Navigating the qualifications maze supporting informed choices Laura

Navigating the qualifications maze: supporting informed choices Laura Lane UK Qualifications Officer Admissions Service

The impossible maze? Student University 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

The challenge… For students, advisers, teachers… For universities… Which qualifications/subjects will offer Which qualifications/subjects best me the best preparation for university? prepare students for HE? Which qualifications /subjects will enable me to study my chosen course? Which qualifications /subjects will best prepare students for our courses? How do I find out about which qualifications /subjects I need? How/when do we communicate our requirements? Choices at age 14 and 16 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

The qualifications market…. GCSEAccess to HE OU credits Diploma Advanced BTEC Advanced Highers OCR National IB Diploma Extended Project A European Baccalaureate levels NVQ UCAS Tariff Progression Cambridge. Welsh APs Pre-U Leaving Diploma Irish Baccalaureate Foundation HNCs/HNDs certificate Degree Scottish Highers AQA Baccalaureate 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Navigating the maze…. What is the University doing to support informed choices? 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Policy perspective: development and communication… • Effective processes for assessing new and revised qualifications e. g. academic-led assessment, regular review • Developing our communications strategy Ø Schools & colleges and admissions web pages, resources for schools, newsletter, face-face meetings, workshops, hosting events Ø Targeted outreach activity at age 14 -16 Ø Other outreach programmes 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

What are our standard requirements? • Grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths • Minimum of 3 A-levels or equivalent, of which 2 should be in acceptable A-level subjects www. sheffield. ac. uk/undergraduate/apply/requirements. html • Specific course requirements (grades and subjects) www. shef. ac. uk/undergraduate/courses www. ucas. ac. uk/students/coursesearch/ 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Do we need the English Baccalaureate? No…. “At present, we require all applicants to have achieved a minimum of a Grade C in GCSE English language and GCSE Mathematics (or equivalent). However, we do not require the English Baccalaureate. We will welcome applicants offering the English Baccalaureate, but we will treat them equally to those achieving in a range of GCSE subjects. Please note that some courses require higher GCSE grades in maths and other subjects. Please see our entry requirements for details. ” NB. we also do not require a GCSE modern language as standard www. sheffield. ac. uk/undergraduate/policies/ 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Accepted Level 3 qualifications • Guidance on which Level 3 qualifications we accept and see most often • Information on minimum requirements (volume) and combinations we accept • Includes Advanced Diplomas, Access to HE, Alevels, BTECs, IB… • NB. different types of qualifications can offer different types of preparation www. sheffield. ac. uk/ukquals 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

A-level subject guidance • De-mistifying the ‘soft’/’hard’ subject debate • Guidance on the combinations of A-level subjects which offer the best preparation for study at Sheffield www. shef. ac. uk/undergraduate/policies/ 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

• Informed Choices Guide to post -16 subject choices • Developed in collaboration with the 20 RG institutions and Institute of Career Guidance • Web based and available as a download www. russellgroup. ac. uk/informed-choices. aspx 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

Other useful references • Matching interests and abilities to possible HE subjects, courses and career options: www. ucas. com/students/choosingcourses/ www. icould. com www. bestcourse 4 me. com www. centigradeonline. co. uk • The application process: www. ucas. tv 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

How might we further support informed choices? … ukquals@sheffield. ac. uk 3/15/2018 © The University of Sheffield

To Discover And Understand. Any Questions?