Posts Tagged ‘University Guides’

University Guides January 31, 2011

• A last minute course? Unis offering winter starts
  Had you thought about starting your undergraduate course now or in the next couple of weeks? More and more are, it seems. The January/February (or second semester) start is turning out to be a highly popular option, and is being offered by a growing number of universities on a large number of degree courses.

  A quick trawl around university websites will bring up plenty of examples of courses recruiting for a start in January or early February. On Bolton University’s website a box of delights called ‘Do Great Things Now’ encourages you to start a course in January. The choices run from a BA in film and media studies, a BA in regeneration and sustainable communities, to a BSc in mathematics. In total, there are 140 places on Bolton’s full-time degrees starting in the first week of February, and around 1,000 places on part-time courses, including foundation degrees in health and social care and HNDs in computing.

  Many of the courses recruiting for January/February starts are for vocational areas – eg, nursing degrees, at several universities including Thames Valley, Sheffield Hallam, and West of Scotland. At Middlesex University, the winter start courses are mainly in the departments of business and engineering and information sciences, and are proving highly popular with students from abroad.

  Margaret House, deputy vice-chancellor at Middlesex explains, ‘Firstly they may have had problems getting visas in time for a start in the preceding September; and second it, in effect, saves them half a year’s living costs.”

  Nigel Hill, director of marketing at Bolton, suggests students may feel they are stealing a march over their contemporaries aiming for university entrance later this year. He also points out that these students won’t feel ‘behind’ those who began last autumn, because they are on modular courses and each module is self-contained. He says, ‘They go through the modules in a sensible order and, assuming they pass everything along the way, finish in February in three years’ time.’

  If the winter start appeals to you don’t delay – places are filling up fast, and though the range of options is huge some will take relatively small numbers. So, before submitting an application for a specific course, contact the university to ask if places are still open.

  Full story in the Independent.

University Guides January 26, 2011

• Bottled Water Ban at Oz University

  The University of Canberra is the latest University to
  introduce a total ban on bottled water from its campus.

  It’s believed to be the largest ban of its kind in Australia
  and the first across a university.  Organisers
  say the ban will stop 140,000 plastic bottles from being sold annually.  Instead, students will have access to free
  water bubblers of the same kind which have been installed in the New South
  Wales town of Bundanoon, where water bottles have been banned since 2009.

  “By supplying free water and cheap, chilled water, the
  university will be helping students to break a bottled water habit that’s
  costing Australians half a billion dollars a year,” the founder of
  environmental group Do Something, John Dee said in a statement.

  The ban will be phased in. Sales of water on the campus will
  totally cease by late March.

  There is a steady (if slow) move across Universities worldwide
  to initiate a ban, surprisingly there are more US universities on board than in
  the UK and Australia.

  Leeds University leads the way in the UK, in late 2008 a
  referendum at Leeds University voted overwhelmingly to phase out the product by
  the end of 2009, becoming the first in the country to ban bottled still water
  from all their bars, cafes and shops, sacrificing annual profits of £32,000.

  “It’s a measure of concern about the environment,
  putting sustainability before profit,” says Tom Salmon of Leeds University
  Union, which saw 4,000 students vote on the issue – an exceptional turnout.
  “We’ve got to pull bottled water off the shelves by 2010 and bring in new
  lines of affordable, reusable water bottles instead.”

  According to the Ecologist “Banning bottled water makes a
  lot of sense. For a start, it’s better for the environment.

  In their decision to stop selling bottled water, LUU will
  not sell the 180,698 bottles of still water that it sold in the academic year
  2007/8.

  As a direct consequence, there will be 146,365 fewer plastic
  bottles in landfill sites (based on the British Plastics Federation’s estimate
  that 81% of plastic is not recycled).

  There will be 632,443 litres of water saved (based on
  Pacific Institute’s estimate that it takes three litres of water to produce one
  litre of bottled water). And 22,587 litres of oil won’t be used to make new
  plastic bottles (based on Pacific’s Institute’s estimate that for every bottle
  of water produced, enough oil is used to fill a quarter of the bottle).

  These are significant savings for a world threatened by the
  impact of excessive and needless production.” (see the full article Universities banning bottled water)

  For inspiration see how an Australian town, took things to their own hands and banned
  bottled water through the whole town (See Bundy On Tap).

