Applying for accommodation, Geoff Norcott, the confusion of foundation courses, and the definition of happiness.
😊 Welcome
This week we have a look at all the different options for accommodation as you head off to university, including guarantees and application deadlines.
We try to break down some of the complications and misunderstandings around foundation courses.
And we hear a very wise man’s definition of happiness.
✍️ Applying for student accommodation
So… you’ve had your university offers, you’re making your final choices, and your mind turns to that most practical of issues: where to live.
Heading to university is one of life’s biggest changes, and it's in no small part because most of you will be heading off to a new location and finding a new home to live in.
You’ll have all heard about halls of residence and student flats, but how does it all work in practice? What are your options and when do you need to apply for them?
If you have any of these sorts of questions on your mind right now, then read on.
📺 Geoff Norcott: “Is university really worth it?”
This week I watched the BBC documentary “Is university really worth it?” by Geoff Norcott, questioning whether he should be encouraging his son to attend university.
It really struck a nerve.
You wouldn’t expect me to be too sympathetic to his views. Geoff Norcott, you see, is that right wing comedian from The Mash Report. I saw him do live stand-up once. He had to follow James Acaster, who did the most devastating takedown of right wing comedy that I’ve ever seen. Awkward.
And yet…
💡 Did You Know?
Foundation courses are confusing, and often misunderstood.
There are essentially three types:
International Foundation courses. These are for students with qualifications that are below the level of A-levels. They enable international students from a wide range of countries to bridge a gap in their education, and very often they include English language provision too.
To make things more complicated, some of these courses are offered by universities, and some by private providers such as Studygroup or Into. Courses offered by these private providers may be at their own college campuses, or may be embedded into a specific university's campus.
UK Foundation courses. These are for UK students (with UK qualifications like A-levels, BTEC, Scottish Highers or perhaps International Baccalaureate), who have fallen short of the grades required for direct entry. They provide an opportunity to study for a year in a different environment from school, and help students come up to the standard required for entry to a degree.
Some are taught by the universities, while others are taught at local colleges. At universities, they may be known as a 'year zero'.
Art & Design Foundation courses. These are for any student who wants to study Art or Design at university and who could benefit from an extra year to focus on their art, develop their technical skills, explore different media, and build a portfolio for entry. Some Art & Design institutions require applicants to have studied a foundation course, while others don't.
To apply to a foundation course you will need to check whether to apply directly, or through UCAS. In general, private providers will only accept direct applications, whereas courses offered at universities (especially year zero programmes) will generally accept applications via UCAS.
Note: To make life even more complicated, none of these are the same as a Foundation Degree, which is a university-level course (equivalent to an HND), combining academic learning with added employer-based skills and experience.
📢 Quote of the week
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Political ethicist and civil rights campaigner
In 21st century language, what Gandhi is saying is that to be happy, you need to be authentically you. And when it comes to choosing a course at university, this is massively important.
So ask yourself this: Is the course you are applying for the same as the one you tell your friends that you want to do? And more importantly, is it the course that you actually want to do?
If not, and you are applying for it because you think other people, such as your parents and teachers, want you to do it, and you want to impress them, then I guarantee it will not make you happy.
Ghandi said so. And he was a very wise man!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
📅 Next week
Coming up next week: For those of you planning ahead and looking to apply for entry next year, we have a good look at university admissions tests.
