Higher Education Information Evening

1. Higher Education Information Evening

2. HE Enrichment Programme • Every student is assigned a HE enrichment tutor for one lesson a week from October half term in Year 12 until October half term in Year 13 • Students follow a programme of activities designed to prepare them for applying to university or going into employment • Students are given help with research, personal statements and interview techniques • Visits from outside speakers and admissions tutors

3. Year 12 • Students begin researching possible courses and universities • Students begin writing their personal statements • The UCAS application system ‘Apply’ opens in May – from this date students can begin completing their application form

4. Using Apply • Internet based – can be accessed from home or school • Students apply to up to five institutions • Only four can be Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry • Students can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge, not both

5. By the end of Year 12 • Three sections of the form can be completed • Draft personal statement should be written and checked by the enrichment tutor • Students should have an idea of courses and institutions they would like to apply to • Possible gap year plans if appropriate • Possible visits booked to see universities • Students should have arranged and completed work experience if necessary

6. Year 13 • Students confirm their five choices • Students complete their personal statement • References are compiled by subject and form staff • Form is sent to UCAS • Students finalise employment or gap year plans • Students apply for bursaries/scholarships

7. References and Predicted grades • Predicted grades are based on baseline data, internal assessments, AS results and the subject teachers professional judgement • References are written by subject staff and compiled by form tutors • All forms and references are checked by Mrs Curtis, Mrs Spiteri and Mr Howarth before being sent

8. Deadlines • Friday 6 October Oxbridge and Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary Medicine applications • Friday 13 October all other applications • Grant forms 31st March to grants office

9. Post-application • Students begin to receive responses from universities – this can be monitored through ‘Track’ • Interviews if needed are December to March • ‘Extra’ opens in February • Firm and Insurance choices made February to June • Students make their accommodation arrangements

10. Confirmation • On A level results day students receive confirmation of acceptance from their firm or insurance choice university • Clearing is available for students who do not meet the entry requirements for either of their choices • Adjustment is available for students who exceed the entry requirements for their firm choice

11. Super-curricular enrichment • Deepening and enriching subject knowledge is a key issue particularly for competitive universities. • They want applicants to engage in super- rather than extra-curricular activities. • They will look for evidence of this in the UCAS Personal Statement and at interview

12. Universities want students who • Do more than the basic demands of the A level specification and has passion and enthusiasm for the subject • Read on own initiative • Learn on own initiative • Follow up ideas and leads suggested by teachers • Have developed particular areas of interest within the subject which are explored with genuine enthusiasm

13. 10 Things Students Could Do • Attend relevant super-curricular clubs. • Carry out wider reading (many universities publish suggested reading lists on their websites). • Keep up to date with the latest research in the field they are interested in. • Keep up with relevant events by reading newspapers. • Listen to podcasts and radio broadcasts.

14. 10 Things Students Could Do • Attend relevant lectures. 7. Look online for relevant information – e.g. TED talks. 8. Watch relevant documentaries - use TV catch-up archives. 9. Gain relevant work experience. 10. Go on relevant trips and visits. Students should keep a record of their super-curricular activities which they can then reflect upon in their personal statement and interviews.

15. Any Questions?

16. Planning for Higher Education Rob Evans – Head of Admissions Office

17. Content Why go to university? What to study? Where to go? Finding out more: sources of information Admissions: what we look for and how we select Early tips on the Personal Statement

18. University – Why go? Think long term Employment prospects Transferable skills Personal development New experiences New opportunities New friends

19. What to study? Interest & commitment Career focus? Single? Joint? Major/minor? Content and approach Accreditation Year out & other possibilities Subjects beyond A-level

20. Unusual degrees Viking and Old Norse Studies – UCL Applied Golf Management Studies - Birmingham Model Design (Special Effects) – Hertfordshire Fashion Sportswear – University of the Arts London Meteorology and Climate Science – Leeds International Disaster Management & Humanitarian Response – Manchester Brewing and Distilling – Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

21. Where to go? Campus? City? Multi-site? Transport links Location – local town; facilities Accommodation Size and student mix Fees & scholarships University links

22. Further information UCAS search (www.ucas.com) Prospectuses University websites HE Fair Open days and other visits Teachers and careers staff Social media League tables

23. What admissions tutors want “Enthusiasm, ability and commitment” Admissions Tutor for English “Some enthusiasm, some knowledge, some skill” Admissions Tutor for Mathematics

24. The admissions process Most UK applications via UCAS UCAS don’t make the decisions Five choices (4 for medicine) 15th October: early deadline 15th January: main deadline Invisibility of choice Holistic approach to selection Is it good to apply early?

