Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access

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Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Moving into
Higher Education
After BTEC, A Levels or Access
 Applying to University
 Higher Education at an FE college
 Higher Level Apprenticeships
 2020/21

         Careers &
         Employability Service
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                                                   CONTENTS

The global pandemic of Covid-19
has impacted all our lives beyond
                                                               In addition, we run a number of events
                                                               during autumn term enabling you to find                          04             What is Higher Education?

                                                                                                                                06
recognition and the economic                                   out about different courses. Make sure
impact may remain for some                                     you attend to give yourself the ‘extra edge’                                    Going to University
time. If you are completing a                                  when making applications. Pages 29 - 31                                           - Choosing where to study
level 3 programme, now is a good                               provide further information on these.                                             - Choosing what to study
time to consider continuing with                                                                                                                 - Applying to UK universities
your qualifications to help your                               Starting with the basics such as ‘What is                                         - Applying to universities
employment prospects.                                          Higher Education’, this booklet takes you                                           and colleges in the
                                                               through the process section by                                                      Republic of Ireland
Produced by Belfast Met’s Careers                              section. You can either read it all or dip in
                                                                                                                                                 - Studying Part-time Degrees
and Employability Service this guide                           and out as you need. Either way we hope
will help you:                                                 you find it helpful and informative.

>     Understand your study/employment
options e.g. Higher Level Apprenticeships
                                                               The Careers and
                                                               Employability Team.                                              22             Funding for Higher Education

                                                                                                                                24
(HLA’s)
                                                                                                                                               Alternatives To University
>     Provide key information about                                                                                                              -   Higher Education at a Further
applying to universities and colleges                                                                                                          		    Education college
                                                                                                                                                 -   Higher Level Apprenticeships
>       Help you decide on your next step.                                                                                                       -   Self Employment
                                                                                                                                                 -   Getting a Job

                                                                                                                                28             Help from the Careers and
                                                                                                                                               Employability Service

                                                                                                                                28             Useful Contacts

                                                                                                                                29             Events Calendar

                                                                                                               Follow Us
The information contained in this booklet is correct at the time of going to print.                              Belfast Met Careers Service
However, students seeking entry to Higher or Further Education courses or employment
or training are responsible for clarifying detail in relation to their applications e.g. entry
requirements, closing dates etc.
                                                                                                                 @careersbmet
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
WHAT IS                                                                                      LEVEL 5                               FOUNDATION
                                                                                                                                   DEGREE
HIGHER EDUCATION?                                                                              What does
                                                                                               it offer?
                                                                                                                  Designed and delivered through partnerships between employer
                                                                                                                  organisations, universities and further and higher education
                                                                                                                  colleges, this qualification combines academic and work-related
                                                                                                                  learning to offer you a route into a certain field of employment.
Higher Education (or HE for short) is                                                                             You can also ‘top-up’ to a bachelor’s degree by undertaking an
                                                                                                                  additional one or two years of further study.
where you can study at an advanced                                                                                Foundation degrees in Northern Ireland are normally accredited by
level, normally after you turn 18                                                                                 Queen’s University or Ulster University e.g. UU Foundation Degree
years old. Most UK HE courses are                                                                                 in Software Engineering.
provided by universities, but an                                                               How long           A foundation degree takes two years to complete full-time
increasing number are also offered                                                             is it?             (or three years part-time).
at University Colleges, Further and
                                                                                               What do            Entry requirements to a foundation degree tend to be slightly lower
Higher Education colleges, Business                                                            I need?            than a Bachelor’s Degree. A minimum of a level 3 qualification or
schools, Agricultural colleges, as                                                                                equivalent is expected. In addition, some courses may have specific
well as at specialist institutions, for                                                                           GCSE* requirements.
example, in music and drama.

You may hear terms such as undergraduate
                                                                                             LEVEL 5                               HIGHER NATIONAL
                                                                                                                                   DIPLOMA (HND)
and graduate commonly referred to. An                                                         What does          A Higher National Diploma is a vocational course provided by
undergraduate course is the higher education                                                  it offer?          Further and Higher Education colleges in the UK. It aims to prepare
                                                                                                                 students for careers in specific industries, for example Business, or
course you are studying, and when you achieve
                                                                                                                 to ‘top-up’ to a full bachelor’s degree.
a degree and graduate you are eligible to
apply for graduate employment. However HE                                                     How long           A HND takes two years to complete full-time
qualifications are more than just degrees, and                                                is it?             (or three years part-time).
there are HE qualifications at Level 6, 5 and 4:
                                                                                              What do            Entry requirements to a HND tend to be lower than a full bachelor’s
                                                                                              I need?            degree. A minimum of level 3 qualification or equivalent is expected.
                                                                                                                 In addition, some courses have specific GCSE* requirements.

    LEVEL 6                       BACHELOR’S
                                  DEGREE
     What does      Designed to give you a thorough understanding of a subject, it will      LEVEL 4                               HIGHER NATIONAL
                                                                                                                                   CERTIFICATE (HNC)
     it offer?      develop your analytical, intellectual and technical skills needed         What does          Many HNC courses cover the same subjects as an HND, but an
                    to enter a specific graduate profession or more general graduate          it offer?          HNC is one level below an HND. A Higher National Certificate can
                    level employment. A degree can also be used to progress onto                                 help employed people working in a particular sector to aim for
                    postgraduate study.                                                                          promotion or can be used to enter first or sometimes second year of
                                                                                                                 a full bachelor’s degree.
     How long       A degree takes three or four years to complete full-time (normally
     is it?         four years if you are doing a sandwich degree as this includes a year     How long           Usually delivered as a two year part-time programme.
                    in industry or abroad). Some degrees, such as medical courses, can        is it?
                    take longer. You can also study for a degree part-time, which usually
                    takes four to six years.                                                  What do            Entry requirements to a HNC are lower than to a foundation degree
                                                                                              I need?            or HND, which should be a minimum of a level 3 qualification
     What do        The minimum entry requirement is usually a full Level 3 qualification,                       e.g. 1 A level or equivalent. However, other qualifications and
     I need?        such as three A levels, BTEC Extended Diploma or Access Diploma.                             experience related to the subject area may be considered for entry
                    In addition, some degrees may have specific GCSE* requirements                               but on an individual basis.
                    e.g. Science subjects.
                                                                                             *Generally GCSE English Language and Mathematics are required. Not all institutions/subjects
4                                                                                            will accept alternatives. Applicants should check this out in advance of application.          5
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
GOING TO                                                                                                             GOING TO
UNIVERSITY                                                                                                          UNIVERSITY
                                                   N.IRELAND                                                      SCOTLAND
Choosing a course and a                            Apply via UCAS                                                 Apply via UCAS
university or college can be a                     Fees: £4,395*                                                  Fees: Up to £9,250*
life-changing decision so do
as much research as possible
and start as early as you can.
This will help set you on the
right career path once you have               IRELAND
completed your course and                     Apply via CAO
ensure you enjoy the time you                 Fees: Up to
spend studying it!                            €3,000*
                                                                                                                              ENGLAND
                                                                                                                              Apply via UCAS
Choosing where to study                                                                                                       Fees: Up to £9,250*

Choosing where to study requires some              WALES
                                                   Apply via UCAS
careful thought. Don’t forget
                                                   Fees: Up to
that tuition fees in England, Scotland and         £9,000*
Wales are higher than in
Northern Ireland (see the Funding
for Higher Education section for more
information) so you may wish to take this    *Please Note:
                                             Fees quoted are correct at time of writing; fees for 2021 entry have yet to be confirmed.
into consideration.

