Applying for selective courses
Sue Garrett, Admissions and
Outreach.
What makes a course competitive?
1) The university
reputation/ranking? E.g. Oxford
or Cambridge
2) Russell group? Maybe, but
some non-Russell group
universities have a higher
proportion of selective courses
3) Subject? E.g. Medicine
4) Number of places on the course
5) Selection procedure including
test/interview/audition
Always competitive?
• Most early deadline courses
Others vary with popularity
and application numbers:
• e.g. Psychology,
Criminology, Chem Eng popularity trends ?
• STEM subjects following
STEM push in schools?
• Nursing, Paramedics and
other vocational courses
employment/student
funding concerns?
• Student satisfaction?
• Graduate employment/pay
levels?
www.hesa.ac.uk
How competitive is the course?
You can see % of applicants who are made
an offer on comparison site
university.which.co.uk
What is an offer based on?
From the UCAS form
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•
•
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Academic performance – GCSE profile (plus any additional AS)
Academic potential – predicated A level or IB grades
Reference – this could offer important contextual information
Personal Statement - examined for entry requirement
essentials e.g. work experience
For competitive courses it all counts plus potentially:
• Interview
• Portfolio
• Test or additional submission of work ( Law/Maths/Oxbridge)
• Additional study such as EPQ
Teacher Support and References
Your can tell us about:
Performance subject by subject
The student’s potential for further
intellectual development
Any restrictions or limitations in
terms of the academic options
available to the student
Mitigating circumstances,
personal problems or particular
challenges the student has had to
face
The impact of any disability or
learning need
Contextual offers
• A University Access agreement may include a commitment to
contextual offers e.g.
University of Bristol
“All students from low performing schools and colleges will be flagged within the
University’s admissions database and if an offer is made it will automatically be at the
contextual (one grade lower) level. This will be irrespective of the predicted grades
exceeding the entry requirements”
University of Exeter
“The educational performance of an applicant’s school or college is considered as part of
the holistic assessment of an applicant’s potential to succeed at the University and may
lead to a lower offer being made”
Admissions statement example
Mechanical Engineering at University of Bristol
Early application?
• Applications received by the UCAS deadline will ALL be given the
equal consideration whether early or late
• But early good applications may = earlier decision ( i.e. offer!)
• Some students may need to apply later to build up a portfolio or
gain necessary work experience
• Some students benefit from an earlier school/college UCAS
deadline to help motivate and prepare them for exams and beyond
Applying to Bath
 Typical offers are based on 3 A levels
with subjects and grades specified
for each programme or IB with
specified Higher Level requirements
e.g. Mechanical Engineering
A*AA including Maths and Physics
or
IB Overall 36 with 6 in Higher Level
Mathematics and Physics and 5 in
English at Standard Level (or equivalent)
 Use the personal statement to show
us how you think and demonstrate
that you also relevant skills and
experience
e.g. work experience for Architecture
Additional study can strengthen your
application for competitive programmes
e.g. Extended Project Qualification
 We also specify GCSE requirements
for some programmes
Why do we value the EPQ?
• Introduces the student to independent, self directed study (typically
an extended essay or piece of research, around 3000 words,
research diary and presentation )
• Can demonstrate a specialist interest related to choice of University
programme
• Prepares the student for University style study :
“We welcome the introduction of the Extended Project and would encourage you to
undertake one as it will help you develop independent study and research skills and
ease the transition from school/ college to higher education. Completion of an
Extended Project will not, however, be a requirement of any offer made.”
University of Cambridge
“The University is supportive of the requirement to undertake an Extended Project … It
is expected that some admissions tutors may make two alternative offers to those
offering this qualification, one of which involves success in the Extended Project (e.g.
either AAA at A-level or AAB at A-level plus Extended Project)”.
University of Bristol
Is the personal statement important?
• Yes!
- To choose between applicants
with similar predicted grades,
therefore vital for competitive
courses
- Where entry requirements
specify work experience or
other non-academic skill, it
must be included here
- As a basis for interview
- To reconsider “near misses” at
confirmation
- It WILL be read by at least 2
staff
Clearing and adjustment
• Selective universities are much less likely to have any places left
to offer through clearing
• Adjustment there to offer a “trade up” if you exceed your
predictions, but the university still has to have some place left to
offer.
• If tests or interviews are part of selection, adjustment offers
simply may not be possible
Avoid taking a holiday around
results day in year 13!
Next Open day:
June 16th and 17th 2016
Any questions?
admissions@bath.ac.uk