Let's talk about⦠- Oxcentric
Let's talk about⦠- Oxcentric
Let's talk about⦠- Oxcentric
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2011–2012<br />
<strong>Let's</strong> <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Choices 18+<br />
Advice and information for students in<br />
their first year of advanced level courses<br />
who are considering higher education<br />
• Deciding what and where to study<br />
• Applying for higher education<br />
• Student finance<br />
• Taking a gap year<br />
• Sources of help<br />
M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com / www.spired.com
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Welcome to Choices 18+<br />
At this stage there are probably two main<br />
choices in front of you – employment or<br />
higher education.<br />
Why choose employment?<br />
• You may be able to find a job that offers structured<br />
training leading to valuable work-related or<br />
professional qualifications. In the current economic<br />
climate, these opportunities are harder to find but<br />
there will still be some out there.<br />
• You get onto the career ladder earlier than those who<br />
go into higher education – everyone has to get a job<br />
sometime, so why not now?<br />
• You will be earning while you learn and you won’t have<br />
to take out a student loan or pay tuition fees.<br />
• You could always enter higher education later either<br />
full time or on a part-time basis.<br />
If this seems like the route for you, then see Let’s <strong>talk</strong><br />
about …Jobseeking 2011-2012 at<br />
M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click<br />
on ‘publications’. This gives loads of advice on job<br />
hunting, writing letters, CVs and going for interviews.<br />
Why choose higher education?<br />
• For some careers e.g. medicine or architecture, higher<br />
education is the only entry route.<br />
• It can be an important stepping-stone to a very wide<br />
range of careers.<br />
• It can give you the opportunity to study a subject that<br />
really interests you and fulfil your academic potential.<br />
• It will help you develop both personal and<br />
career-related skills.<br />
If this seems like the route for you, then you should<br />
find this publication, Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…Choices 18+<br />
2011-2012, helpful. It covers the issues you need to<br />
consider and points you towards other key sources of<br />
information. If you need further help or advice, <strong>talk</strong> to<br />
your sixth form/college tutor or adviser.<br />
Contents<br />
Thinking about higher education? 1<br />
What types of courses are there and what<br />
qualifications do I need? 2<br />
How are the courses structured? 3<br />
Exploring ideas for higher education courses 4<br />
Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) 6<br />
Studying abroad 7<br />
What do I do if I don’t know what to study? 8<br />
Applications calendar 9<br />
The application process 10<br />
The UCAS Tariff 11<br />
Information for students with<br />
vocational qualifications 12<br />
Information for students with disabilities 13<br />
Information for overseas students 14<br />
Completing your personal statement 15<br />
Interviews for higher education 16<br />
UCAS Extra, Clearing and Adjustment 17<br />
Student finance 18<br />
Sponsorship 20<br />
Taking a gap year 21<br />
The value of work experience 22<br />
What next after university? 23<br />
Sources of further information 24<br />
Useful websites 26<br />
Other sources of help 28<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com
Thinking about higher education?<br />
Choosing which higher<br />
education (HE) course to take<br />
is a big decision. You are<br />
choosing not only a course<br />
to study but a way of life for<br />
the next three or four years,<br />
so take time to research it<br />
properly.<br />
What is higher education?<br />
Higher education means courses taken<br />
beyond 18, that lead to a level 4, 5 or 6<br />
qualification.<br />
Which course?<br />
Start by thinking about your skills,<br />
qualifications and interests:<br />
• Are there subjects you enjoy and are good<br />
at, which you might want to continue?<br />
• Do you have a career aim? Do you need to<br />
take a specific or related HE course for it?<br />
Are there alternative routes of entry into<br />
this career e.g. work-based training such as<br />
an Apprenticeship, that you might prefer?<br />
• Are there new subjects that interest you?<br />
• What are your predicted grades? Will<br />
they be good enough for the courses that<br />
interest you? If not, investigate similar ones<br />
with lower entry requirements.<br />
• Some courses expect you to have relevant<br />
work experience e.g. medicine, teaching,<br />
physiotherapy and some media courses.<br />
Make sure you have completed this before<br />
applying.<br />
Check out<br />
M www.ukcoursefinder.com It’s a useful<br />
tool to help you decide which course to take.<br />
Type of course<br />
Try to choose a course that will give you the<br />
best chance of success. Think about:<br />
• What level of course would be right for<br />
you?<br />
• Would you like some work experience or<br />
overseas study to be part of your course?<br />
• Do you want to do a vocational or nonvocational<br />
course?<br />
• Are you looking for a full-time course or<br />
would you prefer to study part time?<br />
• Courses can be single subject, joint subjects<br />
or combined subjects – which would be<br />
your choice?<br />
• Would you prefer a general first year<br />
followed by the chance to choose specialist<br />
course options, or a course that specialises<br />
from the start?<br />
Type of university<br />
Where you study can be as important as what<br />
you study when it comes to making a success<br />
of your HE. Universities vary enormously in<br />
terms of size, location, character and student<br />
population.<br />
Think about:<br />
• Do you want to be on a campus?<br />
• Are first year students guaranteed a place<br />
in a hall of residence?<br />
• What other accommodation is available<br />
and how much would it cost?<br />
• Do you have particular interests and<br />
hobbies you want to continue at university/<br />
college? Are these available in the area?<br />
• Is big city life for you?<br />
• How easy would it be to get home and<br />
how much would it cost?<br />
Don’t just read about it – go and<br />
have a look around!<br />
Most institutions have Open Days where you<br />
can visit and get a feel for whether you could<br />
settle there. These are publicised in a number<br />
of ways:<br />
• University and college prospectuses and<br />
websites<br />
• Posters that your school/college may display<br />
on notice boards<br />
• Publication called Open Days (UCAS)<br />
• M www.opendays.com where you can<br />
book a visit online.<br />
For more information and advice on HE,<br />
register for your free UCAS Card at<br />
M www.ucas.com/ucascard<br />
You’ll then receive monthly emails with<br />
hints and tips, information from institutions,<br />
expert help from UCAS advisers and discounts<br />
and offers from many high street stores.<br />
Once you’ve applied to university you can<br />
join M www.yougo.co.uk, the free UCAS<br />
student network. Here you can meet people<br />
before going to university and make friends<br />
with those who will be doing your course.<br />
You can also speak directly to UCAS and the<br />
universities via their profile pages and get<br />
loads of advice.<br />
Q Which is the<br />
‘best’ university?<br />
A This is an impossible question to<br />
answer. What is best for one student<br />
is not necessarily best for another.<br />
However, you can obtain some really<br />
useful information from the M www.<br />
unistats.com website. It enables<br />
you to search, review and compare<br />
official information about subjects<br />
and universities/colleges and includes<br />
actual entry qualifications, student<br />
feedback on the quality of the courses<br />
they did and what jobs they went into.<br />
Before you start researching into HE,<br />
it’s a good idea to draw up a list of<br />
your own criteria for choosing a course<br />
and university. This should help you<br />
focus on making the right decisions<br />
for you.<br />
Don’t forget that your sixth form/<br />
college tutor or adviser is there to help<br />
you too.<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
1
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
What types of courses are there and<br />
what qualifications do I need?<br />
Degree<br />
• Degrees usually require at least five GCSE<br />
passes at A*– C. Particular subjects such<br />
as maths, English language and science<br />
are often specified.<br />
• You will also normally need a minimum<br />
of two full A levels/Applied A levels or a<br />
Progression/Advanced Diploma or a BTEC<br />
National Diploma or the International<br />
Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or Pre-U<br />
Diploma or equivalent qualifications.<br />
• A minimum number of advanced level<br />
units are usually required, with a certain<br />
number specified at A2. The six unit<br />
Applied A level counts as one A level<br />
and the 12 unit Applied A level counts as<br />
two A levels. Students with an IB need<br />
a minimum of 24 points (UCAS Tariff<br />
260 points) with the more competitive<br />
courses asking for 35 points (UCAS Tariff<br />
501 points) or more. Use M www.ucas.<br />
com entry profiles to check the specific<br />
subject and tariff point requirements.<br />
Also see page 11.<br />
BTEC Higher National Diploma/<br />
Certificate<br />
• Awarded in vocational subjects (e.g.<br />
engineering, business studies).<br />
• Certificates are normally studied on a<br />
part-time basis. Diplomas are studied full<br />
time and take two years, or three years if<br />
taken as a sandwich course.<br />
• Minimum entry requirements are<br />
usually four GCSEs at A*– C and one A<br />
level A*– E, a BTEC National Diploma/<br />
Certificate, an Applied A level (six units)<br />
a Progression/Advanced Diploma or NVQ<br />
level 3.<br />
• Many further education colleges also<br />
offer HNDs, so you can study locally.<br />
• It may be possible to transfer to a degree<br />
course at the end of the first year if you<br />
do well enough.<br />
• Students successfully completing an HND<br />
can do further study to top this up to a<br />
degree.<br />
Foundation Degree<br />
• A vocational course combining academic<br />
study with workplace learning.<br />
• Lasts two years full time and can lead to<br />
a job or further study.<br />
• Can also be done over three or four<br />
years, where you learn through part-time<br />
day, evening or block-release attendance<br />
at college or university, distance learning,<br />
in the workplace, or via the internet.<br />
• Entry requirements vary. Check with<br />
individual institutions.<br />
M www.fdf.ac.uk<br />
M www.ucas.com/students/<br />
choosingcourses/choosingcourse/<br />
foundationdegree<br />
Specialist and diploma courses<br />
• Entry requirements for these types of<br />
courses vary.<br />
• Most art and design degrees require<br />
A level students to have completed a<br />
Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and<br />
Design) course (see page 6).<br />
• Private dance and drama schools offer<br />
courses in acting, dance, ballet and<br />
technical theatre. Places at some of these<br />
are funded through Dance and Drama<br />
Awards. For more information visit<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/<br />
danceanddrama<br />
M www.drama.ac.uk<br />
M www.ncdt.co.uk<br />
M www.cdet.org.uk<br />
• A number of non-degree courses provide<br />
entry into specific careers e.g. Pre-entry<br />
Journalism. Visit<br />
M www.nctj.com<br />
Some may require previous work<br />
experience. These cannot be funded<br />
through the Student Loans system.<br />
• Access courses are a route into HE for<br />
those who left school/college without A<br />
levels or equivalent qualifications. They<br />
are offered by most local colleges but<br />
are not necessarily accepted by all HE<br />
institutions so you need to research this<br />
carefully.<br />
Diploma of Higher Education<br />
(DipHE)<br />
• A DipHE award is the equivalent of<br />
two years of degree study. Some are in<br />
academic subjects, others are vocational<br />
e.g. Diploma in Nursing, which unusually<br />
is a three year course.<br />
• Students are often encouraged to<br />
complete an extra year to gain degree<br />
level status.<br />
• Entry requirements are similar to<br />
degrees.<br />
International Foundation Courses<br />
• These are designed for overseas<br />
students, providing a combination of<br />
English language and a vocational<br />
area of study, prior to starting a degree<br />
course.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Seek advice if you are unsure about<br />
the status of a college, acceptability<br />
of a qualification or level of fees<br />
charged.<br />
• Always check the actual subjects/<br />
grades/points required for specific<br />
courses. These are often higher than<br />
the minimum requirements.<br />
• If in doubt, check with the<br />
admissions and departmental tutors<br />
who will be pleased to answer your<br />
queries. You may be able to contact<br />
them by email.<br />
• If you have non-standard entry<br />
requirements you should consult<br />
prospectuses and admissions tutors,<br />
who may be more flexible than you<br />
might expect.<br />
2<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
How are the courses structured?<br />
Single subject<br />
Study is concentrated on one main subject. There is often the chance to<br />
study other areas, particularly in the first year, but not to any depth.<br />
Joint subjects<br />
Two subjects are studied in roughly equal proportions. These subjects<br />
may be from different faculties. In general, if two subjects are joined by<br />
‘and’ (e.g. psychology and sociology) they are likely to be offered as a<br />
joint degree on a 50:50 basis.<br />
Combined subjects<br />
Two or more subjects are taken in varying proportions, (e.g. law with<br />
French), they are likely to be offered on a major:minor basis.<br />
Jargon Buster<br />
Modular<br />
Students choose from a wide range of different modules, building up<br />
credits towards a final degree. Depending on the modules taken, a<br />
student can achieve a single, joint or combined degree.<br />
Interdisciplinary<br />
A number of subjects are studied, all related to a particular theme or<br />
discipline.<br />
Sandwich<br />
Courses combining study with paid work placements. These can<br />
either be a ‘thick’ sandwich (a block placement of one year) or a ‘thin’<br />
sandwich (several shorter placements spread out during the course).<br />
Sandwich courses are usually offered in vocational subjects, such as<br />
engineering.<br />
Extended year/ Year zero/ Foundation year<br />
Some courses, notably engineering, medicine and science, offer an<br />
additional first year to enable students who do not hold the required<br />
entry qualifications to study for them and then enter these specialist<br />
