The higher education journey starts here: School stages Universities Fair for Lower Sixth

Lower Sixth boys and their parents discussed degree choices with more than 20 of the UK’s leading universities on Monday evening (16 January).

The Universities Fair, held in the Barton Science Centre, marked the start of the boys’ higher education application process, giving them the opportunity to put their questions to the experts, gain tips and advice on student life and potential career paths, and even find out more about studying overseas.

Universities taking part included many of the popular Tonbridge choices, including Russell Group members and other high-tariff institutions such as Bath and St Andrews. By visiting the various stands, boys learned not only about pursuing traditional degrees such as Politics, History and Economics but were also introduced to innovative courses with a career focus such as Marine Biology, Architecture and Earth Sciences.

A full list of those attending is below.

Ruth Davis, the School’s Head of Universities and Careers, said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many universities, boys and parents. The Universities Fair represents the start of the next phase in a student’s educational journey, whether they are looking to study in the UK or to join one of the many renowned universities around the world.

“As a department, we are focused on supporting all our students, and their parents, at every stage, as the boys take their next steps towards life after Tonbridge. It’s a very exciting time for our Lower Sixth as there are so many possibilities for them.”

Following the Fair, boys heard entertaining talks in the EM Forster Theatre from David Hawkins, founder of The University Guys, and from Steven Lawrence, Head of UK Undergraduate Student Recruitment, University of Bath.

The University Guys is a team of independent specialists which supports students in exploring, preparing for and applying to universities. David is widely known as the ‘university admissions advice guru’.

There was also an Oxbridge break-out session led by Mike Nicholson, Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Participation, University of Cambridge.

Ms Davis added: “There was a lively buzz throughout the evening and I heard plenty of inspiring conversations taking place. My next aim is to help each student realise his potential and find success at his chosen university.”

Attending the Universities Evening and Fair were representatives from Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Exeter, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Loughborough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford Brookes, Queen’s University Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, Strathclyde, Sussex, East Anglia, Warwick and York.

* Sixth Formers, as well as Third Years, have been receiving weekly talks from a range of international universities, including MIT, University of Chicago, McGill University, University of Toronto and Hong Kong University. These talks provide boys with valuable information and an opportunity to put questions to Directors of Admission at world-class institutions.