25. Check entry requirements GCSE requirements & grades A-level, IB, BTEC prerequisites Offer levels - be ambitious, but realistic Other requirements: interviews, auditions, art foundations? External tests? Relevant experience?

26. Personal Statement: general UCAS application will require a ‘personal statement’ Use varies between courses, universities and applicants Opportunity to sell yourself & why you’ve applied for chosen course Well structured, well written, succinct Self-reflective and analytical, not just descriptive Individual, honest and interesting Note: UCAS has a ‘similarity detection service’ to check statements!

27. Personal Statement: what to include Reasons for choosing the course Reflection on relevant work experience and/or wider reading Skills and abilities; positions of responsibility Any challenges, difficulties and how you’ve overcome them Interests and hobbies Career aspirations (if you have them!) Gap year plans (if you’re taking one)

28. Questions:Rob Evans, Head of AdmissionsR.Evans@sussex.ac.uk01273 877057

29. Funding for Higher Education Student Finance

30. Who are Student Finance? • A small department within Education who are responsible for the following:- • Grant application process • Administration of the Grants • DSA support • Overseas students

31. Where are Student Finance? • We are located next to the Social Security building on La Motte street. Our reception is in the Social Security building. • We are part of Education and not Social Security.

32. What could you potential receive from Student Finance? • The amount received is based on your household income from the previous year. • The maximum amount that any parent can receive from Student Finance is £13,750 (based on a £9,250 course) • £7,750 toward fees & • £6,000 maintenance grant

33. Student Finance: Eligibility • Academic: 2 full A levels • Residential: Ordinarily resident in the Island for 5 years before the start of the course or Entitled Status and resident in the Island for the last 12 months • Equivalent funding for anywhere in the world for an equivalent course

34. Status of Jersey Students • Most UK Universities & Colleges class Jersey students as UK/Home students. • Some Universities, such as Imperial College, charge Overseas fees which are considerably higher.

35. What are the costs? Tuition Fees Living Costs Total Cost Savings Bursaries Student Finance Parents Scholarships

36. Tuition Fees • Fees range between £9,250 and £10,750. • Students are asked to contribute £1,500 per year to the above figures whichever course they choose to study • A loan of this amount is available through Nat West Bank

37. Living Costs Living Costs Including: Accommodation Travel Food Social/Sport Laundry Books Estimated cost £9,500 - £13,000 The maximum that the States would give towards this is £6,000

38. What could it cost me to send my daughter to University ? • Currently the maximum you can receive from Student Finance is £13,750 per academic year. (based on a £9,250 course) • From numerous websites such as NSU and Kent University it shows that the average cost of sending a student to University for 2014/15 was £20,000. • Which means you need to find the extra £6,250.

39. Fees • Student Finance will cap its contribution towards tuition fees, for all subjects other than clinical such as medicine, to £9,250 p.a. If a student decides to study where fees are higher then the family may be liable to pay any additional tuition cost but ……

40. … continued … it will be possible to apply for a bursary to meet this extra cost.

41. Timetable Timetable c

42. facebook.com/careersjersey Studentfinance@gov.je gov.je/studentfinance 449450 twitter.com/careers_jersey

45. University College Jersey (UCJ) – The Leading Provider of Higher Education in Jersey (since 1993)

46. Don’t graduate in debt….

47. The Headline News… • Achievement – 80%+ achieve a 1st or 2.1 degree • Employability – 95%+ graduate employment. • A choice of 9 different subjects • Value for money – c. £18k for a 3 yr Honours degree • Lower living costs; no travel expenses • Work-based learning – paid placements on business degrees(earn £5k over two years) • Entry criteria – 2/3 Cs at A level (64-96 UCAS points) • Student Community – over 200 degree students

48. What our students say: “The standard of education is incredibly high, with a diverse range of excellent tutors on hand, coupled with a brilliant work placement scheme aimed at increasing employability”  “The friendly atmosphere took the stress out of university life” “The knowledge and skills gained from this degree are highly transferable and can be used in many different contexts.” “The learning and student facilities are first-rate with plenty of access to computers and quiet rooms for study.”

49. Degree choices 2017 • FdA/Ba (Hons) Childhood Studies • Ba (Hons) Social Sciences • FdSc Psychology and Criminology • FdA/Ba (Hons) Business & Management • FdA/Ba (Hons) Financial Services • FdA Sport & Management • FdSc/BSc (Hons) Information Technology for Business • Foundation Certificate (Level 3) in Art and Design • Access to Higher Education (Level 3) Programmes under development (2018) • Ba (Hons) Creative Industries • Ba (Hons) Sport and Management • Ba (Hons) History and English

50. Our academic partners • Plymouth University • London South Bank University • IFS University College London • University of Northumbria • University of St Mark and St John (Plymouth)