for School of Health Students 11 Student Profile 12 How to Apply 13-14 What Services are available to help Students? 15 University visits and advice sessions 16-17 Alumni Case Study 18 Useful Websites 19 We can arrange for this material to be transcribed into an accessible format such as Braille, large print, E-text (compatible with screen-reading software) or digital audio such as CD. Please contact Finance Tel: 01274 233128 The University of Bradford - Confronting Inequality: Celebrating Diversity™ The University of Bradford is committed to promoting equality, diversity and an inclusive and supportive environment for students, staff and others closely associated with the University in conformity with the provisions of its Charter. Welcome www.bradford.ac.uk Is this guide for me? This guide is for you if you are thinking about studying at university for the first time and it is some time since you last attended school or college. Students currently studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma will also find it useful. We hope it will answer your questions about student finance, entry requirements, making an application and especially what it means to be an adult learner* at university. We welcome students of all ages at the University of Bradford. Around a third of our undergraduate students are over 21, so you will not be alone. In fact our students range in age from 17 to over 70. We find that adult learners make great students as you are committed, enthusiastic and well motivated. With your life and work experience you enhance the learning experience of all our students and help to create a more diverse and vibrant community. The Sunday Times University Guide 2012 has ranked us in the Top 20 for graduate-level jobs in the UK and Number 1 in Yorkshire. The 2010 survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) showed that 91% of our graduates went into employment or further study immediately after graduation. Our courses are designed with industry input giving students skills that they can apply straight away in the job that they go in to. This is an exciting time to come to the University of Bradford: n £84 million has been invested in the campus, so you will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities for your studies. n Our student accommodation in The Green is currently the most sustainable building in the world and the first student accommodation in the country to achieve an official BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating as a blueprint for eco-friendly living. n The School of Health Studies recently opened a new building on campus complete with new radiography rooms, clinical wards and a maternity unit to replicate those that you will find in a clinical setting. n The School of Life Sciences has recently updated its teaching labs with a £2.8 million refurbishment. n A new sustainable enterprise centre has just been completed; this will create an international centre of excellence for sustainable enterprise. n Our teaching is research informed. We don’t just refer you to the experts; we do the research here on campus to be the experts. * The term “adult learner” is used throughout this guide to describe anyone of any age who is considering applying to university for the first time and who has had a break from education and/or who is applying with non-traditional qualifications. Information for Adult Learners 1 What is a degree? The next section looks at how a degree is made up. We then explore some of the different types of degrees that you can do and then finally we look at the academic areas that make up the University of Bradford. How a degree is made up As the diagram below illustrates a degree is made up of building blocks of study at different levels. Each level is made up of different “modules” and each module is worth a number of “credits”, typically 10 or 20. At each level (or year) you need to take enough modules to make up 120 credits (for example, six 20 credit modules) and 120 credits from levels 1, 2 and 3 to be awarded a degree. Credits at level 0 do not count towards your degree as level 0 is a foundation year which prepares you for degree level study. Every degree is made up of a combination of “core” (compulsory) modules and optional modules. Level Three The most complex, known as Degree 360 credits (including 240 from Levels One and Two) 3 Level Two Building on Level One, known as Diploma and level 2 also includes Foundation Degrees 240 credits (including 120 at Level One) 2 Level One The introductory level, known as Certificate 120 credits 1 Pre-Degree Level Foundation Year/Access Courses/A Levels/Level 3 Study 0 2 Information for Adult Learners Type of degrees that are available www.bradford.ac.uk A Placement Degree includes a period of work experience Foundation Degrees are usually studied two years full-time or a equivalent to an academic year. Many degrees can be studied minimum of three years part-time. They are usually planned with over three years or four years as a placement degree. You employers to help give you the skills needed for a specific job, spend your first two years at university and commonly your through work based and flexible learning. They are equivalent third year will be spent in industry; putting the theory you have to two thirds of a degree (240 credits) and it is possible to learnt into practice, before returning to complete your academic “top-up” your foundation degree to an honours degree. studies in your fourth year. All our Business and Management and Engineering degrees are offered on a three or four year A Foundation Year does not lead to the award of a qualification basis. Other courses, for example Social Work and those but is a “preparatory” year of study to help you if you are not offered by the School of Health Studies include work experience quite ready for degree level study by giving you the skills and as an integral part of the course knowledge you will need to succeed. The Bradford Foundation Year in Combined Studies offers progression to a whole range of honours degrees across the university and we also offer foundation years in many other subject areas. The University of Bradford has 6 academic areas offering a vast range of degrees some of which are summarised below: The School of Engineering, Design and Technology – offering degrees in areas of Civil Engineering, Design, Electronics and Telecommunications, Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Medical and Healthcare Technology. The School of Health Studies – offering degrees in Midwifery, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy Diagnostic Radiography and Health, Wellbeing and Social Care. The School of Computing, Informatics and Media – offering degrees in Computing, Computer Science, Film and Media Studies, Computer Animation, ICT, Photography and Graphics for Games. The School of Life Sciences – offering degrees in Archaeology, Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Clinical Sciences, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Healthcare Sciences, Integrated Science, Optometry and Pharmacy. The School of Management – offering degrees in Accounting and Finance, Business and Management Studies, Law, Marketing and Human Resource Management. The School of Social and International Studies – Applied Criminal Justice, Economics, Peace Studies, English, History, Interdisciplinary Human Studies, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Working with Children, Young People and Families For a complete A-Z of courses offered at the University of Bradford, you can look at the following link: www.bradford.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/ or contact our Course Enquiries team on 0800 073 1225 for a copy of our Undergraduate Guide. Information for Adult Learners 3 What do you need to get in to University? We receive applications from adult learners from extremely requiring GCSE English and Maths can usually study these diverse backgrounds and with many different qualifications. If or the key skills equivalents alongside the Access Diploma. you have not studied for a while or you do not have the right The cost of the courses varies from college to college so it is qualifications you might need to do an Access course before worth checking out the cost before you commit. Many Access you start your degree. Most local colleges offer Access courses courses specialise in a particular area (Law, Science, Health, www.accesstohe.ac.uk/ for example) so ideally you need to have an idea of what you would like to study at university before choosing your Access The Admissions team will take relevant work and life experience course. into account when considering your application and you will also need to provide some evidence that you are capable of There may also be the opportunity to study A levels at your success in higher education. For many courses there is a GCSE local college. If you are working or are not able to find a suitable requirement which all students must meet. This is usually GCSE course of study in your area it is also possible to study A levels grade C in English, Maths and for some courses Science. Very through distance learning. often a key skills level 2 qualification is acceptable instead of GCSEs. You may also be asked to provide evidence of recent Another possible option, if you do not meet the entry study at the “appropriate level”.