An Introduction to Unit 3: Exploring your future2015-16

Unit 3 CATs

3a: Complete table 3a in order of your top 5 UCAS choices

Write an assignment to justify your top 2 choices

(750 words) OR

3b: Complete table 3b listing 2 career choices and 2 HE options

Write an assignment to compare and contrast one of your career choices and one HE option.

Purpose of session

Enable students to undertake HE research

Why? Research is vital to inform YOUR decision making

How? Step by step – primary and secondary research using web, print, events

Purpose of Unit 3

Enable you to be realistic and set achievable targets based on entry requirements

Develop your research and assignment writing skills

Start to put your Career Action Plan into practice

Choosing the right path for you

HE and career research and decision making

HE stats

37,000+

370+

677,373

495,596

Number of courses

Number of HE providers

Number of applicants (2014)

Number who got places (2014)

A female graduate will earn 52% more

(£252,000) over their working

lifetime than a female non-

graduate

A male graduate will earn 28%

more (£168,000) over their working

lifetime than a male non-graduate

Subject interest

Transferable skills

Career prospects

Improve earnings

Have the time of your life

Why Higher Education?

How to choose a course

If you have a career in mind

• Does it require a vocational or non-vocational qualification?

• Does it require postgraduate study?

• Does it require professional accreditation?

• Does it require additional/work experience?

• What’s the competition like?

If you don’t have a career in mind

• What subjects do you enjoy? • Opt for a generic/traditional

subject• What are you good at?• What are your skills, strengths,

interests?

Familiar or new subject?

Entry requirements

Vocational or academic?

Type and level of qualification

Career prospects

Teaching and assessment

methods

Choosing the right course

Use UCAS.com to research which

courses are available at

which universities

Use Unistats.com to compare courses at different

universities

UCAS Tariff

Understand and use the tariff

The UCAS tariff is changing for 2017 entry

AS worth 40%

Factsheet, video and calculator

Example Current Tariff points New system for 2017 entry

A level A* 140 pts 56 pts

www.ucas.com

Home or away City centre or out of town

Campus or non-campus Accommodation

Academic and leisure facilities

Social opportunities

How to choose a university

Your Choices

Use the UCAS Website – www.ucas.com

Be sure of what you want to study

Remember 5 courses, not 5 HEIs

Be realistic with entry requirements

Useful research tips

Consider a range of factors: graduate employment, student satisfaction, course reputation

Primary research – open days, HE and careers fairs

Study prospectuses (paper copy and online)

Talk to tutors, friends, family and current student

Use the Progression Module webpage as a resource

Use the PM web page as a research tool

Points to remember

Refer to table 3a/b in your assignment

Use relevant primary and secondary sources (web and print) to inform your assignment

Include a bibliography (at least 3 web sources – remember to bookmark your sources during research)

Don’t copy and paste info from the web – plagiarism

Write at least 750 words and add a word count at end

Use the writing frame in Unit 3 booklet as a guide

Open Days 2015/16

Saturday 24 October 15Friday 4 December 15

Thursday 23 June 16Wednesday 29 June 16Saturday 17 September 16

9.30am – 3.00pm