courses. These preparatory courses may have different titles in<br />
different institutions and should not be confused with the Foundation<br />
Degree.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• There are many different types of courses so read through<br />
prospectuses and course leaflets very carefully. Don’t be<br />
misled by course titles – it is the content and structure that are<br />
important.<br />
BA<br />
BDS<br />
BEd<br />
BMus<br />
BNurs<br />
BSc<br />
BTEC HNC<br />
BTEC HND<br />
BVMBVS<br />
DipHE<br />
FdA, FdSc, FdEng<br />
Honours<br />
LLB<br />
MA<br />
MBA<br />
MB BS<br />
MBioc<br />
MEng<br />
MPharm<br />
MSc<br />
NVQ<br />
PGCE<br />
QTS<br />
Bachelor of Arts<br />
Bachelor of Dental Surgery<br />
Bachelor of Education<br />
Bachelor of Music<br />
Bachelor of Nursing<br />
Bachelor of Science<br />
Higher National Certificate<br />
Higher National Diploma<br />
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine<br />
and Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery<br />
Diploma of Higher Education<br />
Foundation Degree<br />
To graduate with ‘Honours’<br />
describes the class (i.e. grade) of<br />
degree you have. Classes of<br />
‘Honours’ are, in descending order,<br />
a 1st, a 2:1, a 2:2 and 3rd. Next<br />
grade down is an Ordinary or Pass<br />
degree without the ‘Honours’.<br />
Bachelor of Laws<br />
Master of Arts<br />
Master of Business Administration<br />
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor<br />
of Surgery<br />
Master of Biochemistry<br />
Master of Engineering<br />
Master of Pharmacy<br />
Master of Science<br />
National Vocational Qualification<br />
Post Graduate Certificate of<br />
Education<br />
Qualified Teacher Status<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
3
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Exploring ideas for higher education courses<br />
There are a huge number of courses available in HE,<br />
some you will have heard of but some perhaps not. The<br />
headings below are the main subject areas covered by A<br />
levels, Applied A levels, Progression/Advanced Diplomas,<br />
BTEC Nationals and the International Baccalaureate. For<br />
ideas about what to study at HE level, find the subjects<br />
you are taking now and then look at just some of the<br />
range of possible related HE courses.<br />
ART, DESIGN and CREATIVE SUBJECTS<br />
COMPUTER STUDIES/SCIENCE<br />
• 3D Design<br />
• Architecture<br />
• Art with History of Art<br />
• Arts Management<br />
• Computer Aided<br />
Product Design<br />
• Computer Animation<br />
• Design Technology<br />
• Fashion Design<br />
• Furniture Crafts<br />
• Film and TV Production<br />
• Fine Art and Business<br />
• Graphic Design<br />
• Graphics Packaging Design<br />
• Illustration<br />
• Interior Design<br />
• Jewellery<br />
• Media & Cultural Studies<br />
with Dance<br />
• Modelmaking<br />
• Photography<br />
• Special Effects<br />
• Textile Design<br />
• Theatre Design<br />
• Virtual Reality Design<br />
• Applied Information<br />
Technology<br />
• Business Computing<br />
• Computer Aided Design<br />
• Computer Animation<br />
• Computer Science<br />
• Computing and Sport &<br />
Exercise Psychology<br />
• Computer Systems<br />
Engineering<br />
• Cybernetics<br />
• Digital Media<br />
• E-Commerce<br />
• Ethical Hacking<br />
• Financial Computing<br />
• Forensic Computing<br />
• Games Computing<br />
• Intelligent Systems<br />
• Interactive Multimedia<br />
• Internet Engineering<br />
• Mobile Computing<br />
• Network Systems<br />
Management<br />
• Software Development<br />
• Web Development<br />
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES and CHEMISTRY<br />
ENGLISH and MEDIA STUDIES<br />
• Agriculture<br />
• Applied Chemistry<br />
• Biochemistry<br />
• Bioinformatics<br />
• Chemistry with<br />
Nanotechnology<br />
• Dentistry<br />
• Environmental Science<br />
• Equine Science<br />
• Food Technology<br />
• Forensic Science<br />
• Genetics<br />
• Land Management<br />
• Marine Biology<br />
• Materials Science<br />
• Medical Engineering<br />
• Medicine<br />
• Microbiology<br />
• Neuroscience<br />
• Nursing<br />
• Optometry<br />
• Palaeobiology and Evolution<br />
• Pharmacology<br />
• Physiotherapy<br />
• Podiatry<br />
• Sport and Exercise Science<br />
• Veterinary Science<br />
• Wildlife Conservation<br />
• Advertising<br />
• American Studies<br />
• Broadcast Media and Media<br />
Writing<br />
• Business Studies<br />
• Classical Studies<br />
• Combined Studies<br />
• Contemporary<br />
European Studies<br />
• Creative Writing<br />
• Cultural Studies<br />
• Drama<br />
• English Language<br />
• English Literature<br />
• Film Studies<br />
• Hispanic Studies<br />
• History<br />
• Information Management<br />
• Journalism<br />
• Law<br />
• Marketing<br />
• Modern Literature<br />
• Politics<br />
• Primary Teaching with<br />
English<br />
• Publishing<br />
• Social Sciences<br />
• Teaching English to Speakers<br />
of Other Languages<br />
• Theatre Studies<br />
BUSINESS STUDIES, ACCOUNTING and<br />
ECONOMICS<br />
GEOGRAPHY<br />
• Accountancy with<br />
Management<br />
• Advertising<br />
• Banking and Finance<br />
• Business with American<br />
Studies<br />
• Business Economics<br />
• Business with Geography<br />
• Business Information<br />
Technology<br />
• Business Law<br />
• Hospitality and Event<br />
Management<br />
• Financial Services<br />
• Human Resource<br />
Management<br />
• Leisure Management<br />
• Logistics<br />
• Marketing<br />
• Public Relations<br />
• Retail Management<br />
• Tourism Management<br />
• Adventure Tourism<br />
• Applied Geology<br />
• Archaeology<br />
• Business with Geography<br />
• Climate Change<br />
• Ecology and Conservation<br />
• Economics<br />
• Geographic Information<br />
Science<br />
• Geography with Transport<br />
Planning<br />
• Housing Studies<br />
• Human Geography<br />
• Landscape and Garden<br />
Design<br />
• Oceanography<br />
• Physical Geography<br />
• Planning and Property<br />
Development<br />
• Surveying<br />
• Sustainable Development<br />
• Third World Development<br />
4<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk
HISTORY<br />
• American Studies<br />
• Ancient History<br />
• Archaeology<br />
• Classical Civilisation<br />
• East Mediterranean History<br />
• Economic and Social History<br />
• Egyptology<br />
• European Studies and History<br />
• Heritage Studies<br />
• History of Art<br />
• History of Ideas and<br />
Philosophy<br />
• Journalism<br />
• Law<br />
• Medieval Studies<br />
• Modern Greek Studies<br />
• Modern World History<br />
• Museum and Gallery Studies<br />
• Politics<br />
• Social and Cultural History<br />
• Social Sciences<br />
• South Asian Studies<br />
LANGUAGES<br />
PHYSICS, ENGINEERING and TECHNOLOGY<br />
• Accountancy and Finance with<br />
European Study<br />
• African Studies<br />
• Arabic<br />
• Asia Pacific Studies<br />
• Business with Japanese<br />
• Central and East European<br />
Studies<br />
• Chinese and Philosophy<br />
• Classics – Greek and Latin<br />
• European Languages<br />
• European Marketing<br />
• European Studies<br />
• French with Banking<br />
• Hispanic Studies<br />
• Journalism<br />
• Linguistics<br />
• Mechanical Engineering with<br />
French<br />
• Modern Languages<br />
• Public Relations and French<br />
• Russian<br />
• Serbian and Croatian Studies<br />
• Acoustics<br />
• Aerospace Manufacturing<br />
• Astrophysics<br />
• Building Services Engineering<br />
• Chemical Engineering<br />
• Civil Engineering<br />
• Computer Aided Product<br />
Design<br />
• Computer Science<br />
• Electronics<br />
• Geophysics<br />
• Mechanical Engineering<br />
• Medical & Surgical<br />
Engineering<br />
• Meteorology<br />
• Petroleum Engineering<br />
• Optometry<br />
• Physics with Particle Physics<br />
and Cosmology<br />
• Robotics<br />
• Structural Engineering<br />
• Sustainable Technology<br />
• Systems Engineering<br />
MATHEMATICS<br />
SOCIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY and POLITICS<br />
• Accountancy<br />
• Actuarial Science<br />
• Applied Statistics<br />
• Architecture<br />
• Artificial Intelligence<br />
• Astronomy<br />
• Computer Science<br />
• Decision Science<br />
MUSIC<br />
• Electronics<br />
• Investment Analysis and<br />
Insurance<br />
• Mathematics with Finance<br />
• Mechanical Engineering<br />
• Operational Research<br />
• Surveying<br />
• Systems Engineering<br />
• Anthropology<br />
• Applied Social Sciences<br />
• Business Management with<br />
Psychology<br />
• Childhood, Youth and<br />
Education Studies<br />
• Criminology<br />
• Gender Studies<br />
• Housing Studies<br />
• Human Resource Management<br />
• Human Rights<br />
• International Relations<br />
• Marketing<br />
• Nursing<br />
• Philosophy<br />
• Public Services<br />
• Sociology and European<br />
Studies<br />
• Sociology and Popular Culture<br />
• Urban Studies<br />
• Acoustics<br />
• Business and Popular Music<br />
• Creative Music Technology<br />
• Event and Venue Management<br />
and Music<br />
• Folk and Traditional Music<br />
• Jazz and Popular Music<br />
• Musical Composition<br />
• Musical Instruments<br />
• Musical Theatre<br />
• Music Industry Management<br />
• Music Production<br />
• Music Video Production<br />
• Performing Arts<br />
• Popular Music<br />
• Professional Musicianship<br />
• Sonic Arts<br />
• Sound Engineering &<br />
Production<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS<br />
5
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design)<br />
A Diploma in Foundation<br />
Studies (Art and Design),<br />
also known as an Art<br />
Foundation course, is an<br />
intensive, one year course<br />
that aims to broaden<br />
students’ experience of<br />
art and design before they<br />
select the field they want<br />
to specialise in at HE level.<br />
During the year students<br />
prepare a portfolio of work<br />
for use when applying for HE<br />
courses.<br />
• When choosing an Art Foundation course<br />
check out:<br />
• the amount of tutor support<br />
• studio space and access times<br />
• access to other facilities e.g.<br />
computers and library resources<br />
• what past students have gone on to do<br />
• the reputation of the course amongst<br />
HE tutors.<br />
• Students who have taken an Applied A<br />
level (double award) or BTEC National<br />
Certificate/Diploma in an art/design<br />
subject may not need to take an Art<br />
Foundation course before going onto<br />
a degree. Check with the institution<br />
where you hope to study for a degree.<br />
• A few students with A levels including an<br />
art/design subject, are able to progress<br />
directly onto a degree/HND if they have<br />
a particularly good portfolio. You should<br />
always check with the HE institutions<br />
you are considering, whether an Art<br />
Foundation course is definitely required.<br />
• Entry requirements are usually three to<br />
five GCSEs at grades A*– C (normally<br />
including English language), plus one A<br />
level (or equivalent) and a portfolio of art<br />
work.<br />
• Applications are made direct to individual<br />
colleges.<br />
• The Art Foundation course is included in<br />
the UCAS Tariff. A Distinction is worth<br />
285 points, a Merit 225 points and a<br />
Pass 165 points. See page 11 for more<br />
information.<br />
• An Art Foundation course is a further<br />
education level course so check with<br />
individual colleges/universities about<br />
whether you have to pay any fees<br />
particularly if you are 19 or over when<br />
you start the course. If you are aged<br />
between 16 and 19 and face financial<br />
hardship while on the course you may be<br />
eligible for a bursary from your college<br />
but you will not have access to a Student<br />
Loan as this is not an HE course.<br />
• A few institutions offer a degree where<br />
the Diploma in Foundation Studies<br />
(Art and Design) is built in as the first<br />
year. Although this sounds attractive,<br />
it could prove more expensive as the<br />
whole course is treated as an HE course<br />
and is therefore subject to HE funding<br />
regulations.<br />
6 for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com
Studying abroad<br />
Studying or working abroad as part<br />
of your course<br />
A period abroad as part of a degree is no<br />
longer just for language students. There are<br />
now hundreds of degree and diploma courses<br />
that allow you to complete part of your<br />
course, either working or studying, in another<br />
country. The following organisations offer a<br />
range of study and work experience abroad<br />
to students on UK university courses.<br />
• Erasmus<br />
This programme offers students the chance<br />
to study in a European country for 3 to<br />
12 months. Approximately 10,000 British<br />
students take part each year. If you are<br />
interested, find out which UK institutions<br />
offer an Erasmus option for your chosen<br />
course of study. Erasmus study is fully<br />
recognised by participating UK institutions<br />
as part of the degree. For more details see<br />
M www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus<br />
• IAESTE<br />
(International Association for Exchange<br />
of Students for Technical Experience)<br />
Science, technology and engineering<br />
students can undertake paid, course related<br />
work placements abroad. Most placements<br />
are between 6 to 12 weeks and take place<br />
during the summer vacation. Information<br />
on this scheme can be found on<br />
M www.iaeste.org.uk<br />
Studying all of your course abroad<br />
More students are now considering the<br />
possibility of studying for an entire degree<br />
overseas. There are lots of issues to consider<br />
e.g. funding may be harder to find and you<br />
may need a visa or to sit entry tests.<br />
If you are considering this, you need to begin<br />
researching into the possibilities 12 to 18<br />
months before you plan to start your studies.<br />
There are several websites that provide<br />
excellent information about studying abroad<br />
e.g.<br />
M www.ukcisa.org.uk<br />
which offers advice and has links to other<br />
websites.<br />
For more information<br />
• Exodus online database produced by<br />
Careers Europe. Subscription service<br />
available through Connexions and<br />
some schools/colleges.<br />
• Studying abroad websites see page<br />
26<br />
• For those interested in studying in<br />
Australia and New Zealand see<br />
M www.studyoptions.com<br />
• Students frequently enquire about<br />
study in the USA. Details are available<br />
from<br />
The US-UK Fulbright Commission<br />
Battersea Power Station<br />
188 Kirtling Street<br />
London SW8 5BN<br />
T 090 1488 0162<br />
Monday and Thursday<br />
1.30pm – 5.00pm<br />
(calls charged at 15p per minute)<br />
Fax: 020 7498 4023<br />
Email: advising@fulbright.co.uk<br />
M www.fulbright.co.uk<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
7
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
What do I do if I don’t know what to study?<br />
Firstly try not to worry!<br />
Choosing what to study at<br />
degree level is easier for<br />
some people than others.<br />
