University Guides August 17, 2010

• How to tackle Clearing this year

  With the publication of A-level results fast approaching, many teenagers will be wondering how best to deal with Clearing. As the BBC reports that around 150,000 of some 660,000 prospective students will not be able to secure a university place this year, our advice is be prepared!

  Read through our Clearing page, look at the FAQs, make a plan for results day: you will need to realistically consider all your options.

  Bear in mind that there are alternatives to going to university this year: re-sitting exams and re-applying next year, consider flexible learning, taking a gap year or getting some work experience. If you are unsuccessful in securing a university place for 2010, you could avoid delaying the start of your higher education by studying for your degree abroad. As the graduate job market has become highly international, so the higher education market is becoming more so, with many European universities offering degrees accredited by a British university. A Star Feature is a consultancy service providing advice and support to British students and their careers advisors on international higher education. They have seen a marked interest in the number of British students looking to take their degree abroad.

  Whatever you do, don’t panic and remember that with all the advice offered to you, from your family, friends, your school and careers advisor, and websites such as ours, this is your decision and you must decide upon what you want to do.

  Read the BBC article here.

  Read our feature article about studying overseas here.

• Can British students afford to wait?

  Can British students
  afford to wait for a place at a British university if they miss out during
  clearing this year? As universities announce
  that there will be very few places available during clearing this
  year, British students could be advised to look abroad to continue their
  education.  Many universities in
  Europe have places available this autumn and, farther afield, Australian and
  New Zealand universities welcome applications from British students in time for
  the 2011 academic year.

  In recent years, studying
  overseas has become well established in subjects such as medicine, dentistry
  and veterinary medicine. In 2010 there has also been an increase in students
  looking abroad as a way of differentiating themselves from their peers and
  gaining experience vital to a successful career. The increased presence of EU
  students at British universities is a visible reminder that the graduate job
  market is highly international. 

  A Star Future, a careers advisory service providing information about international
  undergraduate education to schools in England, has seen a marked increase in
  the number of students looking to take their full degree abroad. This can be seen as a response to both
  global realities and national pressures.

  Mark Huntington, Managing
  Director of A Star Future, comments “When government advice amounts to deferring
  entry or starting up a business, it is clear that there is no strategy to
  actively assist school leavers who miss out on a place at university this
  year.  We advise any student who
  wishes to get on with their education without interruption to look at options
  abroad. These may often work out cheaper than studying in England even before a
  further rise in the cost of university education. In the long term, studying
  abroad could be the smartest way to avoid the imposition of a graduate tax but
  it will definitely be excellent preparation for an international career.”

  While studying in
  English-speaking countries such as USA or Australia is currently unlikely to
  work out cheaper than studying in England, many degrees at European
  universities are now taught in English. Furthermore, many universities now
  offer degrees that are accredited by British universities.  For example:

  • University of Groningen, The Netherlands: One of the world’s top
    universities, it teaches 8 undergraduate degrees in English in subjects such as
    psychology and international relations. As of 3^rd August, there were
    still places available on some courses. Annual tuition fees approx. £1,400
  • Prague College, Czech Republic: A private university college offering small class
    sizes and excellent work experience opportunities. All degrees taught in
    English, some accredited by Teesside University. Annual tuition fees approx. £3,000

  Clearing can be a
  frustrating process for students and teachers alike. When looking for the right
  move, the answer could simultaneously be further away and closer at hand.

  Article supplied courtesy of A Star Future.

  About A Star Future Ltd
  A Star Future Ltd is a marketing consultancy service that provides advice and support to
  British students and careers advisors. We visit over 100 schools each year to
  deliver presentations on international higher education and we also provide
  specific advice to individual students.

  Since 2006 we have conducted
  extensive research into the attitudes and opinions of British students when
  considering international education. We are happy to share the results of our
  research which reveal the increase in popularity of certain destinations and
  types of courses over time.

  A Star Future was founded by
  Mark Huntington, a former accidental international student.

  For further information
  about which universities currently have vacancies, please
  contact:
  www.astarfuture.co.uk
  study@astarfuture.co.uk
  0191 440 0894; 07720 343777 or 07769 581149 (mobile numbers)
  A Star Future Ltd, Gateshead Office, 34 Earls Drive, Gateshead NE9 6AA

   

   

   

   

University Guides August 16, 2010

• goCarShare launched

  Driving somewhere? Say no
  to empty seats. Get your car seats earning money and meet fun people by sharing
  the journey.

  Need a lift? No problem! Search for someone who will drive you to your
  destination. The cost? goCarSharing is virtually always the cheapest way to
  travel.

  goCarShare is a website to built to help people share car journeys,
  matching passengers and drivers traveling to the same destination. It has an
  easy-to-use search function designed around Facebook, and a rating system to
  help weed out bad drivers or unreliable passengers.

  The next time you’re planning a car journey, try goCarShare.

  If you’re deciding which universities to apply for, click
  here for advice on making
  the decision; or visit our university
  profiles which include useful links to maps and travel information. 