You may also want to consider:               Make use of the following resources to help in your research
> Reputation of the university – where
  is the university placed in the league     League tables and subject                         University Open Days
  tables and what is its track record for    rankings                                          Explore the campus and gets insights
  graduate employment?                       The Guardian:                                     from staff and students. You can find
                                             www.theguardian.com/education                     details of open days including online
> Location of the university – do you        universityguide                                   ones, and virtual tour videos on
  want to study at a university campus                                                         www.ucas.com and university websites.
  or one that is based in a town or city?    The Complete University Guide:
                                             www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk University websites
> Accommodation – what is available to       league-tables                        The most up-to-date information on
  you, especially in your first year, and                                         degree content, entry criteria, student
  are you happy with the options?                                                 support, accommodation etc.
                                             Prospectuses
> Cost of living – how much are the          Available in the Careers Resource
  accommodation costs? What                  Centre in Titanic Quarter and Millfield.          Universities & Colleges Fair
                                             If you want your own copy of a                    Don’t miss the University & College Fair
  about the costs of socialising?                                                              organized by Belfast Met in October. For
                                             prospectus, you can download or
                                             order directly from the University.               further details, see page 9.

6                                                                                                                                              7
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Choosing what to study
You may know what you                      the UK and Republic of Ireland, check       Don’t be afraid to step                      Check the entry requirements
want to study, however many                entry requirements and learn more           outside the box                              thoroughly before applying
students are unsure about                  about the courses you are interested
their choices. Selecting which             in. There is also our virtual Professions   Check out the UCAS subject guides to         It is vital that you check these carefully on
course to study is a key                   Allied to Medicine event scheduled for      find out about a wide range of courses.      university websites. If you are in any doubt
                                           late October, for students considering      Some may not be taught widely at level 3     email the university’s Admissions Team
decision that needs plenty                                                             e.g. Radiography, Anthropology, Energy,      directly. If you are studying on a
                                           degrees/professions in these areas.
of research. Consider these                Check our Canvas Page and social            Paleocology. You may find a subject of       BTEC Extended Diploma or Higher National
points before making your                  media for further details closer to         interest.                                    Certificate/Diploma, it is recommended you
choices.                                   the date.                                                                                seek clarification by email from your chosen
                                                                                       Attend University Webinars                   universities regarding the distinction/merit
                                           Use Course Search facilities                                                             profile required.
Find a course that suits your                                                          Check the university website for details
interests, talents and career              Get help by using Course Search             of these presentations on areas such as      UCAS highlights that a number of students
aspirations. Ask yourself:                 facilities such as                          subjects, accommodation and virtual tours    each year apply for courses where they did
                                           www.ucas.com,                               of the university.                           not have or were not taking the correct
> What job would I like to do after                                                                                                 Qualifications. For example not all
                                           www.uniguide.co.uk
  university                                                                           Check if your course offers                  universities accept Essential Skills Level 2
> What qualification will I gain           www.discoveruni.gov.uk                                                                   instead of GCSE English and Maths –– so
                                                                                       an industry placement or study abroad
> What subjects interest me                                                            opportunities                                make sure you check this out. For some
> What are my talents and strengths        In UCAS you can search for                                                               courses you may need a minimum of a
> What academic skills would I like        undergraduate courses offered by UK                                                      grade B in GCSE Maths. Make sure
                                           Universities and Colleges, including        Some courses include a year’s work
  to improve                                                                           placement, usually in the third year of      your predicted grades will at the very least
                                           drama and music courses available from                                                   match those required.
                                           conservatoires. Many of the courses         a degree or second year of an HND or
Visit the Prospects Graduate               listed will provide details about the       Foundation Degree and, depending on the
Careers website                                                                        employer, may be paid. This introduces you   Discover Uni
                                           course, start dates, entry requirements,
www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles           selection criteria and admissions policy.   to the world of work and provides valuable
                                                                                       relevant experience which greatly enhances   www.discoveruni.gov.uk is the official
Some professions require a specific                                                    your employment prospects once you           course comparison website that allows you
                                           Want to study more than one                                                              to search for and compare undergraduate
higher education course. If you know                                                   graduate. Some courses also provide the
                                           subject?                                                                                 course information across the UK. This is a
what career you want after graduating,                                                 opportunity to study abroad.
research the job in detail to see what                                                                                              useful resource to gain insight into student
                                           Use the course search facility on UCAS                                                   satisfaction rates, graduate destinations
specific higher education qualifications                                               Check the university’s website for further
                                           to find combinations of subjects you                                                     and salaries, the percentage of students
are required.                                                                          information.
                                           wish to study. You can often decide how                                                  continuing on the course after a year, tariff
                                           much time you would like to spend on                                                     points held by students who entered the
Attend Belfast Met’s Universities          each subject
& Colleges Fairs and Events                                                                                                         course previously, as well as accreditation
                                                                                                                                    or professional recognition of the course.
                                           E.G. Joint = two subjects studied
Get the inside track by participating in        equally 50:50,
our online Universities and Colleges            Major/Minor = time spent is
Fair 19th – 23rd October, as well as            usually 75:25.
the Universities and Colleges Fair
for Creative and Media Arts on 19th
November. You will be able to chat with
university representatives from across

