Applying to the UK Iain Harris International Recruitment Manger
Today s session Key differences between US and UK University 300 Universities and 50,000 Degrees The UK degree offer Entry requirements None-traditional courses Application support How and when Your students Your role Northumbria University
Studying in the UK UK undergraduate degrees generally last three years - No Gen-Ed - Study your chosen major from day one - Entry requirements are transparent Postgraduate degrees are generally one year - UG and PG within four years Professional degrees like Medicine/Law are direct entry - No pre-degree required
Studying in the UK Placement opportunities and Study Abroad Tuition fees are extremely competitive when compared to US Fees averaging around $20,000 a year plus accommodation Over 80% of students graduate on-time and most find work within six months 68% of job adverts aimed at graduates do not specify a degree subject Gateway to Europe
Teaching and Assessment Contact hours will vary depending on degree subject Lectures, Seminars, Lab work, Self directed study Most UK universities operate on a semester system Semester 1: Late September to December Semester 2: Late January to May Assessments Coursework, Group work, Presentations, Exams, Work Experience Grading ü 70% ü 60-70% ü 50-60% ü 40-50% (A) = First Class (B) = Upper Second Class (C) = Lower Second Class (D) = Pass/ Third Class
Application cycle Research options (Junior) Complete UCAS application from Sept Sent to universities via UCAS Choose firm and insurance choices Visit universities or possible interviews Results of application Complete course/sit exams Exam/course results - confirmation or clearing Confirm offer ENROL START UNIVERSITY! Apply for VISA Issue CAS Pay deposit
Choosing a course 300 + institutions in the UK offering degrees Subject that interests you with a good reputation Entry requirements Study Abroad and Placements The UK is best fit for students that know what they want to study Choosing a university Location in the UK Ranking Size and Type Extra curricular and support Cost of living and social life Employability Facilities
Types of degrees Single Honours - BA (Hons) in Business and Finance BSc (Hons) Forensic Science Combined and Dual/Joint Honours BA (Hons) in International Relations AND Politics Interdisciplinary BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts BA (Hons) in Humanities Integrated Master s Degrees Mechanical Engineering Integrated degree MEng
Entry Requirements Students in the UK have 13 years school education before going to university. For 2 years before university, they focus their studies on 3/4 subject areas. This means we look for students with a good GPA PLUS advanced coursework: e.g. APs, SAT Subject Tests, International Baccalaureate
Courses with non-standard admissions Medical School Specific subject requirements e.g. chemistry & biology UKCAT aptitude test must be passed in the summer before application submitted Voluntary experience in a care giving environment Personal statement demonstrates maturity and understanding of responsibilities in becoming a medical professional Interview (tend to require applicants to come to the UK) Art and Design Courses Interview Portfolio demonstrating previous work Other Some degree courses will have subject specific entry requirements e.g. science/maths degrees, you can check this with admissions tutors
Making an application UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Service Common App A handful of UK universities are members Direct applications some universities accept direct applications
UCAS Apply for up to five different degree subjects one application Applications are made online at www.ucas.com One set application fee - Single application fee = 12 - Multiple universities = 23 UCAS Centre Buzzword UCAS Terminology
Past and Predicted Grades at the end of your senior year 3 Reach/Target entry requirements 2 Insurance with lower entry requirements Personal statement is a key part of the application Academic reference e.g. name of teacher/counsellor to support your application
Key application dates 1 September UCAS starts accepting applications for following year 15 October deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary, Oxford & Cambridge 15 January equal consideration deadline for all other courses 24 March deadline for Arts and Design courses
Personal Statement Compulsory element of UCAS application Maximum of 4,000 characters Same statement is submitted to all UCAS choices Read by admissions officers alongside reference Showcases why a student wants to study a particular major and is a opportunity to demonstrate that a student has the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed
Personal Statement Interviews are only used for certain courses Chance to impress the admissions selector Need to stand out amongst other applicants Express an interest and enthusiasm for the subject Logically organised statement with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation Talk about current studies, experiences, career goals & skills Any other achievements and work and volunteer experience
Accept or Reject? I have always had an interest and passion for Law. Within that time have realised many people can succeed in law it just really depends on your personality. Law is a excellent job for income however it is very challenging but highly rewarding. I would like to study Law further at University as i find the subject very intriguing. One key aspect of Law i agree with is 'the rule of law' because a society without Law would leave the nation to be governed by the arbitrary decisions of individual government officials. I strongly believe I am an excellent candidate for the course.
Accept or Reject? I have always had an interest and passion for Law. Within that time have realised many people can succeed in law it just really depends on your personality. Law is a excellent job for income however it is very challenging but highly rewarding. I would like to study Law further at University as i find the subject very intriguing. One key aspect of Law i agree with is 'the rule of law' because a society without Law would leave the nation to be governed by the why? arbitrary decisions of individual government officials. I strongly believe I am an excellent candidate for the course.
Accept or Reject? This is why I feel that the evolutions we have made in our legal systems far surpass, in terms of importance, the advances we have made in any other area. Being even a small part of this system would be an incredible honour. In order to prepare myself for university Accept life I read, or Reject? "Letters to a Law student - A guide to studying Law at University" by Nicholas J. McBride, which provided me with an understanding of how I would fare on a Law course and what I can expect during my time at a higher education institution. I also read, "About Law: an Introduction" by Tony Honore, as I have not studied Law at A-level. By reading this book, I was able to get a brief overview of many areas of law, including Criminal law, and a brief history of the subject. I feel as though this has given me a broad base on which I can build whilst studying at a higher level.
Accept or Reject? This is why I feel that the evolutions we have made in our legal systems far surpass, in terms of importance, the advances we have made in any other area. Being even a small part of this system would be an incredible honour. In order to prepare myself for university life I read, "Letters to a Law student - A guide to studying Law at University" by Nicholas J. McBride, which provided me with an understanding of how I would fare on a Law course and what I can expect during my time at a higher education institution. I also read, "About Law: an Introduction" by Tony Honore, as I have not studied Law at A-level. By reading this book, I was able to get a brief overview of many areas of law, including Criminal law, and a brief history of the subject. I feel as though this has given me a broad base on which I can build whilst studying at a higher level.
Counsellor/Teacher reference Assist in selection/decision making Distinguish between candidates with similar profiles Assessment of an applicant s potential to study and succeed at university Have an indication of an applicant s skills and abilities Context
What should be included? Post-16 academic performance and achievement Potential for success at HE Skills and qualities o Enthusiasm, motivation and commitment o Communication and presentation skills o Analytical and problem solving skills o Powers of analysis and independent thought o Imagination and creativity (if relevant) Achievements Work experience Extra curricular activities Career plan (if known)/suitability for a particular profession Contributions in class and the wider social framework of the school/college The human being behind the application
Things to think about: How well do you know your students? How much do you involve the student? How well do you know the requirements of the subject area/course they are applying for? Other considerations o Mitigating circumstances o Views of other staff Data Protection Act applicants can ask to see a copy and it must be provided to them
What happens after you submit? 31 March recommended deadline for universities to respond to applicants - CONDITIONAL offer is when an applicant has a place as long a they can achieve certain grades - UNCONDITIONAL offer is when an applicant has met entry requirements and has a place 4 May Deadline for students to respond to offers can only accept 2-1 FIRM choice Target, first choice university - 1 INSURANCE choice a safety net choice, lower entry requirements Once you have met the conditions of your offer, send your results to your chosen institution so they can confirm your place Conditional offers are binding on the institution
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