Find out from the experts everything you need to know!

Higher Education EveningWednesday 7th of March 2018

• How Gordano supports HE applications – Jeanne Fairs (Head of Sixth Form)

• Why should students go to university‐ Kate Colechin (UWE)

• University Finance – Liam Dowson (Bristol University)

• Applying for Oxbridge/Medicine/Dentistry/Vet ScienceJeanne Fairs (Head of Sixth Form)

• Foundation Degrees and Apprenticeship Degrees – Hamish Gilpin and JJ Clark (University Centre Weston)

• Next Steps – Jeanne Fairs

Aims of Tonight

We make no assumptions about future paths …

Who is responsible for delivering careers advice

at Gordano…

Careers Team

Gordano Partners

Tutors (careers programme)

Subject teachers

Unifrog

The Complete Destinations PlatformMake it easy for your students to find and apply for the best

courses and apprenticeships for them.

Intuitive, independent and comprehensive Students can compare side-by-side every post-16 and post-18

opportunity in the UK.

You can rank opportunities on lots of factors, like starting salary, distance from home, drop out rate, and weekly study hours.

And much more!

University

Apprenticeships

College/Sixth Form

Progression Routes

Progression Routes from Year 12/13

AS / A Level/BTEC?

Leave• Employment• Training • Course

Restart

A Level / BTEC

Higher Education Gap Year Employment

/ Training

Resit

• Universities & Colleges Application Service• A post office and information service – NOT a decision maker

• Charges students £21 to process their application

An 18th month process

An 18 month process

• Term 4• Fortnightly career lessons started

• Term 5/6UCAS Trip to UWE for all students

• EPQ Applications openAll Year 12 Students have a careers interview UCAS Course Search for ‘Apply 2019’ NOW available

• JUNE – JULY  2018W/C July 2 Activities Week – (HE Day, World of Work Day/Work Experience/Volunteering).  All students registered for UCAS and ApprenticeshipsUniversity Open Days/Work Visits

• AUGUST 2018• Think, read, research

AS results for those on 4 subjects• SEP ‐ OCT 2018• Complete UCAS form and submit to tutor. (Oxbridge/medics/music by end of Sept; all others by end of 

Oct). Allow 2 weeks for adding reference & checking.

An 18 Month Process• NOV 2018‐March 2019Attend interviews, receive offers (and/or rejections) or use ‘UCAS EXTRA

• By May 2019Accept a firm and an insurance offer

• December 2018 – June 2019Apply for accommodation and fees/loans/grants (student Finance)

• August 2019Confirm choices after results day

September/October – Start courses

How do students apply?

• Via an internet application on UCAS site• Personal details, exam results and a personal 

statement• Can select up to 5 different courses – each 

receives a ‘blind copy.• School adds reference and sends to UCAS

Why Go to university?

Employability benefits.

Presentation by

Kate Colechin

Pre HE Careers

March2018

Outline

1.Factors to consider when choosing HE courses & universities

2.Benefits of undertaking a degree

What does university mean to you?Social life New

ExperiencesStaying in Bristol Achieving

ambitions

Moving away from Bristol

Golden ticket to great job

Learning from experts

Discounts in shops

The Pros and Cons

• Higher Earnings• I’ll need a degree for the

job I want to do• Less likely to be

unemployed in the future• Gives me an advantage

in competitive careers

• Most graduates unemployed

• I won’t get a graduate level job

• What’s the point in doing History or drama?

• I don’t know what I want to do in the future

• It costs too much

Graduate Employment

• 5.7% of graduates are still looking for a job 6 months after graduation (DHLE, 2017)

• 87.5% of graduates aged 16-64 are employed compared to 69.8% of non-graduates (BIS, 2016)

• 71% of graduates are in in professional/managerial jobs (DHLE, 2017)

Choosing a course

Exams? More coursework

Links with employers 

Career  requirement

Graduate destinations

Support services 

Standard of teaching (NSS)  

Placement options

Course content

Opportunities to travel

Which one is false?

BA (Hons) Fashion Knitwear Design – Nottingham TrentBA (Hons) Adventure Education – University of Chichester

BSc (Hons) Wallpaper Design – University of the Arts, LondonBA (Hons) Football Studies – Southampton Solent

BA (Hons) Puppetry: Design & Performance – University of London

BSc (Hons) Bakery and Patisserie Technology – UCB

BA (Hons) Viking and Old Norse Studies – UCL

HNC Operational Yacht Science – Cornwall CollegeBA (Hons) Jazz – Middlesex University

Types of Subject

Vocational

Non‐Vocational

Semi‐Vocational

MedicineNursing

Engineering

GeographySociologyMaths

LawBusinessPsychology

Which leads to the best job?