8                                                                                                                                                                               9
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
University Outreach Schemes and                 Kainos                                         up to date details on how to apply.               Interviews (MMIs) for Dentistry, Medicine,
Summer Schools                                  https://www.kainos.com/careers/student-                                                          Nursing and Midwifery degrees. Both
                                                and-graduates/earn-as-you-learn                How Universities go about making you              Queen’s University and Ulster University
Universities often offer potential applicants   Real world experience, a real salary with a                                                      also interview applicants for their social
the opportunity to learn more about them
                                                                                               an offer
                                                real job and a degree in Computing Systems                                                       work degrees. The College’s Careers and
by taking part in taster sessions and           at the end. Apply Direct.                      To reach a decision on your application           Employability Service Canvas page has
summer schools. They are particularly keen                                                     some universities may use one or more             useful information to help you prepare
to attract students from disadvantaged          Deloitte                                       of the following: your UCAS personal              for these interviews and get in touch
backgrounds onto these schemes and,                                                            statement, an admissions test, interview,         with us for additional support: careers@
                                                https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/
by participating, you will build confidence,                                                   audition or portfolio review.
                                                careers/articles/brightstart-business-                                                           belfastmet.ac.uk
learn more about university life and get
additional help and support with your           apprenticeship-scheme.html
                                                                                               Admissions Tests
UCAS application.                               An earn-while-you-learn higher                                                                   Deferred Entry
                                                apprenticeship with the chance to gain a       If applying to Ulster University for Dietetics,
                                                professional qualification in                                                                    If you wish to take a year out before
For example, Queen’s University Pathway                                                        Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy,
                                                • Audit & Assurance                                                                              starting higher education, check whether
Opportunity Programme provides young                                                           Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging,
                                                • Business & Financial Advisory                                                                  your chosen universities will accept a
people completing year 1 of A Levels or                                                        Radiotherapy and Oncology and Speech
                                                • Cyber                                                                                          deferred application before applying. More
a BTEC Level 3 with the opportunity to                                                         and Language Therapy at you are required
                                                • Human Capital                                                                                  information on applying for a deferred entry
learn more about the university and receive                                                    to take the HPAT- Ulster aptitude test. Refer
                                                • Governance, Risk & Regulation                                                                  can be found at
additional support to make a successful                                                        to www.hpat-ulster.acer.edu.au for further
                                                • Legal                                                                                          www.ucas.com/deferred-entry
UCAS application. Applications usually                                                         information and HPAT test registration.
open in October with the deadline in            • Real Estate
November. You can find out more at:             • Strategy & Operations                        For medical and dental degrees in the             Tariff Points
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/          • Tax Consulting                               UK you may be required to undertake the           Some universities will specify grades and
                                                • Technology                                   University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or       others tariff points in their offers visit
wpu/PathwayOpportunityProgramme/
                                                Apply Direct.                                  the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT).            www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
For the different types of programmes and                                                      Ulster University has a new graduate              if you need to work out your UCAS points.
                                                For details of other apprenticeships           entry medicine degree with a minimum              Only about a third of universities in the
schemes available check out https://
                                                in the UK visit UCAS website address           requirement of a 2:1 Honours degree               UK use the UCAS tariff with the majority,
www.ucas.com/events/exploring-
                                                https://www.ucas.com/understanding-            and uses the Graduate Medical School              including Queens University and Ulster
university/learn-about-uni-taster-course                                                       Admissions Test - GAMSAT. Health
                                                apprenticeships/what-types-of-                                                                   University, making offers based on your
                                                apprenticeships-are-there/degree-              Professions Admissions Test (HPAT Ireland)        highest level qualification and grade.
Applying to competitive courses                                                                is used for health and medical courses in         Others will require specific A Level, BTEC
                                                apprenticeships
If you are considering application to                                                          the Republic of Ireland. Bear in mind that        Diploma or Access grades.
                                                Queen’s University Belfast                     you need to apply for these tests well in
competitive courses such as Nursing,
                                                                                               advance of making your UCAS application.
Midwifery, Social Work, Medicine,               https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/                                                                   Additional Information
                                                                                               Dates may be subject to change at present
Dentistry, Veterinary or Pharmacy               undergraduate/software-engineering-            so check their websites directly.                 Visit Careers and Employability on
degrees it is very important to do your         digital-technology-partnership-beng-
                                                                                                                                                 Facebook, ‘Belfast Met Careers Service’
research early and email university             g606/#overview                                 To find out if your chosen course(s) have         and Twitter @careersbmet for details on
admission departments if you require any        You will be employed as an apprentice of       an admissions test, visit the admissions          higher education events and news. Please
clarification. Thorough investigation will      a leading technology firm and will combine     test section on the UCAS website, check           check regularly for the latest updates.
help you to work out where you might have       traditional university study with valuable     the entry profiles, contact your chosen
the best chance of success.                     work-based learning.                           universities and/or check their websites. It
                                                Apply via UCAS to QUB.                                                                           Visit www.ucas.com/connect/videos for
                                                                                               is your responsibility to find out whether the    video guides on how to choose courses,
Degree Level Apprenticeships                                                                   course(s) you have chosen are subject to          apply, navigate student finance and use
                                                FinTech                                        any form of admissions test and to register
A degree apprenticeship is a job combined                                                                                                        additional features such UCAS Extra or
                                                https://www.ulster.ac.uk/courses/202021/       and pay for any such test by the relevant
with a university degree. You’ll be working                                                                                                      Clearing.
                                                financial-technology-21396                     deadline.
with an employer for most of the time, with     This programme is designed to produce
your tuition fees paid by the employer and      industry focused graduates with an in-
                                                                                                                                                 Talk to friends/family who have or who
studying for the rest of the time. Within
                                                                                               Interviews                                        are attending the universities you are
                                                depth knowledge of core finance and
Northern Ireland there are a small number                                                      Some universities will choose to interview        interested in to get an insight into what life
                                                technology principles and a strong practical
of degree level apprenticeships e.g.                                                           for competitive courses. For example,             is like at these institutions. You could also
                                                understanding of how theory informs
                                                                                               Queen’s University uses Multiple Mini             choose to visit the universities you are keen
10                                              professional practice See ulster website for                                                                                                  11
                                                                                                                                                 on, ideally prior to submitting your
                                                                                                                                                 UCAS application.
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Applying to UK Universities                                                                             How to use UCAS Apply                        Registration

The UCAS Process                                                                                        UCAS Apply is an online application          Registering is the first step and it will
                                                                                                        system that allows you to apply for up to    generate your username and password,
If you are considering applying to full time          See the                                           five full-time undergraduate courses at      which you will need every time you log in
degrees in the UK you will need to apply              “Studying Part Time Degrees” section for          universities and colleges in the UK. You     to your application. Keep your login details
through the Universities and Colleges                 further details.                                  can complete your application anywhere       safe and secure.
Admissions Service (UCAS). Belfast Met                                                                  that has internet access. The system
currently has 4 courses which require                 Key Dates                                         allows you to leave a section partially      1. Go to www.ucas.com and click on
application through UCAS: Degree in Social                                                              completed, so you can return to it later.       Sign In
Work and Foundation Degrees in Early                  Listed below are key dates for
Childhood Studies; Health, Physical Activity          communication with UCAS for applicants            Application Fee                              2. Follow the online instructions to register
and Sport and Biological Science.                     applying to full-time degrees. When
                                                      you complete your part of the UCAS                > If you apply to more than one course,      3. Write down your username and
Please note that St Mary’s University College,        application with your Personal Statement,           university or college, the cost is £26.       password
Belfast does not use the UCAS scheme and              you then send it to your tutor who has
applicants should apply directly to the college       their part to complete before it can be sent      > > If you only apply to one course at       4. When asked “How are you applying?”
– check out their website for more info.              to UCAS. Check with your Tutor for the              one university or college, you pay £20.       choose “Through my school /college”.
www.stmarys-belfast.ac.uk                             deadline they require it by.                                                                      Enter your campus college buzzword
                                                                                                        The fee should be paid by credit or debit       exactly as shown below:
Students wishing to apply to part-time                Further details available at: https://www.        card online. You pay when you have
degrees should apply directly to their chosen         ucas.com/ucas-undergraduate-apply-                completed your application and are in the
institutions.                                         and-track                                         process of sending it to your referee. You   Castlereagh Campus enter Castlereagh21
                                                                                                        can only complete one application in each
UCAS schedule for entry 2021.                                                                           UCAS cycle.                                  Millfield Campus enter Millfield21

