Introduction to university

1. Introduction touniversity David Seaton BA (Hons), MCIPD, ACIM, DipIE, MA, PhD david.seaton@beds.ac.uk

2. Why go to university? • Graduates earn, on average, £12,000 per year more (Office of National Statistics, 2011) • Median salary for graduates is £29,900pa, compared to £17,800 per year for non-graduates (ONS, 2011) • Top 100 Graduate Recruiters have increased vacancies by 18% this year (High Fliers Graduate Market Survey, 2011) • Life experience and independence • Transferable skills e.g. presentations, team work, time management...

3. Qualifications 2 year Foundation Degree (FDA/FDSc) Higher National Diploma (HND) Option to top up to degree level 3 year Degree course BA, BSc 4 year Degree course Courses in Scotland Sandwich (placement) courses Courses with one year abroad 5+years Medicine, Veterinary Science…

4. What now? • Find out as much information as possible before making any decisions • Search the UCAS website for lists of courses www.ucas.com • Visit an HE convention • Collect prospectuses • Attend Open Days Saturday 6th July (BedfordSaturday 13th July (Luton) • Research on the internet

5. Who are UCAS ? • UCAS = University and Colleges Admission Service • The majority of students apply to HE through UCAS • You do not apply directly to universities • You only need to complete one UCAS form • The important information to include are exam grades, reference and personal statement.

6. UCAS Calendar Mid June Register with APPLY, start application Mid September First applications can be submitted Mid October Deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science applications, and all applications to Oxford and Cambridge Mid January Standard UCAS deadline Mid March Start of UCAS Extra Results Day Clearing lists released

7. What happens next? • Your form will need to be checked by a teacher, and have an electronic reference attached • You can receive either Unconditional Offers, Conditional Offers or Rejections • Once every institution has made a decision, you must decide which two offers to hold (Firm and Insurance) • You can keep updated using UCAS Track • Universities can send invites for interviews and auditions through Track

8. Personal Statements • Be positive – make yourself stand out from other applicants • Be concise – do not repeat information which is elsewhere on the form • Spend time on getting it right!

9. What should you cover? • Reasons for choosing the course • Show why you would be suitable for the course – relevant research, skills and experience • Capability for higher level study – independence, motivation, academic ability… • Career aspirations, and why you would be suited to your chosen profession • Other interests, abilities and achievements – show that you are a ‘well-rounded’ person

10. Student Finance 2013/2014 www.beds.ac.uk

11. Tuition Fees • Universities can charge up to £9,000 per year (England) in 2012/13 • You can defer payment of tuition fees until AFTER you have finished university • Students can still pay ‘upfront’ if they wish www.beds.ac.uk

12. Tuition Fee Loans • If students want to defer payment of fees they can apply for a ‘TuitionFee Loan’ • The loan amount will match the tuition fees and will be paid directly to their university • Repayments will start after students have left university, and are earning over £21,000 a year • If earnings ever fall below £21,000 a year, re-payments are suspended www.beds.ac.uk

13. Maintenance Loans • Means tested on household income • Paid into bank account in three instalments over the academic year • Repayments do not begin until students are earning over £21,000 per year • If students have ‘fees’ and ‘maintenance’ student loans, these will be combined for repayments • Repayments are linked to salary after you graduate • If you have not repaid your loan after 30 years it is written off www.beds.ac.uk

14. Maintenance Loans www.beds.ac.uk

15. Loan Repayments Repayments www.beds.ac.uk

16. Maintenance Grant 2013 • Dependent upon household income • Does not have to be re-paid • Full-time students could get up to £3,354 per year • Household income £25,000 or less: full grant • Household income up to £42,611: partial grant www.beds.ac.uk

17. SFE Funding Packages www.beds.ac.uk

18. National Scholarship Scheme 2013 • Additional support for students studying with household income under £25,000 • Limited allocation to universities who are expected to match fund government contributions • Institutions decide on the allocation of the fund • Fee Waiver • Cash Sum (limited to £1000) • Discounted accommodation fees • Free foundation year www.beds.ac.uk

19. Bursaries and scholarships • Non-repayable grant from the university you choose to study at • They can be based on a variety of different criteria, and vary in amount • UoB Bursaries • Centenary Scholarship • Academic Scholarship www.beds.ac.uk

20. How do I apply? • Applications for financial support are made online at www.gov.uk/studentfinance Student Support Helpline: 0845 300 50 90 Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 8pm Sat – Sun: 9am – 5.30pm • There is also a student finance calculator to give you an indication of support before you have the full assessment www.beds.ac.uk

21. Other sources of income • Job • Parents • National course bursaries • Bank • University www.beds.ac.uk

22. Budgeting example Based on a student in receipt of full maintenance grant and reduced maintenance loan, calculated over a 40 week academic year www.beds.ac.uk