• You could start by browsing through<br />
a reference book like Careers 2011<br />
(Trotman) or Jobfile 2011-12 (Babcock).<br />
This will give you an idea of the range<br />
of jobs that exist, and which degree<br />
subject(s) would be most relevant.<br />
Alternatively, visit<br />
M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com.<br />
Then click on eCLIPS for access to<br />
hundreds of careers information leaflets.<br />
• Use careers matching programs like<br />
Kudos, Pathfinder Live or Fast Tomato at<br />
school/college or through Connexions.<br />
These can help you identify broad areas<br />
of interest and generate job suggestions.<br />
Understanding your interests and looking<br />
at job ideas may help you choose a<br />
course.<br />
• There are also a number of computer<br />
programs and online tools which can<br />
match your interests with suitable<br />
HE subject areas and even individual<br />
course titles. Ask your Adviser if these<br />
are available in your school/college or<br />
through Connexions.<br />
- Pathfinder Live<br />
M www.pathfinderlive.com<br />
- Higher Ideas<br />
M www.careersoft.co.uk/<br />
higherideas<br />
- Centigrade<br />
M www.coa.co.uk/centigrade (you<br />
can complete this online and have the<br />
results emailed to you for a small fee)<br />
- Coursefinder<br />
M www.ukcoursefinder.com<br />
- Stamford Test<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
• For some careers you need to take<br />
a specific degree and some are<br />
very competitive e.g. physiotherapy,<br />
veterinary science, medicine. For these<br />
work experience prior to application is<br />
essential.<br />
• If you decide to study a degree in an<br />
academic subject such as English or<br />
history it is important to gain some work<br />
experience during your time at university.<br />
This will help show potential employers<br />
that you have developed useful skills for<br />
the workplace. It is also useful to think<br />
about your future options during your<br />
years as a student. Remember to visit the<br />
university careers service and look at the<br />
website for undergraduates<br />
M www.prospects.ac.uk<br />
• Universities offer a huge range of degree<br />
subjects, many of which do not ask for<br />
specific level 3 qualifications, so you<br />
could consider doing one of these.<br />
Visit M www.ucas.com to research<br />
what is available.<br />
• If you don’t want to commit yourself<br />
entirely to a new subject, or to just one<br />
subject, you could consider a joint or<br />
combined degree (see pages 3, 4 and<br />
5). Choosing Your Degree Course &<br />
University (Trotman) may also help you<br />
to think more about the range of subjects<br />
on offer.<br />
• Talking to your tutor, head of sixth form<br />
or adviser may help you sort out your<br />
ideas.<br />
• Many employers who recruit graduates<br />
do not ask for a degree in a specific<br />
subject, so if you don’t have a particular<br />
career in mind, then consider studying a<br />
subject you enjoy.<br />
• If you really can’t decide what to study<br />
by the time you have to apply, consider<br />
taking a gap year to give yourself<br />
more time to think about your options<br />
and perhaps try some relevant work<br />
experience.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Check out your career or course ideas<br />
with your adviser.<br />
• Remember that the main reason<br />
students drop out is because they feel<br />
they have chosen the wrong course, so<br />
try not to be one of them!<br />
What are the<br />
advantages of doing a degree?<br />
• Firstly, for some jobs it is essential<br />
(e.g. architecture, medicine).<br />
• For other jobs it is preferred or usual<br />
(e.g. marketing, human resources,<br />
journalism).<br />
• You can develop a range of skills that<br />
employers value – research, analysis,<br />
team-working – as well as allowing<br />
you to fulfil your academic potential.<br />
• For a few years you can experience a<br />
lifestyle other than the typical ‘9-5’.<br />
• You may be able to take part in<br />
activities such as rock-climbing, flying<br />
or debating, which you might not<br />
have access to outside university.<br />
• You can make friends with a wide<br />
range of people from other parts of<br />
the UK and overseas.<br />
• It gives you longer to decide on your<br />
career options.<br />
• It will probably enhance your job<br />
prospects. Over a career lifetime,<br />
on average, graduates earn higher<br />
salaries than non-graduates, and are<br />
less likely to be unemployed.<br />
However, all this needs to be<br />
balanced against:<br />
• The cost of going to university and<br />
how much student debt you may<br />
accumulate.<br />
• The chances of an HE course leading<br />
to the type of job that you are aiming<br />
for.<br />
• Increasing numbers of graduates<br />
(now around 274,000) mean intense<br />
competition for some jobs.<br />
8 for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
✓<br />
Applications calendar<br />
YEAR ONE<br />
January to April 2011<br />
c Check subject choice against<br />
any career ideas. Maths and<br />
English language GCSEs<br />
A*- C grades are required<br />
for most careers and courses.<br />
Re-sit GCSEs if necessary.<br />
c Arrange work experience<br />
to enhance your university<br />
application. Some courses<br />
require relevant work<br />
experience. Work shadowing<br />
and <strong>talk</strong>ing to a professional<br />
in the field is useful too. See<br />
page 22.<br />
c Apply for any relevant taster<br />
✓<br />
courses e.g. medicine, law,<br />
engineering.<br />
c Plan ahead. If you decide<br />
you need help, <strong>talk</strong> to your<br />
teachers, tutors or adviser.<br />
c Research HE courses and<br />
universities. Use reference<br />
books, prospectuses, the<br />
internet and attend any local<br />
HE events.<br />
May to August 2011<br />
c Continue to research courses<br />
and/or employers, gain<br />
relevant work experience,<br />
attend taster courses, HE<br />
events and university/<br />
department open days.<br />
c Start preparing your UCAS<br />
application especially your<br />
personal statement.<br />
c Begin planning your gap year<br />
if you want to defer entry to<br />
HE.<br />
c Look at sponsorship<br />
information. Contact<br />
companies as some may<br />
require you to apply to<br />
particular institutions.<br />
c CUKAS (Music Conservatoires<br />
UK Admissions Service)<br />
applications start on 1 July<br />
2011. The initial closing<br />
date is 1 October 2011;<br />
applications received after<br />
this but before 31 August<br />
2012 may be considered but<br />
only if there are vacancies.<br />
c Review your plans in the light<br />
of exam results.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Check whether your school/<br />
college has earlier deadlines<br />
– remember they need time<br />
to write references and<br />
check everything is in order.<br />
YEAR TWO<br />
✓<br />
September to<br />
October 2011<br />
c Finalise your HE choices.<br />
c You can submit your UCAS<br />
application from mid<br />
September 2011 (deadline is<br />
15 January 2012).<br />
c Oxford and Cambridge<br />
applications deadline is 15<br />
October 2011.<br />
c Medicine, dentistry and<br />
veterinary science/medicine<br />
deadline is 15 October 2011<br />
(apply by 15 October 2011<br />
for deferred entry too).<br />
c Apply direct to courses<br />
that do not have a central<br />
application system e.g. Art<br />
Foundation courses.<br />
c Apply as early as possible<br />
because popular courses can<br />
fill up quickly.<br />
c Check the progress of your<br />
applications by using Track<br />
on the UCAS or CUKAS<br />
websites.<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
M www.cukas.ac.uk<br />
✓<br />
✓<br />
November to<br />
December 2011<br />
c UCAS art and design<br />
applicants should check<br />
carefully whether each of<br />
your course choices is using<br />
the 15 January deadline or<br />
the 24 March deadline and<br />
make sure you apply by those<br />
dates.<br />
c If you are also going to apply<br />
for jobs as well as HE, now is<br />
a good time to start preparing<br />
your CV.<br />
January to February 2012<br />
c By 5 January 2012 on-time<br />
CUKAS applicants should<br />
have received decisions from<br />
conservatoires and must<br />
reply by the date specified.<br />
c UCAS application deadline<br />
is 15 January 2012 except<br />
for applications to Oxford<br />
and Cambridge, medicine,<br />
dentistry, veterinary science/<br />
medicine, and certain art<br />
and design courses. The<br />
application deadline for<br />
nursing diplomas is also 15<br />
January 2012.<br />
c It is possible to apply through<br />
UCAS after 15 January but<br />
check with universities<br />
and colleges first to make<br />
sure they will consider late<br />
applications.<br />
c If seeking employment,<br />
check out the jobs<br />
and Apprenticeships<br />
advertised on M www.<br />
connexionsoxfordshire.<br />
com, click on ‘search<br />
opportunities’. Also look<br />
for vacancies on M www.<br />
apprenticeships.org.uk,<br />
recruitment and company<br />
websites and in local and<br />
national newspapers.<br />
Contact employers you are<br />
interested in by sending<br />
your CV and covering letter.<br />
For advice on job hunting<br />
see ‘Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about …<br />
Jobseeking’ at M www.<br />
connexionsoxfordshire.<br />
com, click on ‘publications’.<br />
c From 24 February until<br />
the end of June UCAS<br />
Extra operates. This is for<br />
applicants who have used<br />
up all five UCAS choices but<br />
have not received any offers<br />
✓<br />
✓<br />
or have declined all offers. It<br />
enables them to make further<br />
applications (one at a time)<br />
without having to wait for<br />
Clearing.<br />
If universities and colleges<br />
still have vacancies, they list<br />
them on the course search<br />
section of the UCAS website<br />
M www.ucas.com marked<br />
with an X.<br />
March to June 2012<br />
c Some art and design courses<br />
have an application deadline<br />
of 24 March 2012. If you are<br />
applying for any of these,<br />
make sure you do so in good<br />
time.<br />
July to August 2012<br />
c Exam results are published<br />
and UCAS Clearing and<br />
Adjustment start.<br />
c HE vacancies are published<br />
in the Telegraph newspaper<br />
and on the UCAS website<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
c Help with Clearing and<br />
Adjustment is available at<br />
your school/college.<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
9
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
The application process<br />
UCAS is the central<br />
organisation that processes<br />
applications for full-time<br />
degrees, Foundation Degrees,<br />
nursing diplomas, Dip HE<br />
and HND courses at UK<br />
universities and colleges.<br />
• Through UCAS you apply for up to five<br />
courses between mid September and<br />
15 January. There are some exceptions to<br />
this – see below.<br />
• Universities and colleges do not initially<br />
see the other institutions that you have<br />
selected, but bear in mind that they will<br />
all read your personal statement which<br />
includes your reasons for wishing to<br />
study a particular subject.<br />
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary<br />
science/medicine and Oxford and<br />
Cambridge<br />
• The deadline to apply for all these is 15<br />
October.<br />
• The summer before applying through<br />
UCAS you may need to take an<br />
admissions test e.g. the UKCAT test for<br />
medicine or dentistry – see<br />
M www.ukcat.ac.uk; the BMAT test<br />
for medicine or veterinary courses – see<br />
M www.bmat.org.uk<br />
(There is also the LNAT for law – see M<br />
www.lnat.ac.uk). For more information<br />
about these and any other admissions<br />
tests you may be required to take, visit<br />
the UCAS website.<br />
• When you apply for medicine, dentistry<br />
and veterinary science/medicine you are<br />
limited to a maximum of four choices<br />
in any one of these subjects. You can<br />
then use the remaining choice for an<br />
alternative subject or leave the space<br />
blank.<br />
• You are limited to one course choice at<br />
either Oxford or Cambridge University<br />
and cannot apply to both. For more<br />
information see<br />
M www.ox.ac.uk/<br />
admissions/undergraduate_courses<br />
and M www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/<br />
undergraduate<br />
Art and design<br />
• Through UCAS you can apply for up to<br />
five art and design courses.<br />
• For some courses you must apply<br />
between mid September and 15 January,<br />
while for others you can apply between<br />
mid September and 24 March.<br />
• Courses which use the later deadline are<br />
indicated on the UCAS website. These<br />
allow you more time to choose courses<br />
and prepare a portfolio.<br />
• You can submit an application by 15<br />
January and then add more course<br />
choices (which have the 24 March<br />
deadline) later on. However the total<br />
number applied for must not exceed five.<br />
• Your course choices are considered<br />
simultaneously (not sequentially) by<br />
institutions.<br />
Apply<br />
• The UCAS application procedure is an<br />
on-line system called Apply accessed via<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
• If you are in full-time education your<br />
school or college will give you more<br />
information about Apply. It enables you<br />
to make changes to your application at<br />
any time before you send it either to a<br />
co-ordinator in your school or college,<br />
or directly to UCAS (in the case of<br />
applicants who are no longer in full-time<br />
education who are not using their old<br />
school/college to write their reference).<br />
• If you have questions about Apply<br />
and are not in full-time education, the<br />
UCAS website has a Frequently Asked<br />
Questions section, helpful videos and a<br />
helpline.<br />
The ‘offers’ process<br />
• Through the UCAS system you will<br />
receive offers or rejections from<br />
institutions. You can follow your progress<br />
on-line via Track on the UCAS website.<br />
• Maximise your chances of receiving<br />
offers by researching your course<br />
selections very carefully.<br />
• Offers are usually ‘conditional’ which<br />
means the institution is offering you a<br />
place if you achieve certain grades or<br />
points. There are also ‘unconditional’<br />
offers for students who already have the<br />
required grades/points.<br />
• No matter how many conditional offers<br />
you receive, eventually you can hold<br />
only two of them; one ‘firm’ offer which<br />
should be the course that most interests<br />
you and an ‘insurance’ offer which<br />
is intended as a back-up if you don’t<br />
achieve the grades/points for your ‘firm’<br />
offer. If you don’t get the results needed<br />
for your firm offer but do get enough<br />
for your insurance offer, then you are<br />
committed to taking up the insurance<br />
offer, so choose it carefully.<br />
• A system called Extra is available<br />