 19 May 2020    UCAS Apply for 2021 available                                                                                                        Titanic Quarter Campus enter Titanic21

 8 Sep 2020     First date completed applications can be submitted to UCAS
                                                                                                        WATCH                                        6. Select your course co-ordinator from
 1 Oct 2020     UCAS Conservatoires music applications deadline. Applications for dance, drama                                                          the drop-down list.
 (6pm)          and musical theatre courses may have a different deadline – check conservatoires’
                websites.                                                                               the ‘How To’ video on UCAS Apply
                                                                                                        to ensure you complete each section          7. Make a note of your Personal ID
 15 Oct 2020    Deadline for receipt of most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/                                                   as you’ll need this if you call UCAS
                                                                                                        fully. For example, ‘Additional
 (6pm)          science and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.                                                                Customer Services.
                                                                                                        Information’ allows you to talk about
 15 Jan 2021    Deadline for applications for the majority of degrees except those with a 15 October    your individual circumstances, such
 (6pm)          deadline.                                                                               as your parental education, if you have      You are now ready to start completing
                                                                                                        been in care or involved in widening         the application. The following sections
 25 Feb 2021    UCAS Extra opens – applicants who have used all five choices and are not
                holding any offers may be able to add another choice.                                   participation activities.                    must be completed:

 5 May 2021     If you receive all decisions by 31 March, reply by 5 May                                These pieces of information are              >   Registration
                                                                                                        shared with universities and colleges        >   Personal Details
 30 Jun 2021    Applications received by this deadline will be forwarded by UCAS to universities and                                                 >   Additional Information
 (6pm)          colleges. After this time, applications are automatically entered into Clearing.        alongside your application, so
                                                                                                                                                     >   Choices
                                                                                                        they may form a more complete
                                                                                                                                                     >   Education
                                                                                                        understanding of you as an individual,       >   Employment
 4 Jul 2021     Last date to add an Extra choice through UCAS Track.
                                                                                                        known as contexualised admissions.           >   Statement
 5 Jul 2021     Clearing vacancies will be displayed in the UCAS search tool.                                                                        >   Declaration
                                                                                                                                                     >   Pay and Send
 19 Aug 2021    A level results published and applicants eligible for UCAS Adjustment can apply.
                Adjustment ends 31 August.

20 Sept 2021    Last date you can submit applications to 2021 courses.
(6pm)
12
19 Oct 2021     Last date to add 2021 entry Clearing Choices                                                                                                                                   13
20 Oct 2021     Last date for Unis/Colleges to make decisions
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Personal Statement                          Top Tips:                                    Paying for your application                     After the application arrives at UCAS

You will probably take the most time over   > Start as early as possible as it takes     Once you have marked all sections as            UCAS will contact you by email when each
the personal statement section and you        time to write and get feedback from        complete you will pay the application fee       university makes a decision about your
should be prepared to do several drafts       others.                                    by credit or debit card and electronically      application. You can also check the
and get feedback from your personal                                                      send your application to your referee.          progress on Track. The following decisions
tutor and Careers Adviser.                  > Don’t be tempted to copy from the          You will not be able to make any further        can be made:
                                              internet – UCAS uses anti- plagarism       changes at this point.
You have 4,000 characters or 47 lines         software.                                                                                  > Invitation – You may be asked to attend
to explain why you are interested in                                                     Your tutor will check your application and,       an interview or audition, or to provide
studying at university, what it is about    > Describe the experience(s) that first      if there are any changes to be made, will         a portfolio of work, an essay or other
the degree(s) that most attracts you, why     made you think about a career in           electronically return the application to you.     piece of work. You reply to this via
you are a suitable candidate and what         nursing or computing etc. or when          If everything is in order your referee will       Track selecting either accept, decline
relevant experiences you have. For some       you knew for sure that you wanted to       add a reference and predicted grade(s) and        or request alternative date/time (To
high demand courses e.g. nursing, social      study history at university.               electronically forward your application to        change the date you should contact
work, your personal statement will be a                                                  UCAS, usually in November or December.            the university not UCAS).
core part of the selection process.         > Don’t start with “I have always
                                              wanted to be…” – it’s overused and                                                         > Conditional Offer – The university
UCAS have resources and tools to help         impersonal.                                                                                  is offering you a degree place on
you generate a first draft:                                                                                                                the condition that you will meet the
https://www.ucas.com/                       > A degree is awarded through                                                                  academic entry criteria set out in their
undergraduate/applying-university/            academic study and achievement.                                                              offer to you. You usually need to meet
how-write-ucas-undergraduate-                 Your academic experiences should                                                             these conditions by the 31st August.
personal-statement                            be in the order of 60-80% of your
                                              personal statement rather than social                                                      > Unconditional Offer – can be made
Your personal tutor will be supporting        content. Write about your current                                                            if an applicant already meets the
you in writing your personal statement        course - What aspects have you                                                               entry requirements at the time of
but a Careers Adviser will also be happy      found most interesting and why?                                                              application. Some universities also
to provide constructive feedback on           What skills have you developed that                                                          make unconditional offers based on
your draft.                                   you will use in university e.g. critical                                                     predicted grades or after interviews
                                              thinking, independent research,                                                              and auditions. Effectively, it means that
Contact careers@belfastmet.ac.uk
                                              essay writing, presentation skills.                                                          the university will accept you regardless
for details.
                                              Don’t forget any technical skills you                                                        of what grades you actually receive on
                                              have learnt.                                                                                 your current course. See Accepting
                                                                                                                                           Unconditional Offers overleaf for more
                                            > Type up your statement in MS Word                                                            information.
                                              and check and double-check your
                                              spelling and grammar. Ask someone                                                          > Unsuccessful Application – The
                                              you trust to proofread it. (UCAS                                                             university has decided not to offer you
                                              apply does not have a spellchecker).                                                         a place.

                                            > When you have finalised your
                                              Personal Statement copy and paste
                                              it into UCAS Apply.

