Ambitious Futures. How to gain a place at a Top Uni

Transcription

1 Ambitious Futures How to gain a place at a Top Uni

2 What is a top Uni? In 1994, 24 long established universities met in Russell Square, London and formed an alliance called the Russell Group. Why are these universities so sought after? The Russell Group band together to secure more funding, contracts, grants and awards their way. This is invested in research and helps Russell Group to attract the best academic staff. Students work with worldclass experts, use first-rate libraries and facilities, are part of a highly motivated and talented peer group and often engage with cutting-edge research. There is a higher percentage of Russell Group graduates in work or further study 6 months after graduation. Over 41% of Russell Group graduates, compared to a sector average of 32%, are earning an annual salary of 30,000 or more.* Russell Group graduates are thought to earn 10% more ( 90,000) than other graduates over a career lifetime. In a recent survey, a higher percentage of Russell Group graduates responded that they were very or fairly satisfied with their career to date.* 17 out of the top 20 Universities targeted by top employers are in the Russell Group. Russell Group universities offer a number of useful schemes that aim to make their graduates work ready. 18 of the Russell Group are in the Top 100 global universities. Average staff to student ratios are 1:8 compared with 1:16 in many non-russell Group universities. If you want to know more see the informed choices booklet; the Russell Group website The Russell Group Youtube channel; on twitter

3 Universities in the Russell Group University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Imperial College in London King s College, London Leeds University Liverpool University London School of Economics and Political Science University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary University of London Queen s University, Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton University College, London University of Warwick University of York Other Top Unis There are other universities, not in the Russell Group, who are recognised as being leading universities. Places at these universities are also highly sought after: University of Bath and Loughborough University are renowned for their outstanding sports provision. University of Reading and University of St Andrews have strong traditional reputations. The University of St Andrews is the only non-russell Group University in the Top 100 global universities. WHICH? University Guide says A top class honours degree from a Russell Group university can give job applications a certain sparkle and may open up some extra doors into competitive career sectors. One to watch- the University of Coventry is rapidly climbing (see Which? University Guide website) the university league tables. This year it appeared in The Times Higher Education magazine s table of tables for UK unis which ranks the country s top 30 based on results from the Guardian University Guide, the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the Complete University Guide. A new entry for 2016 in the THE s annual table, Coventry University is the only post-1992 institution ever to feature in the list. It is also been named Modern University of the Year for the last three years in a row.

4 Art/Drama/Music Art If you are seeking an opportunity to develop your ability to express yourself creatively through drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture or performance art consider these institutions. A portfolio of artwork to demonstrate your creative skills is usually an entry requirement for an Art degree course (you will need to do an Art Foundation course first). It goes without saying that your portfolio will need to be outstanding to access these elite institutions. Glasgow School of Art (For Fine Art, Design, Architecture); Goldsmiths, University of London (For Fine Art, Textiles) Royal College of Art (For Postgraduate Art and Design); Slade School of Fine Art (For Painting, Sculpture, Fine Art); University of the Arts, London: Central St Martins College of Art and Design, London College of Fashion, Camberwell College of Arts, Wimbledon College of Art Chelsea College of Art and Design Drama If you picture yourself on stage or front of camera performing, or behind the scenes designing or directing then look at what these institutions have to offer. If you re choosing a performance-based course, expect to attend an audition to showcase those theatrical talents at interview. Birmingham University Bristol Old Vic, Bristol University, Central School of Speech and Drama, Conservatoire for Dance and Drama Guildhall School of Music and Drama, LAMDA, LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts), Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Music: If you want to develop your performance skills, compose, conduct or learn music production techniques then investigate these institutions. For performance courses you will usually need ABRSM grades in voice or the instrument(s) you want to study at a very high level. Birmingham Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music and Drama Royal Academy of Music Royal College of Music If you are interested in a creative career do have a look at which gives lots of practical careers advice.

5 I want to go to a Top Uni Which A-Levels Should I Study? Many courses at university build on knowledge and skills which students gain while still at school. For this reason, some university courses require you to have studied a particular subject already- and this will be a must for entry onto those courses. For example, for general engineering degrees, mathematics and physics are typically essential A-level qualifications. If you know what you want to do they look at the UCAS and University websites BEFORE making your choices to ensure that you have what you need to progress onto the university course of your choice. Please do note advice given by universities- for example you are not expected to study law at A-Level to read Law at university, a range of facilitating subjects is highly likely to be preferred as explained below. Some advanced level subjects are more frequently required for entry to degree courses than others. We call these subjects facilitating because choosing them at advanced level leaves open a wide range of options for university study. These subjects are ideal if you are unsure about what you would like to apply for. Russell Group advice is to study at least 2 facilitating subjects. Facilitating subjects are: Biology Chemistry English literature Geography History Physics Modern and classical languages Maths and further maths Do look at school performance when selecting your sixth form. For example in 2015 The Purbeck School had the best results in 5 of the 8 facilitating subjects in Dorset County Council.** I want to go to a Top Uni What grades will I need? Top universities are enormously over-subscribed- for example on average only 1 in 5 applicants are offered a place at Oxford University. For Medicine at Oxford this is 1 in 10. You will often need A*AA or better to meet the entrance requirements for these very top universities. It is therefore very important to work hard and do as well as possible at both A-Level and GCSE. I want to go to a Top Uni Do I need to sit additional(specialist) tests? Russell Group Universities say: If you don t know what you want to study at university then it s a really good rule of thumb that taking two facilitating subjects will keep a wide range of degree courses open to you. (see Russell Group website) Specialist tests can be required for some of the top degree programmes at the most prestigious universities- remember there is international competition for places on these degree programmes. It is important to be aware of what might be required of you if you have a particular career or degree programme in mind as preparation is essential. You should seek to find out as much as you can about these assessments in advance (see below for web links). These tests help universities make more informed choices from amongst the many highly qualified applicants who apply for their programmes. The tests ensure that the candidates that are ultimately selected possess the most appropriate intellectual aptitude and attitudes for the course and the right value system that will translate into the right professional behaviours in that particular vocation.

