1 / 40

An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices

An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices. Welcome. Available options. Explore the possibilities… Employment Further education Gap year activities University (higher education) Subjects - performance and enjoyment Match subjects to courses

santa
Download Presentation

An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices Welcome

  2. Available options • Explore the possibilities… Employment Further education Gap year activities University (higher education) • Subjects - performance and enjoyment • Match subjects to courses • Some vocations require specific choices

  3. University and course choices • Location and type (campus/city) • Full-time or sandwich courses • Interests - other opportunities available

  4. What else should I think about? • Course details - modules • Entrance requirements (UCAS tariff) • University/college open days • Location • Accommodation • Graduate destinations & employment • Tuition Fees (A range between £6000 and £9000) • Financial incentives (Grants/bursaries)

  5. The provision of higher education in the UK • Number of institutions • Number of courses • Applicants • Acceptances • Statistics from UCAS, 2014 370 37,000+ 677,373 495,596

  6. How do I apply/gather information? • UCAS website (www.ucas.com) • University & college prospectus’, websites and admissions tutors • Careers library • Careers interviews • Guidance & advice – SFMT, Tutors, family & friends • Centigrade • Sixth Form website (www.netherhallsf.org)

  7. Centigrade • Self assessment form completed in Autumn & reviewed in Spring Yr12 • 150 questions on interests, personal qualities, skills & broad abilities • Academic information also includes other qualifications, key skills, etc. • Suggests suitable areas of interest, courses and locations for students

  8. UCAS – the process at Netherhall • UCAS Online application form – Remember to apply as part of a school/college (Netherhall) • Personal statement (checked with tutor) • Preliminary meeting with Mr Clarke • Tutor writes reference based on subject teacher information which is then reviewed by Mr Clarke • Final copy of UCAS form sent to us • Pay the UCAS fee (online) • Meet with Mr Clarke to help students with final checks… submit to UCAS UCAS Application Completion!

  9. A* 70 A* 140 A 60 A 120 B 50 B 100 C 40 C 80 D 30 D 60 E 20 E 40 The UCAS tariff AS level A level

  10. Example A student taking three GCE A Levels plus one AS qualification. A2 Grade English grade A 120 History grade B 100 Economics grade C 80 300 GCE AS Psychology grade B 50 350

  11. UCAS • UCAS opening date for applications is 1st September • Students can make a choice of up to five university courses • Interviews compulsory for Oxbridge & for applications to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine & teaching. (Deadline of 15th October) • All other courses have a December deadline (Netherhall) • University & College offers made November – April • Students can hold 2 offers for places (F) firm & (I) insurance

  12. Gap Years and deferred entry… • Consider your interests • Find out – whole wealth of information on the web and via Tutors • This option allows you to make your higher education choices, but gives you the option of doing something else for a year

  13. Useful contacts • Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) - www.ucas.com • www.opendays.com • School website - www.netherhallsf.org -HE and careers information - Where do I go from here guide - Sample personal statements

  14. STUDENT FINANCE 2014/15 AN INTRODUCTION

  15. i SESSION CONTENTS • Section 1 – The Student Finance Package • Section 2 – Additional Support • Section 3 – Student Loan Repayment • Section 4 – Application Information • Section 5 – Resources

  16. 1 THE STUDENT FINANCE PACKAGE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS INCLUDES: Tuition Fee Loan The Student Finance Package Maintenance (Living Cost) Support Bursaries & Scholarships Additional Support

  17. 1 TUITION FEES & LOANS OVERVIEW • Universities and colleges* can charge new full-time students up to • £9,000 per year (£6,750 part-time) for tuition fees • Eligible students won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front • A Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover the fee charged by the university • or college (Up to £6,000 for designated courses at private HEIs) • The Tuition Fee Loan doesn’t depend on household income • SLC pay any Tuition Fee Loan directly to a university or college • The loan is repayable, but only when the student’s income is • over £21,000 a year

  18. 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT OVERVIEW • Maintenance support is available to help with living costs a student • will face while in higher education • Two main types of support are available, Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant • The Maintenance Loan is repayable and all eligible students are • entitled to receive some funding • The amount of loan available will depend on where a student lives • and studies • Maintenance support is paid directly into the student’s bank account • each term

  19. 1 MAINTENANCE LOAN MEANS TESTING *Slightly lower rates of support apply to final year students

  20. 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT MAINTENANCE GRANT OVERVIEW • The Maintenance Grant doesn’t have to be repaid • How much grant a student can get depends on their household • income (100% means tested) • Household income thresholds for 2014/2015: Household Income: Up to £25,000 Full Grant of £3,387 Household Income: Up to £42,620 Partial Grant

  21. 1 SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • As with the Maintenance Grant the maximum Special Support Grant a • student could get is £3,387, students could be eligible for a SSG if they: • Are a lone (single) parent • Have a partner who is also a student and one or both of them are responsible for a child/young person under 20 who is in full-time • education below higher education level • Have a disability and qualify for the Disability Premium or Severe • Disability Premium • Are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances

