Year 13 Parents’ Information

1. Year 13 Parents’ Information

2. Moving into Year 14 • Choice of A-level 3/4 subjects (Sept) • Interview with Careers staff (Sept) • UCAS applications (Sept / Oct) • CAO applications (Sept – Dec) • F&HE applications (Feb 2014) • Subject specific mock interviews (Oct) • Offers released (Oct – June 2014) • Offers accepted (Oct – June 2014) • Results of re-sits sent to universities (March) • A-level examinations (May/June) • A-level results (August 2014)

3. Preparation for moving on… • University Talks (Jan – April) • UCAS Conference (March) • Personal statement event (April/May) • Pupils should carry out university research over the summer and familiarize themselves with the UCAS website • QUB and UU Open Days, September 2013

4. Planning for life beyond school… • Talk and prompt action • Encourage research of options • Discuss finance • Give support

5. Consider all options… • University • College of Further and Higher Education • Gap Year • Work and Training

6. Making the decision to go to university… • Home or Away? • Consider financial implications • Attend Open Days and visit universities • Discuss the advantages of taking a Gap Year • Deferred Entry?

7. UCAS Process Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Pupils register on UCAS September • Online application started • Personal Statements submitted early September • Interviews with Careers staff September

8. The UCAS Application • Personal Details • Up to 5 choices • Examination results (GCSE and AS-level) • Personal Statement • Predicted A-level grades • Academic reference

9. UCAS Personal Details • Check all personal information is correct • Examination results should be copied from examination certificates • A Parent/guardian should be ‘nominated access’ • Information on disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty may require you to contact the universities to discuss any support you might need before filling in this section

10. UCAS Course Choices • 5 courses • No rank order • Blind entry • Consider choices carefully

11. UCAS Personal Statement • Must be tailored to the courses applied for • Must evidence enthusiasm and interest for the courses • No spelling or grammatical errors • Highly competitive

12. Predicted A-Level Grades • Subject Teachers predict A-level grades using AS-levels a an indicator of A2-level performance • GCSE and AS grades are entered on the UCAS application (even if unsuccessful) • Some universities also require unit or module grades

13. UCAS Reference Includes: • An academic assessment from A-level teachers • Information on the applicant in relation to achievement school responsibilities, extra-curricular interests and volunteering • Details of work experience

14. UCAS Deadlines UCAS deadlines: • Oxford/Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary - 15th October • All other courses - 15th January • CUKAS (Conservatoires Admissions Service UK)1st October School deadlines: • Music (CUKAS) 9 September • Oxford/Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary - 16 September • Recommend that all other applicationsshouldmeet the 14 October

15. CAO (Central Admissions Office) • Applications to the Republic of Ireland Information session held October • Deadline February 2014 • 10 choices in order of preference • No personal statement • No reference • No Tuition Fees • Student contribution of 2,500 Euro and maintenance costs are assessed as for other courses by Student Finance NI

16. Admissions tests… • Some courses require an admission test • It is the responsibility of the pupil to arrange these • Information can be found online

17. Gap or deferring… • Discuss with Careers staff • A Gap Year should be planned • University deferral has to be managed carefully • Bloomfield will assist with UCAS applications for past pupils (if not engaged in full time education elsewhere)

18. Higher Education applications at Colleges of Further and Higher education • Check level of course (5&6 HE) • Foundation Degree/ HND • Highly competitive • Apply early (Feb) • UCAS application? • Fees can be less • Maintenance loans are available for HE courses

19. Work and Training • Pupils must take a pro-active approach • Apprenticeships and Work related training opportunities are increasing • Pupils notified of opportunities throughout the year by the Careers Department

20. FINANCE Student Finance Northern Ireland

21. New Students… while at college there are two main costs • Fees • Living costs (Maintenance) Financial help is available for both

22. Fees… A loan or grant to the value of the fee is paid directly to the university • Northern Ireland (£3,575) • England (up to £9,000) • Wales (up to £9,000) • Scotland (up to £9,000) • Republic of Ireland (2,500 Euro) Fees do not have to be paid up front. Student loans cover the cost of fees and will be paid back when students start to earn over £16,365 per annum

23. Living costs…Maintenance Loan • Living away from home in London - up to £6,780 • Living away from home elsewhere - up to £4,840 • Living at home - up to £3,750 • Paid in three installments at the start of each term • The loan amount is based on joint household income

24. Living costs…Maintenance Grant • Based on joint family income • Less than £19,203 - Full grant of £3,475 • Between £19,204 and £41,065 - Partial grant • Over £41,065 - No grant

25. Extra help from the university…for families on low income • Students qualify for this if they are in receipt of a student maintenance grant • Each university operates a different system for assessing this • Please contact the universities for details

26. Bursaries…for all students • Awards for academic achievement • Awards for studying certain subjects • Awards and bursaries from professional bodies • Contact the universities for more information

27. Some healthcare courses are exempt from fees… • Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, Dietetics, Nursing, some social work courses • Check with student Finance NI

28. Repayments… • Student Loans are only repayable once students have left their course and are earning over £16,365 a year • Repayments based on what is earned, eg earnings at £18,000 pay back £12 … earnings of £25,000 pay back £65 a month • Grants are not repayable unless a student withdraws from their course or fails final examinations

29. Further Education Awards (Level 3 & 4) • Non-advanced courses, eg AVCE, BTEC Nat Dip, NVQ, GNVQ at local colleges of F&HE • Student aged 19 on 1 July 2010 • Support for fees available • Means tested bursary available • Support for Disabled Students Contact: Student Finance NI Further Education Awards Section 1 Hospital Road Omagh

30. Some helpful websites… • http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ • http://www.cukas.ac.uk/ • http://www.cao.ie/ • http://www.qub.ac.uk/ • http://www.ulster.ac.uk/ • http://www.cafre.ac.uk/ • http://www.stran.ac.uk/ • http://www8.open.ac.uk/ • http://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/ • http://www.serc.ac.uk/ • http://www.ukcoursefinder.com/ • http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers • http://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/

31. PLEASE NOTE… • The information in this PowerPoint was correct when shown in May 2013. • As information on university applications and finance can change, you are advised to check before taking any action.