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This article provides valuable insights into the process of applying to higher education and highlights the financial benefits and career opportunities associated with obtaining a degree. It also offers tips on researching universities, attending open days, and making informed decisions.
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Applying to Higher Education and the Financial Changes for 2012 Hayley Chancellor Head of Year 13
88% would like to go to university 48% have no idea what they would like to study
Why go on to higher education? • Career opportunities enhanced by having a degree • Graduates are twice as likely to be employed as non-graduates, and are much more likely to be promoted to managerial and senior positions. • 50% less chance of being unemployed • Likely to earn on average £250,000 more over your lifetime than someone without a degree • It’s challenging, rewarding and certainly enjoyable
Did you know…? • There are 304 institutions offering HE courses • There are 55,000 courses in the UK • There are 780,000 UCAS applicants each year • 40% of University applicants are from state schools HOW ON EARTH IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHOOSE JUST 5????
THE PROCESS OF UCAS Personal Statement finalised EXAMS Submit UCAS Form Med, Dentistry and Oxb. group Start to get offers Firm choice decided/ Insurance choice decided (backup) Uni Open Days Prospectus’ UCAS DEADLINE
What will the university do when they receive the application form?
excitement Personal statement and decisions - Worry and stress Excitement – first thoughts, (open days) boredom boredom worry The Emotional Journey Research By:
2009 No. of Applications No. of Acceptances Medicine 69,869 7,967 Dentistry 11,755 1,217 Nursing 134,267 25,007 Sports Science 49,982 10,783 Psychology 80,850 15,397 Vet. Medicine 7,167 886 Law 91,459 17,402 English Studies 57,635 10,402 Training Teachers 46,949 8,007 History 46,970 8,552
Competitive Courses –Typical requirements • Exceptional GCSE profile – several A*-A grades • May be entrance tests for some courses • Academic rigour – evidence of time management, deadlines, handling a heavy work load • Strong personal statement – rounded personality + extra curricular • Strong well informed reference
Helpful Websites www.ukcoursefinder.com - Not sure about what course to do/ Submit online questionnaire www.ucas.com Look at courses/ entry requirements/ university links LINK www.unistats.com - student views www.bma.org.uk - becoming a doctor www.oxbridge-admissions.info
Research universities and courses at open days • Book early • Watch out for subject specific open days Use website to: • Search • Access open days calendar • Book for many of them • Get advice • Subscribe to newsletter
Prospectus request UCAS Fair Advert Revision kit Applicant Day invite Firm choice decision Submit UCAS Form Exams Results UCAS deadline Attend open day Results Day Guide Applicant Day Open Day Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Offer letter Monthly Newsletter Acknowledgement card Open Day Open Day Open Day Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Offer letter Offer letter Offer letter Acknowledgement card Acknowledgement card Acknowledgement card Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter Monthly Newsletter
Start Researching NOW! • Tuition fees • 22% of HE students drop out of university in the first year • Use university websites to their full capacity.Contact course leaders/ admissions tutor • Visit
The Location • Live at home • Live away? • Preferred Regions? • Preferred Cities? • With friends? • With relatives?
The Institutions - branding • Campus – based on its own site (eg Keele, Lancaster) • City – Located in the heart of the city ( eg Manchester, UCL) • Collegiate – Made up of separate member colleges (eg Cambridge, Durham) • ‘Russell Group’ (eg Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Warwick) Top unis - research • ‘Red Brick’ (eg Sheffield, Reading) Pre WWI • ‘New’ (eg Hertfordshire, Westminster) Post 1992
Open Days • A chance to see the university • A chance to meet the staff and students • A chance for students to determine “is it right for me?” BUT REMEMBER • The university is trying to sell itself to you, you must dig below the surface.
