AYRSHIRE HIGHER EDUCATION CONVENTION UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND, AYR CAMPUS

8th SEPTEMBER 2015

Contact Details www.ucas.com

VENUE ORGANISER’S CONTACT DETAILS

University of the West of Scotland

Ayr Campus

University Avenue

Ayr

KA8 0SX

Christine Maxwell

T. 01292 281 421

E. christine.maxwell@sds.co.uk

Enquiries during the event (Tuesday, 8th September 2015

only)

T: 07900 136574

OPENING HOURS GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Tuesday, 8th September 2015

9.15am – 12.15pm

1.30pm – 3.15pm

If you have any general queries on the day, please contact the UCAS General Information Stand. Staff

there will be available to offer help and advice, so if you have any questions, please just ask. A copy of

this convention guide is available online at

www.ucasevents.com/conventions.

Welcome

Dear Student

Welcome to the Ayrshire Higher Education Convention 2015. This is an ideal opportunity for

you to obtain quality professional advice from the representatives of a wide range of

universities and colleges from all parts of the UK offering Higher Education and to ask questions which matter to you.

To get the most from your visit, it is essential to do some planning before arriving at the

Convention and that you think about how to make best use of your time. You are encouraged to speak to as many exhibitors as possible; consider making a list of the stands you want to

visit before you arrive and draw up a list of questions you want to ask each institution.

University will be a new and exciting experience for you and we hope that this Convention

will help you in the first steps towards making those crucial HE decisions.

Don’t forget to take this Convention Guide with you so you can refer to it during the event.

Skills Development Scotland staff will be working at the event. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. We are here to help.

I hope you enjoy the event and that the information you collect helps you plan the next

stages of your life.

Good luck!

Conventions Team

Skills Development Scotland

Preparation

Before, during and after the Convention, we recommend that you do as much research as possible to prepare yourself for higher education.

Q A

What if I already know what course and career I want to follow? The Convention is a good opportunity to

So come prepared! Here are some ideas to help you.

learn more about which universities and colleges offer your proposed course and any alternatives.

Study the floor plan in this guide and highlight each university or college whose stand you would like to visit.

Q

What if I don’t know what course or career I want to explore?

Prepare some questions and issues to discuss.

A Don’t worry – you’re not alone. You can visit www.ucas.com to give you some ideas about suitable courses.

Find out as much as you can about your favourite subjects and how they relate to career prospects.

Q

I enjoy what I’m studying now, so should I continue with it in higher

If you know where you might like to study, find out about their open days.

A

education? You could, but there is a much wider

When you leave the Convention, have some clear action points for the next stage of your research.

choice available at higher education level. When you talk to an exhibitor, ask what new and related course will suit your current interests. You may find something

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q

even better. I don’t really want to go to university

Q How do I get the most out of my time at the Convention?

or college, so why should I attend the Convention?

A By developing a clear, well-organised plan for the day. Try to decide which stands you will visit and prepare some questions.

A Higher education means lots of different things, not just full-time study. Many people study part-time whilst working or training, and many will work or travel

Q How can I learn more about a university or college after the Convention?

before studying later in life. The Convention will introduce these options if full-time higher education is not right for you now.

A Plan to attend open days so that you can see it in person, speak to current students and find out about the lifestyle.

Q A

What is UCAS? We are the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. Visit our stand to find out how we can help you.

Q Do you have to be really brainy to

study at university or college?

Q Which is the best university or college?

A Your enthusiasm and motivation are as important as your qualifications. You will need to meet certain entry requirements, but there is a considerable range of acceptable grades and levels of entry.

A There is no one university or college which is perfect for everyone; different places suit different people, so it depends upon your preferences. Identify your personal criteria then check with exhibitors which universities and colleges

Q How can I know if higher education is right for me and that I will fit in at university or college?

are able to meet them. www.unistats.com can offer you a helping hand – the website is aimed at students who are looking to do further research on their

A The Convention will give you the opportunity to ask questions about all aspects of higher education, from course options to campus facilities and student lifestyle. Plan to attend open days after the Convention so that you can get a feel for the place.

preferred courses. It features statistical results of universities and colleges, subjects and their content and teaching style, and it allows you to review and compare subjects and different universities.

Q Where can I study ‘X’?