Further help and advice:
Check out these sites for more help on personal statements:
>    www.which.co.uk/money/university-and-student-finance/getting-into-uni/how-to-
     write-a-personal-statement-a3bfp7h4yv7s
>    www.youtube.com – search “UCAS personal statement” for some useful videos

14                                                                                                                                                                                15
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Replying to your offers                      Accepting Unconditional Offers                  THINGS TO                                   UCAS Clearing

Once you have received decisions from        Universities in England, Scotland and           REMEMBER                                    UCAS Clearing is another way to find a
all your choices, you need to decide         Wales sometimes make unconditional              before replying:
                                                                                                                                         university place. You can become eligible for
which one(s) you want to accept. You         offers as a way of persuading you to                                                        Clearing at different times, for one of the
can accept two offers – a “firm” and         firmly commit to them. There are obvious        > Make sure the course and
                                                                                                                                         following reasons:
an “insurance” - and you need to             advantages in having a guaranteed place           university are right for you.
decline any others. The date you must        at university but before accepting an           > Try to visit the universities
                                                                                                                                         > You receive no offers.
reply by is shown in Track.                  unconditional offer it is worth knowing:          before you make your
                                                                                               decision. If that’s not
                                                                                                                                         > You decline all your offers and as a result,
> Firm Acceptance                            > By accepting an unconditional offer as          possible then attend their
                                                                                                                                           do not hold any.
  This is your first choice out of all       your firm choice you are committing to            virtual Open Days.
  the offers you’ve received. If you         go to that university, so you can’t             > Once you accept offers,
                                                                                                                                         > You do not get the examination results you
  accept an unconditional offer you          make an insurance choice or be                    including an insurance
                                                                                                                                           hope for and your university choices do
  are agreeing that you will attend          entered into Clearing                             offer, you are committed
                                                                                                                                           not confirm your place.
  the course at that university, so you                                                        to those courses.
  must decline any other offers. If you      > You may be able to accept an                                                              > You apply after 30 June 2021.
  accept a conditional offer you are         unconditional offer as your insurance
  agreeing to attend the course at that      choice, allowing you to have a                                                              Lists of courses with vacancies in Clearing
  university if you meet the conditions      conditional offer as the firm choice.           If you are holding no offers                are published from 5th July until late
  of the offer.                              However, a university may stipulate that                                                    September in the search tool on ucas.com.
                                             their offer is only unconditional if you        Don’t panic if you are not offered a        You should check the list for suitable courses
> Insurance acceptance                       make them your firm choice, so be sure          place at any of your five choices. You      and then contact the university to find out
  If your firm acceptance is a               to check any terms attached to their offer      can use UCAS Extra to apply to other        more and see if they will offer you a place.
  conditional offer you can accept           before you reply.                               universities and colleges that still have   You must have permission from a university
  another offer as an insurance                                                              vacancies. You can only apply to one        before adding your course choice in
  choice. This can be conditional or         Having a guaranteed place at university         choice at a time so you will need to        UCAS Track.
  unconditional and acts as a back-up,       should not mean that you apply yourself         get in touch with each university you
  so if you do not meet the conditions       less on your current course. Remember           are interested in to see if they will       Note: Most universities publish details of their
  of your firm choice but meet the           that things may not work out as planned         consider you. Find out more at www.         clearing arrangements on their websites in and
  conditions of your insurance,              at university and also, in time, you will       ucas.com/ucas/ undergraduate/               around July. You will need to act quickly if you
  you will be committed to the               want to move into employment and                apply-and-track/ track-your-                want to secure a place through Clearing after
  insurance choice. Usually the entry        will need to let potential employers                                                        A level results day in August. Some places are
                                                                                             application/extra-choices
  requirements for this choice are           know what you achieved in all                                                               accepted by the end of A Level results day.
  lower than the firm choice. They can       your qualifications.
                                                                                             Extra is available from 25th February
  be higher or the same as your firm                                                                                                     If you do better than expected
                                                                                             to 5th July.
  choice but be aware that if you are        NB: Many graduate employers will look closely
  not accepted by your firm choice, it       at your grades at A Level, BTEC and Access.                                                 If you meet and exceed the conditions of your
  is unlikely you will be accepted for       Aim to achieve the best grades you can.                                                     firm choice, UCAS Adjustment is a chance
  an insurance choice that requests                                                                                                      for you to reconsider where and what to
  higher grades.                                                                                                                         study. Adjustment is available from A level
                                                                                              Please ensure you reply                    results day until the end of August. It’s entirely
> Decline                                    Full details of how and when to reply to           to your offers by the                    optional, and a lot of competitive courses
  Once you have decided which offer          your UCAS offers can be found at:                 appropriate deadline.                     will be full – but other applicants might have
  to accept firmly and which (if any) to     www.ucas.com                                                                                missed their conditions or swapped a course
  accept as an insurance, you must                                                                                                       too, so it could be worth seeing what might
  decline all other offers. If you do not                                                                                                be available. If you are unable to find a
  want to accept any of the offers and                                                                                                   suitable offer through Adjustment, you will
  decline all, you will be eligible to use                                                                                               still be able to keep your course offer
  Extra or Clearing, depending upon                                                                                                      confirmed on results day.
  your circumstances.