UCAS Extra – End of Feb to the beginning of June - For students who have used all 5 choices and had no offers back (5 rejections) - Can apply for 1 course at a time - There will be a decision from the university within 21 days - This is preferable to clearing - Everyone will meet minimum entry requirements - therefore apply for a course that has lower entry requirements than predicted grades to enable you to pass through the extra sifts
Oxbridge • 3 students are interviewed per place – all have the entry requirements • The interview is subject based – no questions on personality • When you apply for Cambridge you could apply for a particular college if you do not get offered a place at this college you are put into a pool system with all the colleges • When you apply to Oxford all decisions are made before Christmas
IMPORTANT UCAS DEADLINES SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT A LEVEL RESULTS 15TH OCTOBER Deadline for UCAS Applications for Oxford or Cambridge & Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science courses 15TH JAN Application deadline for all other courses 24TH MARCH Application Deadline for Art and Design courses FEB – JUNE UCAS EXTRA JULY – SEPT CLEARING
Part 2: Financial Changes for students applying for 2012 entry to HE
Most details of the new student finance system are still subject to approval • • Most universities are likely to charge between £6,000 and £9,000 in tuition fees • • There will be no up-front fees for any UK/EU student • • Students applying in 2011 for a deferred entry will come under the 2012 fee regulations
4 Types of Finance • Tuition Fees Loan • Living Costs Grant • Living Costs Loan • Scholarships
Tuition Fees Loan • Cannot pay fees up front • Students can receive a repayable loan paid directly to the institution from Student Finance England
Living Costs Grant • Non repayable • Dependent on: - If household income is below £25,000 then a maximum grant of £3,850 is available - If family qualifies for housing benefit, Armed Forces benefits, single parent family or they have a disability • If household income is between £25,000-£42,600 then a partial sum is available
Living Costs Loan • 65% of loan available is non-means tested with the remaining 35% dependent upon household income • Repayable and dependent on: • Household income – ranges on tiered basis from £3,850 grant + £3,875 Loan (Income £25k or less) to £3,875 loan only (income above £62.5k). Example; An income of £40k would enable a grant of £523 + loan of £5,239 2. Where the student will be living i.e., at home, at uni, in London
National Scholarships Programme • Universities have to have a scholarship scheme if they are charging £6,000+ • Eligible for a scholarship if: • The student lives in an area of a low progression to university • Household income of less that £25,000 • Has incapacity benefits • Is a looked after child (using statutory definition) CHECK ELIGIBLILTY AFTER JULY 11th
University of Hertfordshire Scholarship Scheme • If predicted over 360 UCAS points (3As) • They will receive a bursary of £3,000 • 60 available each year Need to apply by April 15th 2012 to be considered • Enquire at chosen universities!
Repaying the fee loans • Repay from April after graduation • Taken straight from pay if graduate earns over £21,000 salary • Pay back 9% of what you earn over £21,000 via monthly payments (PAYE – Pay As You Earn Scheme) • If the student has debt left after 30 years the loan will be written off • Interest is payable on student loans and is variable depending on income Whilst studying RPI +3%, <£21k RPI 21k to 41k tiered > £41,000 RPI+3%
Points of Interest… • The new system is unlikely to impact the ability to get a mortgage Future graduates will have more income after tax and loan repayments (net income) - which makes saving for a deposit and repaying a mortgage in the years after graduation easier. • The Council for Mortgage Lenders (the mortgage company trade association) has said "A student loan is very unlikely to impact materially on an individual's ability to get a mortgage but the amount of mortgage available may depend on net income." • You may not be allowed to repay early • Students from, or going to, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish unis may have different rules • Many people will never pay it all back • Think of it like a graduate tax not a loan
Income Living costs loan / grant Parental help and support Gap year earnings Part time work (up to 15 hours recommended p/w) Scholarships Holiday work Placement work (if applic)
Expenditure Food TV Licence Rent Phone Bills Household items Clothes Car Clothes Travel Memberships Text books/ stationery Sports clubs Socialising – bar bill!
University of Hertfordshire Fees • £5,800 for a Foundation Degree • Undergraduates: Band 1: £7,400 Band 2: £7,800 Band 3: £8,500 Most courses in band 1 or 2 with the average course costing £7,500 • All university fee proposal plans subject to • government approval on Monday 11th July