Welcome to the Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Welcome to the Higher Education Evening 2015 Careers Events – Term 6 • Friday 19th June – UCAS Day • w/c 22nd June – Work Shadowing • Friday 10th July – HE/Careers Day • 1:1 Interviews with CXK or CB • University Open Days

2. Higher Education • Why consider University? • Application Process • Student Finance

3. University or college lets you experience a rich cultural and social scene, meeting a variety of people while studying something you love. Alternatively an opportunity to learn new things and getting to where you want to be A degree could help you take charge of your future by building skills and confidence. For

4. For • A degree can lead to increased earning potential, a wider range of opportunities and a more rewarding career. • “graduates still earn almost £10,000 a year more than people without degrees - though the highest earners are those with postgraduate qualifications”. (BBC website, 2015) • New experiences • New opportunities • A transition between school and work

5. Delays earning money Financial concerns Pressure on parents’ finances You may have had enough of academic study You may want time off before you decide - consider a Gap Year. Against • School leavers programmes/Degree apprenticeships – many large firms are offering appealing school leavers employment opportunities.

6. Entry Requirements • Check the grades/UCAS points you will need to get accepted. Be realistic about what you can achieve • Check that there are no GCSE subjects or other qualifications required • Check on matriculation, ie that you have the basic qualifications needed to apply to the university

7. Choose something you will enjoy studying for at least three years Check the content of the course carefully in the prospectus or on the university website Look at what will be covered after the first year eg option courses Type of assessment How will the course affect your career plans? Be careful: courses with same title may cover different things Things To Remember

8. Things To Remember • Do you have the self discipline to get up for work each day? • Are you prepared to travel? • Will the pressure of employment be too much? • You will be earning a salary. • There will probably be the opportunity for further qualifications

9. Prospectus Websites for the HEI and the department you want to apply to UCAS website: www.ucas.com Teaching and pastoral staff Careers library University Guides The Times & The Guardian Guides Company websites www.Allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk Display areas in the 6th form area Sources Of Information

10. How competitive will it be? How traditional or innovative will it be in its teaching and assessment methods? Is it college based eg Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, York? Campus university in the country eg Lancaster or town/city based eg Manchester Study, library, computer facilities? Sport and recreation facilities? Type of Institution

11. Choosing the right course is by far the most important consideration when applying to HE BUT you will be living in your chosen town or city for at least three years Is it a pleasant environment to live in? Does it give me the opportunity to develop my interest/ hobbies outside the course? How far is it from home? Location

12. How much does it cost? Can all first years be accommodated? How far is accommodation from place of study? Self-catering or meals provided? Ease of travel from accommodation to place of study eg public transport What accommodation is available for second and third years? Accommodation

13. The UCAS Application Process

14. Most universities, apart from Oxbridge, Teaching and Medicine courses, will not interview you so the UCAS form is all they will see of you Choose five institutions, BUT four for Medicine, Vet Science/Medicine and Dentistry Take particular care with the Personal Statement demonstrate an interest in the degree. Check for additional exams such as LNAT and BMAT. Complete your application as soon as possible. Key Points

15. UCAS Day: Friday 19th June 15 October 2015: Deadline for Oxbridge, Vet Med/Sci, Med, Dent applications 15 January 2016: Final UCAS deadline Borden Applications should be completed by the end of term 2 (December) Key Dates

16. Those applying pre-A Level should receive offers from Higher Education Institutions These may be in the form of A Level grades or points Some may be called for interview By the start of May (in most cases) you must inform UCAS which offer you wish to accept as a FIRM and which as an INSURANCE offer. The Insurance Offer should be the lower of the two If you fail to reach your offers you can go through ‘extra’ and then ‘clearing’. What happens next?

17. Personal Statement • The most important section of the form • Main emphasis should be academic • Applicants should demonstrate enthusiasm, aptitude and suitability for chosen course • Relevant work experience should be included • This is an opportunity for applicants to ‘sell themselves’ • Staff will give guidance

18. Role of Parents Please: • Encourage • Be patient • Act as a sounding board • Discuss prospective visits, finances, etc • Contact us if you have any concerns • Reinforce deadlines

19. Open Days / Visits • This term and early next term is the best time. • Ask questions • Visit departments • Range of Universities • Contact companies • Find out about apprenticeships/school leavers opportunities

20. THE STUDENT FINANCE PACKAGE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS INCLUDES: Tuition Fee Loan The Student Finance Package Maintenance (Living Cost) Support Bursaries & Scholarships Additional Support

21. TUITION FEES & LOANS • Universities and colleges* can charge new full-time students up to • £9,000 per year (£6,750 part-time) for tuition fees. • Eligible students won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front. • Tuition Fee Loan doesn’t depend on household income. • SFE pay any Tuition Fee Loan directly to your university or college. • The loan is repayable, but only when your income is over £21,000. *Publicly funded

22. MAINTENANCE SUPPORT • Maintenance support is available to help with your living costs while • in higher education. • Two main types of support are available, Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant. • The Maintenance Loan is repayable and all eligible students are • entitled to get some funding. • The amount of loan available will depend on where you live and study. • Maintenance support is paid directly into your bank account each term.

23. MAINTENANCE LOAN 2014/15 MAXIMUM RATES Additional loan is available for each extra week of study for students attending their course beyond 30 weeks.

24. 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT MAINTENANCE GRANT • The Maintenance Grant doesn’t have to be repaid. • How much grant you can get depends on your household income (100% means tested). • Household income thresholds for 2014/2015: Household Income: up to £25,000 Full Grant of £3,387 Household Income: up to £42,620 Partial Grant

25. 1 COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, OUTSIDE LONDON You can get a quick estimate of your student finance entitlement using the calculator on gov.uk/studentfinance

26. BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS • Many universities and colleges offer financial support to their students • through bursaries and scholarships. • Bursaries: • linked to personal circumstances and often, household income • awards can include fee waivers or cash • Scholarships: • can be linked to academic results or outstanding ability in an area • such as sport, music or art • can be subject specific and are limited in numbers Check university websites and ask at open days for information on bursaries & scholarships.

27. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT EXTRA SUPPORT MAY BE AVAILABLE IF YOU: • have a child or an adult who depends on you financially • have a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health condition • or specific learning difficulty • study an NHS or Social Work course • NHS courses include: • nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, • dietetics, radiography, the later stages of medicine and dentistry For more information on eligibility and applications for NHS support go to www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

28. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS AN OVERVIEW • You won’t make repayments until your income is over £21,000 a year gross (before tax). • Full-time studentswill be due to start repaying in the April after graduating from/leaving their higher education course. • You’ll repay 9% of your income over £21,000 and if you’re employed deductions will be made from your pay through the HMRC tax system. • If your income falls to £21,000 or below your repayments will stop. • Any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment.

29. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE FIGURES Interest will be applied to your loan at a maximum rate of RPI +3% More info can be found on www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk

30. GOV.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY www.gov.uk/studentfinance

31. i i NEED MORE INFORMATION? For further Information on student finance and applications go to: www.gov.uk/studentfinance For a range of helpful tools and guidance, visit: www.thestudentroom.co.uk/studentfinance