Does it matter What I choose?

Types of CoursesType Description

Single Subject Just one subject e.g. BA (Hons)Geography

Joint Honours Two subjects, 50% of each e.g. BA (Hons) Business and Marketing

Major/Minor 75% of one, 25% other subject e.g.BSc (Hons) Physics with Space Science

Sandwich A year on a placement

Integrated Foundation Year

An additional year pre-degree

HNC/HND/FoundationDegree

Equivalent to first two years of degreeVocational subjects FdSc Vet Nursing

How you can progress.

Higher National Certificate/Diploma

Foundation Degree

Degree

Masters

Doctorate

HNC/HND

FdSc, FdA

BSc, BA, BEng, LLB

MSc, MA

PhDPROGRESSION

Start Here –1-2 years

Start Here –2 years

Start Here –3-4 years

Study the subject you love!

Choosing a University

Location Campus vs. City Centre

Sports Facilities Living Costs

Clubs/ Societies IT Services Students

UnionBursaries

Student Support

Careers Support

Employability success

Which is the most competitive?

What? Where?

Paramedic Science UWE

Law Exeter University

History Birmingham University

Midwifery Liverpool John Moores University

Biochemistry Bath University

Medicine Manchester University

Classics Cambridge University

What? Where Number of applicants receiving offers 

Paramedic Science UWE 21%

Law Exeter University 93%

History Birmingham University 94%

Midwifery Liverpool John Moores 2%

Biochemistry Bath University 90%

Medicine Manchester 34%

Classics Cambridge University 66%

What do graduates do?

Degree Subject Employment

Business Graduate BuyerLaw Enforcement Officer 

Geography Mapping/GIS Analyst 

Economics Risk Analyst

Analytical Science

Drug Analyst

Fashion Print Designer

Non-graduate but on track…

• Fashion: Fashion Design Internship

• Film: Runner

• Psychology: Mental Health Support Worker

• Politics: Teaching Assistant

Graduates from any subject wanted

• MI5 – Intelligence Officer £30,000• Trainee Air Traffic Controller • Army Officer £29,000• KPMG – Audit Graduate Training Programme• Nestle – Customer Development (Sales)

Graduate Scheme - £27,000• NHS General Management Scheme £23,000• Lloyds Bank - Graduate Leadership

Programme - £28,000• Network Rail General Management Scheme -

£26,500 plus welcome bonus of £2,000

What’s important to employers.

CBI (2016)

Benefits of HE

Higher earning

potential

Access to certain career

areas

More likely to be employed

Opportunity to study a

subject

Time to choose a

career

Opportunities to develop

skills

Comparing courses and universities1.Open Days2.University websites3.Unistats

Further Resources

www.ucas.comwww.studentfinance.direct.gov.ukwww.university.which.co.ukwww.unistats.direct.gov.ukwww.nationalcareerservice.direct.gov.ukwww.careerpilot.org.uk

Student finance

Liam Dowson08 March 2018

bristol.ac.uk

The costs of university

Tuition fees

• Up to £9,250 per year

• Can charge less

• Potential to change annually in line with latest policy

• Sounds scary but…

Living costs

• Everything it costs to live as a student

• E.g. food, travel, accommodation, bills & social activities

• Actual cost will vary

bristol.ac.uk

The costs of university

There is lots of support available to help you meet these costs!

Most support comes from the government,but also some from many other places

• Covers full cost of tuition fees

• Loan isn’t compulsory (students can pay all or part of tuition fee upfront themselves)

• Paid directly to your university/college

bristol.ac.uk

Tuition fees

Tuition fee loan available to all;

no ‘up front’ fees

bristol.ac.uk

The costs of university

Tuition fees

• Up to £9,250 per year

• Can charge less

• Potential to change annually in line with latest policy

• Sounds scary but…

Living costs

• Everything it costs to live as a student

• E.g. food, travel, accommodation, bills & social activities

• Actual cost will vary

bristol.ac.uk

Living costs

• Maintenance loan available to all

• Paid directly to student

• Not everybody gets same amount, depends on:‐ where you study and live‐ your household income‐ full time or part time study

bristol.ac.uk

Maintenance loan

2018/19 academic yearHousehold Income Parental Home Elsewhere London

£25,000 & under £7,324 £8,700 £11,354

£30,000 £6,707 £8,076 £10,719

£35,000 £6,090 £7,452 £10,084

£40,000 £5,473 £6,828 £9,449

£45,000 £4,855 £6,204 £8,813

£50,000 £4,238 £5,579 £8,178

£55,000 £3,621 £4,955 £7,543

£60,000 £3,224 £4,331 £6,907

£65,000 £3,224 £4,054 £6,272

£70,000 & over £3,224 £4,054 £5,654

bristol.ac.uk

Repaying the loans

• Tuition fee and maintenance loans are combined

• You only repay from the April after you graduate  

• You only repay if you have a salary above the repayment threshold

• For 2018‐19 financial year the repayment threshold will be £25,000

• This will be adjusted annually in line with average earnings

bristol.ac.uk

Repaying the loans

• You pay 9% of any income above the repayment threshold (currently £25,000)

• E.g. £26,000 salary = £90 repayment over year

• If your salary drops below the threshold you stop paying

• Not everybody pays it all back ‐ you are not expected to!

