CHOOSING A COURSE AND UNIVERSITY

MAIN TOPICS

• Choosing your course

• Choosing your university

• Finding information

• Timeline

CHOOSING YOUR LEVEL OF STUDY

Honours Degree BA or BSc or BEng 3 or 4 years

Foundation Courses Course before degree.

e.g. Art foundation, Engineering etc.

1 year

Foundation Degrees - Related to specific career paths

- Designed with local employers

- Can continue to honours degree in 3rd year

2 years

Higher National Certificate

and

Higher National Diploma

- Practical subjects

- Well-recognised by employers

- Standardised qualification

- Can continue to honours degree in 2nd or 3rd year

1 year

2 years

CHOOSING YOUR SUBJECT

Over 38,000 courses on offer!

Favourite subject?

Develop out of school interest?

Try something completely

new?

Career in mind?

TRUE OR FALSE?

Surf Science

David Beckham Studies

Extreme Sports Studies

Oscars Dress Design

Parent Management

Road Management

Fish Farming

Golfing Management

Baking Technology

Fashion Sportswear

TRUE OR FALSE?

TRUE

Surf Science

Universe

Fish Farming

Golfing Studies

Fashion Sportswear

FALSE

David Beckham Studies

Extreme Sports Studies

Oscars Dress Design

Parent Management

Road Management

Course Structure

Modular

Full-time / Part-time

Major / Minor

Length of course

Sandwich course

Combined / Joint honours

COMPARING THE COURSE

Content

Does it cover your interests?

Look at specific topics

Professionally accredited?

Teaching Styles

Lectures, seminars, practicals, independent

study

Assessment type

Class sizes

www.unistats.direct.gov.uk

WHAT DID THEY STUDY?

JOHN: Police Sergeant

HANNAH: Primary Teacher

TONY: ‘Contracts Director’ for architectural glazing firm

DAN: ‘Marketing Executive’ for IT distributor

HELEN: ‘Corporate Partnerships Manager’ for RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute)

KAT: ‘Media Buyer’ for advertising firm

TONI: Cabin Crew for Virgin Atlantic

Marketing Management with Economics

American (United States) Studies

Biological Sciences

Biology

Psychology

Politics and History of the Middle East with Arabic

Primary Teaching

WHAT DID THEY STUDY?

Biology

Primary Teaching

Biological Sciences

Marketing Management with

Economics

Politics and History of the Middle East with Arabic

American (United States) Studies

Psychology

JOHN: Police Sergeant

HANNAH: Primary Teacher

TONY: ‘Contracts Director’ for architectural glazing firm

DAN: ‘Marketing Executive’ for IT distributor

HELEN: ‘Corporate Partnerships Manager’ for RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute)

KAT: ‘Media Buyer’ for advertising firm

TONI: Cabin Crew for Virgin Atlantic

CHOOSING YOUR UNIVERSITY

Entry Requirements

Size

Financial support

Reputation

Location

Facilities

LOCATION

City or country?

Campus or town?

HOW FAR?

ACCOMMODATION

Where will you be based?

FACILITIES

Student Union services

Student Union Clubs and Societies

Bars and Club nights

Sports Facilities

Libraries and Computers

Part-time work

WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION

UCAS www.ucas.com

Prospectuses, web sites and course leaflets

Open-days

Exhibitions

Admission Tutors

Independent guides, e.g, Virgin, Times, Guardian, Brian Heap

TIMELINE

Register with UCAS

Write personal statement

Apply to UCAS

Oxford/Cambridge/ medicine deadline

Receive offers and choose 2 universities

Summer 2013

September onwards

October 2013

January – Easter

2013

2014

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Start Researching NOW!

Don’t panico Something for everyoneo Career plans not vital

Research course content o Right level of studyo Areas you are interested in

University choiceo Realistic entry requirementso Visit before applying!

Deadlines and Timeline

www.unipodadvice.com

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Any Questions?