6 Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science BMAT and UKCAT are the two specialist tests used by universities and medical schools that require specialist entrance tests. The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a subjectspecific admissions test, which you can revise and prepare for. For more information see cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ adt/bmat The UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) does not contain any curriculum or science content; nor is revision possible. It focuses on exploring the cognitive powers of candidates and other attributes considered to be valuable for health care professionals to see if you have what it takes to be a great medical professional. Although you cannot revise for this test it is highly advisable to practise to become familiar with the format of the test, types of questions and the time pressure. Practise papers can be found at the web address below: For more information see Law Eleven law schools in the UK participate in the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT). This computer-based test is designed to help identify applicants with the aptitude and skills necessary for success on Law degree courses. Most top universities will use your LNAT result alongside many other elements when making a decision about whether to offer a place your UCAS application and interview are also very important. It is important that you become familiar with the rules that relate to sitting the LNAT, especially if you are applying for Oxford and Cambridge. For more information see See below for information on the Pathways To Law programme if you are aiming for a career in law. Maths Mathematics Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) is a well-established Mathematics university admissions test, which is used to help to select very academically able students for courses that are usually oversubscribed. For more information see cambridgeassessment.org.uk/ adt/step

7 Other written tests Admission demands vary hugely across different top universities and undergraduate courses. Some will require an interview alone, others will request one or two of your school essays and in some cases you may be asked to take a further test or assessment either when you attend for interview or beforehand. For example for courses at the University of Cambridge (see separate college admission information as there is variety here) and for undergraduate degrees in PPE, E & M, EP and PPP at the University of Oxford the TSA is used. The TSA stands for Thinking Skills Assessment. The TSA is a 90-minute multiple-choice test consisting of 50 questions. It measures an applicant s critical thinking and problem solving skills and admissions tutors will use the result to see if the candidate has the right skills and aptitudes to study the degree course that they have applied for. For more information see I want to study at Oxford or Cambridge University What are they looking for? The interview is a critical part of the assessment process for Oxford and Cambridge universities. Much practise (as realistic as possible) is advised. Both Universities have information about their admissions interviews on their website. If you secure an interview, it is strongly advised to find out everything you can about the tutor interviewing you and their field of expertise- this is easy to do and can make a very big difference to your performance in the room. For more information on Oxford interviews see For more information on Cambridge interviews see

8 I want to go to a Top Uni What else can I do? There are certain programmes that Russell Group universities offer that will prepare you well to study particular subjects at a higher level that mean that you may secure a slightly lower conditional offer, depending on your personal circumstances. Here are just two examples of current schemes: Access to Southampton (A2S) Access to Southampton is the university s widening participation scheme. The programme includes a residential summer school, potential eligibility for an alternative admissions offer, as well as support with the transition to university. The Access to Southampton (A2S) scheme was developed to provide special consideration and financial support to students who meet two or more of our eligibility criteria. Access to Southampton (A2S) is open nationally to students living permanently in the UK. Students must apply to A2S when they are in Year 12 or the first year of A-Level (or equivalent) study. Applications to the A2S scheme for 2017 entry will open in January To be eligible for the A2S scheme, you should have the potential to study at the University of Southampton and meet two or more of the following criteria: In the first generation of immediate family to apply to Higher Education, excluding brothers or sisters. In receipt of a Bursary or similar grant OR received Free School Meals at any point during your secondary school education. Be a Young Carer. Living or grew up in Local Authority care. Current home post code shows that you live in an area with low levels of progression to Higher Education. (Postcodes within the lowest 2 POLAR3 quintiles). Postcodes can be checked for eligibility on the HEFCE Postcode Checker Attended a secondary school which achieved less than the national average of 5 A*-C passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE in Studies affected or disrupted by circumstances in your personal, social or domestic life. See University of Southampton website for more detail.

