Surrey/Hampshire Region Newsletter

September 13th 2010

Is mass higher education “The great university con”?

A recent Guardian article referred to mass UK Higher education as the “great university con” which has failed to accelerate social mobility.

  • Tony Blair & his government set the target for half of all British school leavers to go to university, in order both to aid social mobility and the UK economy. The author compares the UK with
  • Switzerland, one of the richest and most industrialised nations in the world. Until a decade ago, the Swiss sent only 10-15% of students off to university and ensured that the rest took apprenticeships and/or vocational training, helping to ensure its prosperity as an economy
  • In the UK: over 40% of school-leavers now participate in full-time HE (& many more take part time degrees) but many graduates are facing both unemployment and underemployment.

Full article:

Not going to university this year? There are alternatives!

Not going to university this year? Need to know about alternatives? Then have a look at aims to show young people that there are different ways of achieving career ambitions, such as:

  • Vocational Training including Apprenticeships
  • Employer Funded Study
  • Distance Learning
  • Gap Year options
  • Entrepreneurship

Letters to a Law Student: University guide

'Letters to a Law Student: A Guide to Studying Law at University'gives lots of information to prospective law students before they embark on their studies.It provides a useful guide to those considering a law degree, or conversion course and helps students prepare for the first year of study at university.

Written byNicholas J McBride (published March 2010), this book is 'highly recommended' in discussion forums on the Student Roomwebsite. See sample chapter

Becoming a doctor: entry in 2011

Download from

Not just Doctors and Nurses- report on ICG conference on NHS careers:

US College Day: 25 September, London

  • Date: Saturday, 25 September 2010
  • Time: 11 am - 4 pm
  • Venue: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX
  • Cost: Free to attend if you register in advance. Visitor registration

'College Day' is being held in partnership with Richmond, the American International University in London. The free event provides thousands of students, parents and advisors interested in undergraduate study in the US with the unique opportunity to meet representatives of American universities and educational service providers in London.

Oxford Admissions: study more important than hobbies

A recent Telegraph article refers to comments from the Oxford admissionsdepartment,that study ability/exam results are far more important than hobbies, interests and voluntary work.

Extracts: Mike Nicholson, Head of admissions: “The university is looking for people who are "enthused, engaged and excellent", rather than "second-rate historians who happen to play the flute...... This won't come as any surprise to teachers, as we've been making it crystal clear for years.” and “The suggestion that non-academic pursuits could make any difference to pupils' applications is a myth. It really doesn't matter if you haven't got any friends or hobbies or if you don't do any charitable work [acceptance] is a purely academic judgement."

Want a Saturday job?

Then go to new website

The site provides a database of Saturday job opportunities, career/work advice and legal framework.

Under 16's

  • 13-14 years - no more than 2 hours per day in term time and 5 hours on a Saturday, 2 hours on a Sunday
  • 15-16 years - up to 25 hours per week in term time and no more than 35 hours per week during school holidays

16 -18 year olds

If you’ve left school and are 16-18,you must not work

  • more than 8 hours a day
  • more than 40 hours a week. There are also special limits on the hours you can work at night. There are some exceptions however- see full details on website

250,000 new graduate London jobs by 2020

Destinations 2020 report from the London Development Agency predicts that there will be around 250,000 new graduate-entry London jobs by the year2020. At present, London's economy requires around 110,000 graduates and postgraduates each year. The report also predicts, in the same time span, 400,000 new jobs in the business service sector.


Get a degree & ACCA qualification in 30 months

Fast-track to accountancy career/qualification: get a degree and the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in just 30 months at Oxford Brookes University Business School.

“This Bachelors Honours Degree is an exclusive degree offered to ACCA students through a unique and innovative collaboration between ACCA and Oxford Brookes University Business School.”

Email:r further details.

Kaplan: 600 places on accountancy, business & finance degrees

Kaplan Business School, one of the new private college degree providers, has 600 places on accountancy, business, economics and finance degrees in London. Their degrees, examined, awarded & validatedby the University of London, carry annual tuition fees of £8,500 p.a. Students must be aware that studying with Kaplan students means they’re not eligible for government-subsidised student loans. See for details.

ISCO Professional Training Workshops and Conferences

Medical Applications

15 October 2010
Venue: Friends House, London
Time: 10.30 – 16.00
Fee £156 (member) £195 (non member)
Leader: Dr Michael Zemenides – Future Doctors

A one-day workshop designed for teachers who are involved with advising potential Medical students. We will examine how to identify, develop and prepare the students, including how best to support them through the Academic Reference. The Medical school curriculum, style of teaching, interviews and entrance tests will be discussed in addition to a discussion on Medicine as career.

Applications to American Universities

17 December 2010Venue: Friends' House LondonTime: 10:30 am - 4:00 pmLeader: Marina RodriguesThis workshop will provide access to the years of experience which Marina Rodrigues has in preparing students for applications to American Universities during which she has developed a wealth of knowledge of both the practicalities and the subtleties of the process.

For information please contact Alison Short or 01276 687502 or John Watson 01572 823073.

Disclaimer: No responsibility can be taken for the content of external websites mentioned in this newsletter

Marilyn Hawkswell, Surrey and Hampshire Director 07702 544191

ISCO is part of theInspiring FuturesFoundation, which supports young people tomake informed decisions about their future.We specialise in theprovision of careers guidance and skills development training, we’re proud of the fact that we’ve been inspiring futures for over 50 years.