• Any remaining loan is wiped off after 30 years

bristol.ac.uk

Interest rates

• You are charged interest on your loans

• The amount is variable as follows: Whilst studying = inflation (RPI) + 3%

Whilst working and earning less than £25,000 = inflation

Whilst working and earning between £25,000 and £45,000 = inflation + up to 3%

Whilst working and earning over £45,000 = inflation + 3%

bristol.ac.uk

Bursaries and scholarships

• Fee‐charging universities offer bursaries, but they are all different

• Like a grant, bursaries are yours to keep

• Universities also offer various scholarships, e.g. for excelling in a certain area

www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk

bristol.ac.uk

University of Bristol bursary

For 2017/18:Household Income Bursary Amount

Below £25,000 £2,000

Between £25,001 and £30,000 £1,500

Between £30,001 and £35,000 £1,250

Between £35,001 and £40,000 £750

Between £40,001 and £42,875 £500

bristol.ac.uk

Other sources of funding

• NHS bursaries have changed a lot in recent years

• Specific grants available‐ Disabled Students’ Allowance, Adult Dependants’ Grant, Care Leavers Grant, Childcare Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance

• Special support grant

• Extra help for teacher training students

• Charities or employers

• Part‐time work

bristol.ac.uk

Summary

• University is expensive, but there is a lot of support available to cover these costs

• The expensive £9,250 per year is the easy bit

• The amount students repay depends on their salary; they only pay back their loans when they can afford to

• The loan does not impact on your credit rating

bristol.ac.uk

How to apply

• Online at www.gov.uk/studentfinance

• For 2018 entry – deadline of 25th May 2018

• You don’t need a confirmed university place

• Easier to change details at a later date

• Agree to share information from your application

• Will need to be supported by parent(s)/carer(s)

bristol.ac.uk

What are the benefits?

Learn fromthe experts

Social activities, sports and societies

Increase job and salary prospects

Independence

Develop new skills

bristol.ac.uk

Employment rate of working age population is 87.1% for graduates, 69.8% for non‐graduates.

Median salary of working age population is £31,500 for graduates, £22,000 for non‐graduates.

Source: Graduate Labour Market Statistics: 2015, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, April 2016

Thank you Any questions?

@ChooseBristolUG bristoluniversity UniversityofBristol UniversityofBristol bristol.ac.uk/vip

APPLYING TO OXBRIDGE/MEDICINE/DENTISTRY OR VET SCIENCE – PIPPA RAMSAY

It is not about how much you know, it is how you approach a problem…

You need to have a deep passion for the subject so that it shines through…

WHAT’S DIFFERENT? -COLLEGES

How many?• More than 30Prospective students usually choose a particular college to apply to.

What is an Oxbridge college? • Collection of often historic/attractive buildings forming a small self-enclosed

community. • Student accommodation, common rooms, cafes and bars, library and computer

facilities (often open 24/7), and offices for staff members.• 300 and 500 students • undergraduate & graduate

Do you live in college throughout Uni?• Usually live in college in first year• Option to do so in later years as well• Common to spend at least one year ‘living out’ – renting a property privately with friends. This is

not always necessary.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT? –TUTORIALS/SUPERVISIONS

What are these?• Focus on teaching in very small groups, and even one-on-one. • Usually lasting an hour at a time (though some go on much longer)• Small-group teaching sessions are known as tutorials in Oxford and supervisions in

Cambridge. • Few other universities can afford this level of contact time

Benefits?• Regular individual attention so all students fully challenged & supported in their

academic development.• Terms are shorter compared to other UK universities• Each academic year is split into three terms, known as Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity

(8-9 weeks each)• Long holidays in between, which many students use to find temporary work, as well

as catching up with studies and taking a well-earned break!

Challenges?• A particularly intense workload - generally much heavier than at most universities• One or two tutorials each week – each requiring a significant amount of preparation. • Oxbridge students don’t have time for part-time jobs during term-time (no time!) and it

is not supported by the University

GETTING IN?

(1) Is Oxbridge right for you?• You may wish to consider other top universities including overseas, or another Uni for a

specialist degree (e.g. Mech Eng/Medicine ).