9 Access to Leeds University informally known as the coolest university in the UK. Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme, run in parallel to the university s standard admissions process, which guarantees special consideration for students whose personal circumstances may affect their ability to demonstrate talent through grades alone. But they must demonstrate their potential through other means. Central to the scheme is the Access to Leeds module that students must complete. This module covers study skills and subject skills, and is designed to help students make the transition from school to university life. For me, the Access to Leeds module was a great way to ease into university life so that when I started my course I was less nervous. I was able to experience the type of questions and topics I would be answering at university, and having access to journals and text books really helped me understand what independent learning is like. My advice to students applying through the Access to Leeds scheme is, don t let the module or the extra application put you off the extra effort will really pay off in the long term. Law student involved in Access to Leeds Students who complete the Access to Leeds programme successfully and who received a course offer will also receive an Access to Leeds offer which is typically two A-level grades below the university s standard offer for that course (e.g. BBB rather than AAB at A-level). Tracking data shows that the majority of students on the programme achieve either a first or 2:1 and the university is currently carrying out research on destinations of graduates. Anyone applying to a full-time undergraduate degree at the University can apply to the Access to Leeds scheme. To be eligible you must be living permanently in the UK, have the potential to succeed at the University of Leeds and meet two or more of the following criteria: be from a household with an annual income of 25,000 or below or in receipt of Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support with an income threshold of 25,000, or in receipt of free school meals during your GCSE studies. be in the first generation of your immediate family to go to university attend a school achieving below the national average at GCSE (5A*-C passes including English and Maths) you live or grew up in public care your studies have been disrupted by circumstances in your personal, social or domestic life you live in a geographical area with low progression to higher education (see our online postcode checker) See Leeds University website for more detail.

10 Summer School: We have found that university summer schools and work experience related to a students A-Level subjects or career ambitions is seen as very desirable from the point of view of university admissions tutors. The Sutton Trust website has some first-hand experiences of impact of a summer school on students about to apply for university: I believe that the summer school has broadened my horizons and allowed me to see that an education at my dream university is perhaps not as unreachable as I first thought. Also, it was an amazing experience to be able to meet so many like-minded people and to be able to talk to people with the same aspirations and the same passion as myself. Thank you very much for allowing me to take part in this wonderful opportunity! this opportunity has given me so much more confidence to apply to the top universities I wouldn t have gained from elsewhere. As well as the fascinating subject hours!!! For more information on summer school places see Applications for summer 2016 open on Friday 8th January 2016 For those interested in reading law there is a national programme delivered by a network of universities supported by top law firms to help prepare students for a career in law during their sixth form years. In this area, our local centre is Southampton University and there are currently two schools in Dorset, Purbeck and Twynham School, who place students on this programme. Events include UCAS Workshops, Pro-Bono workshops, Employability Skills sessions, Moots and Speed Moots, StreetLaw presentations and Law Taster Days E- mentor support from second year Law students Visits to The Supreme Court, The Inner Temple, Royal Courts of Justice and a four day national conference at the University of Warwick. Research Skills for Undergraduate Study at University of Southampton Support from the magic circle firms, local and national Law firms offering work placements, for example a visit to Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf, London Undertaking this programme can result in a lower offer to read law at one of the universities in the scheme:

11 Bursaries Effective bursary schemes help address the concerns of some students who feel they may not be able to finance their years of study. There should be no reason for financial worries to present a barrier to studying at one of the country s best universities. Most Russell Group Universities have excellent schemes in place, the following are a small example of what is out there if you do your research: Newcastle University s substantial range of scholarships will benefit approximately 30% of new undergraduate students starting their degree in There are a wide range of scholarships and bursaries available see the Student Wellbeing section of the Newcastle University website for further details. At Nottingham, at least a third of students are eligible for the University Core Bursary, which offers up to 3,000 for each year of undergraduate study. This is a means tested bursary based on the student s household income. For many students this reduces the need to do paid work which allows more time to focus on studies. At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded. The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of bursaries, grants and scholarships. There are very wide range of scholarships that apply to all subject areas and beyond. The university also uses funds to help students experience excellent work related opportunities for example, their Gateway Bursary for internships or other activities to support employment, which students on low incomes might otherwise not be able to access due to travel costs and lost pay, as they may have been planning to work during the holidays. This bursary supports students from priority groups to take up opportunities that will help improve their personal and professional development. Support is available up to a value of 2,000. Financial support for undergraduate students at Oxford is a feature of the work of the university and its colleges. In addition to bursaries and tuition fee reductions, the collegiate University has always offered additional support to students through a number of additional financial assistance schemes, including supplementary financial provision offered by colleges. The collegiate University continues to devote substantial resources to providing generous maintenance bursaries up to an estimated 7.2 million in , and to maintaining tuition fee reductions worth 3.6 million. Due to the high level of financial support, the University estimates students from households with incomes of 25,000 or less will be able to reduce the amount of government maintenance loan they take out by at least 2,000, based on the current lower range estimate of Oxford living costs over nine months.

12 Sources for quoted statistics: * Source: A passion for learning: The student experience at Russell Group Universities, The Russell Group,2014 ** Source: Dorset 2015 ALPs results- results based on 3 year subject performance in the 16 Dorset schools with sixth forms. The Purbeck School tops the tables in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, History.