www.le.ac.uk

Researching University: Making the Right Choice Elliot Newstead Student Recruitment Officer School and College Services University of Leicester

Overview

• Who are we?

• What can I study?

• Which university/course?

• Open Days

Our profile

• A broadly based university with strengths across four Colleges

• 9,500 campus based undergraduate students

• An international reputation

• A leading research & teaching university

•

The UCAS timeline

Step 1:

Choosing Courses

Now

Step 3:

Offers

October January April /May

August October

Step 2:

Apply

Step 4:

Decisions

Step 5:

Results

Step 6:

Start University

15th Oct 2014

Oxbridge

Dentistry

Medicine

Vet Science

15th Jan 2015

Everyone else

Conditional

Unconditional

Reject

Interview?

Firm Accept

Insurance Accept

Decline

Websites Prospectuses

Open Days

Confirm place

Clearing

Adjustment

Choosing a university – the basics

• Does it offer my course?

• Is it the right type of course?

– BA/BSc?

– Entry profiles

– Exams, coursework, lectures, seminars etc

• Will I get the grades?

– Be realistic

Entry profiles

Which university?

• Home / away

• Accommodation

• Location (campus or city-based?)

• Cost of living

• Teaching/Department reputation

• Academic/social/sports facilities

• Scholarships

• Social mix

• Student support

What can you study? • American Studies

• Archaeology and Ancient History

• Biological Sciences

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Criminology

• Economics

• Engineering

• English

• Geography

• Geology

• Historical Studies

• History of Art and Film

• Law

• Management

• Mathematics

• Media and Communication

• Medicine

• Modern Languages

• Natural Sciences

• Physics and Astronomy

• Politics and International Relations

• Psychology

• Sociology

Or perhaps something different…? • Aquaculture and Fisheries

Management

• Brewing and Distilling

• Bulgarian Studies

• Crime Scene Science

• Dairy Herd Management

• Ecotourism

• Embroidery

• Floriculture

• Glass

• Golf Studies

• Leather Studies

• Parasitology

• Peace and Conflict Studies

• Physics with Australian Studies

• Puppetry

• Theatre Lighting

• Viking Studies

• Viticulture and Oenology

• Yacht and Powercraft Design

Choosing the course

• 37,000 to choose from

• Do you have to study a specific subject?

– Medicine, Law, Engineering etc

• Is there an optional sandwich year?

• Do you need an accredited degree?

• For some courses, think of career then work backwards

– Biochemistry, Media, Management

• Could you study two subjects?

• Remember – it’s YOUR choice!

Prospectuses • Designed to “sell” the

university

• BUT are single most reliable publication for subjects available and entry grades

• Web versions available

• Online course information

League tables • The Guardian

• The Times

• Sunday Times

• World Rankings

• Complete University

Guide

Websites and social networks

• push.co.uk

• Unistats

• ‘Which?’ University

• thestudentroom.co.uk

• whatuni.com

Facebook & Twitter

Open Days

• The single best researching opportunity

• Most universities ask you to register

• Subject talks, campus/accommodation tours, departmental stands + much more

• Numerous dates throughout the year – weekdays and weekends

• Lots to do so it’s essential you have a plan!

Open Day options

Option 1 Option 2

Stay with friends in a group without asking questions

Register for the Open Days to be sent a programme so you can plan ahead

Only visit universities that your friends are interested in

Research before you go – write down questions to ask

Attend subject talks you’re not interested in studying

Visit different types of universities

Go home and wonder what you got out of the day

Attend talks and taster lectures related to the subject(s) you want to study

Choose a university that you’ve not visited…and hate it!

Gain all the information you were looking for so you can choose your uni!

Study Placements / Internships Study Abroad

Clubs & Societies Sport Social life

What is important to you?

Our dates

• Wednesday 25th June 2014

• Thursday 24th July 2014

• Friday 25th July 2014

• Saturday 20th September 2014

• Saturday 25th October 2014

• www.le.ac.uk/opendays

Why start now?

• Competitive entry

• Are you on the right track?

• What do you need to get there?

– Grades

– Work experience

– Voluntary experience

– Extracurricular activities

In summary

• Go for the right reasons

• Improve your career prospects

• Do your research

– take your time

– work out what you need to get there

– make sure you visit your choices!

• Make an independent choice

• Get stuck into uni life!

Thank you for Listening

Any Questions?