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Let’s talk about… What do I do if I don’t know what to study? Firstly try not to worry! Choosing what to study at degree level is easier for some people than others. • You could start by browsing through a reference book like Careers 2011 (Trotman) or Jobfile 2011-12 (Babcock). This will give you an idea of the range of jobs that exist, and which degree subject(s) would be most relevant. Alternatively, visit M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com. Then click on eCLIPS for access to hundreds of careers information leaflets. • Use careers matching programs like Kudos, Pathfinder Live or Fast Tomato at school/college or through Connexions. These can help you identify broad areas of interest and generate job suggestions. Understanding your interests and looking at job ideas may help you choose a course. • There are also a number of computer programs and online tools which can match your interests with suitable HE subject areas and even individual course titles. Ask your Adviser if these are available in your school/college or through Connexions. - Pathfinder Live M www.pathfinderlive.com - Higher Ideas M www.careersoft.co.uk/ higherideas - Centigrade M www.coa.co.uk/centigrade (you can complete this online and have the results emailed to you for a small fee) - Coursefinder M www.ukcoursefinder.com - Stamford Test M www.ucas.com • For some careers you need to take a specific degree and some are very competitive e.g. physiotherapy, veterinary science, medicine. For these work experience prior to application is essential. • If you decide to study a degree in an academic subject such as English or history it is important to gain some work experience during your time at university. This will help show potential employers that you have developed useful skills for the workplace. It is also useful to think about your future options during your years as a student. Remember to visit the university careers service and look at the website for undergraduates M www.prospects.ac.uk • Universities offer a huge range of degree subjects, many of which do not ask for specific level 3 qualifications, so you could consider doing one of these. Visit M www.ucas.com to research what is available. • If you don’t want to commit yourself entirely to a new subject, or to just one subject, you could consider a joint or combined degree (see pages 3, 4 and 5). Choosing Your Degree Course & University (Trotman) may also help you to think more about the range of subjects on offer. • Talking to your tutor, head of sixth form or adviser may help you sort out your ideas. • Many employers who recruit graduates do not ask for a degree in a specific subject, so if you don’t have a particular career in mind, then consider studying a subject you enjoy. • If you really can’t decide what to study by the time you have to apply, consider taking a gap year to give yourself more time to think about your options and perhaps try some relevant work experience. Top Tip! • Check out your career or course ideas with your adviser. • Remember that the main reason students drop out is because they feel they have chosen the wrong course, so try not to be one of them! What are the advantages of doing a degree? • Firstly, for some jobs it is essential (e.g. architecture, medicine). • For other jobs it is preferred or usual (e.g. marketing, human resources, journalism). • You can develop a range of skills that employers value – research, analysis, team-working – as well as allowing you to fulfil your academic potential. • For a few years you can experience a lifestyle other than the typical ‘9-5’. • You may be able to take part in activities such as rock-climbing, flying or debating, which you might not have access to outside university. • You can make friends with a wide range of people from other parts of the UK and overseas. • It gives you longer to decide on your career options. • It will probably enhance your job prospects. Over a career lifetime, on average, graduates earn higher salaries than non-graduates, and are less likely to be unemployed. However, all this needs to be balanced against: • The cost of going to university and how much student debt you may accumulate. • The chances of an HE course leading to the type of job that you are aiming for. • Increasing numbers of graduates (now around 274,000) mean intense competition for some jobs. 8 for careers info go to M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com, then click on eCLIPS
