Find out what the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have to offer you at one of nine FREE Conferences

places are limited but events are held throughout the country
http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/oxbridgeconference/index.html

Careers conferences for students who want to become Doctors or Lawyers

Improve Your Chances of Becoming a Doctor

9 February 2013, at University College London

9 March 2013, at The University of Manchester

23 March 2013, at University College London

Improve Your Chances of Becoming a Lawyer

2 March 2013, at University College London

These one-day events are on Saturdays, from 10.00am to 4.30pm. They are particularly designed for students in years 11 and 12.

For full details, including on cost and booking places, see www.epoc.org.uk.

fall in university students

Although 54 000 fewer students started university courses this autumn, a large proportion of the decline was that fewer studetns had deferred entry to avoid rising fee charges.  However, there was a real fall of about 6% overall. Institutions made fewer offers overall but with more offers being made to those predicted to achieve the best results. It was harder to get in through clearing, suggesting that more selective universities are adopting a "first choice or nothing" approach, making it imperative for the current cycle of applicants to get their CI/CF decisions correct.

Pharmacy places to become restricted

Health Education England has announced that the number of students admitted to pharmacy degrees will be pegged to the availability of training placements in order to prevent over supply, bringing it in line with medicine and dentistry

Extra University places to be offered

The Times online yesterday reported that Universities are to be allowed to offer thousands of extra places from this autumn.  The effect of higher tuition fees, the ability to offer more places at AAB (ABB from this year) adn lower grades  than expected being achieved meant universities had unfilled places this year.  The ability to make more offers without such high penalties should lead to more offers being made to current applicants.

Graduate jobs go to those with work experience

from The Times 14 jan 2013

The cream of this year’s graduates will struggle to find jobs if they have not done any work experience while at university, a report warns today.
Even those leaving university with a first or 2:1 class degree will find that is not enough to impress top employers.
Recruitment is still below pre-recession levels and average graduate starting pay from major employers will stall at £29,000 for the fourth year in a row, it claims. The High Fliers annual graduate recruitment report is based on responses from 100 leading employers.
More vacancies are predicted this year than last, with a 2.7 per cent increase in jobs available. But fewer graduates than expected were taken in 2012, so there may be extra competition from last year’s university leavers.
Companies warn that the best opportunities are already being snapped up by students who are known to them. They predict that more than a third of jobs will be filled by graduates who have already spent time at their company, through work experience, internships or industrial placements (sandwich courses) during their degree. In investment banking and law this rises to more than half of jobs.
The research found that more internships are rewarded with pay, suggesting that companies are reacting to negative publicity about the potential exploitation of young people through unpaid labour. Critics have claimed that too many industries are closed off to young people who cannot afford to do an unpaid placement.
Investment banks are expected to offer the highest starting salaries this year, with an average of £45,000, followed by £38,000 in law and £32,500 in energy companies.The biggest growth in recruitment numbers this year is expected at public sector employers, retailers and engineering firms.
Martin Birchall, from High Fliers Research, said: “Taking part in work placements or internships while at university is now just as important as getting a 2:1 or a first-class degree.”

residential courses for future engineers years 8-12

The Smallpeicetrust www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk has published details of Easter and summer residential courses held throughout the UK.  A number of my students took these courses last year and felt they were valuable.  Full details are on their website.

careers courses for year 12

The organisation Futurewise is organising careers courses across many disciplines. Details on http://www.myfuturewise.org.uk/futurewise_courses_and_events.aspx?page=1

University application: Ucas answers your questions

Todays Telegraph carries a useful Q&A session with feedback on the most common concerns raised by students  Also has useful links to other tools and answers.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9753623/University-application-Ucas-answers-your-questions.html

Read this before you press apply on your UCAS application

This piece in The Independent before Christmas highlights many intersting points for potential university applicants to read and I strongly recommend candidates consider the points raised.
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/read-this-before-you-press-apply-on-your-ucas-application-8426876.html

college visits tours in the US

I have recently received some literture from a company who organise tours around several colleges in diferent regions of the US. Typically they last about a week and visit 10 or so colleges and include accommodation, internal travel and some food.  Mostly priced about $1600 or about £1000 excluding airfare.  They seem quite good value and worth a look at least for many people.
http://www.college-visits.com/college.html