Planning Post 18. Where do I start? Useful Websites

Transcription

1 Planning Post 18 Where do I start? Useful Websites

2 Why go on to Higher Education'? Listed below are some of the reasons why people choose to go on to higher education. D You need a degree for your chosen D It is a good way to leave home and learn to live independently D It is a good way to meet new people and enjoy new experiences D It seems a logical next step D It is something to do whilst you decide what career you want to go into D You love a particular subject and want to study it further D You want to carry on being a student D You think you will have a better chance of getting well paid jobs if you have a degree (Research indicates that by their early 30s graduates earn more than their peers who went straight into jobs) D You think you will have a better chance of getting a more interesting job that you will enjoy if you have a degree D It will improve your promotion prospects D It will increase your employability (Research indicates that having an HE qualification reduces the risk of unemployment by half) D Other people expect you to go to university Now ask yourself, what are your reasons for wanting to go on to Higher Education? H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N? YES NO WHAT IS Roughly speaking, higher education is: education provided beyond further education open to applicants with A levels, NVQ Level 3, Access and Conversion qualifications or equivalents courses up to Degree level and beyond usually takes place in universities and certain colleges reasons why Look carefully at your reasons. Is this something that you genuinely want to do for yourself or are you doing it to please someone else? Going into Higher Education is a big commitment because: studying at this higher level for 3 or 4 years is very hard work you may have to get certain qualifications before you can apply competition for some courses can be very fierce it takes time and energy to complete the applications process it costs money, directly or indirectly, through student loans it can involve living away from family and friends it will not guarantee you a job you may still have to work at below graduate level or even do voluntary work to get started in a particular career area. So, before you go any further ask yourself 'Is this what I really want to do?' If the answer is yes, continue. If the answer is no you need to return to the beginning of the career planning model and look again at your self analysis. Alternatively, you could switch to considering other options such as further education & training, self-employment, jobs or taking a year out.

3 at Higher Education Fairs QUESTIONS TO ASK or University Open Days If you can attend either of the above try asking some of the following questions: About the Courses > What courses are available within this subject area? > What are the entry requirements - subjects and grades? > How is the course structured? > What options could I take/which areas could I specialise in? > How will I be assessed? > Are there opportunities for an industrial or overseas placement? > If so, who organises it? > What have graduates done after completing the course? About the University > What teaching facilities are available (e.g. Science and Language Labs)? > What study facilities are available (e.g. library resources, Internet and computer access)? > Is the university visited by employers who wish to recruit new graduates? About the Accommodation > How much university accommodation is available? > How much does it cost? > What are catering and food shopping facilities like on/off campus? > Am I guaranteed a place in university accommodation in my first year? > Is there much private accommodation available? > Is there an office that can help me to find approved accommodation? About Student Lifestyle > What is the social life like? > Is the Students Union active and/or successful? > Are there many university clubs and societies? > Do they have them in the areas that are of particular interest to me e.g. sport, music? > Is it an expensive place to live on a student budget? > Are there many opportunities for part-time work? University: Location: Course(s) that interest Entry requirements: Number of places: Numbers applying each year: Other questions University: Location: Course(s) that interest Entry requirements: Number of places: Numbers applying each year: Other questions VVV My notes about the courses