   

   

3,500 straight A students ‘to miss university’

The telegraph reports

David Willetts, the Higher Education Minister, said “exceptional” candidates could be rejected after failing to name a “less competitive university” as a back-up choice on their application form.

Just days before the publication of A-level results, he said students needed better advice to help them navigate the university admissions system.

The warning came after Mr Willetts suggested that many pupils were being given poor guidance by state schools – leaving some to pick sixth-form subjects that were not appropriate for chosen degrees.

Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their A-level results on Thursday.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Willetts admitted that the number of students missing out on degree places was likely to be higher than last year’s record total. One vice-chancellor said the figure would be as high as 200,000.

Under the present system, students can name up to five courses on application forms.

But Mr Willetts suggested that some bright students failed to name a less sought-after university as a back-up choice – meaning they can miss out altogether if they fail to get into an elite institution.

In 2009, around 38,500 candidates scored three As in their A-levels, but only 35,000 went on to gain university places, Mr Willetts said.

He added: “So there were 3,500 people with exceptionally good performance at A-level who didn’t get a place.

“That may have been because they didn’t have what’s called an insurance place – a place at a rather less competitive university. That’s their decision. They can choose how they handle those applications.

University Guides August 15, 2010

• Need advice on Clearing?

  Looking for advice on Clearing, on your options and finding a university place? From Monday 16 August, for two weeks, The Complete University Guide’s advisor James Seymour will be on hand to offer advice and information – email him at clearing@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

  Read what students have to say about their experiences of Clearing >

  The Complete University Guide, helping you make the right choices: what to study, where to study, results day, clearing FAQs.

University Guides August 14, 2010

• Volunteering in Africa

  African Conservation Experience (ACE), established in 1999,
  offers enthusiastic people the opportunity to experience wildlife and
  conservation in southern Africa, and to finance conservation projects in
  southern Africa through self-funding volunteers. ACE has established itself as
  a reputable organiser of conservation placements. With over 3,000 volunteers
  having visited more than 15 conservation projects, it is one of the most
  experienced UK organisations placing volunteers on conservation projects in
  southern Africa. Volunteers can join projects for between 2 and 12 weeks,
  enabling them to volunteer during their holidays or as part of a gap year. Many
  prospective students use the experience to bolster their university
  applications in areas such as zoology,
  wildlife
  management, and marine
  biology. Volunteering is also a great way to boost a CV for future job
  applications. ACE carefully choose every project they work with for its genuine
  conservation value. As well as valuable insights and experience, volunteering
  is also great fun and an exciting challenge.

  African
  Conservation Experience >

  Advice on taking
  a gap year >

  Useful gap year
  links >

   

   

University Guides August 13, 2010

• Facing clearing this year?

  A-level students facing Clearing 2010 can do much advance preparation ahead of results day on Thursday. The Complete University Guide has lots of information to help you, including advice on courses, our university league table, and university profiles.

  Make a list of possible courses and universities – this will be easy to check against the Clearing listings.

  Think about alternative courses (perhaps a joint course with another subject instead of a single subject course) to maximise the choice available. Start ringing possible universities straight away (places at good universities can be filled very quickly).

  If you think you may not have a place, regularly check UCAS Track. If you become eligible to use Clearing an ‘Add Clearing choice’ button will become available on your Track Choices screen. Or, check directly with your firm and insurance choices as soon as possible.

  Check the official Clearing listings in The Independent, the UCAS website, or the websites of individual universities to find where there are vacancies in your subject. We recommend always using the official listings as they are always the most comprehensive and up to date. 

  For more information on Clearing >

  For advice on results day >

  For alternatives to full-time study >

   

University Guides August 12, 2010

• University places in short supply

  With just a week to go until the A-level results are published, a number of universities have already stated they will have no places available through clearing. The BBC reports that with record levels of applications and financial restraints on university places, it looks as if students will face a shortage of places in clearing this year. However, Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of new universities, says young people should be reassured that there will be some places available through clearing. 

  For more on this story >

  For advice and information on clearing >

   

University Guides August 9, 2010

• Finding Student Accommodation

  Do you already have your university place for this year, or are you still waiting for exam results and Clearing? After choice of university and course, your most important decision is where to live. UNITE is the UK’s leading private provider of student accommodation – see our interview with Shane Spiers, Managing Director of Property Management for UNITE, where he shares his advice on looking for student accommodation.

  Visit our pages on Where to Live, with advice and information on all aspects of finding student accommodation, and Money covering student finance and budgeting in detail.

• Student Accommodation

  Interview with Shane Spiers, Managing Director of
  Property Management for UNITE, the UK’s leading provider of student
  accommodation, who shares his advice on how to find student accommodation.

  Getting
  started “Thousands
  of students will secure
  their university place this month, so the next step is finding somewhere to
  live. Before signing a tenancy agreement, take time to consider the various
  student accommodation options. These include
  university halls, traditional student housing and managed accommodation
  provided by companies such as UNITE – offering a wide choice of room
  types from studios to en-suite rooms in shared flats.”

