Commitment

Compassion

Creativity
Courage
Start Time - 6:30pm

Higher Education Information Evening 2023

Mrs Liz Jennings: Assistant Headteacher/Director of 6th Form
Ms Lizi Ball: Year Leader of L6th
What pathways are available post school?
● 3 years of study or 4 with an optional sandwich year abroad or in
Traditional ●
industry.
4 years of study in Scotland.
bachelor’s degree ● Study 360 credits including a major project or dissertation in your
final year.
with honours ● UK and Europe wide accepted standard for higher education
accepted as entry level into graduate employment.

Integrated ●
●
4 years of study, or 5 with a sandwich year abroad or in industry/
Combines undergraduate and postgraduate study into one longer
master's degree course.
● Study 480 credits including a dissertation.
level course
● Level 6 or Level 7 qualification
Degree level ● 3 or 4 years of study equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree
level qualification.
apprenticeship ● Time is split between university study and the workplace.
● Travel
●
Gap Year ●
Internships
Charity Work
● Level 4 qualification or higher through apprenticeship training.
●
Employment ●
Receive a salary whilst training through a company or firm
Receive industry standard training and qualifications.
The pros and cons of a traditional degree course...
Salary?
On average, a holder of a
2:1 or better from a top
university earn 35% more
than school levers by the
age of 23. This gap can
grow substantially in later
life.
Employability?
Can be a huge benefit,
but only if your degree
is worth it.
Cost and student
loans?
The average 2023
graduate had debts of
£45,000
Living away from Repay 9% of income
home? over £25k
Gaining independence
and maturity vs family
support and costs.
What types of degree are available?
UCAS: How to apply to university

• 5 university choices
• Only one course at either Oxford or Cambridge, not both
• Only four medicine or dentistry courses, your fifth must be
different
• Choice of literally thousands of courses…
– Economics courses:
• 8 at King’s College London
• 13 at the University of Liverpool
• 41 at London School of Economics (LSE)
• 14 at the University of Nottingham
• Entry requirements: a range of choices
 UCAS: What forms part of a UCAS application?

• Course choices UCAS Reform in 2023 has included:

• GCSE results - Move to one fee
• A-Level predicted Grades - Changes to the gender question
• Personal Statement - 3 part structure for the reference
• School reference

Extra elements at some

universities:
• SAQ (Cambridge only)
• Extenuating circumstances
forms
• Entrance Exams (x1 or 2)
• Interviews
UCAS will not be reforming
Personal Statements for 2024
entry.
 UCAS: Key dates
● May 2024: 2025 courses available to search on UCAS. UCAS
application process opens.
● June 2024: UCAS Exams
● June/July 2024: Visit university open days
• October 16th 2024: Oxbridge/Medicine/Dentistry deadline
• November 2024: Entrance Exams except UCAT and LNAT
• December/January 2025: Interviews for Oxbridge, Medicine,
Dentistry and Veterinary Science plus selected STEM courses at
top universities
• End of January 2025: deadline for all other UCAS applications
• April 2025: Choose your Firm and Insurance choices
• May 2025: deadline for applying for Student Finance
• August 2025: A-Level results day, university places confirmed or
Clearing or Adjustment
– Universities will make grade or tariff based offers to
students after they apply.
UCAS: Choosing the right universities to apply to

Consider the following:

● Course content
● The quality of the teaching
● The quality and reputation of the university
● Entry criteria- grades- do they suit you?
● What is the city/town like?
● College vs non-college universities
● City universities vs campus universities
● University league tables (... how to interpret them- more on this
later)
● University facilities and clubs
● Distance from home/travelling home
● Do I want to study in Scotland? Slightly longer degrees for most
courses.
UCAS: League Tables
UCAS: Your 5 choices