for applicants who have applied to<br />
five choices and been unsuccessful or<br />
declined all offers. For more details see<br />
page 17.<br />
For more information<br />
• UCAS<br />
Rosehill<br />
New Barn Lane<br />
Cheltenham<br />
GL52 3LZ<br />
T 0871 468 0468<br />
(applicant enquiries)<br />
Monday to Friday<br />
8.30am - 6.00pm<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
Music conservatoires<br />
• The Conservatoires UK Admissions<br />
Service (CUKAS) handles applications for<br />
practice-based courses at seven music<br />
colleges in the UK and operates in a<br />
broadly similar way to UCAS.<br />
• The closing date for on-time applications<br />
is 1 October and auditions begin in mid<br />
October.<br />
For more information<br />
• T 0871 468 0470<br />
(applicant enquiries)<br />
Monday to Friday<br />
8.30am - 6.00pm<br />
M www.cukas.ac.uk<br />
We are grateful to UCAS for their help in<br />
checking and updating this information.<br />
10 got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk
The UCAS Tariff<br />
POINTS<br />
GCE<br />
AS / AS VCE<br />
GCE / VCE QUALIFICATIONS<br />
GCE AS<br />
DOUBLE AWARD<br />
GCE<br />
A LEVEL / AVCE<br />
GCE / AVCE<br />
DOUBLE AWARD<br />
PROGRESSION<br />
DIPLOMA 1<br />
BTEC NATIONALS<br />
OCR NATIONALS<br />
AWARD CERTIFICATE DIPLOMA CERTIFICATE DIPLOMA<br />
EXTENDED<br />
DIPLOMA<br />
CACHE LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA IN<br />
CHILD CARE & EDUCATION<br />
ADVANCED<br />
EXTENSION<br />
AWARDS 2<br />
POINTS<br />
International<br />
Baccalaureate<br />
Diploma<br />
POINTS<br />
360<br />
DDD D1<br />
A<br />
360<br />
45 720<br />
350<br />
A*<br />
350<br />
44 698<br />
320<br />
DDM D2 / M1<br />
320<br />
43 676<br />
300<br />
280<br />
260<br />
250<br />
200<br />
BB<br />
180 BC<br />
A*A*<br />
A*A<br />
A<br />
B<br />
DMM M2<br />
240 AA<br />
DD MMM D M3 C<br />
240<br />
220 AB<br />
220<br />
C<br />
DM MMP M1 P1<br />
B<br />
D<br />
300<br />
280<br />
260<br />
250<br />
200<br />
180<br />
42<br />
41<br />
40<br />
39<br />
38<br />
37<br />
36<br />
654<br />
632<br />
611<br />
589<br />
567<br />
545<br />
523<br />
160<br />
CC<br />
MM MPP M2 / P1 P2<br />
160<br />
35 501<br />
150<br />
D<br />
150<br />
34 479<br />
140<br />
A* CD<br />
140<br />
33 457<br />
120<br />
AA A DD<br />
D MP PPP D P2 P3<br />
E<br />
120<br />
32 435<br />
110<br />
100<br />
90<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
AB<br />
BB B DE<br />
E<br />
BC<br />
CC C EE<br />
M PP M P3<br />
CD<br />
A DD D<br />
B DE<br />
110<br />
100<br />
90<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
31<br />
30<br />
29<br />
28<br />
27<br />
26<br />
413<br />
392<br />
370<br />
348<br />
326<br />
304<br />
40 C EE E<br />
P P<br />
D 40<br />
25 282<br />
30 D<br />
30<br />
24 260<br />
20 E<br />
M 20<br />
• The UCAS Tariff is a points system used<br />
for entry to HE. It establishes agreed<br />
equivalences between different types of<br />
qualifications.<br />
• There is no limit on the number of points<br />
you can accumulate but you cannot<br />
count the same or similar qualifications<br />
twice e.g. if you have an AS and an<br />
A level in the same subject, you can only<br />
count the points from your A level.<br />
• You cannot normally start an HE course<br />
having completed only the first year of<br />
an advanced course (e.g. AS levels).<br />
• To work out what your Tariff score<br />
is likely to be, make a list of all your<br />
subjects and the grades you realistically<br />
expect to gain. Now use the table on<br />
this page to add up your Tariff score.<br />
• Points score offers have the advantage<br />
of flexibility – you can offset weaker<br />
subjects against stronger ones to make<br />
up the requirements – but you need<br />
to check your offers carefully as some<br />
universities also ask for specific grades<br />
or points in certain subjects. Check in<br />
prospectuses or on the<br />
M www.ucas.com website.<br />
• The complete Tariff can be found at<br />
M www.ucas.com/students/<br />
ucas_tariff and includes many more<br />
qualifications than can be shown here.<br />
1 Advanced Diploma =Progression Diploma plus<br />
Additional & Specialist Learning (ASL). See<br />
appropriate qualification to calculate the ASL<br />
score. ASL has a maximum Tariff of 140.<br />
2 Points for Advanced Extension Awards are<br />
over and above those gained from the A<br />
level grade.<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS<br />
11
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Information for students with vocational qualifications<br />
Applied A levels, BTEC<br />
National Awards/<br />
Certificates/Diplomas and<br />
OCR National Certificates/<br />
Diplomas/Extended<br />
Diplomas are recognised<br />
entry requirements for most<br />
HE courses, as are A level<br />
qualifications.<br />
Relevance of current studies<br />
Vocational courses will tend to lead to an<br />
HE course in a related subject area e.g. a<br />
National Diploma in media would usually<br />
lead to a Foundation Degree, HND or<br />
degree in a media related subject. However,<br />
you may be able to apply for HE courses<br />
that are not related to your vocational<br />
course if:<br />
• you apply for an HE course that does not<br />
require specific subjects for entry<br />
• you have out of school/college<br />
experience in other work or subject<br />
areas<br />
• you have studied A levels or other<br />
subjects alongside your vocational<br />
course<br />
• you have studied units as part of your<br />
course that relate to an HE course e.g. IT,<br />
communication, business.<br />
If you have chosen to study an HE course<br />
that is not directly linked to your current<br />
course, you should check that your<br />
qualifications are acceptable. (This is also<br />
true for A level students.) It is also advisable<br />
to provide evidence in your UCAS personal<br />
statement about how your qualifications<br />
and experience are relevant to your choice<br />
of course.<br />
Entry criteria<br />
• Does the HE course you are considering<br />
require high grades?<br />
• Does it require GCSE maths and<br />
English language at grade C or above?<br />
If you don’t have these, check to<br />
see if the institution will accept key<br />
skills in the courses you have studied<br />
instead e.g. application of number and<br />
communication.<br />
• Some courses require that a traditional<br />
A level in a specific subject has been<br />
studied alongside your vocational course<br />
especially where in-depth knowledge is<br />
needed.<br />
• Use M www.ucas.com to check the<br />
requirements.<br />
• If in any doubt, contact the university/<br />
college admissions tutor for any courses<br />
you are considering to check the<br />
acceptability of your qualifications.<br />
Styles and assessment<br />
• You may be used to the continuous<br />
assessment approach but some HE<br />
courses may be assessed by unseen<br />
exams and essay writing.<br />
• Decide which method of assessment<br />
would suit you best and use HE<br />
prospectuses and websites to check<br />
which they use.<br />
12<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com
Information for students with disabilities<br />
Applications to HE<br />
• If you have a disability, you should ask all<br />
the usual questions when applying for HE<br />
courses but you also need to research into<br />
the additional help available to you.<br />
• Some disabilities have little impact on<br />
studying but sometimes there can be<br />
difficulties with personal care, special<br />
equipment, work load, accommodation,<br />
teaching styles, tutors’ attitudes or<br />
students’ attitudes.<br />
• Remember that you have the right not to<br />
be discriminated against in education and<br />
reasonable adjustments must be made to<br />
support you in your studies.<br />
Support<br />
• Every university and college has a Disability<br />
Coordinator or Adviser. You should contact<br />
this person early on in your research to<br />
<strong>talk</strong> about the support available. They, and<br />
experts such as occupational therapists,<br />
can help you work out what help you might<br />
need.<br />
• Support can include a support worker; a<br />
mentor; flexible deadlines; IT; specialist<br />
tuition support to organise your work; or<br />
advance warning of changes in routine.<br />
• Give them as much information as you<br />
can so that all the help you need can<br />
be put in place. You might find it helpful<br />
to contact specialist organisations e.g.<br />
RNIB, for advice. If you find the support<br />
arrangements are not meeting your needs,<br />
they can always be changed.<br />
Finance<br />
• If you face extra costs because you have<br />
special needs, you may be eligible for<br />
Disabled Students’ Allowances. These<br />
are paid on top of the standard student<br />
finance package, are not affected by your<br />
household income and you don’t have to<br />
pay them back. You may receive:<br />
- a non-medical helper’s allowance (up to<br />
£20,520 per year)<br />
- a specialist equipment allowance (up to<br />
£5,161 for the entire course)<br />
- a general allowance (up to £1,724 per<br />
year)<br />
- ‘reasonable spending’ on extra travel<br />
costs.<br />
(2011/2012 figures which may change for<br />
2012/2013).<br />
• If you are eligible for DSA your support<br />
needs will be assessed by a trained<br />
assessor at a centre near your home or<br />
university.<br />
• You may also be able to apply for, or<br />
continue receiving, benefits such as<br />
Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit<br />
and Employment & Support Allowance.<br />
Contact Jobcentre plus for advice.<br />
For more information<br />
• SKILL<br />
(The National Bureau for Students with<br />
Disabilities)<br />
The SKILL helpline has closed but you can<br />
still obtain information from their website.<br />
M www.skill.org.uk<br />
• M www.direct.gov.uk/en/<br />
disabledpeople/educationandtraining/<br />
highereducation<br />
• Into Higher Education (SKILL – The<br />
National Bureau for Students with<br />
Disabilities)<br />
• Bridging the Gap: a guide to the<br />
Disabled Students’ Allowances in<br />
higher education.<br />
(Student Finance England)<br />
Can be viewed/downloaded at<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance<br />
If you need a Braille, large print or audio<br />
version, these can be ordered by phoning<br />
T 0141 243 3686.<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
13
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Information for overseas students<br />
EU students<br />
Many EU nationals or children of EU<br />
nationals are entitled to take out a student<br />
loan to cover the cost of tuition fees.<br />
How much you get is not affected by your<br />
household income. If you have lived in the<br />
UK for three years prior to the start of your<br />
course, you may also be eligible to use<br />
the student loan system to help with your<br />
living costs.<br />
Other assistance may be available from<br />
your home education authority, so contact<br />
them direct to find out.<br />
For more information<br />
• M www.direct.gov.uk/<br />
studentfinance<br />
• EU Customer Services Team,<br />
Student Loans Company<br />
T 0141 243 3570<br />
Email: EU_Team@slc.co.uk<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/<br />
studentfinance-EU<br />
• Student Finance England<br />
T 0845 300 5090<br />
• M www.ukcisa.org.uk<br />
Overseas students<br />
If you have entered the UK on a student<br />
visa you will be classed as an overseas<br />
student. This means that you will not be<br />
entitled to financial assistance and must<br />
be able to pay your own fees and living<br />
expenses. Fees for overseas students are<br />
usually higher than for home students.<br />
Students from other countries should apply<br />
for university places through the UCAS<br />
system (see page 10).<br />
Refugee students<br />
If the Home Office has granted you full<br />
refugee status, you will be treated as<br />
a ‘home student’ immediately and are<br />
eligible to use the student loan system.<br />
Humanitarian Protection<br />
If you applied for asylum and have been<br />
granted Humanitarian Protection, you<br />
will also be treated as a ‘home student’.<br />
However, you will need to have lived in the<br />
UK as an ‘ordinary resident’ for three years<br />
prior to the start of your course before you<br />
become eligible to use the student loan<br />
system. This is usually three years from<br />
when you came to the UK and not from<br />
when you got your status. For example,<br />
to qualify for financial assistance for<br />
September 2012, your residency must have<br />
started before September 2009.<br />
Discretionary Leave<br />
If you applied for asylum and have been<br />
granted Discretionary Leave, you are not<br />
eligible for home fees and student support<br />
for an HE course in England. This change<br />
came into force on 9/02/11 for England,<br />
but doesn’t apply if you are studying in<br />
Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland or you<br />
apply for student support in one of those<br />
countries.<br />
Whatever your status, if you intend to<br />
study full time, you should first check how<br />
this may impact on benefits as you may<br />
lose some of your entitlements.<br />
N.B. This information is intended only as<br />
a guideline. If you have any questions or<br />
concerns relating to your eligibility to study<br />
in the UK, or applying for financial support<br />
to study, please contact the student<br />
adviser/student counsellor at your school/<br />
college or the organisations listed on this<br />
page.<br />
For more information<br />
• Studying in the UK –<br />
a Guide for International Students<br />
(Trotman)<br />
• UKCISA<br />
(UK Council for International<br />
Student Affairs)<br />
9-17 St Albans Place<br />
London<br />
N1 0NX<br />
T 020 7107 9922<br />
Monday to Friday<br />
1.00pm – 4.00pm<br />
M www.ukcisa.org.uk<br />
Advice for international students<br />
• The British Council<br />
Information Centre<br />
Bridgewater House<br />
58 Whitworth Street<br />
Manchester<br />
M1 6BB<br />
T 0161 957 7755<br />
Email: general.enquiries@<br />
britishcouncil.org<br />
M www.britishcouncil.org<br />
Contact for general information on<br />
studying in Britain<br />
• Refugee Council<br />
240-250 Ferndale Road<br />
Brixton<br />
London<br />
SW9 8BB<br />
T 020 7346 6700<br />
M www.refugeecouncil.org.uk<br />
Support for refugees and asylum<br />
seekers.<br />
14 for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
Completing your personal statement<br />
This is one of the most<br />
important sections of the<br />
UCAS application form.<br />
It’s where you have the<br />
opportunity to impress<br />
admissions tutors.<br />
Points to cover in your personal<br />
statement<br />
• Why you have chosen this course. Mention<br />
any particular topics that interest you.<br />
• If you are hoping to take a gap year, say<br />
what you plan to do during it.<br />
• Outline your plans after completing your<br />
chosen course. Do you have a specific<br />
career in mind?<br />
