Did You Know? Going on to higher education . The proportion of young people going on to higher education has increased from one in eight in 1980 to well over one in three in 2009. . Around eight out of ten A level students go on to higher education within one year of completing their course. . Over half of all BTEC National students go on to higher education within one year of completing their course. . One in nine students entering higher education choose to study at a further education college usually close to home. In addition to local FE colleges, popular destinations for students from the South West include: Universities: Bath, Bath Spa, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Exeter, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Loughborough, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Roehampton, Sheffield, Southampton, Southampton Solent, Swansea, Warwick, West of England ( Bristol), Winchester. University colleges, colleges and institutes of higher education: Bournemouth, Cardiff, Falmouth, Plymouth ( Marjon), Newport. The Aimhigher promotional campaign seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of higher education and help meet the government's target of 50% of young people having an experience of HE - drawn from the widest possible social mix. All universities and colleges actively welcome applications from as wide a range of students as possible, including those from traditionally under- represented groups such as care leavers, ethnic minorities, first generation higher education students, those with disabilities or learning difficulties as well as others from disadvantaged backgrounds. To support these developments, additional financial support arrangements have been put in place. See pages 18 & 19. Gaining employment . In 2009, one in five A level students from the South West entered employment directly after their studies. . In 2009, over one in three BTEC National students entered employment directly after their studies. . The most common employment areas for students from the South West are: Administration Commerce Finance Hospitality Leisure and recreation Nursing and caring services Sales and retail Science and technology Tourism Uniformed services. Taking time out . One in seven A level students take time out after their studies, before going on to higher education. . Recent figures for BTEC National students are much lower. This may be because the students on these courses are more likely to have reached definite career decisions. . The most popular ideas for students from the South West taking time out include: Paid work Study and training courses Travel Voluntary service Work camps at home and abroad Work experience. 5

First year Calendar For Advanced Level Students Second year 6 AUTUMN ( September - December) Start looking at the full range of options beyond school/ college. Review AS/ BTEC/ Advanced Diploma/ Baccalaureate choices and GCSE results. Seek help on whether retakes, changes or additional subjects will be needed. SPRING ( January - April) Begin to research opportunities in HE and employment available at the end of your course. Consider the benefits of registering for UCAS Card and yougo. Prepare for and attend a UCAS HE Convention ( see page 7). Consider completing Stamford/ Centigrade/ UKCourseFinder/ Higher Ideas/ Careerscape/ or equivalent exercise to explore and expand ideas. SUMMER ( May - July) Continue to research details of HE courses - check entry requirements using websites and Entry Profiles, and write or email for prospectuses. Begin to draw up a shortlist of HE courses for more detailed research. Attend at least two HE open days. On- time CUKAS applications for music conservatoires should be submitted between 1 July and 1 October. Plan courses and timetable for next term. Arrange work experience or visits to explore careers you are interested in. This is essential if considering medical, paramedical or teaching careers and advisable for many other vocational HE courses. If considering sponsorship or taking a year out, begin to write to companies and organisations that may be able to offer opportunities. Develop ideas and collate material in preparation for writing the Personal Statement. Find out about financial support for HE ( see websites on page 33) and discuss with parents/ carers and advisers. Check out closing dates and registration arrangements for any subject or institution- specific HE entrance tests ( e. g. UKCAT, LNAT, TSA). AUTUMN ( September - December) Review courses and timetable in the light of summer exam results. Before mid- September consider the implications of certification of AS grades. Seek advice if unsure. UCAS applications should be submitted between 1 September and 15 January. Applications for Oxford and Cambridge universities should reach UCAS by 15 October. Applications for medicine, veterinary science and dentistry should also reach UCAS by 15 October. Applications for diploma level nursing and midwifery courses are also made through UCAS. Some applications to art and design courses will need to be made via UCAS by 15 January. See the UCAS Apply online instructions for more information. Apply online for financial assessment and support at www. studentfinanceengland. co. uk Applications for courses/ training schemes at institutions for which direct application is required should be completed, for example art foundation. Apply to organisations for sponsorships, scholarships or bursaries as appropriate. Research employment possibilities and attend local careers conventions for information on job opportunities. SPRING ( January - April) Applications to some art and design courses have a later closing date of 24 March but UCAS advises that applications should be submitted by the beginning of March. Look at the UCAS Apply online instructions for more information. If you haven't already done so, apply online now for financial assessment and support at www. studentfinanceengland. co. uk If seeking employment, keep in touch with your Connexions Service and start applying for jobs. If not holding an offer from an HEI after initial application, undertake further research and consider using UCAS Extra from 25 February. SUMMER ( May - July) Further applications using UCAS Extra may be made until 6 July. UCAS offers should normally have been received and acted upon by 5 May unless advised differently. If, on publication of your results, you require further help, your local Connexions Service will offer additional support during August and September to assist you in finding other options in HE ( including Clearing and Adjustment), training or employment. If planning to work, consider relevance of part- time HE.