• 3 x ‘optimistic’ UCAS predictions

• 2 x ‘secure’ UCAS predictions
UCAS: How to prepare NOW
• Focus on your grades- ensure they are the best they can be
• Subject relevant co-curricular activities:
• Read widely and academically.
– JSTOR
– Google Scholar
– Journals-school library
– British Medical Journal
• Enter Academic and Essay Competitions - ask Subject Leaders
• Relevant WEX
• University Summer Schools
• Open Days - up to x3 authorised during school time
• Taster Lectures
• MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)
• Volunteering (for relevant courses)
• Taking yourself out of your comfort zone
• Oxbridge Information Evening - 29th January 2024 6:30pm
 Degree Apprenticeships - what are they?

Pros of a degree
Cons of a degree apprenticeship
apprenticeship
You’ll get real- You’ll need to balance working and
1 life experience studying at the same time.
working
alongside your
degree.
Your degree is You won’t qualify for any student
2 fully paid for, loans.
so there’s no
cost to you.
You’ll get paid a Apprentices don’t always get the
3 salary just like traditional ‘university experience’.
a normal
employee.
Degree Apprenticeships - some myths explored?

• You don’t get a proper degree X

• You don’t study at a prestigious university X

• You have to stay with the company after you have finished X

• YOu won’t get the full university experience X

 Degree Apprenticeships - some examples of sectors
• Creative, media, arts, and digital technologies – advanced, higher,
degree
• Information and communication technology – advanced, higher,
degree
• TV production and broadcasting – advanced, higher, degree
• Business management, administration, law, and financial services –
advanced, higher, degree
• Construction, planning, and the built environment – advanced,
higher, degree
• Engineering and manufacturing – advanced, higher, degree
• Health and care – advanced, higher, degree
• Life and industrial sciences – higher, degree
Degree Apprenticeships - key things to consider
• Applying for a degree apprenticeship is applying for a job

• The process is multi-faceted - phone interviews, assessment

centres, online tests and often final face to face interview

• Students need to ensure they are acquiring those transferable

employability skills to be successful
Degree Apprenticeships - how will your time be divided?

• Blended - studying one day per week in a partner

university

• Block - studying at university for either for full university

terms
Degree Apprenticeships - some examples?
 Degree Apprenticeships - some examples
PwC Flying start degrees:
Accounting:
Four-year Flying Start programme can be
studied at:
● Newcastle University (NN14)
● University of Manchester (N403)
● University of Nottingham (N410)
● University of Reading (NN41)
● Queen Mary University of London (N40
3 modules fThis integrated approach will enable you to
) enhanced by your academic study.
Technology:
Study first model
● University of Birmingham
● University of Leeds
● Queen Mary’s London
● Queen’s University Belfast. As an apprentice,
you’ll enjoy everything university life has to
offer and then taste what it means to work in
our technology teams on multiple placements
at PwC throughout your four year degree
apprenticeship.
Work first model in Manchester is a three year
programme. You’ll spend the majority of your time
based with our technology teams at PwC, working
with our technology experts to solve our clients'
important problems. Approximately 20% of your
apprenticeship will be spent studying relevant
fulfill your full potential by learning “on-the-job” and
Degree Apprenticeships - some examples
Engineering:

· BEng Applied Professional Engineering Programme

· BEng Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

· BEng Electro-Mechanical Engineering

Business and Administration:

· PGCert Career Development Professional Health & Social Care:

Digital: · MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
· BSc Computer Science and Technology Solutions (Data
·
Analyst / Software Engineer) MSc Advanced Clinical Practice
(Critical Care)
· BSc Digital Technology Solutions (Data Analytics /
· BA Social Work
Network Engineering / Software Engineering)
Degree Apprenticeships - how to find out more

• Register at government website -

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

• Register for Smart Alerts via UCAS:

https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/degree-apprenticeships

• Search on UCAS - they have a guide -

Higher and degree apprenticeships guide

Please let Ms Ball and Mrs Jennings know if you are interested in
applying for degree apprenticeships.