4 Types Of Courses available - Frequently asked questions > 1. What does HONOURS mean? Honours are a bit like grades. When you pass your degree you can pass with the following grades: A first (1st) class honours An upper second (2:1) A lower second (2:2) A third (3rd) You can also pass a degree without honours > 2. What is a single honours degree? It is one where you only study one subject, though in reality it is now quite rare to do this. Most universities encourage students to take some modules from other disciplines to broaden their studies. In the case of specialised vocational degrees (e.g. pharmacy, medicine, veterinary science) there is less scope for this. > 3. What is a joint honours degree? It is one where you study two subjects. You can study both subjects equally (50:50) or take one as a 'major1 and one as a 'minor'. > 4. What is combined honours degree? A combined honours course gives you even more flexibility in the range of subjects you can choose from and the final choice of your degree subjects. In some cases you may start with up to four subjects in your first year and then drop down to two in your second and third years. You often do not have to pick your 'Major' subject (i.e. the one you will focus on the most) until your second year. > 5. Is a good idea to do more than one subject? There are a number of good reasons for choosing to study more than one subject - wanting to study subjects of equal interest, wanting to continue with a subject already studied but also try something new, wanting to develop two areas of expertise and different types of academic skills (e.g. Computer Science and Statistics). However, if it is important for a course to be recognised by a professional body (e.g. Psychology by the British Psychological Society) then you need to make sure that the options you take within the course are such that the course is still recognised. > 6. What is a sandwich degree? Sandwich Degrees are courses which have a built-in placement in industry as part of the course. They are usually available in vocational areas such as Business Studies, Engineering and Computing. A thick sandwich course is where a student spends 2 years at university, 1 year on placement and then a final year back at university. A thin sandwich course is where a student will spend 18 months at university, 6 months out, 6 months back, 6 months out and then the final year back in. The thin sandwich course is less common but does exist. > 7 What is a Foundation Degree course? A Foundation Degree, a qualification which is employment related and designed in conjunction with employers, is higher than A levels or equivalent but lower than a degree. They usually takes 2 years to complete. Often students on a Foundation degree will then 'convert' it to a degree by taking a 'top up' course lasting 1 to 2 years depending on the institution. Often much lower grades are required for entry to Foundation Degrees than for most degrees. For more information go to > 8 Why are some degrees a BA and others a BSc? BA stands for Bachelor of Arts and BSc stands for Bachelor of Science. If you pass your degree this is what you will be! Arts/Humanities type subjects such as English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, will be a BA award while science based subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology and Environmental Science will be a BSc. There are some exceptions - subjects such as Geography, Psychology and Sports Studies could be a BSc or a BA. The more science there is in the course the more likely it is to be a BSc Other exceptions to BA and BSc include Law where the award could be an LLB (Bachelor of Law), Education where the award could be a BEd (Bachelor of Education) and Engineering where it could be a BEng (Bachelor of Engineering). > 9. How long do degree courses last? The standard length of time for a full time degree course is either 3 or 4 years depending on the subject or the structure of the course. Foundation degrees last 2 years but then further study is required to turn them into full degrees. Whether you are studying one or more subjects does not affect the length of your course. There are exceptions such as medicine which is 5 years. > 10. Can you spend a year abroad as part of a degree? There are an increasing number of degree courses which offer time abroad either to study or to work as part of the course. With most language degrees it is compulsory. Other subjects where an institution may offer this include American Studies, Business Studies, Engineering, English, History, Geography, Law, Physics and Music to name but a few. Is Higher Education For you?

5 Pulling it all together Now that you have had a chance to think about: Work through the following statements and tick the ones that apply to you. why you want to go onto Higher Education the types of courses available the subjects to study the entry requirements where to study what happens to graduates from the subject areas that interest you you need to start to pull this altogether and make some choices. The type of degree would like to study for is a.. Single Honours - one subject only Joint Honours - two subjects Combined Honours - two or more subjects - the proportion of each may vary Sandwich - an organised period of time spent in industry or abroad Foundation Degree I would like a course that... is the same or similar to one or more of the subjects I have already studied will allow me to try something new is related to an interest outside my studies will provide me with preparation for a future career In terms of entry requirements, I should be applying for courses which are asking for the following level of entry qualifications UCAS points UCAS points UCAS points UCAS points Less than 150 UCAS points Access programme Other requirements In terms of the place... I would like to study at a large university I would like to study at a smaller university I would like to go to a campus university I would like to live in a city I want to study somewhere within reasonable distance from home I want to study somewhere within daily travelling distance from home Sporting facilities are important to me Entertainment facilities are important to me I want to go somewhere with an active Students Union I want to go somewhere where Halls of Residence are guaranteed for first year students I want to go somewhere where I can live independently (i.e. in a shared house) if I want to. I want to live somewhere where my meals are provided I want to live at home When thinking about my career after Higher Education I would like to do a course that would qualify me to do a particular job or go on to the next stage of training for it I am happy to leave my choice of career until after I have started my degree

