Studying in English Studying in English speaking universities and speaking universities and

the art of applyingthe art of applying

20122012

Why study in the English speaking Why study in the English speaking world?world?

Selective systemSelective system

Small group teachingSmall group teaching

Low drop out ratesLow drop out rates

Fixed length of studyFixed length of study

Progression to international post-graduate Progression to international post-graduate studystudy

Where to study within a country?Where to study within a country?

Large city or small town rural areaLarge city or small town rural area

Cost of livingCost of living

University/campus locationUniversity/campus location

Academic and social facilitiesAcademic and social facilities

Accommodation facilities and costsAccommodation facilities and costs

Using essential information sourcesUsing essential information sources

Ucas: Universities and Colleges Admissions ServiceUcas: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Ucas is the central organisation that processes applications for full-Ucas is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and collegestime undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges

You can apply for five courses (4 courses for medicine) at the same You can apply for five courses (4 courses for medicine) at the same timetime

Accurate self-assessment in relation to course: see grade Accurate self-assessment in relation to course: see grade equivalence sheetequivalence sheet

22 pounds for multiple applications/7 pounds for single application22 pounds for multiple applications/7 pounds for single application

collegeboard.com and Canadian universitiescollegeboard.com and Canadian universities

Using the ucas websiteUsing the ucas website

Ucas and other deadlinesUcas and other deadlines

15 October deadline for applications to Oxford 15 October deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridgeand Cambridge

15 October for: medicine; dentistry; veterinary 15 October for: medicine; dentistry; veterinary medicine/sciencemedicine/science

15 January is the main deadline for all other 15 January is the main deadline for all other applicationsapplications

Entrance examsEntrance exams

Timelines: school based datesTimelines: school based dates

Application forms and self profilingApplication forms and self profiling

Personal statement – be very careful about agePersonal statement – be very careful about age

Academic historyAcademic history

List your achieved and pending French qualifications and List your achieved and pending French qualifications and GCSEsGCSEs

UK universities are familiar with French school UK universities are familiar with French school system/gradessystem/grades

English language qualifications: C grade at English English language qualifications: C grade at English GCSE and OIB bi-lingualismGCSE and OIB bi-lingualism

Essays and self-presentationEssays and self-presentation

Personal statementPersonal statement

Read the course requirements on university Read the course requirements on university website via ucas and respondwebsite via ucas and respondShow enthusiasmShow enthusiasmBalance if applying to different areas: check with Balance if applying to different areas: check with university for any underlying criteria they may university for any underlying criteria they may havehaveDon’t alienate different institutionsDon’t alienate different institutionsExtras: stages; skills; reading; work experience.Extras: stages; skills; reading; work experience.TPE: very importantTPE: very importantStart now!!!!!!Start now!!!!!!

Personal statement (cont)Personal statement (cont)

The opportunity to sell yourselfThe opportunity to sell yourself

Good introductionGood introduction

Clear structureClear structure

Positive messagesPositive messages

Strong ending – idea of a future Strong ending – idea of a future career/readiness for universitycareer/readiness for university

NO PLAGIARISM OF ANY SORTNO PLAGIARISM OF ANY SORT

The referenceThe reference

The reference should support your The reference should support your applicationapplication

You are responsible for its input: not the You are responsible for its input: not the refereereferee

Various sources: bulletins; teacher Various sources: bulletins; teacher profiles; students; outside activity leaders profiles; students; outside activity leaders and teachers.and teachers.

What happens to the form?What happens to the form?

Transmitted live online to UCAS or to American Transmitted live online to UCAS or to American universities; by mail to Canadian universitiesuniversities; by mail to Canadian universities

Sent to admissions office at universitiesSent to admissions office at universities

Forwarded to departmental admissions tutors to make Forwarded to departmental admissions tutors to make decisiondecision

Offer/Shortlist/RejectOffer/Shortlist/Reject

Universities inform ucasUniversities inform ucas

Ucas informs youUcas informs you

American and Canadian inform you directlyAmerican and Canadian inform you directly

What universities are looking forWhat universities are looking for

Students who will be interesting to teachStudents who will be interesting to teach

MotivationMotivation

DedicationDedication

Students who meet the entry Students who meet the entry requirements: balance between self-requirements: balance between self-knowledge and ambition knowledge and ambition

Exchange schemesExchange schemes

Check with your institution if an exchange Check with your institution if an exchange agreement with European or world universities agreement with European or world universities institution existsinstitution exists

Particularly appropriate for bi-lingual studentsParticularly appropriate for bi-lingual students

Erasmus most well known at the momentErasmus most well known at the moment

Apply through your home institutionApply through your home institution

Details on tuition fees, transferability of credits, Details on tuition fees, transferability of credits, Erasmus grants etc are linked to individual Erasmus grants etc are linked to individual programmesprogrammes

Study abroad/ visiting studentsStudy abroad/ visiting students

For students who are interested in For students who are interested in studying at a UK institution, but where no studying at a UK institution, but where no Erasmus link is availableErasmus link is available

Check individual websites for more Check individual websites for more information, entry requirements and information, entry requirements and English language qualificationsEnglish language qualifications

Tuition fees and living costsTuition fees and living costs

www.studentloans.gov.ukwww.studentloans.gov.ukwww.direct.gov.ukwww.direct.gov.ukBrowne reportBrowne reportNext year: student fees rise from £3,200 to a max. of Next year: student fees rise from £3,200 to a max. of £9,000£9,000With student loan, this can be paid back at 9% of any With student loan, this can be paid back at 9% of any income over £21,000income over £21,000EU countries outside UK do not incorporate this into their EU countries outside UK do not incorporate this into their taxestaxesStudent loan company ask for an Overseas Incomes Student loan company ask for an Overseas Incomes Assessment formAssessment formInitial reports on applications this year suggest that apps. Initial reports on applications this year suggest that apps. down 12% at end of Octoberdown 12% at end of October

Useful contactsUseful contacts

www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com

Department for Innovation, Universities Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills www.dius.gov.ukand Skills www.dius.gov.uk

Finally…Finally…

Any questions??Any questions??