A Use Course Search at www.ucas.com before coming to the Convention. You can also choose from a range of publications including the Getting Into Series, which focuses on the most competitive subjects

such as medicine and law, and explains the various aspects of the subject, which universities offer courses and what the entry requirements are.

Open Days One key piece of research for you to

undertake at the Convention is to identify the open days that you will attend.

Attending university and college open

days is a great way to get a feel for different places. It’s very difficult, if not

impossible, to make a decision about something just from reading a

prospectus or visiting a website.

You must set aside some time for visits

so that you can be sure that you end up at the right university or college and on

the right course. Some people are lucky enough to know what they want to do,

but for most people, the choice is not so

obvious. Don’t feel under pressure to make decisions in a hurry or to make

other people happy. What is important is that you choose what is best for you. It’s

your life and it’s worth investing time and

effort in your future.

You can find out dates of open days by visiting www.ucas.com and accessing the

list of universities and colleges. Click ‘further details…’ for the university or

college that you are interested in to see

what open days are available.

During your visit, you should be shown

around various parts of the university or college, such as the Students’ Union, the

library, accommodation areas and the

department in which you could be studying. There might be opportunities to meet some

of your potential tutors and chat with current students on the course. You will also be able

to explore the practicalities of travelling to and from the university or college. Is it

accessible by rail, road, bus or plane? How

long does the journey take and how do you feel about being that far away from, or close

to, home?

Most students agree that open days have

enabled them to make an instinctive decision – the place may or may not feel right for you.

Making the effort to explore a university or college in person should prevent you applying

to somewhere simply because it ‘looks nice’

in a prospectus or on a website. If you don’t explore before accepting a course, you risk

feeling disappointed when you turn up and find that it’s not what you expected.

Gap Year THINKING OF A GAP YEAR?

Each year thousands of our applicants

choose to defer entry to university or

college. Taking a gap year gives you the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and

learn new skills. Whatever you’re interested in, this is your chance to try

something new, so make the most of it.

A well-structured and planned year out can

set you apart from others when going to university, college or looking for work, so it

is essential that you carefully plan and prepare for your gap year. Many employers

and universities look favourable on

applicants who have used their year out to gain valuable experience.

Whether you choose to travel, work,

volunteer or study, don’t waste this opportunity to try something different!

You can find a wide range of helpful books such as ‘Gap Years: The Essential Guide,’

‘Gap Year Guidebook’ and ‘Work Your Way Around the World’ on book sites such as

Amazon.

Exhibitors & Stand numbers (correct at time of publication)

Exhibitors in alphabetical order: Stand No.