6 HIGHER EDUCATION NOT FOR YOU et? N ot going touniversity Y Planning time out before university Not everyone starts university or a career straight after their level 3 course More and more people look at different options-some bec ause they choose to ( for example a planned year out), others because they have to because they haven't got the university place or job they wanted yet. What can you do if you are planning to take time out before University? Here are some of the options... Paid employment and work experience Why? Working for part or the whole of the time will help you finance your studies or any travel plans you might have and could help clarity and confirm future career ideas. What's available? Different employment options range from short-term, casual and/or seasonal work ( e.g. children s summer camps, event/bar/waiting work, Christmas retail or pub jobs) to jobs with large employers who have specially organised employment schemes for students. The Year in Industry scheme offers structured paid work experience in engineering, business, science or computing for one year. As part of The Year in Industry package all students are provided with free training to level 3 with the Chartered Management Institute's course. Working abroad opportunities include working as an au pair, teaching English, ski resort work and children's summer camps (e.g. BUNAC or Camp America). Be a volunteer in the UK or overseas Why? Significant work experience, paid or unpaid, will improve your job prospects, and may help secure your place on a particular course for example social work or medicine. Volunteering is a great way for you to participate in something you enjoy whilst helping others and gaining valuable skills and experience at the same time. What's available? Lots of projects are on offer both in the UK and abroad. Voluntary projects include caring for children or adults with special needs, teaching English abroad and environmental and conservation work. o OTHER OPTIONS

7 HIGHER EDUCATION NOT FOR YOU et? N ot going touniversity Y Travel Why? Travelling to other countries and cultures is an excellent way of building your life experience, maturity and independent living skills. What s available? An overseas voluntary project could include optional travel time. You could travel for only part of the year and pay for it by getting a job first. Take part in a cultural exchange. Participate in an expedition. (For travel advice before you go check out: Learn a new skill or a course in theuk or overseas Why? You may need to improve your grades or be keen to get a qualification to help you find temporary skilled work. What s available? How about a skills-based qualification? For example a computing or wordprocessing course could help you to cope with your future studies or to find higher-paid part time work to finance your higher education course. You could improve your grades to increase your chances of getting a place on a chosen degree course (warning... grade offers are often higher for resits!). You could learn (or improve) a foreign language, to increase your employability and help you when you travel. o OTHER OPTIONS

8 YEAR OUT N otgoingtou niversityy et Questions an d an swers about taking a year out Q. Will taking a year out cause problems with getting into higher education? A, It shouldn't if you use your time constructively and you check with your course admissions tutors to see what their views are. You will need to think about: whether admissions tutors for the courses that interest you view a year out in.a positive light how you explain your year out plans on your UCAS application form. Year Out Q.. If I'm taking a year out, when should I apply to university? A, It depends when you decide/realise you're not going to university straight after school/college: If you're planning to take a year out, you can apply to UCAS in autumn 2012 for deferred entry in Check the prospectus or contact the course admissions tutors to see if deferred applications will be considered. Also, use your UCAS application form to explain your year out plans, and apply early individual departments may limit the number of deferred applications they accept in order to be fair to the following year's applicants. Alternatively, if you haven't requested deferred entry on your original application, but later decide you would like to take a year out, contact admissions tutors direct to see if they will allow it. Some students decide to take a year out first and then apply through UCAS during their gap year. Others, post-results, find themselves having to do this. If you are applying to university during a year out, you will need to think carefully about the timing of any plans for overseas work or travel - will they clash with applications, interviews or offers? No matter when you decide to take some time out, you should always check how admissions tutors for the courses that interest you view your plans. Most will regard a well-planned year out positively - some may even offer suggestions about useful activities - but opinions do vary. Sometimes this is because of the subject some universities, for instance, feel a gap year is detrimental to the study of mathematics. Find out more The Year Out Group website has a section which lists the sort of questions you should be asking before you start on a gap year project, to help you make your decisions. You can also find out what employers and universities think about gap years. You can check it out at: If you are keen to get work experience that may lead to employer sponsorship the following sites will be useful: About Year in Industry placements which pay a wage and sometimes lead to sponsorship too The notgoingtouni website also covers some of the options on offer instead of going to university including employment options.

9 HELPING OUT Volunteering in the UK or overseas Where can you volunteer? You can volunteer: in your local community or another part of the UK overseas - not just in Europe or America but most countries in the world for a couple of hours a week during school, college or university holidays full-time. Why volunteer: You may not be making money - although most voluntary opportunities offer help with expenses and some offer pocket money and living expenses if away from home - but you will be helping yourself when you do any voluntary work. Personal benefits you may gain from volunteering Build your employability skills Checkout your personal strengths Develop your confidence Feel valuable Find out if you suit a particular area of work experience Gain experience of work Get references Have fun Learn new skills Strengthen your CV Support a cause you believe in Training - most voluntary opportunities offer free training Win awards or work towards volunteering qualifications I d like to volunteer. What do 1 need to do next? Start by asking yourself a few questions - it will help after you decide on the best opportunity for you. What... skills and interests do you have already that you'd like to explore more? What... new skills and interests would you like to have a go at? What... length of time would you like to volunteer for - a few hours a week in term time, during school or college holidays or as part of a year out project? What... place do you want to volunteer in? In your own community? Away from home? Overseas? What... about cash? This may be more of an issue for some gap year projects which charge to cover costs so if you are keen on a gap year project you'll need to think about how you are going to raise the cash.