   

  Other Universities to ban bottled water:

  • University of Canberra (see University Bans bottled water)
  • Leeds University (see Leeds
    Students ban bottled water)
  • University of Portland, (see University
    of Portland makes a statement and halts bottled water sales)
  • Seattle University (see Seattle
    University bans bottled water on campus)
  • Washington University (see Washing ton University in St
    Louis ends sales of bottled water)
  • University of Winnipeg, (see University
    of Winnipeg bans bottled water!)

University Guides January 20, 2011

• Accountancy firms keen to take on more graduates from 2011
  Top accountancy firms - Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and PwC, for example – are saying they are looking to take on new graduates, showing they feel confident that the economy is now on the way to recovery. 

  Opportunities are there across the board – from the early stages of graduate hiring, setting in train the three-year training of future professionals, right through to those who have newly qualified, as well as more experienced staff. The areas of tax and audit, advisory, financial services and regulatory functions are all reported to be strong in recruitment terms.

  The big firms told the Financial Times that they continued to try to recruit during the economic crisis but actually found they were getting fewer graduates applying, especially women.

  Ernst & Young, for instance, plans a UK graduate intake of about 750 this year, and report that so far they’ve had more applicants than at the same time last year.

  Students just ‘didn’t believe last year that we had vacancies,’ according to Stephen Isherwood, who heads recruitment of graduates for Ernst & Young for the UK and Ireland. His opinion is confirmed by others, who say young people seem to have been put off by headline news about the recession.

  If you are interested in a first hand account of accountancy options, read what Joseph Fernandes has to say to the Complete University Guide - Joseph is in his final year at Lancaster on an EY Accountancy, Auditing and Finance Degree Scheme.

University Guides January 11, 2011

• Imperial College Business School shaping the future of marketing

  Applications
  are now open for Imperial College Business School’s new MSc in Strategic
  Marketing – an academically rigorous one-year course aimed at recent graduates
  with business-related degrees.

  Programme
  director Colin Love said: “Our new postgraduate course which begins in October
  2011 is a direct response to conversations we have had with business leaders
  over the last year or so.

  “They
  all feel that there is a need to raise the game in marketing education in the
  UK which has lagged behind the US. This new course will equip those who already
  have a business education to gain a deep understanding, not only of the
  mechanics of marketing, but its increasing importance in the global business
  landscape.”

  The
  course will also draw on the School’s and the wider College’s strengths in the
  digital economy. Explained Colin: “Understanding how to influence audiences
  through online and social media is central to the future.”

  Imperial College London is a
  science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and
  research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest
  international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the
  interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering
  practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment -
  underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.  www.imperial.ac.uk

   

University Guides January 9, 2011

• Students who show good ‘job skills’ may gain extra marks
  Students could pick up marks towards their final degrees at some British universities by showing ‘corporate skills’ according to a newspaper report last week – on the basis that demonstrating skills such as running a workshop, or making a good presentation will show that they have learned how to put their higher education into good practice and have learned from work experience.

  Undergraduates on all courses – not just the vocationally oriented ones - may be able to earn credits for such abilities at the University of Leicester if all goes according to plan, while other universities such as Durham and University College London are also working on ways to give marks for employment skills and/or work experience.  Many universities feel the move is justified because more and more students are now choosing a degree based on how well it will prepare them for the tough jobs market.

  But not everyone is in favour – James Ladyman, professor of philosophy at Bristol University, told the Guardian newspaper he felt the move risked focusing too much on the requirements of employers in the corporate sector.

  He said: “Incorporating corporate skills into the curriculum is short-term thinking. The point about education is that it equips you for the long-term.”

  He also felt that placing too much importance on the cash value of a course would deter international students, who come to Britain to learn under leading academics, not to take ‘corporate skills’ courses.

   

  Full details of this story on the Guardian website

University Guides December 14, 2010

• Geography students are more likely to get a job
  Latest figures show that only 7.4 per cent of geography graduates are unemployed 6 months after leaving university, compared with 8.9 per cent of graduates in other subjects.  The rise and rise of geography, even in the tricky economic climate, seems set to continue, says a report by the Independent newspaper. 