✓ Applications calendar YEAR ONE January to April 2011 c Check subject choice against any career ideas. Maths and English language GCSEs A*- C grades are required for most careers and courses. Re-sit GCSEs if necessary. c Arrange work experience to enhance your university application. Some courses require relevant work experience. Work shadowing and talking to a professional in the field is useful too. See page 22. c Apply for any relevant taster ✓ courses e.g. medicine, law, engineering. c Plan ahead. If you decide you need help, talk to your teachers, tutors or adviser. c Research HE courses and universities. Use reference books, prospectuses, the internet and attend any local HE events. May to August 2011 c Continue to research courses and/or employers, gain relevant work experience, attend taster courses, HE events and university/ department open days. c Start preparing your UCAS application especially your personal statement. c Begin planning your gap year if you want to defer entry to HE. c Look at sponsorship information. Contact companies as some may require you to apply to particular institutions. c CUKAS (Music Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) applications start on 1 July 2011. The initial closing date is 1 October 2011; applications received after this but before 31 August 2012 may be considered but only if there are vacancies. c Review your plans in the light of exam results. Top Tip! • Check whether your school/ college has earlier deadlines – remember they need time to write references and check everything is in order. YEAR TWO ✓ September to October 2011 c Finalise your HE choices. c You can submit your UCAS application from mid September 2011 (deadline is 15 January 2012). c Oxford and Cambridge applications deadline is 15 October 2011. c Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science/medicine deadline is 15 October 2011 (apply by 15 October 2011 for deferred entry too). c Apply direct to courses that do not have a central application system e.g. Art Foundation courses. c Apply as early as possible because popular courses can fill up quickly. c Check the progress of your applications by using Track on the UCAS or CUKAS websites. M www.ucas.com M www.cukas.ac.uk ✓ ✓ November to December 2011 c UCAS art and design applicants should check carefully whether each of your course choices is using the 15 January deadline or the 24 March deadline and make sure you apply by those dates. c If you are also going to apply for jobs as well as HE, now is a good time to start preparing your CV. January to February 2012 c By 5 January 2012 on-time CUKAS applicants should have received decisions from conservatoires and must reply by the date specified. c UCAS application deadline is 15 January 2012 except for applications to Oxford and Cambridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science/ medicine, and certain art and design courses. The application deadline for nursing diplomas is also 15 January 2012. c It is possible to apply through UCAS after 15 January but check with universities and colleges first to make sure they will consider late applications. c If seeking employment, check out the jobs and Apprenticeships advertised on M www. connexionsoxfordshire. com, click on ‘search opportunities’. Also look for vacancies on M www. apprenticeships.org.uk, recruitment and company websites and in local and national newspapers. Contact employers you are interested in by sending your CV and covering letter. For advice on job hunting see ‘Let’s talk about … Jobseeking’ at M www. connexionsoxfordshire. com, click on ‘publications’. c From 24 February until the end of June UCAS Extra operates. This is for applicants who have used up all five UCAS choices but have not received any offers ✓ ✓ or have declined all offers. It enables them to make further applications (one at a time) without having to wait for Clearing. If universities and colleges still have vacancies, they list them on the course search section of the UCAS website M www.ucas.com marked with an X. March to June 2012 c Some art and design courses have an application deadline of 24 March 2012. If you are applying for any of these, make sure you do so in good time. July to August 2012 c Exam results are published and UCAS Clearing and Adjustment start. c HE vacancies are published in the Telegraph newspaper and on the UCAS website M www.ucas.com c Help with Clearing and Adjustment is available at your school/college. for local info, help and advice, check out M www.connexionsoxfordshire.com 9
Page 1 and 2: 2011-2012 Let's talk about… Choic
Page 3 and 4: Thinking about higher education? Ch
Page 5 and 6: How are the courses structured? Sin
Page 7 and 8: HISTORY • American Studies • An
Page 9: Studying abroad Studying or working
Page 13 and 14: The UCAS Tariff POINTS GCE AS / AS
Page 15 and 16: Information for students with disab
Page 17 and 18: Completing your personal statement
Page 19 and 20: UCAS Extra, Clearing and Adjustment
Page 21 and 22: • NHS Student Bursaries Many heal
Page 23 and 24: Taking a gap year More young people
Page 25 and 26: What next after university? The Wha
Page 27 and 28: Student finance • The Complete Un
Page 29 and 30: Student finance M www.direct.gov.uk
Page 31 and 32: MONEY 16 - 19 Bursary Fund (help if

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