• Include any background or experience you<br />
have e.g. work experience, voluntary work<br />
or involvement with activities such as sport,<br />
performing arts or travel. If these relate to<br />
your chosen course, so much the better. For<br />
some courses relevant work experience is<br />
essential.<br />
• Describe your interests and achievements<br />
e.g. sport and music. Are you involved<br />
in clubs and societies? Did you get any<br />
certificates or awards for achievements or<br />
activities in sixth form/college? Have you<br />
taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award<br />
Scheme, cadets or Young Enterprise?<br />
Some key principles<br />
• Make sure your statement is relevant to<br />
all the courses you have applied for. If you<br />
find this impossible to do, you may need to<br />
rethink your choice of courses.<br />
• Draft your personal statement and show<br />
it to family and friends for their opinion.<br />
Your tutor will want to see a draft of your<br />
statement too.<br />
• Don’t be tempted to copy anyone else’s<br />
personal statement because UCAS runs<br />
them through plagiarism software and<br />
if similarities are detected, you, and the<br />
institutions you are applying to, will be<br />
notified.<br />
• When you have completed your statement,<br />
think about the overall impression it gives<br />
– you should be as positive and truthful as<br />
possible.<br />
• Make sure you check for spelling mistakes<br />
and grammatical errors – get someone else<br />
to read it through for you.<br />
• Don’t repeat things that are written<br />
elsewhere on the form.<br />
• Keep a copy of your statement – you<br />
may want to refer to it when you go for<br />
interviews, as some of the questions you<br />
are asked are likely to be based on the<br />
information you have given.<br />
Not sure where to start?<br />
• Begin with a blank sheet of paper! Write<br />
down all the things you could include –<br />
your career plans, study interests, work<br />
experience, voluntary work, your interests<br />
out of sixth form/college, words to sum up<br />
you as a person. Perhaps ask others how<br />
they would describe you. Then organise the<br />
material. Start with a paragraph on why<br />
your intended course of study interests<br />
you, followed by relevant experience and<br />
activities, your future plans and then a little<br />
about you as a person.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Admissions tutors are looking for<br />
a high level of motivation. Try to<br />
put across your enthusiasm for the<br />
subject you want to study.<br />
• For advice on what admission tutors<br />
are looking for in your personal<br />
statement see<br />
M www.ucas.com<br />
How to Write a Winning UCAS<br />
Personal Statement (Trotman)<br />
Creating Your UCAS Personal<br />
Statement (Trotman)<br />
60 Successful Personal<br />
Statements: For UCAS Application<br />
(Cambridge Occupational Analysts)<br />
How to Write a Successful<br />
University Personal Statement<br />
Application (Apply2Uni)<br />
Writing a UCAS Personal<br />
Statement in Seven Easy Steps<br />
(How to Books)<br />
Heap 2012: University Degree<br />
Course Offers (Trotman)<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
15
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Interviews for higher education<br />
Institutions and departments vary in their<br />
policies over whether they interview or not.<br />
Some:<br />
• do not interview at all<br />
• see the majority of applicants<br />
• ask you to attend for interview when competition<br />
for places is high<br />
• interview to make sure you are the right type<br />
of person, e.g. for medicine or teaching<br />
• interview when all applicants are predicted to have<br />
similar high grades, so the interview will be the<br />
deciding factor in who is offered a place.<br />
At some institutions interviews are part of the open day. You need<br />
to be aware that there are two types of university open day; open<br />
days available to anyone, and open days specifically for those<br />
students who have been, or are likely to be, offered a conditional<br />
place. Attending the latter type of open day is important – it<br />
gives you the opportunity to view facilities and find out about all<br />
aspects of the course from tutors and existing students. Institutions<br />
generally have more than one open day, so if you miss one, there<br />
may be another you can attend.<br />
Preparation<br />
• It’s a good idea to keep up-to-date with topical issues in your<br />
subject area, e.g. keep articles from quality newspapers and reread<br />
them before an interview. Items relating to medical ethics,<br />
politics, education, social and legal issues regularly appear in the<br />
press. Also look at some professional journals that cover your<br />
study area or intended profession. Local public libraries may keep<br />
a selection of these.<br />
• Read through the prospectus thoroughly. Check if there is a<br />
departmental prospectus. Research additional information on the<br />
university website.<br />
• Make sure you read through a copy of your UCAS application –<br />
in particular, your personal statement.<br />
• Prepare anything you need to take with you e.g. art portfolio,<br />
coursework or essays.<br />
• Plan your journey – allow plenty of time to get there.<br />
• Decide what you are going to wear – you need to be smart and<br />
presentable, but also comfortable.<br />
The interview<br />
• Interviews can last from five minutes to over an hour. You may<br />
be interviewed by just one person, or a panel of perhaps two or<br />
three people.<br />
• The interview may also include a group exercise or discussion.<br />
Alternatively you may be asked to complete a practical test,<br />
exam or submit pieces of writing. You will be told in advance<br />
what format your interview will take. For example, if you<br />
apply for a journalism course you may have to take a general<br />
knowledge test or write a short essay.<br />
Remember<br />
• Interviews are two-way – it’s also an opportunity for you to find<br />
out if the course and institution meet your needs.<br />
• Interviewers appreciate that you may be nervous. Don’t be<br />
scared to ask them to repeat a question or re-phrase it if you<br />
don’t understand.<br />
• Avoid one-word responses. Try to give constructive answers but<br />
be careful not to waffle.<br />
• You may be asked why you have chosen your course. Prepare an<br />
answer for this prior to the interview.<br />
• Be prepared to <strong>talk</strong> about the things you have included in your<br />
personal statement.<br />
• Some interviewers will ask you about your interests and<br />
activities outside of sixth form/college.<br />
Questions you may be asked…<br />
• Why have you chosen this subject?<br />
• Why do you want to come to this university/college?<br />
• What are your views on…(a topical or controversial issue related<br />
to your chosen subject)?<br />
• Have you any experience to back up your subject choice? For<br />
some courses work experience may be essential – check this<br />
when you apply.<br />
• What do you hope to do at the end of the course?<br />
You might like to ask…<br />
• How is the course assessed – course work, continuous<br />
assessment, exams?<br />
• How is the course taught – how many lectures, seminars and/or<br />
tutorials?<br />
• What industry links does the department have?<br />
• What have previous graduates of this course gone on to do?<br />
But remember – don’t ask questions about things that have been<br />
well covered in the prospectus or in a <strong>talk</strong> given during the open<br />
day – otherwise it will give the impression that you haven’t read<br />
the information or didn’t listen.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Talk to friends and other students who have already had<br />
university interviews.<br />
• Get a teacher, relative or adviser to give you a mock interview.<br />
• See Heap 2012: University Degree Course Offers (Trotman)<br />
for ideas about the types of questions you might be asked.<br />
• Also see University Interviews Guide book and CDROM (JFS<br />
School) which may be available in your school or college.<br />
16 got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk
UCAS Extra, Clearing and Adjustment<br />
Extra<br />
This operates from 24 February to the end of<br />
June. If by this stage you aren’t holding any<br />
offers from your chosen universities and have<br />
no outstanding decisions, then Extra enables<br />
you to make further applications (one at a<br />
time) so you don’t have to wait until Clearing<br />
to find a place.<br />
You can find out where there are still<br />
vacancies by visiting the Course Search<br />
section of the UCAS website. If you are<br />
eligible to participate in Extra, a special<br />
button will appear on your Track screen. You<br />
apply for vacancies through Track but <strong>talk</strong>ing<br />
to universities and colleges direct to check<br />
they can consider you is always a good idea<br />
before applying.<br />
Clearing<br />
If, after you have received your results in<br />
August, you are without a place, you can<br />
apply for any remaining vacancies through<br />
Clearing. If you are already in the UCAS<br />
system you will be notified automatically<br />
about Clearing.<br />
Maximising your chances of success<br />
through Clearing<br />
• You will need to make some important<br />
decisions very quickly so make use of the<br />
advice available at your school or college.<br />
• Most vacancies are filled within the first<br />
few days so don’t delay!<br />
• You will need to be calm and methodical<br />
despite it being a stressful time. Lots of<br />
people will be trying to contact universities<br />
and colleges so be persistent and patient.<br />
• Don’t rush into a decision without carefully<br />
researching the course and the location.<br />
If possible, go along and have a look<br />
around before making a final decision.<br />
• Telephone the course admissions tutor and<br />
be ready to <strong>talk</strong> about your application.<br />
Remember to have your UCAS personal ID<br />
number with you.<br />
• Show your interest and enthusiasm for the<br />
course.<br />
Adjustment<br />
If, when the exam results are announced,<br />
you find you have met and exceeded the<br />
conditional firm offer you are holding,<br />
Adjustment gives you the opportunity, if you<br />
wish, to make a new application while at the<br />
same time protecting the original firm choice<br />
offer.<br />
• Once the firm choice institution confirms<br />
your offer as unconditional, you have up to<br />
five calendar days to secure an Adjustment<br />
place.<br />
• You need to contact institutions direct<br />
to check if they have vacancies and also<br />
register for Adjustment with UCAS Track.<br />
• If you don’t find an alternative place then<br />
your original firm choice will stand.<br />
• If you obtain an alternative place, you will<br />
become ‘unconditional firm’ with the new<br />
institution. The new institution is responsible<br />
for confirming that you have met and<br />
exceeded your conditional firm offer and are<br />
eligible for Adjustment.<br />
• Applicants with insurance or original<br />
unconditional offers are not eligible to<br />
participate in the Adjustment process.<br />
• You can contact lots of institutions to look<br />
for vacancies but you are allowed to make<br />
only one formal Adjustment transaction.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Course vacancies are advertised in many<br />
places. The best ones to check are the<br />
UCAS website<br />
M www.ucas.com and the Daily<br />
Telegraph newspaper.<br />
• Universities and colleges advertise new<br />
and under-subscribed courses on their<br />
websites and in newspapers.<br />
• Make sure you are around at results time<br />
and for a couple of weeks afterwards in<br />
case you need to go through Clearing or<br />
Adjustment.<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS<br />
17
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Student finance<br />
Becoming a student may be<br />
the first time you have had<br />
to take full responsibility for<br />
your own finances. It’s really<br />
important to keep control of<br />
your money by budgeting<br />
as your expenses will<br />
probably include not only<br />
accommodation, food,<br />
books and transport but<br />
insurance, mobile phone<br />
bills, TV licence, clothes and<br />
social life.<br />
Managing your money<br />
It’s a good idea to open a bank or building<br />
society account if you don’t already have<br />
one, and there are loads of books on<br />
sources of funding, work opportunities,<br />
budgeting and financial survival. There are<br />
also websites that can help you calculate<br />
realistic budgets for student life – see<br />
page 27.<br />
If you feel you are getting into financial<br />
difficulties, act fast and <strong>talk</strong> to your family,<br />
student debt counsellor and your bank or<br />
building society.<br />
Sources of funding<br />
Government funding for HE students<br />
has been changing over the past few<br />
years. There are two main costs – tuition<br />
fees and living costs. Below is the latest<br />
information available for students starting<br />
their courses in 2012 but check M www.<br />
direct.gov.uk/studentfinance regularly<br />
for updates.<br />
A student loan is money lent to you to<br />
help with your tuition fees and living costs<br />
while you study, which you will have to<br />
pay back. You don’t have to pay back<br />
any grants, bursaries or scholarships you<br />
receive.<br />
• Tuition Fee Loan<br />
From September 2012, universities<br />
and colleges in England can charge<br />
new, full-time students tuition fees<br />
of up to £9,000 and new part-time<br />
students up to £6,750 a year. (There are<br />
no restrictions on how much private<br />
universities and colleges can charge).<br />
These fees don’t have to be paid upfront;<br />
instead you can pay them by<br />
taking out a Tuition Fee Loan. How much<br />
loan you receive isn’t affected by your<br />
household income.<br />
New full-time students (including fulltime<br />
distance learning students) can get<br />
a loan of up to £9,000. New full-time<br />
students on an approved course at a<br />
private university or college can get up<br />
to £6,000.<br />
If you are on a part-time course (which<br />
is at least 25% of a full-time course in<br />
each academic year) you can get up to<br />
£4,500.<br />
The Tuition Fee Loan is paid direct to<br />
your university or college.<br />
• Maintenance Loan for Living Costs<br />
Full-time students including those<br />
on approved private courses (but not<br />
distance learning or part-time students)<br />
can also take out a student loan to help<br />
cover living costs. The loan is paid into<br />
your bank account at the start of each<br />
term.<br />
The amount you get depends on where<br />
you live and study, and your household<br />
income.<br />
The maximum Maintenance Loan for<br />
students starting in 2012/13 is:<br />
- £4,375 if you live at home<br />
- £5,500 if you live away from home and<br />