Exhibitor Tel. No. Website

2 Academy of Sound and Music 0141 221 4458 www.academyofmusic.ac.uk

3 Army 0845 600 8080 www.army.mod.uk/join

5 Ayrshire College 0300 303 0303 www1.ayrshire.ac.uk/

7 BIMM Music Colleges 0844 264 6666 www.bimm.co.uk

8 City of Glasgow College 0141 566 6222 www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

21 College of Estate Management 0800 019 9697 www.cem.ac.uk

31 Digital World

13 Glasgow Caledonian University 0141 331 3000 www.gcu.ac.uk

14 Glasgow School of Art 0141 353 4500 www.gsa.ac.uk

11 Heriot Watt University 0131 449 5111 www.hw.ac.uk

32 McLaughlin & Harvey Construction 0141 848 8000 www.mclh.co.uk

17 Napier University 08452 606 040 www.napier.ac.uk

18 Queen Margaret University 0131 474 0000 www.qmu.ac.uk

19 Robert Gordon University 01224 262 000 www.rgu.ac.uk

20 Royal Air Force 0845 601 7695 www.raf.mod.uk/careers

22 Royal Navy / Royal Marines 0845 607 5555 www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers

23 SAAS 0300 300 3137 www.saas.gov.uk

16 Skills Development Scotland 01292 281 421 0800 917 8000

www.myworldofwork.co.uk

6 Skills Development Scotland (MyWoW) 01292 281 421

0800 917 8000 www.myworldofwork.co.uk

30 SOAS (School of Oriental & African Studies) 020 7637 2388 www.soas.ac.uk

24 SRUC – Scotland’s Agricultural College 0800 269 453 www.sruc.ac.uk

28 UCAS 0871 468 0468 www.ucas.com

4 University of Aberdeen 01224 272 000 www.abdn.ac.uk

1 University of Abertay Dundee 01382 308 000 www.abertay.ac.uk

9 University of Dundee 01382 383 000 www.dundee.ac.uk

10 University of Edinburgh 0131 650 1000 www.ed.ac.uk

15 University of Glasgow 0141 330 2000 www.gla.ac.uk

12 University of the Highlands and Islands 01463 279 000 www.uhi.ac.uk

25 University of St Andrews 01334 476 161 www.st-andrews.ac.uk

26 University of Stirling 01786 473 171 www.stir.ac.uk

27 University of Strathclyde 0141 552 4400 www.strath.ac.uk

29 University of the West of Scotland 0141 848 3000 www.uws.ac.uk

NB: Correct at time of publication. Subject to change.

Exhibitors by stand number:

Stand No.

Exhibitor Tel. No. Website

1 University of Abertay Dundee 01382 308 000 www.abertay.ac.uk

2 Academy of Sound and Music 0141 221 4458 www.academyofmusic.ac.uk

3 Army 0845 600 8080 www.army.mod.uk/join

4 University of Aberdeen 01224 272 000 www.abdn.ac.uk

5 Ayrshire College 0300 303 0303 www1.ayrshire.ac.uk/

6 Skills Development Scotland (MyWoW) 01292 281 421

0800 917 8000 www.myworldofwork.co.uk

7 BIMM Music Colleges 0844 264 6666 www.bimm.co.uk

8 City of Glasgow College 0141 566 6222 www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk

9 University of Dundee 01382 383 000 www.dundee.ac.uk

10 University of Edinburgh 0131 650 1000 www.ed.ac.uk

11 Heriot Watt University 0131 449 5111 www.hw.ac.uk

12 University of the Highlands and Islands 01463 279 000 www.uhi.ac.uk

13 Glasgow Caledonian University 0141 331 3000 www.gcu.ac.uk

14 Glasgow School of Art 0141 353 4500 www.gsa.ac.uk

15 University of Glasgow 0141 330 2000 www.gla.ac.uk

16 Skills Development Scotland 01292 281 421 0800 917 8000

www.myworldofwork.co.uk

17 Napier University 08452 606 040 www.napier.ac.uk

18 Queen Margaret University 0131 474 0000 www.qmu.ac.uk

19 Robert Gordon University 01224 262 000 www.rgu.ac.uk

20 Royal Air Force 0845 601 7695 www.raf.mod.uk/careers

21 College of Estate Management 0800 019 9697 www.cem.ac.uk

22 Royal Navy / Royal Marines 0845 607 5555 www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers

23 SAAS 0300 300 3137 www.saas.gov.uk

24 SRUC – Scotland’s Agricultural College 0800 269 453 www.sruc.ac.uk

25 University of St Andrews 01334 476 161 www.st-andrews.ac.uk

26 University of Stirling 01786 473 171 www.stir.ac.uk

27 University of Strathclyde 0141 552 4400 www.strath.ac.uk

28 UCAS 0871 468 0468 www.ucas.com

29 University of the West of Scotland 0141 848 3000 www.uws.ac.uk

30 SOAS (School of Oriental & African Studies) 020 7637 2388 www.soas.ac.uk

31 Digital World

32 McLaughlin & Harvey Construction 0141 848 8000 www.mclh.co.uk

NB: Correct at time of publication. Subject to change.

Floor Plan (correct at time of publication)

21

20

13

10

8

15

6

MAIN ENTRANCE

7

23

24

25

17

18

12

11

30

22

29

28

2

27

32

19

14

26

3

4

5

1

9

FIRE EXIT

FIRE EXIT

16 31

Finance

Going to university or college is one of the

biggest investments you can make. Do you know how much it is going to cost you and

what help is available? The websites listed

below will help you find the information you need.

STUDENT LOANS

The purpose of student loans from the Government is to help cover the costs of

your tuition fees and basic living costs

(rent, bills, food and so on). Two types are available: tuition fee loans and

maintenance loans. Both types of student THE COST OF STUDYING IN THE UK loan are available to all students who meet

As a student, you will usually have to pay for two things: tuition fees for your course

and living costs such as rent, food, books,

transport and entertainment. Fees charged vary between courses, as well as between

universities and colleges, so check these before you apply. The UCAS Course Search

at www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch/

has specific details on fees, bursaries and financial support for each course, or you

can contact the universities and colleges direct.

the basic eligibility requirements. In addition, many other loans are available to

students studying at university or college

and the interest rate can vary considerably. However, the interest rate on a

Government student loan only takes inflation into account so the overall amount

will, in real terms, be the same as the

amount borrowed.