   

  Georgraphy was not always a prestige subject – just two years ago school pupils were telling Ofsted, the education standards watchdog, that the subject was “boring and irrelevant”. Numbers studying it have risen fast, though, with 230,000 youngsters opting to take it at GCSE this summer.

  The Royal Geographical Society president, Michael Palin, is quoted as saying: “So many of the world’s problems boil down to geography and we need the geographers of the future to help us understand them. Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the spread of disease, the reasons for migration and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers.”

  In a letter from the RGS sent out to parents he adds: “An A-level in geography is recognised for its academic ‘robustness’ and, most importantly, it also helps young people into the world of work. You will find geographers in a wide range of jobs, from the City to planning, working in the environment to travel and tourism, or in international charities or retail.”  Palin’s encouragement is echoed by the wide range of jobs discussed in the Complete University Guide’s graduate prospects pages.

  Cambridge tops the Complete University Guide’s Geography League Table for 2011, with 82% for student prospects, while LSE has an even higher 88%. 

  For more on this topic see Richard Garner’s report on the Independent website

University Guides December 4, 2010

• Graduate Opportunities

  We’ve plenty of graduate opportunities say one of the ‘Big
  Four’ professional services companies

  You might think that the recession has wiped out hope of a career in
  business and finance, but accountants will have key roles in helping to get
  business back on its feet, says the Association of Chartered Certified
  Accountants (ACCA). And the journal Accountancy Age reports that at least one
  of the ‘big four’ global professional services firms, Ernst & Young,
  confirmed this view by announcing plans to recruit 1,000 people, at
  every level from partners to graduates, to its advisory
  arm. They are finding a growing client demand.

  E&Y are encouraging university students or those in their final
  school years to consider a career with the company, whatever A levels they plan
  to do.  There is a wide variety of options, from the special EY
  degree course, developed in partnership with ICAS (The Institute of Chartered
  Accountants Scotland) and the University of Lancaster Business School – one of
  the best places in the UK to learn about business – to the EY Scholarship, with
  lots of internship experience and sponsorship of £1,000 for each of your three
  years at university. Students on these programmes, who do well, and
  who decide Ernst & Young is the place for them, have
  a strong chance of a graduate job offer as they enter the final
  year at university.

  Young people who want to know more should apply to go on
  an EY Insight Day – a one-day experience at various locations around
  the country. You’ll find out what people do day-to-day, what joining the
  firm can lead to further down the line and the kind of qualifications you
  could need, to work in different areas of the business. For more information on
  EY opportunities see details on the Complete University Guide’s special feature
  page.  For the full news story on
  EY recruitment see Accountancy Age.

  For a first hand account, read what Joseph Fernandes has to say, Joesph is in his final year at Lancaster on an Accountancy, Auditing and Finance Degree Scheme.

University Guides December 1, 2010

• Chiropody and Podiatry

  Podiatry (the term is often used in place of chiropody in professional usage) is the medical discipline dealing with the feet and lower limbs in both health and disease. Professionals working in this area aim to prevent the development of foot and lower limb disorders. Podiatry is a rewarding career with excellent prospects.
  
  The Institute of
  Chiropodists and Podiatrists was founded in 1955 especially to facilitate,
  support and advance the profession of chiropody and podiatry by means of
  education, continual professional development and a strong support ethos for
  its members. 

  Membership of the association gives access to professional insurance, business support, a
  bi-monthly professional journal, professional development, access to further
  education within the Institute or within the university system, discounted
  rates at many conferences and professional events and discounted membership of
  the Royal Society of Medicine.

  The Institute’s Mission Statement

  • To provide the best private
    education available in foot health care, and assist students in developing a
    career pathway that fulfils their needs and aspirations.
  • To assist members in gaining
    entry, through our programmes, to university degree courses.
  • To provide support to
    private foot health care professionals, by delivering up to date professional
    development.
  • The Institute is committed to their members, their education, development and support.
  • The Institute offers over fifty years of
    dedicated service supporting members as they grow and develop to reach their
    full potential.

  Visit the Institute’s website for information and advice from dedicated professionals >

  The following universities offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Podiatry:

  University of Brighton
  UWIC, Cardiff
  University of East London
  Glasgow Caledonian University
  University of Huddersfield
  University of Northampton
  University of Plymouth
  Queen Margaret University
  University of Salford
  University of Southampton

University Guides November 18, 2010

• Study abroad can ‘significantly’ improve your career prospects
  UK students who choose to go abroad to study may enjoy greater success in later life, and more young people should be encouraged to do so, according to a new report from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFC) and the British Council.

