Studying in English speaking universities and the art of applying

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Studying in English speaking universities and the
art of applying

• 2015

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Why study in the English speaking world?

• Selective system
• Small group teaching
• Low drop out rates
• Fixed length of study
• Progression to international post-graduate study
• English as an international language.

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Where to study within a country?

• Large city or small town rural area
• Cost of living
• University/campus location
• Academic and social facilities
• Accommodation facilities and costs
• Quality of course and/or institution

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Using essential information sources

• Ucas Universities and Colleges Admissions
  Service
• Ucas is the central organisation that processes
  applications for full-time undergraduate courses
  at UK universities and colleges
• You can apply for five courses (4 courses for
  medicine) at the same time
• Accurate self-assessment in relation to course
  see grade equivalence sheet
• 22 pounds for multiple applications/7 pounds for
  single application
• collegeboard.com and Canadian universities
• Using the ucas website
• League tables

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Ucas and other deadlines

• 15 October deadline for applications to Oxford
  and Cambridge
• 15 October for medicine dentistry veterinary
  medicine/science
• 15 January is the main deadline for all other
  applications
• Entrance exams increase in these need to be
  alert
• Timelines school based dates

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Application forms and self profiling

• Personal statement be very careful about age
• Academic history
• List your achieved and pending French
  qualifications and GCSEs
• UK universities are familiar with French school
  system/grades
• English language qualifications C grade at
  English GCSE and OIB bi-lingualism
• Essays and self-presentation prepare well for
  tutor interview in second half of this term use
  documents

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Personal statement

• Read the course requirements on university
  website via ucas and respond
• Show enthusiasm
• Balance if applying to different areas check
  with university for any underlying criteria they
  may have
• Dont alienate different institutions
• Extras stages skills reading work experience,
  summer schools, courses, work placements and
  contacts
• TPE very important
• Start now!!!!!! Use interview preparation
  material to start thinking and self-analysing in
  a useful way

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Personal statement (cont)

• The opportunity to sell yourself
• Good introduction
• Clear structure 80 academic passion and related
  learning experiences 20 other
• Positive messages
• Strong ending idea of a future career/readiness
  for university
• NO PLAGIARISM OF ANY SORT

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The reference

• The reference should support your application
• You are responsible for its input not the
  referee
• Various sources bulletins teacher profiles
  students outside activity leaders and teachers.
• You MUST bring all required material to interview

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What happens to the form?

• Transmitted live online to UCAS or to American
  universities by mixture of online and post
  online and by mail to Canadian universities
• Sent to admissions office at universities
• Forwarded to departmental admissions tutors to
  make decision
• Offer/Shortlist/Reject
• Choose two firm and acceptance
• Universities inform ucas
• Ucas informs you
• American and Canadian inform you directly

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What universities are looking for

• Students who will be interesting to teach
• Motivation
• Dedication
• Students who meet the entry requirements balance
  between self-knowledge and ambition
• Self assessment and understanding of skills and
  relevance
• Non-clichéd sense of internationalism

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Exchange schemes

• Check with your institution if an exchange
  agreement with European or world universities
  institution exists
• Particularly appropriate for bi-lingual students
• Erasmus most well known at the moment but is
  short of funds now
• Apply through your home institution
• Details on tuition fees, transferability of
  credits, Erasmus grants etc are linked to
  individual programmes

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Study abroad/live abroad

• For students who are interested in studying at a
  UK institution.
• Check individual websites for more information,
  entry requirements and English language
  qualifications.
• Links to linguistic profiles of our students.
• Erasmus programmes

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Tuition fees and living costs

• www.studentloans.gov.uk
• www.direct.gov.uk
• Student fees 9,000
• With student loan, this can be paid back at 9 of
  any income over 22,000
• EU countries outside UK do not incorporate this
  into their taxes but UK knows where you are!
• Student loan company ask for an Overseas Incomes
  Assessment form
• Initial reports on applications this year suggest
  that apps. down at end of November

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Useful contacts

• www.ucas.com
• Department for Innovation, Universities and
  Skills www.dius.gov.uk
• See website.
• www.gov.uk
• Our documents pack/website reference

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Finally

• Any questions??