Updates for 09/10

2. Updates for 09/10 • The 14-19 Diploma • ELQ • Changes to the Student Loan Company - Student Finance England • Presentations

3. UCAS Application Online UPDATE 2008

4. An Overview • PERSONAL RESEARCH • UCAS information & other reference materials • Advice & Guidance services • Prospectuses • Visits & conventions • Websites Decision to apply. Registers to use the system & completes application CHECKED BY AUTHORISED STAFF MEMBER Adds Reference Approves Reference Checks Application Approves Application Checks method of payment Application submitted to UCAS

5. Application dates (Route A) Application processing begins – September 2008 • 15 October 2008 - Last date for receipt of on-time applications to Oxford University, University of Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science or veterinary medicine. - • 15 January 2009 - Deadline for on-time applications from UK and EU students to be guaranteed equal academic consideration. • 30 June 2009 - Final deadline for receipt of applications for immediate consideration. Those received after this date held for Clearing.

7. Application Process (Route B) • 12 February 2009 - First date we send applications for art and design Route B Round 1 to universities and colleges • 6 March 2009 - Advisory closing date for applications to reach UCAS. • 24 March 2009 - Last date for receipt of applications to be considered in first round of interviews. • 11 June 2009 - Last date for receipt of applications for immediate consideration. Any applications received after this date are held for Clearing.

9. Update to 2009 Application • There are 314 universities and colleges that are members of UCAS, offering more than 50,000 HE courses. • Diploma in Nursing through UCAS and not NMAS • 5 choices to make • No more than 4 choices in any of the following three areas; (a) medicine (b) dentistry (c) Veterinary medicine/science • No more than 3 choices for art & design route B • No more than 1 choice at Cambridge or Oxford

10. Sections of app form; • Personal Details • Additional Information • Choices • Education • Employment • Personal Statement • Personal Details • Nominated Access • Full name and relationship to the student

18. Additional Information: • Activities in preparation for HE refers to any courses/activities student has participated in relation to education (2 examples) • Have you been in care? • Parental Education • Occupational Background • Education • Modules on Alevel/AS/BTEC/AVCE (optional)

19. UCAS Extra • Extra is a procedure which gives applicants who have used all five choices, but are holding no offers, the opportunity to make a further choice or choices. • Decisions made are conditional, unconditional or unsuccessful decisions and applicants may accept an offer firmly or decline it.

20. UCAS Clearing • Clearing is the last opportunity for those applicants not holding a place to be considered by institutions with course vacancies. • It also provides an opportunity to gain a place for those making very late initial applications. • The applicant makes direct contact with admissions staff.

21. What happens Next…? • Application is ONLY sent to the chosen institutions. • Selection procedures vary for each institutions. They make the decision! • Unconditional offer (U) • Conditional offer (C) • Alternative course • Unsuccessful Institution Institution UCAS Applicant Institution

22. Finance and Budgeting Ami Kia Solomon University of Greenwich

23. Outgoings To Consider Academic Costs: Tuition Fees Course materials Living Costs: Accommodation Food and shopping Entertainment Travel Clothes

24. ACADEMIC COSTS Tuition Fees Variable Top-Up Fees, with an upper limit of £3,225 for the 2009 session. Nothing will be payable up-front, students will pay after graduation by taking out loans.

25. Academic Costs • Tuition Fees Loan • Everyone is entitled to the full loan. • Nothing is payable upfront. • Paid directly to the University.

26. Thinking Of Budgets

27. Living Costs • Student Loan for Subsistence • The main source of money for living expenses. • Paid directly to the student at the start of each term. • Everyone is entitled to 75% of the loan. • The best loan deal you will ever receive.

28. Loan Entitlement

29. Independent Student (Notes) Over 25 when they commence their studies. Have married or entered into a civil partnership before the start of the course. Have supported themselves financially for at least three years prior to the start of course. Have no living parents. Are a full-time student who has care of a child or children, under the age of 18, on the first day of the course. Care Leavers are judged on a case by case basis, according to the level of support they have from Social Workers, etc.

30. Living Costs - continued • Maintenance Grant • Non-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to £2,835 • Based on household residual income • £25,000 or less: student receives full grant • £25,000 - £60,005: student receives part of the maintenance grant • £60,006: student receives no maintenance grant

31. Maintenance Grant Note: If you get £1,260 or more of Maintenance Grant, the amount you can borrow through your loan will be reduced by £1,260 i.e. Reduced £1 for £1 up to £1,260

32. Special Support Grant Does not affect/reduce the Student Loan Not counted as income when working out entitlement to income-related benefits or tax credits. Qualify for the Special Support Grant if the conditions for being a ‘prescribed person’ are met under the Income Support or Housing Benefit Regulations. Students who are likely to qualify include students with certain disabilities

33. The Disabled Student Allowance • DSAs are available to students on designated higher education courses who are ordinarily resident in the UK. • Special equipment allowance, up to £4905 for the whole course. • Non-medical helper allowance up to £20000 per year. • General allowance, up to £1640 a year. • Reasonable spending on extra travel costs.

34. Other Help Available • Parents Learning Allowance • Child Care Grants • Hardship Funds • Opportunity bursaries • Teacher training bursaries • Healthcare and NHS bursaries • Social Work bursaries • Incapacity Benefit • Part Time Students Allowance

35. The Bursary Map http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/

36. The Bursary Map http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/

37. The Bursary Map http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/

38. The Bursary Map http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/

39. Bursaries Universities and colleges decide what’s available, but those based in England have to offer a minimum payment to students who: get the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant pay maximum tuition fees - 3,145 in 2008/2009 http://www.direct.gov.uk

40. Bursaries Usually, you’ll get a direct payment from your college or university. But some provide support in kind, such as: discounts on accommodation discounts on books free transport (for example, by providing a bicycle) http://www.direct.gov.uk

41. Repayment Examples A Graduate earning £16,000 per year A Graduate earning £20,000 per year £16,000 - £15,000 threshold = £1,000 9% of £1,000 = £90 So £90 per year = £7.50 per month £20,000 - £15,000 threshold = £5,000 9% of £5,000 = £450 So £450 per year = £37.50 per month

42. While At University… It’s very easy to underestimate how much it all costs at University. Most students get a loan instalment at the beginning of every term which might have to last up to 12 weeks! An eye will have to kept on finances – it’s a challenge, but it is possible!

43. While At University… Budget carefully. Make friends with the bank rep/financial adviser/family Avoid impulse buys and peer pressure. Check the phone tariff. Use the student discount. Get a part time job. Don’t be an ostrich! NEVER GET A CREDIT CARD

44. Top Tips for Tutor References & Personal Statement

45. The Context Some courses are oversubscribed many times “Selecting” V “Recruiting” courses Approximately 125,000 applicants were disappointed.

46. The roles of: • The Personal Statement…. to tell us about the applicant • The Reference… to validate the Personal Statement • They should work together • You need to be involved in the personal statement

47. Reference: What do we want? • State who referee is and how they know the applicant. Some institutions have a standard format for this. • State if there are any institutional circumstances/policies which may have constrained the applicant’s curriculum choices. Some institutions have a standard format for this.

48. Reference – the message 1 • What grades are predicted? • Are there any mitigating circumstances? • Is the application supported? How strongly?

49. Reference – the message 2 • Does the reference endorse your view of their • achievement and potential, • personal qualities, • career plans, • other interests? • Are there any difficulties or challenges they had to overcome? • The key thing is to validate the personal statement.

50. Personal Statement Overview