study at a university/college outside<br />
London<br />
- £7,675 if you live away from home and<br />
study in London.<br />
• Repayment of Student Loans<br />
After completing their courses, fulltime<br />
and part-time students start<br />
repaying their student loans once they<br />
are earning over £21,000. (If you earn<br />
less than £21,000 you don’t make any<br />
repayments).<br />
You repay your loans back at a rate of<br />
9% of your income over £21,000. This is<br />
taken direct from your salary along with<br />
tax and National Insurance.<br />
Interest is charged on your loan at<br />
the rate of inflation plus a percentage<br />
relating to how much you earn. See<br />
M www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk<br />
• Maintenance Grant for Living Costs<br />
Full-time (but not part-time) students<br />
can apply for a Maintenance Grant to<br />
help with living costs. This doesn’t have<br />
to be paid back.<br />
If your household income is £25,000 or<br />
under, you can get a full grant of £3,250.<br />
If it’s between £25,000 and £42,600 you<br />
can get a partial grant.<br />
• Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards<br />
From 2012 there will be a £150 million<br />
National Scholarship Programme to help<br />
students from families with a household<br />
income of less than £25,000 a year.<br />
Each university/college will decide what<br />
support they are offering so check on<br />
their websites for details.<br />
• Childcare Grant, Parents’ Learning<br />
Allowance and Adult Dependants’<br />
Grant<br />
Students with a dependent adult<br />
or children can apply for a range of<br />
allowances and grants. These don’t have<br />
to be repaid.<br />
Q I am not sure about<br />
going to university – it<br />
seems such a big step to<br />
take and I might end up<br />
with loads of debts. Am<br />
I right to be worrying<br />
about it so much?<br />
A Have you thought about going<br />
to a local university? An increasing<br />
number of young people are living<br />
at home while studying for their<br />
degree. You’ll probably save on<br />
rent, washing and food and you’d<br />
also be in familiar surroundings.<br />
Remember, however, that part<br />
of the HE experience is the<br />
opportunity to be independent<br />
and have total responsibility for<br />
your own day-to-day life. Living at<br />
home would clearly change this<br />
experience for you but for some<br />
students staying at home would<br />
reduce their worries about moving<br />
to a new place with new people<br />
around them.<br />
18<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com
• NHS Student Bursaries<br />
Many healthcare diploma or degree courses attract this type of<br />
funding – nursing, midwifery, operating department practitioners,<br />
audiology, chiropody/podiatry, dietetics, dental hygiene/therapy,<br />
occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, prosthetics &<br />
orthotics, radiography/radiotherapy, and speech & language therapy.<br />
Those studying medicine or dentistry may be eligible for this type of<br />
funding from year 5 of their course onwards.<br />
For more information visit M www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students or<br />
T 0845 358 6655<br />
• Social Work Bursaries<br />
These are available for degree courses in social work. For further<br />
information see<br />
M www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students or<br />
T 0845 610 1122<br />
• Charities and Educational Trusts<br />
Students who meet specific criteria may be able to obtain small<br />
amounts of funding from charities and educational trusts. See useful<br />
resources and websites on pages 24-27.<br />
Also contact the Educational Grants Advisory Service via<br />
M www.family-action.org.uk or T 020 7241 7459<br />
Tuesday to Thursday 2.00pm – 4.00pm<br />
• Part-time work<br />
During term time many students take part-time jobs to earn extra<br />
cash. This doesn’t affect your entitlement to student finance.<br />
Universities often have their own student employment agency<br />
advertising jobs around the campus and the university’s careers<br />
service may have details of local part-time work. Many courses now<br />
include a sandwich year that will give you the opportunity not only<br />
of gaining valuable work experience but a good salary too.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Get a travel discount card.<br />
• Use the union facilities, as these<br />
may be cheaper.<br />
• Buy second hand textbooks or use<br />
the library.<br />
• Eat in rather than out. The cheapest way is to pool<br />
resources with your housemates and shop together.<br />
• Go supermarket shopping late in the day when<br />
fresh food is often reduced in price. Look out for<br />
special offers.<br />
• Cinemas and clubs often have cheap student nights.<br />
• Get a part-time job and work during your holidays.<br />
• Don’t forget the benefits of your NUS card – lots of<br />
shops offer discounts.<br />
Applying for student finance<br />
Applications for student finance are dealt with centrally by Student<br />
Finance England. You can apply online at the same time as you are<br />
applying for courses through M www.ucas.com, or via the<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance website. This includes a<br />
student finance calculator, so you can work out how much you are<br />
likely to receive.<br />
It’s best to apply as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until you<br />
have a confirmed HE place, just complete the application using your<br />
first choice course and then change the details later if necessary.<br />
If you have a disability or learning difficulty, you may be able to<br />
get extra funding to help with expenses incurred as a result of your<br />
additional needs – see page 13.<br />
Students considering applying for places at dance, drama and music<br />
colleges should contact the colleges individually<br />
for advice about the type of funding available.<br />
Most of their HE courses entitle students to<br />
receive student finance under the national<br />
scheme, although fee arrangements vary<br />
between courses – see page 2.<br />
For more information<br />
• A range of guides, fact sheets and forms can be viewed/<br />
downloaded at M www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance<br />
including:<br />
- A guide to financial support for new full-time higher<br />
education students<br />
- Student Loans: a guide to terms and conditions<br />
- Higher education student finance: how you are<br />
assessed and paid<br />
- Bridging the gap: a guide to the disabled students’<br />
allowances (DSAs) in higher education<br />
You can get Braille, large print and audio versions of the<br />
guides, fact sheets and forms by phoning T 0141 243<br />
3686 or emailing M brailleandlargefonts@slc.co.uk<br />
• Student Finance England<br />
PO Box 210<br />
Darlington<br />
DL1 9HJ<br />
T 0845 300 5090<br />
T 0845 604 4434 textphone<br />
Monday to Friday<br />
8.00am – 8.00pm<br />
Saturday and Sunday<br />
9.00am – 5.30pm<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
19
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Sponsorship<br />
Sponsorship is a way of<br />
receiving financial help<br />
during your HE course, often<br />
in exchange for periods of<br />
employment with a sponsor;<br />
this takes the form of a<br />
contract between you and<br />
the sponsor.<br />
Ways in which sponsorship may be<br />
offered:<br />
• an annual salary for the duration of your<br />
course<br />
• a salary for a specific year e.g. gap year,<br />
sandwich work placement or final year<br />
• a bursary payment during term time plus<br />
a salary for vacation work.<br />
Employers may expect you to join the<br />
company after your course and some insist<br />
you work for a minimum period once you<br />
finish training. However, sponsorships do<br />
not necessarily guarantee you a job.<br />
Who might offer sponsorship?<br />
Sponsorship is offered by a range of<br />
organisations including public and<br />
private companies, professional bodies,<br />
government departments, local authorities<br />
and the armed services. The main<br />
subject areas attracting sponsorship are<br />
engineering, pure and applied science,<br />
accountancy, economics and computer<br />
science. It is also possible to find some<br />
in retailing, finance and business. Some<br />
companies require you to attend a specific<br />
course or institution, whereas others are<br />
more flexible. It is possible to be sponsored<br />
on both full-time and sandwich courses.<br />
The latter are often more likely to attract<br />
sponsorship, as you can gain a year’s<br />
work experience alongside your academic<br />
studies.<br />
Advantages include:<br />
• extra money<br />
• potential paid work during the holidays<br />
• work experience and training<br />
• gaining experience of business culture<br />
• gaining confidence in the working world<br />
• the possibility of a job at the end of your<br />
studies.<br />
Disadvantages include:<br />
• making an initial career decision at 17<br />
• finding yourself on a course you wouldn’t<br />
have otherwise chosen<br />
• going to an institution not chosen by you<br />
• sponsorship may affect your entitlement<br />
to a student loan, depending on how<br />
much you earn<br />
• having to work during the long summer<br />
vacation<br />
• being committed to working for the<br />
company for a specified period of time.<br />
What do I need?<br />
Entry requirements vary but in general<br />
sponsors may specify:<br />
• certain advanced level subjects<br />
• number of UCAS points<br />
• relevant work experience<br />
• personal qualities e.g. an inquiring mind,<br />
creativity, ambition, enthusiasm<br />
• skills including teamwork<br />
and communication.<br />
When should I apply?<br />
The best time to apply varies between<br />
companies but you should start researching<br />
the opportunities during the first year of<br />
your advanced level studies. You apply for<br />
the course in the normal way but if the<br />
sponsor wishes you to complete a year in<br />
employment first, you may need to defer<br />
your university course for a year.<br />
Scholarships<br />
Scholarships are another source of finance.<br />
These may be offered by charitable trusts,<br />
a university department or a company,<br />
however these would not normally include<br />
the offer of employment.<br />
For more information<br />
• M marketing@imeche.org.uk<br />
and request a copy of Engineering<br />
Opportunities<br />
• M www.scholarship-search.org.uk<br />
• Check out company, professional body<br />
and university websites as these can<br />
be a valuable source of sponsorship<br />
and scholarship information.<br />
• Guide to Student Money 2011<br />
(Trotman)<br />
20<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
Taking a gap year<br />
More young people than<br />
ever are choosing to take<br />
a year out before moving<br />
on to HE or employment.<br />
Most university tutors look<br />
favourably on students doing<br />
this and the benefits to you<br />
might be life changing!<br />
Start researching your plans early in the<br />
first year of advanced level studies as some<br />
opportunities have application closing<br />
dates or an age limit. Some activities such<br />
as expeditions are expensive; check out the<br />
costs so you know how much you need to<br />
earn from part-time work or fund raising.<br />
When planning your year, think about:<br />
• what you want to do<br />
• why you want to do it<br />
• what you are hoping to gain from it.<br />
What could I do in my gap year?<br />
During the year you may have the chance to<br />
do more than one thing. You could:<br />
• Travel<br />
This could be independently or as part<br />
of an organised project. Make sure you<br />
research and plan carefully:<br />
• where do you want to visit and why?<br />
• how much will it all cost – travel,<br />
accommodation, food, health and travel<br />
insurance etc?<br />
• how will you finance it?<br />
• will you need visas, work permits and<br />
vaccinations?<br />
• Work – paid work, work experience<br />
and voluntary work<br />
A gap year is a great opportunity to get<br />
work experience (paid or unpaid) or<br />
voluntary work related to your course<br />
choice or career aims. It can be in the UK or<br />
abroad and will give you the chance to:<br />
• become more independent and selfconfident<br />
• develop your skills<br />
• gain experience<br />
• make contacts<br />
• possibly gain some work-related<br />
qualifications<br />
• earn and save money ready for going<br />
on to HE.<br />
• Take a course<br />
You could take a course to gain<br />
qualifications or improve your skills, e.g. in<br />
languages, cooking or computing. Courses<br />
are offered in the UK or abroad. It may be<br />
possible to obtain a scholarship to fund<br />
one of these courses but otherwise you will<br />
need to find the finance yourself.<br />
Returning to study<br />
Most students don’t have any problems<br />
returning to study after their gap year as<br />
it has given them a break and they look<br />
forward to returning to learning. However,<br />
your experiences during a year out may<br />
influence your plans for the future and<br />
prompt you to rethink your aims.<br />
Applying to university<br />
• If you have already decided which<br />
course you want to do<br />
Apply in Year 13 (or the second year of<br />
your advanced level studies) for deferred<br />
entry by the normal deadline – see page<br />
9. Before applying, check that your<br />
chosen universities or colleges will accept<br />
a deferred application and make your<br />
deferral very clear on your application.<br />
Make sure you are at home when the<br />
exam results are announced and Clearing<br />
and Adjustment are underway so that the<br />
whole application process is complete<br />
before you go off on your gap year.<br />
• If you are not certain which course you<br />
want to do after your gap year<br />
Apply a year later or when you come<br />
back, making sure you are available at the<br />
correct time to complete your application<br />
and attend interviews.<br />
• UCAS personal statement<br />
Write this carefully, explaining your reasons<br />
for deferred entry and your plans for your<br />
year out. If you are applying during your<br />
gap year, write about what you are doing.<br />
For more information<br />
• Useful resources and websites<br />
are listed on pages 24–27.<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
21
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
The value of work experience<br />
Universities and employers<br />
value students who have<br />
practical experience and an<br />
understanding of the world<br />
of work.<br />
• During your first year in the sixth form or<br />
at college you may be able to do some<br />
work experience or work shadowing. This<br />
could help you:<br />
• collect information for a particular<br />
project you are working on<br />
• find out more about a career area you<br />
are interested in<br />
• gain experience you can use to<br />
support your application for a job or<br />
HE course.<br />