Find out more information from the relevant sites below:

SCOTLAND: Student Awards Agency for

Scotland (SAAS) –

If you’re studying in Scotland and already live there, you normally aren’t required to

pay tuition fees. Check the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)

website www.saas.gov.uk for further

information or visit them at the Convention.

www.saas.gov.uk

ENGLAND: Student Finance England – www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

NORTHERN IRELAND: Student Finance Northern Ireland –

www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

WALES: Student Finance Wales –

www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

NB: The information in this section was up-to-date when this guide was published. You

should visit the websites mentioned in the section for the very latest information.

OTHER HELP AVAILABLE

As well as student loans, other help is available such as

grants, scholarships and financial awards. These vary depending on your chosen university or college and your

personal circumstances. For more information about any of the support available, visit the Directgov website

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance, or you can contact student services at your chosen university or college.

DISABLED STUDENTS There is help for students with

disabilities known as the Disabled Students’ Allowance

(DSA). Visit the websites as

listed above in the Student Loans section for more information and

to make an application. You may also find it useful to contact Skill:

National Bureau for Students with Disabilities www.skill.org.uk.

Information for Parents/Guardians

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS? HOW DOES UCAS WORK?

Once your son or daughter starts to think about their future, you naturally want to

offer as much support as possible. You

want them to make their own decisions, but you’re equally keen for them to get it

right. So how involved should you become?

We are the central organisation that manages applications for courses at UK

universities and colleges. Students apply for

courses and complete their application online at www.ucas.com.

Many courses have far more applicants

Only the person-in-charge can answer this question. And the person-in-charge, in a

strange role-reversal, is your son or

daughter. You can help by learning about the process, listening actively to your son

or daughter and being sensitive to signs that something is troubling them. In short,

it’s another parenting skill.

than places. Over-subscribed courses can therefore demand high grades from

applicants. As most exam results are not

known at the time of application, neither applicants nor course tutors can accurately

predict the final outcome of your son’s or daughter’s results. As such, universities and

colleges make offers based upon a very

precise mechanism. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

The parents’ section on our website at www.ucas.com is a good place to start.

Here you’ll find lots of advice and information about higher education and

our application process. You can also sign

up to receive free quarterly email newsletters and a copy of the Parent

Guide.

Once we receive an application, we send it to their chosen universities and colleges for

consideration. Applicants can then view the progress of their application on our online

system, Track www.ucas.com/students/track

When all decisions have been sent to UCAS from the universities and colleges, applicants

can accept up to two offers on Track.

SO WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE

CONVENTION?

HOW CAN I HELP?

Taking your son or daughter to see places All the students attending higher education

conventions are trying to increase their knowledge base and find out more about

universities, colleges and the courses they

offer, with a view to applying. It’s a chance to talk to representatives of universities

and colleges. It’s an opportunity to ask questions and collect practical sources of

information, such as prospectuses. It’s a way of speeding up the research that

should be undertaken by anyone before

applying to higher education.

that they are applying to is extremely

beneficial, as is openly discussing the financial implications of higher education.

Don’t underestimate the value of just being

there. A safety net is important even when it’s not being used!

UCAS and CUKAS key dates for 2016 entry

2015

Early July

Opening date for CUKAS applications

Mid-September

Opening date for UCAS applications

1 October Deadline for ‘on time’ CUKAS applications

15 October

Application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

2016

15 January

Application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed above with a 15 October deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline. Visit Course Search at www.ucas.com to find out which art and design courses have a 15 January or 24 March deadline.

Late February

Start of Extra for eligible applicants

24 March

Application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for art and design courses except those with a 15 January deadline. Visit Course Search at www.ucas.com to find out which art and design courses have a 15 January or 24 March deadline.

30 June If you send your application to us by this date, we will send it to your chosen universities and colleges. If we receive your application after this date, you'll be entered into Clearing

Mid-July

UCAS Clearing starts for eligible applicants

August

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results published GCE and Advanced Diploma results published Clearing vacancies published Adjustment opens for registration

31 August

Deadline for ‘late’ CUKAS applications Adjustment closes

Late September Last day for UCAS applications

For further information on each application service please refer to www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com.