16                                                                                                                                                                                      17
Higher Education Moving into - After BTEC, A Levels or Access
Meeting Entry Requirements                     Access Applicants
Applying to Universities & Colleges in the
Republic of Ireland                                                                            It is very important that you check the        Mature applicants, such as those
                                                                                               entry requirements for the courses you are     completing Access diplomas, who are 23
                                                                                               interested in by visiting the institution’s    years old on or before the 1st January in
There are 7 traditional                         as well as offering Ordinary Bachelor
                                                                                               website and contacting the relevant            the year of entry may be considered by
universities in the Republic                    Degrees (Level 7) and Higher Certificates
                                                (Level 6). Length of study and entry           admissions team by email if necessary.         both Universities and TU’s / Io
of Ireland (ROI) 4 of which
come under the auspices                         requirements can vary so make sure you
                                                do your research carefully.                    A-Level Applicants                             Applying through CAO
of the National University of
Ireland. There is currently 1                   There are many ways to find out                A-level qualifications are widely              You must apply for courses either online at
Technology University (TU)                      information on ROI courses:                    recognised in the ROI and you can find         www.cao.ie or by completing and returning
as a result of the merger of 3                                                                 out the admissions points system for           a paper application form to CAO. It is
Institutes of Technology (IoT).                 > Download the CAO Handbook from               A-levels by visiting www.cao.ie and            important that you read the CAO handbook
The remaining 11 IoTs have                        www.cao.ie . This provides full              clicking on Student Resources – Applicant      (available on the website) before submitting
applied to merge into a further                   listings of all courses available at all     Scoring. It is worth noting, however, that     your application.
4 Technology Universities.                        HE institutions. It also provides vital      Applied or Vocational A Levels are rarely
                                                  information on the CAO process and           accepted by ROI universities and, in
There are also 7 Colleges                                                                      addition, you may not be eligible if you
                                                                                                                                              Course Choices
of Education.                                     how to apply.
                                                                                               have not completed GCSEs, AS and
                                                                                                                                              There are two course choice lists on the
                                                > Check out course search on                   A2 level in consecutive years and have
TU’s / IoT’s offer a full range                                                                                                               CAO application and applicants may make
                                                  www.cao.ie. You can search by                cashed in all A Levels in the same session.
of higher education courses,                                                                                                                  up to 10 course choices on each list:
                                                  institution or course name, which brings     The IoTs / TU’s may be more flexible
degrees and post-graduate                          you directly to the institution’s website   in their entry criteria and admission
                                                                                                                                              > 10 choices may be made on the level 8
level studies which tend to be                     or course webpage to find details about     requirements. However, it is advisable
                                                                                                                                              list (Honours degree level)
primarily vocational in nature.                    the course, the university offering the     to contact the institutions directly
                                                                                                                                              > 10 choices may be made on the level
                                                   course, start dates, entry requirements     for guidance on your own particular
                                                                                                                                              7/6 list (Below honours degree level)
In addition, a number of other third level         and selection criteria. You can also        circumstances
institutions provide specialist education in       find out what points were accepted for                                                     Please note: You need to rank your courses
such fields as Art and Design, Medicine,           courses in previous years in                                                               in order of preference.This is different to a
Business Studies, Rural Development,               ‘Points by Year’ in the ‘Student            BTEC Applicants                                UCAS application, in which courses are not
Theology, Music and Law. Check out this            Resources’ section.                                                                        listed in any particular order.
site for a full list of institutions https://                                                  Please note all of the 7 universities in the
www.education.ie/en/Learners/                   > Participate in Belfast Met’s Virtual         Republic do not normally accept BTEC
Information/Providers-of-Higher-                  RoI Universities and Colleges Fair           Level 3 qualifications. IoTs / TU’s do,        Key Dates
Education/List.html                               23 October. This is your opportunity         although they rarely provide guidance
Applications for entry to undergraduate           to talk to Republic of Ireland university    online regarding the grades required.          CAO applications open 5th November
courses within these Higher Education             and college staff face-to-face and ask       You should make direct contact with the        2020.
Institutions are processed by the Central         any questions about the courses you          admissions teams of the institutions to
Applications Office (CAO). The CAO                are interested in.                           clarify their requirements.                    > 20 January 2021 (5.15pm) – apply by
processes and timescales are very                                                                                                               this date to avail of discounted fee of
different to the UCAS process and we            > Attend university or college open                                                             €30.
would advise you to thoroughly research           days and get a feel for what’s
                                                  actually like to be a student there.         If you need help with any aspect
options and take care in filling out your                                                                                                     > 1 February 2021 (5.15pm) – normal
                                                                                               of the CAO process, email
form.                                                                                                                                           closing date for applications, €45.
                                                > Check out the ROI prospectuses               careers@belfastmet.ac.uk for an
Just like in the UK, the Bachelor’s               from your campus Careers                     appointment with a                             > 1 May 2021 (5.15pm) - late
Degrees offered by universities in the            Resource Centre or request a                 Careers Adviser                                  application deadline.
Republic of Ireland come with “honours”           prospectus directly from the
and are listed in the ROI as Level 8              universities or colleges you are
qualifications. Institutes of Technology          interested in.
offer these Level 8 Honours Degrees

18                                                                                                                                                                                        19
Change of mind                                      Offers                                                                                                                         Studying
                                                                                                                                                                          Part-time Degrees
Unlike the UCAS process,you can change              Unlike the UCAS system in which
your course choices. The CAO online                 universities make offers based on your
‘Change of Mind’ facility opens in early            predicted grades, institutions in the
May and closes on 1st July at 5:15pm.               Republic usually only issue offers once
You can use the online facility as many             they have received your actual results.
times as you like to add, remove or re-             For NI applicants with A level results this
order your courses for no extra charge until        means decisions on applications are not
the 1st July at 5:15pm.                             normally taken until mid-August at
                                                    the earliest.
This will allow you the time and opportunity
to really know if the courses you have listed       The table below shows the four main
are really the courses you want to study.           rounds of offers:
You should make sure to attend open days,
talk to lecturers, other students, friends
and family as it’s much easier when you get
it right the first time around.
                       Deferred applicants; mature applicants; mature nursing/midwifery code
 Round A               applicants; some graduate entry pathways; applicants who may be required
 (early July)          to make visa arrangements; applicants who have completed an Access
                       course.

 Round Zero            Graduate entry medicine applicants; additional mature, deferred and Access
 (early August)        applicants; and applicants presenting QQI FET/FETAC for consideration for
                       entry to courses with a quota for QQI FET/FETAC applicants.

 Round One             All applicants applying on the basis of school leaving examination results,
 (mid-August)          regardless of year completed.
                                                                                                          Studying full-time for three or             Applications for part-time degrees are
 Round Two and                                                                                            four years is not the only way              submitted directly to your chosen
 subsequent offers     Offers are issued until the offer season closes, or until all places are filled,                                               institutions(s), rather than through UCAS.
 (late-August to       whichever comes first.
                                                                                                          to get a degree. Some students
 mid-October)                                                                                             choose to study for a degree
                                                                                                                                                      The Open University offers part time,
                                                                                                          on a part-time basis often to               flexible degrees with no entry requirements.
Acceptance                                         Funding your study in ROI                              combine with work or other                  Learning is completed entirely online.
                                                                                                          commitments. Often it may be a              You can find out the details of all the
All offers of places will be sent by               Students who normally live in Northern                 cheaper option and since 2017               programmes open to Northern Ireland
post from the CAO together with the                Ireland and choose to study at a HE                    funding is available for part-              based students here: www.open.ac.uk/
necessary instructions as to how to                institution in ROI (public university or               time HE study                               northern-ireland
proceed. In addition, offers will be               college) are not charged a tuition fee,                (see page 23 for details).
presented online at the CAO website                but have been required to pay a student                                                            Ulster University offers part-time
www.cao.ie and you may record your                 contribution charge of €                               It normally takes anywhere between 4 – 6    degrees in which teaching is delivered
acceptance online.                                 Finance NI has traditionally provided a                years to gain a degree through part-time    on campus or entirely online or a
                                                   Student Contribution Loan to help cover                study, depending on your motivation and     combination of both: https://www
Offers will be issued independently in             this charge.                                           time available. Most universities have      ulster.ac.uk/study/part-time . Ulster
respect of Level 8 and Level 7/Level 6                                                                    entry requirements for these degrees but    University have an online portal for
courses, so that some applicants may               However, the Irish government has                      will also take relevant prior experience/   applications for part time study.
receive two offers of places                       recently stated that, in light of Brexit, it           employment into account when
simultaneously. If you receive more than           will be reviewing the position on the fee
                                                                                                          considering your application.
one offer (i.e. a level 8 course and/or level      status of Northern Ireland students for
7/6 course) you are permitted to have              the 2020 academic year. It is important
only one current acceptance in the entire          to bear this in mind when applying to
CAO system.                                        institutions in the Republic of Ireland.
20                                                                                                                                                                                                 21
FUNDING FOR HIGHER                                                                                    Part time study
                                                                                                      A part-time student studying at least 25%
                                                                                                                                                        all-ireland-scholarships

