Higher Education Evening

1. Higher Education Evening Mrs Gray – Applying to University Mr Alexander & Sejal Modasia – Student Life Sian Hiskey UCS – Student Finance

2. Applying to University Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

3. Why go to Higher Education ? • 40 % of the UK population go to HE, 1.8 million students • 30% of under 21 year olds progress on to HE • 80% of graduates are employed in graduate-entry jobs • 70% of graduates are not using their subjects directly in their work • Graduates earn on average 20 _ 100% more by the middle of their working lives than those without a degree • Net financial gain from a degree averages £160,000 over a life time • Graduates enjoy more fulfilling and enjoyable jobs, better health, less likely to smoke and enjoy more successful relationships • 84.2% of graduates are happy with their careers

4. Why read for a degree? • Transferable skills – knowledge, communication, team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, IT • Greatly improved career prospects, graduates are highly valued by employers • Essential for some careers • Academic and social experience of university life • Three million fewer lower skilled jobs in the UK by 2020 • 40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a degree

5. UCAS • The University and College Admissions System • An independent charity • One of most popular websites in the UK • The most popular educational website in the UK • UCAS website is updated hourly • UCAS card offered to all students – advice/ discounts • Process is totally electronic and on-line at www.ucas.com • Parents section – www.ucas.com/parents - free e -newsletters and a parents blog

7. Applications 2013-2014 • 4% rise in applications on 2013- 580,000, • Application numbers have reached the level they were before the fee increase • 35% of 18 year olds applied this year, the highest level recorded. • University places are very competitive with certain courses very heavily oversubscribed. • 27% drop in the number of undergraduate degree courses in the last six years due to government cuts

8. Researching Options • In the UK 35,000+ courses are available at more than 320 institutions (125 universities and 195 HE colleges) • Open days start in March and continue in April, June, July and the Autumn Term • Best to visit two institutions if possible • Taster courses available – www.london.ac.uk/tasters • www.opendays.com • Course search for 2015 opens May, registering for 2015 application opens in mid June

9. Finding the Right Course • Research thoroughly – 10% who start university do not finish their degree • Course search via UCAS – grades and points • Entry profiles • Entry requirements • Relevant work experience for vocational courses • Location • Type of institution – campus or city? • Employability activities offered

10. Top Ten Degree Courses 2013 1. Business and Management 2. Law 3. Sociology 4. Art and Design 5. I.T/Computer Science 6. Psychology 7. Education 8. Nursing 9. Biosciences 10. History

11. The Application Process • 5 choices of course • 4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry plus one other choice if required • Personal statement • Length – 4,000 characters • Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about individual • Plagiarism – Three times higher in 2012 up to 8,500 cases • Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

12. Deadlines • Northgate internal deadline • Oxbridge & Medical – 22 September 2014 • All others – 4 November 2014 • Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2015 • Some Art and Design Courses – 24 March 2015

13. Additional Tests • UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test • BMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment Test • LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law • CUKAS – Musical Conservatoires • Oxbridge additional tests – History, Modern Language, Maths, English and Thinking Skills, Physics

14. Gap Year? • Two Options • Deferred entry – 2016 • Apply Sept 2015 through Northgate with final results – usually leads to an unconditional offer Gap Year students 2013 – Where did they go? • 1. Employment to earn money for university • 2. Work experience relevant to degree/career choice • 3. Doing something close to home

15. Finalising the Choice • Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2015 • Students must make their decision by 9 May 2015 • Students should not make any decision until all five offers are in • Students choose one firm offer - first choice • Students choose one insurance offer with a lower entry requirement as a second choice (at least 40 points below) • Clearing – July onwards – up 9% to 55,721 • Adjustment period – post results – up 140% to 1,329

16. Important Dates • Oxbridge Conference – 23 April 2014 • Higher Education Fair – 12 June 2014 • Medics Course - 30 June 2014 • Oxbridge preparation course – October 2014 • Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – November 2014

17. Student profiles • GCSE grades are used as a major part of the decision making process. Some competitive courses are now openly asking for 8A* grades • Some degree courses are asking for specific GCSE grades e.g. a B in Maths for many Psychology and Business courses, B grades in Maths, English and Science for Primary teaching courses • Very competitive courses, for example Medicine and Oxbridge, need a high number of A* grades at GCSE, at least 3 A grades at AS and one or more A* grades predicted at A2

18. Support at Northgate • Careers Department, Mrs Gray, Post 16 Adviser Mrs Smith, Careers Adviser Mrs Young • Tutors • Sixth form team • Subject teachers • Head of Sixth Form, Mr Elmy • Deputy Head, Mr Trench

19. Student Life Mr Alexander – Assistant Head of Sixth Form Sejal Modasia – Ex Northgate Student, third year medical student at Kings College London

21. My Mum Said….. • Finance • Accommodation- Halls, Flats and Houses • Emotion • Preparation • Keep their room as it is • Washing

22. Workload • Not 9-5 • Independent study • Range of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab time • Different assessment methods

23. Life Skills • Independence • Ability to manage money • Cooking, cleaning, washing?

24. Social Life • Meet lots of new people • Students’ Union - represents students • Students’ Union also runs all of the clubs and societies • Sports • Part Time Job?

25. Student Support • University Student Support teams offer a range of information, advice and guidance services including: • Accommodation • Finance • Counselling • Careers Guidance • Disability Support • Health and Wellbeing

26. Sejal Modasia • What did you study at Northgate? • What and where do you study now? • How have you enjoyed being a student? • What has been difficult? Any initial problems? • What do you wish you had known then that you know now? • How has the experience been for your parents?