• Your school or college may have staff<br />
who organise placements – find out who<br />
they are. They can guide you through the<br />
process of choosing a placement and<br />
how best to prepare for and get the most<br />
out of it.<br />
Agriculture/<br />
Forestry/Horticulture<br />
Organise a year’s work experience on a<br />
farm, do work experience with a forestry<br />
company, garden centre or local authority<br />
parks department.<br />
Archaeology<br />
Go on archaeological digs, visit museums<br />
or sites.<br />
Architecture<br />
Get work experience with a firm of<br />
architects, a construction company or local<br />
authority architects’ department.<br />
Business Studies<br />
Arrange work experience in any size or kind<br />
of business, attend Industry Days, or shadow<br />
a manager.<br />
Computing<br />
Try to get experience using a wide range of<br />
computer programs, use the internet, get<br />
some work experience with a computing<br />
company or a firm with a large computing<br />
department.<br />
• As well as work placements, you can<br />
gain valuable insights and experiences<br />
through voluntary work and part-time<br />
jobs. Work-related experience doesn’t<br />
have to be done as a block placement<br />
e.g. an aspiring teacher could arrange to<br />
spend one afternoon a week in a local<br />
school or an evening a week helping at a<br />
local youth club.<br />
• The V Award is the national youth<br />
volunteering scheme for 16-25 year olds<br />
and is another good way to get work<br />
experience related to your career aims.<br />
Volunteers can work towards nationally<br />
recognised certificates and take part in a<br />
wide range of activities including sport,<br />
media, social work, web design, music<br />
festivals etc.<br />
For more information go to<br />
M www.vinspired.com<br />
T 0800 089 9000<br />
Engineering<br />
Attend an engineering “taster” course at a<br />
university, shadow a professional engineer.<br />
Environmental Science<br />
Do some voluntary work e.g. with BTCV<br />
(British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)<br />
and attend field courses.<br />
History<br />
Join a local historical society, get work<br />
experience or voluntary work with the<br />
National Trust or local museum.<br />
Law<br />
Shadow a solicitor or barrister, visit courts,<br />
do voluntary work with offenders.<br />
Media<br />
Write for your school or college magazine/<br />
website or start your own, visit local<br />
newspapers, radio and TV stations, or<br />
shadow a reporter or producer.<br />
Medicine<br />
Shadow a doctor, learn first aid, do<br />
voluntary work in a hospital or residential<br />
home for the elderly or people with<br />
disabilities.<br />
• Planning, arranging and completing<br />
work experience, part-time or voluntary<br />
work shows your interest, commitment<br />
and level of motivation – qualities which<br />
employers and HE admissions tutors are<br />
looking for. They are always interested<br />
in applicants’ experiences of the world<br />
of work – from their point of view these<br />
are often as important as your academic<br />
achievements.<br />
• Some HE courses include periods of<br />
work experience e.g. business studies or<br />
engineering sandwich courses. Although<br />
this makes your course longer there<br />
are advantages in terms of pay, skill<br />
development, improved employment<br />
prospects – it may even lead to a job<br />
offer.<br />
• If you aren’t on a sandwich course you<br />
could still arrange to do some work<br />
experience during the holidays and gain<br />
valuable experience from joining clubs,<br />
societies and community action groups in<br />
term time.<br />
Ideas for work experience/work shadowing<br />
Occupational Therapy/<br />
Orthoptics/Physiotherapy/<br />
Radiography/Speech Therapy<br />
It is essential to visit a hospital department<br />
and shadow a professional before applying<br />
for any of these courses.<br />
Pharmacy<br />
Shadow a hospital or industrial pharmacist,<br />
get work experience as a sales assistant in a<br />
chemist’s shop.<br />
Teaching<br />
Do voluntary work or work experience in<br />
a primary school, help at a Summer Play<br />
Scheme or Youth Club.<br />
Veterinary Science<br />
Get work experience on a livestock farm,<br />
help at a cattery, kennels, stables or animal<br />
welfare organisation,<br />
shadow a vet.<br />
22<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk
What next after university?<br />
The What Do Graduates Do?<br />
survey of those completing<br />
degrees in 2009, shows that<br />
67.2% entered employment;<br />
15.3% went on to further<br />
study or training and 8.9%<br />
were unemployed after six<br />
months.<br />
Of those completing<br />
Foundation Degrees, 58.5%<br />
entered employment; 32.8%<br />
went on to further study<br />
(many of those converting<br />
to a degree) and 2.7% were<br />
unemployed.<br />
• In the current economic climate, new<br />
graduates, like everyone else, are having a<br />
tough time finding employment. A survey<br />
of graduate employers showed they are<br />
expecting about a third of the vacancies<br />
they have on offer for 2011 will be filled<br />
by undergraduates who have had previous<br />
work experience with their organisations<br />
such as internships, industrial placements,<br />
vacation schemes or sponsorships.<br />
• On the whole more employers are actively<br />
seeking to employ graduates. In normal<br />
years, major companies take around 20%<br />
of each year’s leavers, with the rest being<br />
taken on by small and medium sized<br />
employers. However, there can be intense<br />
competition for some opportunities.<br />
• Although some employers recruit<br />
graduates with specific degree subjects<br />
these account for only about half of all<br />
graduate opportunities. The rest will<br />
consider graduates in any subject, who<br />
have the necessary qualities and skills to<br />
make a contribution to the organisation.<br />
However, having a degree is no guarantee<br />
of a good job – you need evidence of your<br />
employability too.<br />
• Research carried out by the Association<br />
of Graduate Recruiters identified the<br />
following as the skills valued by most<br />
employers:<br />
• initiative, motivation and enthusiasm<br />
• people skills such as team-working<br />
and communication<br />
• flexibility and willingness to learn<br />
• problem solving and analytical skills<br />
• computer literacy<br />
• business awareness.<br />
• While at university you will develop skills<br />
through your studies but you should<br />
also look beyond your course for other<br />
opportunities. These could include courses<br />
run by the university careers service, extra<br />
curricular activities which involve taking<br />
on new responsibilities, work experience<br />
and voluntary work.<br />
• Remember, your degree may be only a<br />
starting point in terms of learning. Many<br />
graduates will do further study and<br />
training after graduating.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Many graduate recruiters use<br />
assessment centres and competency<br />
based recruitment criteria.<br />
• Your key skills will be carefully<br />
assessed, irrespective of what is<br />
written on your CV or application<br />
form.<br />
• To remain employable you will need<br />
to be flexible and learn new skills<br />
throughout your working life.<br />
• For further information, including<br />
examples of jobs entered by<br />
graduates from most main subject<br />
areas, see What Do Graduates Do?<br />
(HECSU/AGCAS/UCAS). Also visit<br />
M www.prospects.ac.uk/links/<br />
wdgd<br />
• Make use of your university careers<br />
service – there will be a programme<br />
of courses and presentations geared<br />
towards helping you to develop<br />
your skills and make decisions about<br />
your future.<br />
• Research published by the Higher<br />
Education Statistics Agency showed<br />
that just three-and-a-half years after<br />
graduating, 81% of graduates were<br />
working in occupations classed as<br />
‘graduate occupations’ related to their<br />
long term career plans.<br />
• Some graduates choose to delay applying<br />
for graduate jobs until after they have<br />
completed their course, preferring to<br />
devote their energies to achieving the best<br />
results they can, before investigating their<br />
job options. Others take non-graduate jobs<br />
in order to fund travel plans.<br />
• Some employers, who have found it<br />
hard to attract applicants, offer financial<br />
incentives e.g. those planning to teach<br />
science, maths and modern languages<br />
can apply for training bursaries. These<br />
packages may even include paying off the<br />
student loan.<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS<br />
23
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Sources of further information<br />
Many of the resources listed below will be available in your school, college or public<br />
library. It’s very important to use the most up-to-date editions.<br />
Higher education<br />
• Applying to University:<br />
The Essential Guide<br />
Need2Know (July 2008)<br />
Free 2011 ebook update if<br />
you buy the 2008 book.<br />
• Choosing a Medical<br />
School<br />
Developmedica (January<br />
2010)<br />
• Choosing Your Degree<br />
Course and University<br />
Trotman (September 2010)<br />
• The Daily Telegraph Guide<br />
to UK Universities 2010<br />
Trotman (June 2009)<br />
• Degree Course<br />
Descriptions<br />
COA (September 2010, new<br />
edition September 2011)<br />
• ‘Getting into’ Course<br />
Guides – Art & Design<br />
2011 entry (June 2010);<br />
Business & Economics<br />
(February 2011); Dental<br />
School (February 2011);<br />
Engineering (May 2011);<br />
Law (February 2010);<br />
Medical School 2012<br />
entry (May 2011); Oxford<br />
& Cambridge 2012 entry<br />
(April 2011); Physiotherapy<br />
(February 2010); Psychology<br />
(February 2010); US and<br />
Canadian Universities<br />
(October 2008); Veterinary<br />
School (February 2011)<br />
Trotman<br />
• Getting into the UK’s Best<br />
Universities & Courses<br />
Trotman (June 2011)<br />
• The Guardian University<br />
Guide 2011<br />
Guardian Books (July<br />
2010)<br />
• Heap 2012: University<br />
Degree Course Offers<br />
Trotman (May 2011)<br />
• Higher Ideas (software)<br />
Database of higher education<br />
courses, with various search<br />
facilities.<br />
Careersoft<br />
• How to Complete Your<br />
UCAS Application 2012<br />
Entry<br />
Trotman (May 2011)<br />
• Insider’s Guide to Applying<br />
to University<br />
Trotman (June 2011)<br />
• Little Guide to Higher<br />
Education 2012<br />
UCAS (March 2011)<br />
• Open Days (and taster<br />
courses & education<br />
conventions)<br />
UCAS (January 2011)<br />
• Passing the National<br />
Admissions Test for Law<br />
Learning Matters (June<br />
2011)<br />
• Passing Oxbridge<br />
Admissions Tests<br />
Learning Matters<br />
(September 2008)<br />
• Passing the UKCAT and<br />
BMAT<br />
Learning Matters (April<br />
2011)<br />
• Pathfinder Live (software)<br />
Careers matching program<br />
with suggestions for higher<br />
education subjects/courses.<br />
Babcock Lifeskills<br />
• Practice Tests, Questions<br />
and Answers for the<br />
UKCAT<br />
Learning Matters<br />
(February 2010)<br />
• Practise and Pass: LNAT<br />
Trotman (August 2011)<br />
• Practise and Pass: UKCAT<br />
& BMAT<br />
Trotman (August 2011)<br />
• ‘Progression Series<br />
2012’ – Art & Design;<br />
Economics, Finance &<br />
Accountancy; Engineering<br />
& Mathematics;<br />
Journalism, Broadcasting,<br />
Media Production &<br />
Performing Arts; Law;<br />
Medicine, Dentistry &<br />
Optometry; Nursing,<br />
Health Care & Social Work;<br />
Psychology; Sports Science<br />
& Physiotherapy; Teaching<br />
& Education.<br />
UCAS (June 2011)<br />
• Prospectuses and<br />
‘Alternative’ Prospectuses<br />
(updated annually)<br />
Also available online<br />
• Step Up 2011<br />
Educate (June 2010)<br />
• The Times Good University<br />
Guide 2012<br />
Harper Collins (June 2011)<br />
• Top Universities Guide<br />
2011 (studying abroad)<br />
Quacquerelli Symonds<br />
(March 2011)<br />
Also available online at<br />
M www.topuniversities.<br />
com<br />
• The UCAS Guide to<br />
Getting into University &<br />
College<br />
UCAS (January 2011)<br />
• The Virgin Guide to British<br />
Universities 2012<br />
Virgin Books (May 2011)<br />
• Which Uni<br />
Trotman (October 2009)<br />
24<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com
Student finance<br />
• The Complete University<br />
Guide: Student Finance<br />
Right Way (July 2009)<br />
• The Daily Telegraph Guide<br />
to Student Money 2011<br />
Trotman (July 2010)<br />
• Debt Free Uni<br />
Trotman (August 2011)<br />
• Degrees with Less Debt<br />
Lifetime Publishing (June<br />
2011)<br />
• The Essential Guide to<br />
Paying for University<br />
Kogan Page (August 2009)<br />
• The Guide to Educational<br />
Grants 2011/12<br />
(previously called The<br />
Educational Grants Directory)<br />
Directory of Social Change<br />
(April 2011)<br />
• University Scholarships,<br />
Awards and Bursaries<br />
Trotman (October 2009)<br />
The world of work<br />
• Careers 2011<br />
Trotman (October 2010,<br />
Careers 2012 due October<br />
2011)<br />
• Careers with an Arts or<br />
Humanities Degree<br />
Lifetime Publishing (August<br />
2010)<br />
• Careers with a Science<br />
Degree<br />
Lifetime Publishing (August<br />
2010)<br />
• The Graduate Jobs Formula<br />
Trotman (May 2010)<br />
• Jobfile 2011-12<br />
Babcock Lifeskills (March<br />
2011)<br />
• TARGET GET Directory<br />
2011(Graduate Employment<br />
and Training)<br />
GTI Media /Target Jobs<br />
(2010)<br />
• The Times Top 100 Graduate<br />
Employers 2010<br />
High Fliers Publications<br />
(September 2010)<br />
• What Can I Do with an Arts<br />
Degree?<br />
Trotman (November 2009)<br />
• What Can I Do with No<br />
Degree?<br />
Trotman (October 2008)<br />
• What Do Graduates Do?<br />
HECSU/AGCAS/UCAS<br />
(November 2010)<br />
Gap year<br />
• The Gap-Year Guide Book<br />
2011<br />
John Catt Educational<br />
(November 2010)<br />
• Green Volunteers<br />
Universe Publishing (July<br />
2011)<br />
• Summer Jobs Worldwide<br />
2011<br />
Crimson Publishing<br />
(October 2010)<br />
• Work Your Way Around the<br />
World<br />
Crimson Publishing/<br />
Vacation Work (May 2009)<br />
• World Volunteers<br />
Crimson Publishing/<br />
Vacation Work (February<br />
2008)<br />
• Your Gap Year<br />
Crimson Publishing (March<br />
2010)<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
25
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Useful websites<br />
Higher education<br />
M www.careercompanion.co.uk<br />
Go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.<br />
com and click on the Career Companion<br />
Online icon in the right hand menu.<br />
Reviews of, and links to, a wide range of<br />
websites.<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/en/<br />
EducationAndLearning/<br />
UniversityAndHigherEducation<br />
Government website with information<br />
on HE and links to many other sites.<br />