  Location
  “Consider location
  versus price carefully. You
  might feel like you’re getting a bargain by opting for a cheaper area, but
  think about the added cost of travelling to and from uni or the city centre.

  “UNITE
  offers quality, well-located student accommodation. To meet student needs and expectations, the majority of our properties
  are within easy access of city centres and universities across 24 UK towns and
  cities.”

  Safety
  and security “All
  students want to feel safe whilst living away from home, so researching a
  property is time well spent. 
  Consider the security of a property when house-hunting – is it somewhere
  you’d feel safe?

  “To ensure peace of mind, UNITE residents benefit from a range of security facilities
  including secure door entry systems and CCTV.  We also have dedicated Property
  Management Teams to ensure all properties run smoothly at all times.

  “It is also
  important to check the property for potential defects or hazards before you
  sign a tenancy agreement – for example, does the property have a working smoke
  alarm and easy exits?  Also check
  that the gas and electrical appliances have been certified by a professional.”

  Bills
  “One of
  the main expenses at university is your accommodation. Make sure you include
  the cost of bills when working out how much you can afford to pay. You will need to
  consider energy bills, water rates, internet connection, the cost of a landline
  phone (if you have one), contents insurance and a TV license.

  “Some
  accommodation providers will incorporate bills into your rent but you will need
  to check exactly what you need to pay for so there are no nasty surprises later
  down the line. UNITE’s room prices are inclusive of utility bills, internet
  access and contents insurance, so there are no hidden costs for
  residents.” 

  House
  Mates “Sharing
  a house with new people can be a great experience and an opportunity to make
  friends for life.  On the flip
  side, if you don’t get on, it can be unpleasant for everyone. Your university
  accommodation office may be able to put you in touch with other students before
  you move in so you can meet first and decide if you want to live together.

  “With
  UNITE you can choose to share a flat with your friends or live in your own
  studio. If you’re not moving in with friends, you can still choose to share a
  flat with other students.  UNITE
  will aim to meet your preferences in terms of the type of people you want to
  live with, for example whether you want to live in a all male or all female
  flat or live with vegetarians, making it even easier to make new friends.”

  Article supplied courtesy of UNITE.

   

   

University Guides August 6, 2010

• Scottish National Exam Results Helpline

  Students in Scotland have received their exam results, with a new record pass rate for Highers, at 74.6 per cent this year. More than 160,000 students received their results by post yesterday (5 August 2010) with around 35,000 students getting their results a day earlier via text message or email.

  The National Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000) offers information, advice and support on a whole range of options including UCAS course vacancies at colleges and universities across the country, Clearing and exam re-sits. To see this story in full, visit Skills Development Scotland.

  If you’re still looking for a university place this year, don’t panic! Check out The Complete University Guide where you will find FAQs on Clearing and help on choosing what to study and where to go.

  Other useful sources of advise include the National Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000), Scottish Clearing which lists vacancies at universities and colleges all over Scotland, and UCAS for their Clearing Advice and Clearing vacancies in Scotland.

University Guides August 5, 2010

• Student bursaries are up, but top universities still too ‘greedy’ says NUS

   

  Universities in England have slightly raised the proportion of their income that goes to bursaries for less well-off students, according to the latest figures from the Office for Fair Access (Offa), but it’s not evenly spread and the National Union of Students (NUS) is calling for changes to the system.

  Offa’s figures for 2008-09 showed that the total amount universities spent on bursaries had risen to £344m, up from £219m the previous year and this coincided with an increase in the income universities raised from tuition fees set above the basic minimum.

  Offa’s Director, Sir Martin Harris, said the continued expenditure showed a ”strong ongoing commitment to widening access”, but stressed they must maintain bursary spending levels: “With applications at a record high… we must continue to make sure that disadvantaged students… are not disproportionately among those affected by this increased competition for places.”

   But NUS President Aaron Porter said that 15 of the richest universities – from the Russell Group and 1994 group – gave less than 20% of their additional fees income on bursaries, whereas 18 newer universities offered more than 25% in cash to poorer students.

  He said the system allowed “greedy university heads” with poor records on access to spend less reaching out to disadvantaged students.

  “Vice-Chancellors and Offa should be calling for a better system, not patting themselves on the back,” he said. 

  For more information on student funding see the Complete University Guide’s money pages, and for this story in full see the BBC website

• Scottish Clearing

  Scottish Clearing starts in earnest today as students in Scotland receive their exam results. Fierce competition for places is not expected to materialise as demand for places in the Scottish universities is expected to increase by around 5%, rather than the 31% predicted earlier this year.

  The Complete University Guide contains knowledgeable, useful sections on What to do on results day and Clearing. Use our unique University League and Subject tables as you work through the vacancy listing.

  Other useful links include Scottish Clearing which lists vacancies at universities and colleges all over Scotland, and UCAS, where you can read their Clearing Advice and search for Scottish vacancies in Clearing, including part-time courses.