Choosing a University & Course, Applying to University Holly Smith Presented by Recruitment Officer Amanda Hargreaves UK Student Recruitment Officer Why go to university? • Gain academic experience and develop your professional knowledge • Learn something new or develop your learning of a subject you are interested in • Increase your potential, your prospects and employability • Gain transferable skills Why go to university? • Meet new people, experience new cultures and make contacts for the future • Try something new – join clubs and societies and try something you’ve never done before • Freedom and independence – living away from home, learning to cook, clean and budget Choosing a course • There are 37,000 courses at over 370 providers for you to choose from • Choose your course first - It is entirely your own choice • Be aware of module and course content • Make sure you know the entry requirements Ever considered…? • Vietnamese and Economics (SOAS, University of London) • Physics with Astronomy (University of Surrey) • Surf Science and Technology (Cornwall College) • Stop Motion Animation and Puppet Making (Staffordshire University) • Agriculture and Dairy Herd Management (Reaseheath College) • Wine Production (Plumpton College) • Artificial Intelligence with Robotics (De Montfort University, University of Bedfordshire) • Egyptology (University of Liverpool, Kings College London, University of Oxford, Swansea University) • Traditional Chinese Medicine (Middlesex University, University of Westminster) • Fisheries Management (University of Greenwich, Sparsholt College) • Golf Studies (Bucks New University) • Viking Studies (University of Nottingham, UCL) • Musical Theatre (University of Surrey, UCLAN, University of Chichester, University of Wolverhampton) Consider the following • How the course is assessed • How many contact hours you will have per week • Who are the academics? - you may be taught by academics who are doing research in the particular field you will be studying • The best university for your particular course • The reputation of a particular course and the university that offers that course Choosing a University • What factors are the most important to you? • League tables for universities and subjects • Professional Training Year • The reputation of the course and/or the university • Entry requirements – students of a similar ability • Look into financial support offered • Use the league tables to compare reputations and rankings. • National Student Survey Campus or City? Campus • Everything you need in one place – academic and social facilities • Look at how close the campus is to a town or city • How big is the campus? City • Wider community involvement • Facilities spread across a city • Easily accessible and close to each other? You will need to consider transport: • Can you take a car with you? • How will you get home? Studying • Lectures • Up to 400 people • 1-3 hours • Seminars • Deeper insight into the lecture • Group work and class discussion • Un-assessed work • Practical or Theoretical • Will you be doing a lot of practical work – labs, performance, presentations • Or will you be doing lots of theoretical work – reading and writing Professional Training Year Professional Training Year? If you want to do a Professional Training Year you will need to find out which universities offer this and whether or not they do it well Would you like the opportunity study abroad? Where to find this information • UCAS: www.ucas.com • University websites, for example: www.surrey.ac.uk • Look at University League tables, for example: www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide www.whatuni.com What is UCAS? • Central online applications service • Lists the 37,000 courses that you can choose from over 370 providers • The only method of entry to UK degree programmes • Can apply to up to five universities/courses with one application • Choice restrictions: – Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices – Oxford or Cambridge UCAS Form Your UCAS form will include: • Personal details • Education • Teacher’s reference • Employment Make sure your email address is sensible Timeline March – August Start to do your research. Make your 5 final choices September 1st – Applications open on the UCAS Website October 15th – Oxbridge application deadline November - December Interviews and Applicant days take place. Universities will start to make offers January 15th – Application Deadline February – April Interviews and Applicant days take place. Universities will continue to make offers May 8th - If you applied by the January deadline all your institutions will have made you an offer June – July Declare your firm and insurance choices August 14th – Results day September - October Confirmation and arrival Apply early! Good applicants often apply early! – Spend enough time on your application – Give time for reference to be written – Show commitment to subject – Offers made on first come first served basis What do universities look for? Qualification • Right subjects (if required) • Appropriate grades • Experience (for some courses) • An appreciation of what studying the subject involves Motivation • Enthusiasm • Interest in the field • ‘Spark’ • What makes you want to study the subject? Intellectual curiosity • Show you have an interest and enthusiasm for what you want to study • Don’t say you’ve read a book when you haven’t • Admissions staff want to see a person as well as an application • Your personality is important Your Personal Statement • 600 words (4000 characters) • Your personal statement may be your only chance to get onto a course or be offered an interview • It is about selling yourself to the admissions tutor in the best way possible and showing that you are passionate about studying that course and going to university What to include • Why you want to study that particular course and your enthusiasm for it • Don’t re-list all of your A-Levels as this can already be seen in your UCAS form • Your key skills and how will these be relevant to your time spent at university • Work experience, internships, any subject specific work experience www.surrey.ac.uk Open days 2014 Visit the University of Surrey http://www.surrey.ac.uk/discover/open-days Wednesday Campus tours http://www.surrey.ac.uk/study/campustours/ New for Sept 2014 Veterinary Medicine course starting New for Sept 2014 Sports and Exercise Science course starting Ranked 8th overall in the UK The Guardian University Guide 2014 Ranked 12th overall in the UK The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014 Ranked 9th overall National Student Survey 2013 Thank you Any questions? Presented by Amanda Hargreaves UK Student Recruitment Officer T: 01483 683046 [email protected] .