EDUCATION                                                                                             of an equivalent full-time course, can
                                                                                                      apply for a tuition fee loan to the current
                                                                                                                                                        Uversity Scholarships
                                                                                                                                                        Uversity Scholarships provide financial
                                                                                                      maximum amount of £3,206.25. He/She               support to individuals 23 years or
Going to university or college is                  and https://www.housingadviceni.org/               may also be eligible for a tuition fee grant      older who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s
an important investment in your                    housing-options-ni/student-housing for             (up to £1,230) and course grant (up to            degree in any subject in one of their
                                                   more information on the options available.         £265 for books), with the amount available        participating institutions in Northern
future. You will need to consider                                                                     depending on the course intensity (at least       Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
tuition fees, accommodation                                                                           50%) and your own household income.               Scholarship amounts vary depending
and living costs. Finding out                      Funding
                                                                                                      A maintenance loan is not available to part-      on the recipient’s circumstances and
how much it will all cost and                                                                         time students                                     are allocated on a needs basis, which is
what funding is available is an                    Full-time study
                                                                                                                                                        assessed via application and interview.
                                                   Regardless of the type of higher education
important part of your research.                   course you are interested in, you need to                                                            Check out Uversity.org for more
                                                   apply for financial support through www.           Repayment                                         information and to apply.
Tuition Fees                                       studentfinanceni.co.uk. Applications for
                                                   funding for full-time study usually open           Full information on repaying your student Some charities and educational trusts
Tuition fees for NI students studying full-        around Easter. You do not need to wait until       loan can be found here: www.nidirect.gov. also offer grants and awards. For
time undergraduate degrees are currently:          you receive an offer of a place from your          uk/articles/repaying-your-student-loan    more information check out: www.
> If studying in Northern Ireland:                 university or college and you can apply for                                                  nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bursaries-
    £4,395* per year                               a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and                                                     scholarships-and-awards
> If studying in England, Scotland and             maintenance grant.                                 Additional Financial Support
    Wales: Up to £9,250* per year                                                                                                                       Sources of further information
> If studying in Republic of Ireland:              All eligible students entering full time higher    a) from Universities and Colleges
    €3,000* per year                               education can access a tuition fee loan to                                                           Check out following sites for more
                                                   cover the full cost of their tuition fees. It is   You may also be entitled to extra financial          information:
Tuition fee costs for full-time Foundation         paid directly to your university or college.       support from your university or college.
Degree and HND courses at Belfast Met                                                                 This could be a bursary or a scholarship          > www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles
are in the order of £2,765 or more per year.       The maintenance loan is to cover                   if you meet certain conditions set by your          student-loans
                                                   accommodation and living costs. The exact          university or college.You can find out
*Fees quoted are for 2020 entry. Fees for 2021     amount you can borrow will depend on               what you might be eligible for by visiting
entry were not available at time of print. Check
                                                                                                                                                        > www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk
                                                   several factors, including your household          the scholarships sections on university             Search and apply for UK
institution websites for up-to-date information.   income, where you live while you are               and college websites. For example go to             scholarships, grants or bursaries.
                                                   studying and whether you are in the final          www.ulster.ac.uk/study/scholarships and
Tuition fees for part-time undergraduate           year of your course. It’s also affected by         Queen’s University at www.qub. ac.uk/             > www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
degrees and other part time HE                     any help you get through the maintenance
qualifications, such as Higher National                                                               Study/Undergraduate/Fees-and-                       Student support helpline:
                                                   grant. Student Finance NI will usually pay
Certificates, will vary depending on the                                                              scholarships/Scholarships to see the                0300 100 0077
                                                   the money into your bank account in three
institution and the course intensity. Check                                                           range of scholarships available.
                                                   instalments - one at the start of each term.
out university or college websites for a list                                                                                                           >   Belfast Met Student Funding
of their current fees.                             In addition, and dependent on personal or                                                                Officers are also available to provide
                                                                                                      b) Specific Scholarships for HE (ie full study)       broad information on Higher
                                                   family income levels, some students may
Accommodation                                      be able to access a maintenance                                                                          Education funding. Email
                                                                                                      JP McManus All Ireland                                studentfunding@belfastmet.ac.uk
                                                   grant which is not repayable. There is also
                                                                                                      Scholarship Scheme                                    or phone 028 9026 5183.
University websites have information about         support for childcare.
                                                                                                      This scheme provides financial support of
the range and costs of accommodation
                                                   Please Note: Special arrangements are currently    £5,500 per academic year to the
options such as halls of residence, purpose
                                                   in place for students applying for the following   top-performing students from low-
built student housing and private rentals.
                                                   degrees in NI: Social Work, Nursing, Midwifery     income households, intending to do an
You can also contact the university
                                                   and Allied Health Professional degrees e.g.        undergraduate course in the UK or
accommodation office directly for more
                                                   Physiotherapy. Contact Student Finance NI for      Republic of Ireland. Six scholarships are
guidance. Check out: https://www.                                                                     available to the top Level 3 Extended
ucas.com/undergraduate/student-life/               more info.
                                                                                                      Diploma students from further education
undergraduate-accommodation                                                                           colleges: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/
22                                                                                                                                                                                                   23
ALTERNATIVES TO                                                                                                                                  UCAS TARIFF POINTS
UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                                         for some popular qualifications

There are several alternatives to a            South Eastern Regional College (www.serc.
full-time university degree, which             ac.uk) with campuses in Lisburn, Bangor,                                               BTEC
some students find more appealing.             Newtownards and Downpatrick and Northern
Consider the following:                        Regional College (www.nrc.ac.uk) with

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                                               campuses in Newtownabbey, Ballymena,

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Higher Education at a Further and

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                                               Larne and Coleraine.

