EducationUK Guidance Counsellor Handbook_US version 2014-2015 Handbook: USA Version | Page 54

54 College and University Guidance Counselor Handbook College and University Guidance Counselor Handbook What are league tables? Important tools There are many resources available for you as a counselor and your students. UK Council for International Student Affairs Comprehensive information and advice for international students during their studies. Includes information on tuition fee status assessments for students determining their eligibility for home or international tuition fees. www.ukcisa.org.uk International Student Calculator Tool international.studentcalculator.org Stonewall University Guide for LGBT students www.gaybydegree.org.uk Prepare for success Learning activities for ESL students applying to UK universities. www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk UK Visas and Immigration Get information on student visas at www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa Check if a visa is required at www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa Visa application website www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk EducationUK USA One-stop-shop for information for international students interested in studying in the UK www.educationUK.org/USA UCAS Course search, guidance and undergraduate application www.ucas.com Unistats Program comparison tool. www.unistats.direct.gov.uk National Student Survey This resource allows students to see how satisfied current students are with their universities’ provision. www.thestudentsurvey.com Many newspapers publish university and subject league tables (or rankings) that allow you to search for and compare data and information on university and colleges from across the UK. University rankings give an indication of a universities overall strengths while subject rankings provide an indication of the strengths of a university in a student’s chosen major. Given the focused nature of the UK system, subject rankings are the most relevant. Official league tables are published by The Guardian, Times Higher Education, The Times and The Sunday Times, and the Complete University Guide, among others, based on comparable information. Each source calculates its rankings with different criteria and methodology that are explained on their website. Advertisement Be globally recognised. Study in the UK −− Top−20−in−the−UK −− Top−100−in−the−world −− 3−year−bachelor− programmes −− 1−year−masters− programmes −− Scholarships−available− for−eligible−students −− Study−abroad− opportunities−across−− the−world −− Situated−on−the−warm−− south−coast−of−England,−− close−to−London −− Achieving−excellence−− through−research-led− learning −− Over−200−North− Americans−already− choose−to−study−with−us! −− 94%−graduate−− employment−rate −− Single−major−and−major/− minor−options−available Keep in mind League tables should not be used in isolation but are a good source to help students start researching their university options. League tables are helpful indications of what previous students thought about a course, costs, kinds of jobs or further study which student went on to do after completing their course. Each course and university will be different for everyone. Here are some of the league tables that are popular in the UK: The Complete University Guide www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings The Guardian www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide The Times Higher Education www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/ The Sunday Times www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/University_Guide Some information is retrospective so be careful to check which year the data refers to. When comparing data for courses, care should be taken where the differences between courses are small. Take note of number of respondents to the survey for each course. [email protected] www.southampton.ac.uk 55