M www.ucas.com and<br />
www.ucas.tv<br />
Essential for course information and<br />
applying to university.<br />
M www.yougo.co.uk<br />
To register for information and advice<br />
on HE.<br />
M www.hotcourses.com<br />
UK's largest database of educational<br />
courses.<br />
M www.ukcoursefinder.com<br />
Another good site for locating specific<br />
courses.<br />
M www.unistats.com<br />
Enables you to compare courses and<br />
universities.<br />
M www.bestcourse4me.com<br />
Shows the links between degree<br />
subjects and employment prospects.<br />
M www.oxbridge-admissions.info<br />
Advice from students who have been<br />
through the Oxford or Cambridge<br />
admissions process.<br />
M www.personalstatement.info<br />
Helpful for ideas on producing your<br />
personal statement, but use with<br />
caution!<br />
M www.studential.com<br />
Advice on writing your personal<br />
statement. Again use with caution.<br />
M www.open.ac.uk<br />
The Open University offers the<br />
opportunity to study for HE<br />
qualifications by supported distance<br />
learning.<br />
M www.unofficial-guides.com<br />
An alternative site for finding out about<br />
university life.<br />
M www.whatuni.com<br />
Another alternative site for finding out<br />
about HE.<br />
M www.thecompleteuniversityguide<br />
.co.uk<br />
League tables. Use with caution.<br />
M www.guardian.co.uk/education<br />
League tables produced by the Guardian<br />
newspaper. Use with caution.<br />
M www.accesstohe.ac.uk<br />
For people wanting to go into HE who<br />
left education without the usual entry<br />
requirements.<br />
M www.skill.org.uk<br />
Skill is the National Bureau for Students<br />
with Disabilities.<br />
M www.studylondon.ac.uk<br />
Official website for universities and HE<br />
colleges in London.<br />
M www.push.co.uk<br />
Guide to choosing and applying to<br />
university and student life.<br />
M www.studentuk.com<br />
Social networking site for students.<br />
M www.thestudentroom.co.uk<br />
Student forum.<br />
M www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informedchoices<br />
Advice on choosing the right A level, or<br />
equivalent, subjects for entry to HE.<br />
M www.hcstuff.com<br />
Aimed at 15-17 year olds planning their<br />
futures.<br />
Studying abroad<br />
M www.careerseurope.co.uk<br />
Their Exodus database provides<br />
information on studying, training and<br />
working worldwide.<br />
Subscription service which may be<br />
available at your school, college or<br />
through Connexions.<br />
M www.braintrack.com<br />
International university index including<br />
the USA.<br />
M www.fulbright.co.uk<br />
Essential information on studying in the<br />
USA.<br />
M www.studyabroad.com<br />
Useful research tool written from an<br />
American perspective.<br />
M www.studiesinaustralia.com<br />
Provides a comprehensive picture of the<br />
Australian education system.<br />
M www.studyoptions.com<br />
Essential for anyone wanting to study in<br />
Australia or New Zealand.<br />
M www.acu.ac.uk<br />
Association of Commonwealth<br />
Universities website.<br />
M www.uknec.org.uk<br />
Europass – help for those wanting to<br />
study, work or train in Europe.<br />
M www.studylink.com<br />
Database of courses in Asia, Australia,<br />
Europe and North America.<br />
26<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
Student finance<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance<br />
Links to Student Finance England. Will help<br />
you work out the financial support you’ll<br />
get, apply for finance and keep track of<br />
your payments.<br />
M www.scholarship-search.org.uk<br />
Provides helpful funding and budgeting<br />
advice.<br />
M www.nus.org.uk<br />
Source of information about funding.<br />
M www.slc.co.uk<br />
Student Loans Company.<br />
M www.studentcalculator.org.uk<br />
Advice on managing your finances.<br />
Gap year<br />
M www.gogapyear.com<br />
Essential advice for gap year travellers<br />
from the government’s Foreign &<br />
Commonwealth Office.<br />
M www.yearoutgroup.org<br />
Advice for young people and their parents/<br />
carers about taking a gap year.<br />
M www.yini.org.uk<br />
Pre-university and undergraduate work<br />
experience.<br />
M www.gapyear.com<br />
Written by backpackers for backpackers.<br />
M www.gapyeardirectory.co.uk<br />
Gap year opportunities.<br />
M www. gap-year.com<br />
M www. greatgapyears.co.uk<br />
M www. gapwork.com<br />
M www. gapyearjobs.co.uk<br />
M www.bunac.org<br />
Offers summer camp, work abroad and<br />
volunteering programmes worldwide.<br />
M www.csv.org.uk<br />
Volunteering opportunities.<br />
M www.greenvolunteers.com<br />
Worldwide volunteering opportunities in<br />
nature conservation.<br />
M www.lattitude.org.uk<br />
Organisation specialising in volunteering<br />
opportunities for 17-25 year olds.<br />
M www.do-it.org.uk<br />
Over one million volunteering<br />
opportunities.<br />
M www.wwv.org.uk<br />
Lists over 2,400 organisations and<br />
1.6 million volunteering opportunities<br />
worldwide.<br />
The world of work and training<br />
M www.prospects.ac.uk<br />
Comprehensive careers and labour market<br />
information aimed at university students.<br />
M www.targetjobs.co.uk<br />
Graduate employment opportunities.<br />
M https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk then<br />
click on ‘Planning Your Career’, then ‘Job<br />
Profiles’, then ‘Job Market Information’.<br />
Careers and labour market information<br />
produced by the national Sector Skills<br />
Councils.<br />
M www.e4s.co.uk<br />
Student jobs, internships and graduate<br />
jobs.<br />
M www.careers-gateway.co.uk<br />
Portal linking to careers, courses and<br />
applying for jobs.<br />
M www..careersa-z.co.uk<br />
Portal linking to careers, courses and job<br />
information.<br />
M www.notgoingtouni.co.uk<br />
Alternatives to going to university e.g.<br />
Apprenticeships and other vocational<br />
training.<br />
M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
Click on eCLIPS and type in your school,<br />
college or home postcode. Extensive<br />
range of careers and lifestyle information<br />
leaflets.<br />
Top Tip!<br />
• Just because a university’s website<br />
is fantastic don’t assume it must be<br />
the place for you. Wherever possible<br />
follow up your research by visiting -<br />
see M www.opendays.com<br />
• British citizens planning<br />
to travel or live abroad should check<br />
the British Council‘s site at<br />
M www.britishcouncil.org<br />
for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com<br />
27
Let’s <strong>talk</strong> about…<br />
Other sources of help<br />
As well as deciding what to do beyond 18+, there may be other issues facing you<br />
that you need help with. See T www.survivalguide.me for details of organisations<br />
that can offer information, advice and support – here is a list of some of the main<br />
ones:<br />
ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE<br />
ABUSE<br />
Addaction Oxfordshire, Abingdon<br />
Business Centre, 7 Nuffield Way, Abingdon<br />
OX14 1RL T 01235 468405<br />
M www.addaction.org.uk (covers whole of<br />
Oxfordshire)<br />
Brendon Miller, Banbury Detached<br />
Youth Team, c/o Bridge Bar, 67 Bridge<br />
Street, Banbury OX16 5QF<br />
T 07747 765397 (until 31/08/11)<br />
Base 33, 33 High Street, Witney<br />
T 01993 200682 (postal address –<br />
4 Welch Way, Witney OX28 6JF)<br />
Osmond Charles, Blackbird Leys Youth<br />
Centre, Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford OX4<br />
6HW T 01865 772886 (until 31/08/11)<br />
David Ricketts, Oxford City Detached<br />
Youth Team, County Hall, New Road,<br />
Oxford OX1 1ND T 01865 815054 (until<br />
31/08/11)<br />
Patsy Walker, The Vibe Youth Centre, Park<br />
Road, Didcot OX11 8QX T 01235 812332<br />
(until 31/08/11)<br />
Mike How, Eynsham Youth Centre, Back<br />
Lane, Eynsham OX29 4QW T 01865<br />
880630 (until 31/08/11)<br />
ASYLUM<br />
Asylum Welcome, Unit 7, Newtec Place,<br />
Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE<br />
T 01865 722082<br />
M www.asylum-welcome.org<br />
Bridging Project, Oxford & Cherwell<br />
Valley College, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1<br />
1SA T 01865 551957 or 551584<br />
Children & Families Assessment Team,<br />
Knights Court, 21 Between Towns Road,<br />
Cowley, Oxford OX4 3LX T 01865 323048<br />
(for unaccompanied asylum-seeking<br />
children)<br />
HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING<br />
BYHP (supporting young people in housing<br />
need) 2 Chandos Close, Banbury OX16 4TL<br />
T 01295 259442 M www.byhp.org.uk<br />
Cherwell District Council Housing<br />
Services T 01295 221809<br />
Connection Floating Support, The<br />
Pathway Building, Dunnock Way, Blackbird<br />
Leys, Oxford OX4 7EX T 01865 711267<br />
The Elmore Team, Bullingdon House, 174b<br />
Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1UE T 01865<br />
200130<br />
One Foot Forward, 5 Iffley Road, Oxford<br />
OX4 1EA T 01865 794410<br />
Oxford City Family Service (housing for<br />
young parents) 113-117 Bullingdon Road,<br />
Oxford OX4 1QP T 01865 794899<br />
Oxford City Housing Services T 01865<br />
249811(option 5)<br />
South Oxfordshire District Council<br />
Housing Services T 01491 823325<br />
Stonham Floating Support (tenancy<br />
issues) 49a Castle Street, Banbury OX16<br />
5NU T 01295 272536<br />
Stonham Floating Support (tenancy<br />
issues) 213 Barns Road, Oxford OX4 3UT<br />
T 01865 335334<br />
Stonham Floating Support (tenancy<br />
issues) Ground Floor, 14 Church Green,<br />
Witney OX28 4AW T 01993 864936<br />
Vale of White Horse District Council<br />
T 01235 520202<br />
West Oxfordshire District Council<br />
Housing Services T 01993 861010<br />
MENTAL HEALTH<br />
Oxfordshire Mental Health Information<br />
Line, T 01865 247788<br />
M www.omhi.org.uk<br />
Samaritans<br />
Banbury T 01295 270000;<br />
Oxford T 01865 722122;<br />
National T 08457 909090<br />
28<br />
got a question? Then email us at M askconnexions@oxfordshire.gov.uk
MONEY<br />
16 – 19 Bursary Fund (help if you are facing<br />
financial hardship while on a course or<br />
training). Ask your school, college or training<br />
provider for more information or<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/moneytolearn<br />
Care to Learn Helpline (help to pay for<br />
childcare): T 0800 121 8989 or<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn<br />
Child Benefit Helpline: T 0845 302 1444<br />
or M www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit<br />
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit<br />
Helpline: T 0845 300 3900 or<br />
M www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits<br />
Dance and Drama Awards:<br />
T 0800 121 8989 or<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/danceanddrama<br />
Jobcentre Plus: for Jobseeker’s Allowance,<br />
Income Support, or Employment and Support<br />
Allowance contact your local centre who<br />
will refer you to Jobcentre Plus. (For Housing<br />
Benefit, they will refer you to the local<br />
council).<br />
M http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk<br />
T 0800 055 6688 (benefits)<br />
T 0845 6060 234 (job search)<br />
To get in touch with any of the Jobcentre Plus<br />
offices listed below T 0845 604 3719<br />
Abingdon –Torus House, 38-44 Stert Street,<br />
Abingdon OX14 3QS<br />
Banbury – Crown Buildings, Southam Road,<br />
Banbury OX16 2EX<br />
Didcot – 130a The Broadway, Didcot OX11<br />
8DB<br />
Oxford – 7 Worcester Street, Gloucester<br />
Green, Oxford OX1 2BX<br />
Sharon Telford, Under 18s Benefits Adviser<br />
T 01865 445166<br />
Witney – Two Rivers Trading Estate, Station<br />
Lane, Witney OX28 4BH<br />
SEXUAL HEALTH<br />
Alec Turnbull Centre (contraception and<br />
sexual health) Raglan House, 23 Between<br />
Towns Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 3JH<br />
T 01865 456666<br />
Banbury GU Medicine (sexual health)<br />
Orchard Health Centre, Cope Road, Banbury<br />
OX16 2EZ T 01295 819181<br />
Oxford GU Medicine (sexual health)<br />
Wellsafe Clinic, Churchill Hospital, Old Road,<br />
Headington, Oxford OX3 7LJ<br />
T 01865 231231 M www.wellsafe.org<br />
Terrence Higgins Trust (HIV and sexual<br />
health) 43 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP<br />
T 01865 243389 M www.tht.org.uk<br />
SUPPORT, COUNSELLING and<br />
INFORMATION AGENCIES<br />
The Abingdon Bridge (can help with a range<br />
of issues) 27 Bridge Street, Abingdon OX14<br />
3HN T 01235 522375<br />
Barton Advice Centre, Underhill Circus,<br />
Headington, Oxford OX3 9LS T 01865<br />
744152 M www.bartonadvicecentre.org.uk<br />
Base 33, 33 High Street, Witney T 01993<br />
200682 (postal address – 4 Welch Way,<br />
Witney OX28 6JF)<br />
CAB (Citizens Advice Bureaux):<br />
M www.advice4me.org.uk<br />
Oxfordshire advice line T 08444 111 444<br />
(will put you in touch with your local CAB).<br />
Ethnic Minority Business Service, 2nd Floor<br />
Tyndale House, 134 Cowley Road, Oxford<br />
OX4 1JQ T 01865 794431 and 37 North Bar<br />
Street, Banbury OX16 0TH T 01295 269999<br />
Independent Advice Centre, 16 Market<br />
Place, Wantage OX12 8AE T 01235 765348<br />
KAs Counselling Service, Centre Site,<br />
Portway, Wantage OX12 9BY T 01235<br />
225789<br />
Nomad, 55 Market Place, Henley RG9 2AA<br />
T 01491 635737<br />
Oxford Friend (gay, lesbian, bisexual)<br />
T 01865 726893<br />
Oxford Young Carers Project, 174a Cowley<br />
Road, Oxford OX4 1UE T 01865 205192<br />
M www.coolyoungcarerscare.com<br />
Rose Hill & Littlemore Children’s Centre,<br />
The Oval, Rose Hill, Oxford OX4 4UY<br />
T 01865 716739<br />
SeeSaw (bereavement) T 01865 744768<br />
M www.seesaw.org.uk<br />
Young People’s Centres and Youth Centres<br />
For details and to find out where these are see<br />
M www.spired.com<br />
VOLUNTEERING<br />
Volunteer Centre Oxfordshire T 01865<br />
251946 M vol@ocva.org.uk<br />
Volunteer Link Up West Oxfordshire<br />
T 01993 776277 M office@vlu.org.uk<br />
for careers info go to M www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u<br />
29
Our Commitment to You<br />
We want to make sure that Connexions Oxfordshire meets your needs so if<br />
you would like to make a comment, compliment or complaint, please write<br />
to:<br />
Richard Savage<br />
Service Manager – Supporting Choices<br />
Integrated Youth Support Service<br />
Oxfordshire County Council<br />
County Hall<br />
New Road<br />
Oxford<br />
OX1 1ND<br />
T 01865 328908<br />
Fax: 01865 783199<br />
Email: richard.savage@oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com / www.spired.com<br />
Contact Information, Advice and Support for Young People<br />
M www.direct.gov.uk/en/youngpeople<br />
T 080 800 13 2 19<br />
07766 4 13 2 19<br />
If you need this information in another language, large print, Braille, Easy Read, audiocassette,<br />
computer disk or by email, please phone T 01865 328908.<br />
Connexions recognises diversity and is committed to equal opportunities.<br />
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. July<br />
2011<br />
We are grateful to UCAS for their help in checking and updating material for this publication.<br />
Oxfordshire