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Higher Education College
                                               Note: Some Foundation Degrees in NI                                                                      D*D*D*                      168
Higher Education (HE) courses at               may require a UCAS application. Belfast                                                                  D*D*D                       160
Further and Higher Education Colleges in       Met, for example, requires you to submit a
Northern Ireland include Level 4 Higher        UCAS application to be considered for the                                                                D*DD                        152
National Certificates (HNCs) and Level 5       following:                                       75%+                                                     DDD                        144
Foundation Degrees and Higher National
Diplomas (HNDs).                                                                                70-74%                                                                              132
                                                > Foundation degree in Early Childhood
                                                     Studies                                                                                            DDM                         128
Level 5 Foundation Degrees and HNDs are         > Foundation degree in Health, Physical         65-69%                                                                              120
delivered as either two year, full time courses      Activity and Sport
or three year, part time courses and are well   > Foundation degree in Mechanical                                                     D*D*              DMM                         112
recognised by employers across the UK.               Engineering                                60-64%                                                                              108
These courses have lower entry requirements > Foundation degree in Biological Sciences
                                                                                                                                      D*D                                           104
than undergraduate degrees but usually
allow you to progress into the second year of Colleges will hold information days for           55-59%                                DD                MMM                          96
a university degree, provided you achieve the potential students and these are a great          50-54%                                           D*D*                                84
required grades. As a result, they can work     opportunity to learn more about the courses
as good back-up options to any university                                                                                             DM                MMP                          80
                                                available, meet teaching staff face-to-face
applications you may make.                      and see what facilities the college has to                                                       D*D                                 78
                                                offer. Regularly check college websites from    45-49%                                           DD                                  72
All FE colleges in Northern Ireland also        early January onwards for full details.
offer Level 4 Higher National Certificates                                                                                            MM                 MPP                         64
(HNCs), primarily delivered on a part-time      Meeting the entry criteria                      41-44%                                           DM                                  60
basis across two years. HNC’s have even         It is important to carefully check the course
lower entry requirements than a HND or                                                                                     D*                                    A*                  56
                                                entry requirements on college websites. Entry
Foundation Degree and usually allow you to criteria is based on UCAS tariff points (see          40%                        D         MP         MM      PPP     A                   48
progress to year one of a university degree.    table below). You can also use the UCAS                                                                          B                   40
Belfast Met do offer some full-time one year tariff calculator to work out your points:
HNC’s including Aeronautical Engineering,       www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator                                                              MP                                  36
Engineering and Health Care Practice.           There may be specific GCSE requirements                                    M          PP                         C                   32
                                                for some higher education courses. You                     D*                                                                        28
Applying to Courses                             should be aware that the Essential Skills
For HNCs, HNDs and some Foundation              Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy qualifications               D                                     PP              D                   24
Degrees in Northern Ireland you should apply are not always considered an acceptable
                                                                                                                                                                          A          20
directly to the relevant college as early as    alternative to GCSE English or GCSE
possible, usually from January                                                                             M                P                                    E        B          16
                                                Mathematics.
2020 onwards.                                                                                                                                                             C          12
                                                For further information about entry criteria                                                                              D          10
Check out college websites for a full list of   and the application process you should
their HE courses and the entry criteria. As     contact the relevant college directly.                         P                                                                     8
well as Belfast Metropolitan College                                                                                                                                      E          6
(www.belfastmet.ac.uk) there is
24                                                                                                                                                                                        25
Higher Level Apprenticeships                                                         Self Employment                             Getting a Job

A Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA)       Further Education Colleges provide         Many people consider self-                  If you wish to move into employment
is a great alternative to university.     information about HLAs on their            employment at some stage in their           after your studies, it is advised you
Securing a place on this type of          websites since they are advertising        lives. Being your own boss, enjoying        research the areas of work you are
apprenticeship allows you to become       their ability to deliver the off-the-      the financial rewards and job               interested in. This is to ensure you
an employee of a local company, gain      job training element of HLAs. In the       satisfaction sounds very appealing.         match the entry criteria and that no
a salary and get a head start on your     majority of cases, you will need to        But it’s a big leap, so it’s important to   further study is required. There are
chosen career. Since your company         be employed or about to take up            think carefully first and get as much       many ways you can search and apply
also covers the cost of any training,     employment with a company in NI            as advice and help as you can.              for jobs, which our careers advisers
you will be able to gain a higher         working for at least 21 hours per week     For further information and advice on       can help you with.
level qualification, such as a Higher     to be eligible to apply. The college       becoming self-employed, check out:
National Certificate, Higher National     will support and assist you in finding                                                 Contact careers@belfastmet.ac.uk
Diploma or Foundation Degree,             apprenticeship employers to apply to       Invest NI: https://www.investni.com/        for more details.
without hefty tuition fees and running    but does not guarantee employment.         support-for-business
up student debt.                          This will be your responsibility.                                                      You may also wish to come along
                                                                                     Go For It:                                  to one of our employment events
In NI there are currently HLAs            Remember that applying for a Higher        www.goforitni.com                           during the academic year. On
available in over 20 occupational         Level Apprenticeship is the same as                                                    Wednesday 7th October there
areas including ICT, Professional         applying for any paid employment.          Enterprise NI:                              will be a Part-Time Jobs Fair. A
Services, Engineering, Life Sciences,     You will need to research the position
                                                                                     www.enterpriseni.com                        Summer Jobs Forum, as well as a
Accountancy and Health Care. You          and the company thoroughly, you will
will need to have achieved level 3        need to complete a good application                                                    Health and Social Care Jobs Fair
                                          that will stand out and you also need to   NI Business Info: www.                      will be aimed to be held in the
qualifications, such as a BTEC or A
levels, and may need to have gained       perform well at interview.                 nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/               Spring and Summer Terms 2021.
certain GCSE grades: https://www.                                                    considering-starting-business               At all these events, you will have
nidirect.gov.uk/articles/higher-          The College Careers and Employability                                                  access to employers offering live job
                                          Service can give you advice on how         Prince’s Trust:                             opportunities. Check the Careers
level-apprenticeships
                                          to present yourself to an employer         www.princes-trust.org.uk/                   Service’s Facebook and Twitter sites
                                          and we are happy to review draft CVs       help-for-young-people/support-              from January onwards for details.
Apprenticeship opportunities can be
advertised by employers throughout        and application forms. We also offer       starting-business
                                          advice and resources on job search                                                     Follow us on Facebook at ‘Belfast
the year eg PwC, October for the
                                          skills and interview practice. Contact     Shell Livewire:                             Met Careers Service’ and
following year, but the majority appear
from January onwards. Keep an eye         Careers and Employability to make an       www.shell-livewire.org                      Twitter ‘@careersbmet’ for news
on the NI Apprenticeship Portal: www.     appointment to speak with a Careers                                                    on upcoming job opportunities and
nidirect.gov.uk/services/ search-         Adviser.                                                                               employment events.
apprenticeship- opportunities and         Careers@belfastmet.ac.uk
regularly check job websites such as
www.indeed.com, www.nijobfinder.              See also page 10 for
co.uk and www.jobcentreonline.              additonal information on
com.                                                                                   Don’t forget to check
                                          degree level apprenticeships.                 out the Careers and
Belfast Metropolitan College aims
to hold an Apprenticeship Fair in
                                                                                       Employability Service
Spring Term 2021 which will be a                                                     Canvas page for job search
good opportunity to meet potential                                                    advice and sample CVs.
employers face-to-face. Check
the Careers Service’s Facebook and
Twitter sites from January onwards for
details.

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