   

  The study said that taking degrees and postgraduate courses abroad can boost career prospects – young people can improve languages, develop better intercultural skills and broaden an individual’s horizons – qualities valued by potential employers.

   

  Reporting on the study, the University and College Union (UCU) adds that the student going overseas could also save significantly on fees in future. Analysis by UCU of fees charged by publicly-funded universities around the world reveals that increasing fees to £5,000-a-year would be enough to give England the unenviable tag of supplier of the world’s most expensive degrees.

   

  As the UK sector faces cuts in higher education spending, together with a shortfall of around 200,000 places for would-be students in 2010, it seems likely that more and more young people will heed advice to look overseas for their higher education.

  The report quoted a recent study in which British students were asked to name their reasons for taking courses overseas.

  Some 42 per cent blamed “limited places in the UK” for their particular course, while a third identified high student fees in Britain. For full details of the report see the HEFC website

University Guides November 17, 2010

• More British Students Studying in the US

  Rising tuition fees and limited places at UK universities set to fuel this trend for 2011-12 and beyond

  •             Record 8,861 UK students studying in the US in 2009-10, despite the recession in 2008

  •             Anecdotal evidence suggests British student interest is set to rise dramatically in 2011-12 and beyond, as rising tuition and limited places in the UK drive students to study abroad

  Data released by the Institute for International Education (IIE) in its Open Doors 2010 report show the number of British students in the US increased for the second year in a row. A record 8,861 UK students studied at American universities in 2009-10, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. This is in contrast to a 4% decrease in European students studying in the States that year including a 12% decrease at the undergraduate level.

   Commenting on the increase, Lauren Welch, Director of Advising said: “This is particularly good news for US universities. Keep in mind the students in the Open Doors data applied to the States in autumn 2008, right as the recession was hitting home in the UK. At a time when members of the British public were counting every penny, students still saw the value of investing in study abroad.”

   What will rising tuition fees and limited places at UK universities mean for 2011-12 and beyond? Anecdotal evidence gathered by The Fulbright Commission suggests British student interest is set to rise dramatically. Fulbright’s advising centre is buzzing with calls and visitors. Traffic to its popular website on US study has risen by 30%, with 90,000 visitors this year. Attendance at its recent USA College Day was up by 50%, as 4,000 students and parents packed into the fair to find out more about undergraduate study in the States.

   Summarising the sentiments of students using Fulbright’s advising centre, Ms Welch adds: “British students and parents are feeling the squeeze between rising tuition and budget cuts at UK universities. The gap is closing rapidly between tuition rates in both countries, and students are going to study where they can get the most bang for their buck. Many students are saying when you’re already paying up to £9,000, what’s another £3,000 to study in the States?”

   To gain a snapshot of the situation on the ground, staff polled 75 students and parents last weekend. Three fourths of them agreed that tuition rates of £6,000 would increase their chances of applying to US universities. That figure rose to 90%, when asked about a possible increase to £9,000.

   Another factor driving students abroad is a concern that places at UK universities will be limited again this year. Ms Welch notes, “When 1 in 3 UCAS applicants did not get a place last August, it sent off alarm bells at dinner tables right around the country. More students are throwing their hats into the ring in other countries to increase their chances of having at least one offer come next summer.”

   US institutions are seizing the opportunity to recruit international students this year, including those from the UK. Despite the economic downturn, a record number of universities attended Fulbright’s USA College Day fair in September, and many are returning to the UK for second or even third recruitment trips for the year. Highlighting this trend, in a survey released by IIE today, two thirds of US universities report taking special steps to grow the number of overseas students on their campuses.

  And the traffic is not only one way: Also reported in today’s Open Doors report, the UK remains the leading destination for American students studying abroad. With 31,342 Americans at British universities, the UK hosts 12% of all students studying abroad from American universities.

   

  Enquiries:

  US-UK Fulbright Commission – EducationUSA

  Lauren Welch, Director, Fulbright Advisory Service

  020 7498 4019 or 075 3371 4960

  press@fulbright.co.uk