10 HELPING OUT Volunteering in the UK or overseas Were to look for volunteering opportunities There are some excellent websites you can use to start your research - we've just given you a few to get you started but they all have lots of information as well as links to other sites on them: 'V - A site from the V charity - which helps young people, aged who are keen to do voluntary work. The site has an opportunity search so that you can select where you want to volunteer, your interests and what you'd be keen to do - for example entertainment, fundraising, music, sports or youth work - and then get an individual list of opportunities for you. You can also telephone 'Vinspired' on Community Service Volunteers (CSV) - Search on this site for volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16-26, including full-time volunteering projects where you can spend 4 months to a year away from home. On these full-time projects you'll get free meals and accommodation and a weekly allowance, as you'll be living away from home. Volunteering England - This site has links to both local volunteer centres - where you can call in to ask about volunteering locally - and to all the main volunteering websites in both the UK and overseas. Worldwide Volunteering- A site for volunteers of all ages, with more than 300,000 opportunities in UK, Europe or worldwide. You can build up an on-screen profile of your ideal volunteer placement by answering questions about your age, where you want to volunteer, who you want to help, how much you can afford - if anything, what activities interest you and where you'd like to volunteer. The database then displays voluntary opportunities to suit you. And some other ideas for volunteering... BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) - www2.btcv.org An environmental charity offering volunteering and work experience opportunities for young people interested in environmental work. British Council - Opportunities for language assistants. Community Service Volunteers- Community volunteering and training opportunities. Projects include work in children's homes, with the homeless, assisting students with disabilities and on conservation schemes throughout the UK. Projects can last between 4 and 12 months. Board, lodging and pocket money are provided. Concordia (Youth Service Volunteers) - Registered UK charity providing young people with opportunities for international work experience. info@concordia-iye.org.uk.

11 HELPING OUT Volunteering in the UK or overseas Leonard Cheshire Disability - Various opportunities to help care for adults with disabilities. Projects include volunteering for care organisations and fund-raising. National Trust Central Volunteering Team- Volunteering opportunities and working holidays, with projects ranging from countryside conservation to construction. volunteers@nationaltrust.org.uk. PGL Travel LTD - Work opportunities on adventure holidays for young people. Instructor posts require experience/qualifications. Students Partnership Worldwide- Volunteering opportunities in Africa and Asia. Projects aim to tackle health and environmental issues affecting young people in rural areas. The Prince's Trust Volunteers - Programmes to help young people help themselves and their community. The Trust helps young people with business start-up and organises volunteering opportunities in the local community.

12 Higher Education Websites STUDENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT One of the most important issues for students considering applying to Higher Education is How much is it going to cost and what financial support can I receive? It is recommended that you commence your research by using the websites listed below. Accommodation As part of your research into Higher Education, it is important to find out the accommodation costs in and around the university that interests you. Visit students.com. Select a city then do a search for accommodation to check out the rents being charged in that area. Visit the university's website and look at the pages on accommodation. Many will give details of rents and you may be able to book your accommodation on-line. However, we strongly recommend that you visit first. For further information ring up the university and ask to speak to accommodation. Some universities will have limited or no accommodation available and students will need to use Private Accommodation. Make sure you use the recommended list of landlords available at the university. Be prepared to spend a day visiting accommodation prior to going to university.

13 Higher Education CHECKLIST For You In 2013 Note 1. For University Degree Courses you need 2 full A levels as a minimum. 2. Make sure you really want to go the the place (This includes do you want to travel to it) 3. If you can, make sure that your insurance offer is lower than your firm offer. (There may be some courses where standard grades apply and this is not possible) Websites You can use the Stamford Test on to help you identify Degree Courses. Remember you can use Careerscape to look at careers using the local website This will help prepare your student statement. Book a careers interview if you are unsure what to do next year. Check websites for more information on universities or tyguide Make a choice between 1 & 5. (4 for Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry) Find out more information on Plan to go to open days (at least 2 to compare facilities, talk to lecturers and compare what is available) Look at for dates and to book a place. Aim to apply early. Remember the earlier your application is received at UCAS the better chance of a place. (Providing that your predicted grades match the degree entry requirements for the university). University Information