What universities have to offer?
Delyth Chambers, Director of Admissions,
University of Birmingham
Universities undertake teaching, research and consultancy work. The balance between these activities varies between institutions and departments within institutions:
Teaching comprises undergraduate, postgraduate, post experience, professional courses and adult education classes. The style of undergraduate teaching depends upon the course, but you will almost certainly do some or all of : lectures, seminars, tutorials, private study, project work, presentations, course work, laboratory classes, field work, computing, language laboratories and visits _ possibly overseas.
The type and style of research and consultancy work varies widely. Academic staff undertake personal research and supervise students. Individuals and research groups carry out research and development for industry, commerce, regional organisations (such as Health Authorities), and government departments. Many universities' departments are recognised as having national and international reputations for the quality of their work. Hence students come from overseas to study in the UK. As an undergraduate you will benefit from this experience since you study and learn the most up to date developments in your favourite subjects.
It is widely recognised that the most important decision you will make relates to your choice of course. You must make yourself fully aware of what is involved in the particular programmes which interest you. Some courses have similar titles but vary widely in what is on offer. Prospectuses and course brochures provide information on entry requirements, topics to be studied, skills required to do well and skills developed during your time as a student. All universities have web sites which provide a wealth of information and give contact names from whom more information can be obtained. In addition, many universities will be listed on the UCAS University Entry Profile web site. This is becoming increasingly important in helping you make the right decision. In particular you can learn of the desirable skills to develop in order to be a success on your chosen course. Also, when making an application through UCAS it is important that you provide reasons for your choice of subjects and perhaps mention the skills you have.
Most universities hold a number of Open Days to provide intending applicants with as much information as possible prior to making applications for places. Although it can be time consuming and travel may be expensive, you will find it very worthwhile to visit your chosen universities _ indeed it is essential. You need to ask yourself whether you would be happy spending all your undergraduate years living there. You will have many questions, not only about the courses, but also about the accommodation, facilities and student activities. Another very important aspect is career prospects and training programmes available for you to develop various skills, both within your programme of study and outside class. Unless you do all this research, you may find that you have made a big mistake when you start your course. As well as deciding about the course, you will need to decide whether you would be happy in a small institution or a large one; will you want to be involved in a big city atmosphere, a small campus in the country or a medium sized town?
There are a number of facilities which you should investigate
The rest of this article which has tips on the key aspects of choosing a university appears in the hard copy of the Everything You Wanted to Know guide. For information on how to obtain your copy click here.
Thinking about university or college?
Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive,
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
When it comes to higher education, the pros undoubtedly far outweigh the cons. Most graduates you meet will agree that those three or four years spent studying were amongst the best of their lives. Of course, the primary aim is to learn in depth about a subject (or subjects, in a combined or modular degree programme) you enjoy, but it is important not to lose sight of other important added bonuses. By gaining a higher education qualification you'll boost your future career prospects - graduates typically command higher starting salaries and their earnings tend to increase faster. You'll also meet a host of new people who will, in many cases, become friends for life, and you'll have the chance to live independently and make your own decisions about your day-to-day life.
Going into higher education, for even the most confident, can be a daunting prospect. Did you know, for example, that there are over 330 universities and colleges in the UK offering, over 50,000 courses The key to making the right decision is careful research. Know yourself, know your aims, know what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Once you have done that, openly and honestly, you can start to focus your research on institutions that offer relevant courses.
For information on institutions, start with our web site (www.ucas.com). One of the most popular facilities is course search, which helps students search for courses by subject, region, or university of college. By using the entry profiles that appear on many course entries, you can extract a wealth of useful information on the course content, teaching styles, assessment methods and the skills and attributes that they are looking for in applicants. (Due to space restrictions, this information is not always available in the institution's paper prospectus.)
Each year UCAS processes around 2.5 million applications from 450,000 applicants. You can apply for a full-time, undergraduate course through UCAS in one of three ways:
- through apply, our web-based application system;
- through EAS (an electronic application system supplied on a CD);
- using a paper application form.
apply and EAS are available through most schools and colleges.
Whichever application method you use, it will make sense to avoid the last minute rush and get your application to us well in advance of 15 January (or 15 October for Oxford or Cambridge and for courses in dentistry, medicine, veterinary science or veterinary medicine) in the academic year before you want to start the course. After this date, universities and colleges are not automatically obliged to consider your application.
When you reach the point of making your application, either electronically using or a paper form, it is vital that you do so as a discerning consumer. This is no time for snap decisions, or hunches based on superficial information, and should only be done after a period of consolidated research. However, don't forget the importance of studying a subject that you enjoy. Of course your family, friends or teachers will have opinions about what you should do, but ultimately this is your decision (like a Formula One driver, alone behind the wheel, you need to steer a course that is right for you).
As you will find to your cost, thirty or so months studying for a degree in a town or city where you feel misplaced might end up seeming like thirty years! So, before you apply, try to visit some higher education campuses, towns and cities to get a feel for whether you would like to live and study there. All universities and colleges hold open days for potential students. Parents, too, often attend these events and, whilst there, often ask the most "telling" questions (given their financial contribution, they are obviously keen to check whether an institution can offer value for money).
In terms of possible careers, apart from highly specialised and technical subjects, such as medicine or veterinary science, there is no essential course that acts, at undergraduate level, as a prerequisite for a career. For example, if you want to be a lawyer you do not necessarily have to study law. It is perfectly possible to study a subject that you think you would enjoy then top up with a professional qualification before going into the practice of law.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or to seek advice from friends or relatives who are already at university or college from teachers, careers advisors, your parents or, of course, UCAS. In addition to teaching, assessment and exams, it is quite natural to want to find our more about issues connected to costs and, depending on your circumstances, the availability of part-time jobs during term time. It won't be all wall-to-wall studying, however, and you will also probably want to check out the nightlife, bars, clubs and sports facilities.
When you have made your choices and have filled out either a paper or an electronic application, a reference will be added and your school or college will then send it to UCAS. Once processed, we then send copies of your form to all your choices. If the university or college is interested in your application, it will make you an offer. This may be a conditional one, that is, dependent on you achieving certain grades (or UCAS Tariff points) in your exams. If you meet the conditions, you're in!
But even if you don't have any offers from your original choices, all is not lost. To start with, UCAS Extra has been introduced to give students in this position a chance to actively seek a place during the March to June period of the application cycle. And even then, if unsuccessful, there is always an opportunity to gain a place through Clearing later in the summer. In 2002, around 40,000 applicants found places through Clearing.
Above all you must remember that it is YOUR life, YOUR future and YOUR decision. Take advice, certainly, but this is one occasion when it is not selfish to put your needs first. Do what you think is best for you and ENJOY it. That way you should have the ingredients to have a great time at university or college, meet new people, explore new ideas and widen your horizons.
For information on how to obtain a hard copy of the Everything You Wanted to Know guide click here.