(2) Are you willing to commit yourself?• Expect to work over 40 hours a week for some subjects: be willing to dedicate yourself

to hard work• Do extension work beyond 3 subjects, rather than just the syllabus material.• Also have a strong GCSE profile & ideally have an A* in the subject you are taking and

other related subjects

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Into-Oxbridge

GETTING IN? (9) Pre interview Tests – BOTH Universities now have tests(10) Interview. • If you are called for an interview, Oxford usually ask you to stay for a few nights• Prepare!

• the University provides much information online. • ask teachers to give you several different styles of mock interviews

Questions• Topics they won't expect you to know until studying at University• Be prepared to answer questions that require independent thought: every question

requires this & you’ll need to be able to think outside the box• For a language degree, be prepared to speak fluently in that language during the

interview or try to translate a language you have never seen before.• Be prepared to answer interesting questions, such as estimating the number of

molecules in your body – they will ask you questions they purposefully know you won’t know to see how you think and work with them. You will be given a stimulus of some kind.

(11)Accepted? • If you do not study hard for your A levels, they will not lower the requested grades for

you. • Most offers will be conditional on you receiving certain grades. • The typical Oxford offer is AAA /A*AA at A-level

Exploring Degree Options

JJ Clark – Widening Participation and Recruitment OfficerUniversity Centre Weston

UCW In Numbers

www.ucw.ac.uk

Over 800students

23Foundation Degrees 11 Honours

Top-Up Degrees

2 University Partners

22% of students

graduating with first class honours

93% of graduates in employment or further study within 6 months

99% pass rate

The Present

The future?

Current Options

www.ucw.ac.uk

Level 8

DoctoratePhD

Level 7

Masters DegreeMS, MSc, MPhil, LLM

Level 6

Bachelor DegreeBA, BSc, LLB

Top‐UpBA, BSc

DegreeApprenticeship

Level 5 Foundation 

DegreeFdA, FdSc

Higher ApprenticeshipLevel 

4

Level 3 A 

Levels

A2 L3 Diploma(BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma)

Advanced ApprenticeshipA1

Foundation Degrees

www.ucw.ac.uk

Length: 2 YearsLevel when you finish: Level 5How it looks on UCAS: FdA, FdSc

Benefits

• Great value for money - £7,950 rather than £9,250• Smaller class sizes-15-30 students compared to 100’s• Usually lower entry tariff than a Bachelor’s degree • Offers more practical learning (smaller class sizes, more tutor time)• Combines academic study with work based learning (guaranteed

work placement hours)• Staff have relevant industry based experience and still have positions

in their industries.

Top-Up DegreesLength: 1 YearLevel: 6Pre-requisite: Foundation degree (pass) in relevant subjectAward: BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons).

Benefits

• Same fees as foundation degree• Does not have to be as same institution as foundation degree• Must be related subject to foundation degree but can be more

specialised

What is a degree apprenticeship?

www.ucw.ac.uk

The Knowledge Qualification

BSc/BA (Hons) degree

Subsidiary activity which may or may not have a

qualification attached

Subsidiary activity which

may or may not have a

qualification attached

The Apprenticeship Training• 20% ‘off the job’

• 80% ‘on the job’ training

• Level 5 – two to four years

• Level 6 – four to seven years

Benefits

www.ucw.ac.uk

• Combining academic study with paid related work and experience• No cost to the apprentice – no fees, no loan to repay• Sponsorship from a motivated, engaged employer• ‘A foot in the door’

How to apply?

www.ucw.ac.uk

Google ‘Find an apprenticeship –

gov.uk

Minimum criteria for will be specified for each qualification –

BTEC or A level qualification

The application will then go directly to the

provider/uni where the apprenticeship is

managed and delivered.

Shortlisting will occur and if candidates are

interviewed by the employer

If you successful in securing a post with

the employer this automatically

accepts you onto the degree

apprenticeship.

UCW degree Apprenticeships

www.ucw.ac.uk

StandardsBSc (Hons) Digital Technology SolutionsBEng (Hons) Mechanical EngineeringBEng (Hons) Electronics Engineering

Higher Apprenticeship FrameworkHNC/D Engineering – with various pathwaysHNC/D Construction and the Build EnvironmentFdSc Health and Social Care PracticeFdSc Integrated Mental Health and Social Care

Plans for future programmes includingcyber security, management

UCW Open Day

www.ucw.ac.uk

Saturday 14th April 2018

10:00-14:00

UCW Winter gardens, Weston-super-Mare

Sign up online

www.ucw.ac.uk/openday

Next steps

• Careers Lessons• Visiting speakers• University visits – 3 a year!• Teatime Networking events• 1: 1 Careers Advice• Activities Week• Unifrog!