27. Student Finance

28. Overview Expenses at university fall broadly into two categories: • Tuition costs • Access to lecturers and academics • Library and IT facilities • Lab and practical activities and facilities • Does not usually cover fieldtrips • Living costs • Accommodation and food • Travel • Course books and stationery

29. Tuition Fees: 2014 Entry • Universities can charge up to £9000 per year if they meet criteria on access • UCS fees: • £8500 BA/BSc • £7500 Foundation degrees • Students can take a non-means tested tuition fee loan • Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the University from the Student Loans Company • Loans are repaid from the April after graduation, over 30 years • Some courses are funded by the NHS

30. NHS Funded Courses • The NHS will pay the tuition fees for some courses, and provide a means-tested bursary. These courses are: • Nursing and Midwifery • Radiography/Radiotherapy • Operating Department Practice • Physiotherapy • Speech and Language Therapy • Dental Hygiene • Maximum Maintenance loan of £2324 per year for NHS students living away from home and not in London • Social Work students pay tuition fees but can also access a bursary from the NHS

31. Support for NHS students • If you study up to 45 weeks a year, you’ll get: • NHS students are also eligible to a £1000 Grant in each year of study to help towards living costs • In your final year of study, the maintenance loan is reduced slightly

32. Living Costs: Maintenance Loans • Most students take a maintenance loan to help with living costs • Maximum maintenance loans for students starting University in 2014: • Student living away from home and in London: £7751 • Student living away from home: £5555 • Student living at home: £4418 • You have to apply for the tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and grant each year of study • All students are entitled to 65% of the loan. The remaining 35% is means-tested on household income

33. Living Costs: Maintenance Grants • The Maintenance Grant is a non-repayable means-tested grant to help with living costs. • It is paid for each year of study • You must apply EVERY year • Not available to NHS students

34. Total Support 2014 Entry All students are also entitled to a tuition fee loan

35. Other Support available • Disabled Students’ Allowance: Available for full-time students, or students studying 50% of a course. Maximum support £5212 (if helper required, maximum is £20,725) per year • Childcare Grant: Based on household income, and grant is calculated as 85% of actual childcare costs • Adult Dependent’s Grant: For students with an adult member of the family who is financially dependent on them • Access to Learning Fund: Administered by individual universities • More information is available at www.gov.uk/studentfinance

36. How to Apply • Students apply online via Student Finance England (www.gov.uk/studentfinance) • Applications are normally available from December - check the website for more information • The information you provide will be used to assess the means-tested support • If you do not want to provide all the information requested, students will be assessed for the minimum support: Tuition fee loan and 65% of the maintenance loan • You will not be assessed for the maintenance grant if you do not provide all information

37. Repayment of Loans • Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans are combined into a single monthly payment • Graduates start repaying the loans from the April after graduation, but only if they are earning over £21,000 per year • The repayment is 9% of earnings above £21,000 and payments are taken directly from the salary via the tax system • Any remaining loan is written-off after 30 years * Tax/NI is calculated as 30% of earnings above £6000

38. Student Finance at UCS • Tuition fees for 2014 entry: • £8500 per year BSc/BA degrees • £7500 per year FdA degrees • Fees for 2015 will be set in the summer • Fee-waivers and Bursaries: • National Scholarship Programme: £1000 fee waiver and £1000 bursary in first year and £3000 fee waiver in second year. Criteria found at (www.ucs.ac.uk/nsp) • Suffolk Access Champion Scheme: Bursary of £2000 in return for 40hrs of mentoring in your old high school

39. Student Finance at UCS • UCS Bursary: For students who meet eligibility criteria and who are living away from home: £1000 in year 1, and £500 in years 2&3 • Excellence Bursary: £500 bursary in each year of study for students achieving grades ABB (or equivalent) and above • Summer School Bursary: Students who participate in the UCS Year 12 Summer School, will be eligible for a total bursary of £4,000, (Bursary of £2,000 in year 1, and £1,000 in year 2&3) • Care Leavers Bursary: Students who live, or have lived, in local authority care will be eligible to apply for a bursary of £500 for each year

40. Other Sources of Income • Part-time and vacation jobs • Bursaries and scholarships • Savings • Overdraft • Credit card • Supplementary grants

41. Look Out For • Student Discounts • Local jobs • Internships and vacation opportunities: Great for getting good experience for future careers, and they can be well-paid! • Student bank accounts • Travel opportunities • Students societies and clubs

42. Is It Worth It? • Debt of up to £40,000. Is it worth it? • Graduates earn an average of £200,000 more in their lifetime than non-graduates • Average starting salary for graduates: £20,000 • Average starting salary non-graduates: £11,000 • Graduates: • Greater career flexibility (changing jobs) • Less likely to be unemployed – and would spend less time unemployed • A degree opens the door to a wide range of employment opportunities • BUT: You have to take opportunities at university to expand your experience and skills and to make yourself more employable

43. Finding out more Student Finance: www.gov.uk/student-finance Unistats: www.unistats.co.uk www.ucs.ac.uk Contact us on schools@ucs.ac.uk Open events: Friday 18 July 2013 see www.ucs.ac.uk/openevents

44. To Sum Up “The substantial expected rise in graduate vacancies in 2014 shows that confidence in the economy is growing and businesses really value the skills the UK’s first rate graduates can bring their companies. A degree is still one of the best routes to a good job and rewarding career”. David Willetts – Universities Minister 2014