Why go to University

1
Why go to University? Where and what to study?
Outreach Activities Officer Admissions and
International Recruitment University of the West
of England, Bristol
2

• Benefits of Higher Education
• Graduates earn more!
• Average starting salary - 18,000
• Graduates 20-24 year old earn 25 more than
  A-level only group.
• Aged 35 -39 earn 50 more
• Employment among graduates (aged 25-29) 97.2

3

• Benefits of Higher Education
• A lot more than just more money!
• Independence
• Personal fulfillment / achievement
• Budgeting
• Pursue interest - specialise
• Social/life skills
• Communication
• Confidence
• Organisational skills
• Join a club or society - over 80 to choose from
  at the UWE.

An Experience that will stay with you for life!
4
(No Transcript)
5

• Thinking about University?
• Some University Stats
• Almost 400 Higher Education institutions in the
  UK
• 115 universities
• At Bristol UWE
• Over 30,000 students - UG, PG, part-time,
  professional
• Over 300 courses to choose from
• Over 51,000 courses available

6
Over 300 Courses to choose from!
Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Applied Sciences
BSc(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering
BSc(Hons) Environmental Health
BSc(Hons) Creative Product Design
BSc(Hons) Psychology and Forensic Science
BSc(Hons) Robotics
Built Environment
Education
BSc(Hons) Construction Management
BA(Hons) Primary Education
BA(Hons) Geography
BA(Hons) Primary Early Years
BA(Hons) Planning with Transport
BA(Hons) Education and Tourism
Health and Social Care
BA(Hons) Education and Early Childhood Studies
BSc(Hons) Adult / Childrens Nursing
BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy
Art, Media and Design
BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
BA(Hons) Fashion/Textile Design
Hartpury College
BA(Hons) Fine Arts
BSc(Hons) Equine Dental Science
BA(Hons) Graphic Design
BSc(Hons) Sports Conditioning and Coaching
Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences
Law
BA(Hons) Law and Marketing
BA(Hons) Cultural and Media Studies
LLB(Hons) Law
BA(Hons) Drama with French
BA(Hons) Economics
7
(No Transcript)
8

• Which course?
• Making your choice
• After you have narrowed down your subject area
• What is necessary for your career? e.g.
  psychology
• Any areas of specific interest? i.e. Sports,
  History
• Why its important to choose the right one
• High drop-out rates - among students who dont
  like their course
• Choose something you like, which absorbs your
  time and energy
• Failing at HE mainly due to lack of motivation
• Do not choose a course because.
• you cant think of anything else to do
• your friends or family tell you to do it
• it seems the easiest to get in
• you like the name

9
UCAS is the UK central organisation through which
applications are processed for entry to Higher
Education, what does UCAS stand for?
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
10

• Which course?
• Making your choice
• Masses of help and advice available
• The Internet every University and HE has a web
  site with details of courses
• UCAS website www.ucas.com
• Hundreds of student sites offer an alternative
  prospectus
• School / College Library / Careers Department
• University prospectus
• Student guides
• Be careful!
• Courses with similar names offered at different
  institutions can be very different
• Read course descriptions carefully
• Look out for words such as with and and
• Look carefully at type of qualification, course
• duration and methods of assessment

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
Making your application UCAS Tariff
14
Which course? Do you have a specific career in
mind?
General What grades does the institution
require? Are specific qualifications
required/preferred? Is A-level General Studies
/Key Skills accepted? How do degree courses with
similar names vary? How many lectures/lab
sessions per week? How many places/applicants
are there? Is it possible to change courses?
Are you able to resit examinations if
necessary?
Yes Does this career require a specific degree
qualification? Which institutions offer your
choice of subject/s? Is/Are your qualification/s
acceptable?
Is there a work placement/sandwich element or a
period of study abroad? What teaching and
learning methods are used? How is teaching
organised large lectures?, small seminars,
tutorials? How long are the terms?
No Which subjects do you enjoy and are good at?
Do you want to study for a single subject or a
joint honours programme? What kind of person
are you? Deskbased / vocational study?
15

• Activity Choosing a University
• Consider each factor in turn on your own
• Decide what are the most important for you.
• Rank each consideration 1 8
• Compare your choices with the person sat next to
  you.

16
The Application Process
17

• Which university?
• Making your choice
• Considerations
• Where is it? City or town? Is it too far away
  from home?
• Are public transport links good? Cost? Any
  student discounts? Does the university have a bus
  service?
• Good reputation for delivering good quality
  courses and facilities?
• Are employment prospects good?
• How big is the University?
• What is the accommodation like? How much? Is
  there a lot available? On or off campus?
• How good is the level of student support?
• What is the social life like?
• What are the opportunities for part-time work?
• Are you likely to get the points required?

18

• Which university?
• Making your choice
• Do
• choose an institution that you are going to be
  happy in
• go for one that has the courses that best suit
  your needs
• do your homework before you make a final choice
• think about your strengths and match the course
  to them
• use your free time wisely plan some work
  experience
• Dont
• pick one solely because you like the name
• choose the one that only has the best reputation
  for clubs, music or the lowest beer price!
• opt for one because family or friends went, or
  are going there.

19
(No Transcript)
20
1) What do the following terms mean

• a) Undergraduate
• Someone studying towards a degree
• b) Graduate
• Someone who has passed their degree
• c) Postgraduate
• A graduate undertaking a further qualification
• d) Alumni
• former pupil/student of a particular
  school/college/university
• e) BA(Hons)
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours
• f) BSc(Hons)
• Bachelor of Science with Honours

21
2) You can get a degree if you have

• A levels
• NVQ Level 3
• BTEC National Diploma
• Cache Diploma
• AVCEs
• International Baccalaureat
• Any of the above

22
3) Higher Education courses take

• Two years
• Three years
• Four years
• Five years
• Six years or more
• Any of the above

23
4) Where do students get their money from?

• Loans
• Parents
• Working
• University
• Local authority
• Charities
• Banks
• Credit cards

24
5) What do students spend the most money on?

• Alcohol
• Food
• Goldfish
• Books
• Mobile phone
• Accommodation
• Clothes shopping
• Transport
• What else?

25
6) Whats the average starting salary for a
Higher Education graduate?

• 9,000
• 12,000
• 18,000
• 495,999

Career Development Unit (CDU)
26
7) Where can you look to find out more
information about universities and how good they
are?

• Open days
• Prospectus
• Website
• Newspaper polls/articles
• Ofsted reports
• Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) ratings
  (www.qaa.ac.uk)
• Careers Advisers
• Past students