  22. 1 SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA • Have been treated as incapable of work for at least 28 weeks • Have a disability and qualify for income-related Employment and • Support Allowance • Are waiting to go back to a course having taken agreed time out from • that course due to an illness or caring responsibility that has now ended • Are aged 60 or older • Entitled to Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces • Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance • Eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit Students receiving the Special Support Grant will not see a reduction in their Maintenance Loan entitlement

  23. 1 COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, OUTSIDE LONDON Students can get a quick estimate of their student finance entitlement using the calculator on gov.uk/studentfinance

  24. 1 BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS OVERVIEW • Many universities and colleges offer financial support to their students • through bursaries and scholarships • Bursaries: • Linked to personal circumstances and often, household income • Awards can include fee waivers or cash • Scholarships: • Can be linked to academic results or outstanding ability in an area • such as sport, music or art • Can be subject specific and are limited in numbers Students should check university websites early and ask at open days for information on support available and how to apply

  25. 2 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OVERVIEW • Extra money or support may be available to students if they: • Have children or adults dependent on them • Have a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health condition • or specific learning difficulty • Are studying an NHS or Social Work course • NHS courses include: • Nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, chiropody, dietetics, radiography, occupational therapy, the later stages of medicine and dentistry For further information and applications students should visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

  26. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS AN OVERVIEW • Students won’t make repayment contributions until their income is • over £21,000 a year (£1,750 pm) gross • On entering repayment, this threshold will rise annually in line with average earnings increase • Full-time studentswill begin to repay in the April after graduating from/leaving their HE course (from April 2016 at the earliest) • Part-time students enter repayment in the April 4 years after they started their course, or the April after they leave their course, whichever comes first • Repayments will be a basic 9% of income earned over £21,000, • but if income falls to £21,000 or below, repayments will stop

  27. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE FIGURES Early repayments can be made at any time, but any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment

  28. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE INTEREST Interest added will vary, depending on a students circumstances: • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% • Interest rate is: • RPI plus up to 3% Income: Below £21,000 During study until entering repayment Income: £21,000 to £41,000 Income: Above £41,000 • Interest rate is: • Set at RPI Only The interest rate applied is updated once a year in September, using the rate of RPI from that March which is carried forward

  29. 3 PART-TIME LOAN REPAYMENTS INTEREST ON A LOAN WILL VARY • While studying and until whichever • comes first of: • April after graduating or leaving a course • April 4 years after the start of a course Interest Rate Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Interest added will then be linked to a students income (From April 2016) Retail Price Index (RPI) Only Income: Under £21,000 Retail Price Index (RPI) + Up to 3% Income: £21,000 up to £41,000 Income: Over £41,000 Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Students who finish or leave a course before April 2016; RPI plus 3% until the April after leaving the course, then RPI only until April 2016

  30. 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS DEDICATED WEBSITE www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk

  31. 4 APPLICATION INFORMATION KEY MESSAGES • Apply online at gov.uk/studentfinance as soon as possible to make • sure student finance is in place for the start of their course • Register on UCAS and we can let students know when it’s time to apply • They do not need a confirmed place at university or college to apply • Make a note of their account log-in details and keep them safe • Agree to share information from their application, this helps apply • for many bursaries and some scholarships

  32. 4 APPLICATION INFORMATION COMPLETING AN APPLICATION • Before starting an application, students should have the following to hand: • • Passport - SFE can check identity using valid UK passport details • • University and course details • Bank account details and National Insurance number • If parents or other sponsors will be supporting a students application, they • will need their own account on GOV.UK and provide information including: • • National Insurance number(s) • Household income information • Details of other child dependants If sponsors can’t submit income details online, they should send a photocopy of evidence including: P60s, Pay slips or Tax returns

  33. 4 GOV.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY www.gov.uk/studentfinance

  34. 4 NEW LOOK ‘MY ACCOUNT’ MAKING IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE & UNDERSTAND

  35. 4 STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS IDENTITY EVIDENCE • SFE require all students to provide identity evidence in order for their • application to progress. The following list details acceptable identification • evidence (ID): • UK Students - Identity Evidence • Students confirm identity by providing valid passport details in their • online application • If they haven't included passport details with online application they will • need to send one of the following: • A completed UK Passport Details Form (If holding valid passport) • Original UK birth or adoption certificate along with a countersigned • Birth/Adoption Certificate Form (ADIF)

  36. 4 SUPPORTING AN APPLICATION HOUSEHOLD INCOME • If supporting an application for means tested student finance, SFE will • need to see details of parent(s) partners or other sponsors household • (taxable earned and unearned) income and National Insurance number(s) • Earned income includes: • Wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay • Long-term disability benefits received prior to minimum retirement age • Net earnings from self-employment • Unearned income includes: • Interest from savings (only the annual summary is required) • Benefits and Pensions • Rent from property or a room For most applications, SLC verify income from these NI numbers with no need to send any documents, unless we ask for them

  37. 5 SFE FULL & QUICK-START GUIDES STUDENT GUIDES NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2014/15 • Series of informative guides, introducing the main • areas of student finance to students and their parents, • including: • Financial Support for Students • Disabled Students’ Allowances • How Students are Assessed and Paid • Student Loan Terms and Conditions • Download now from the SFE finance page on • The Student Room

  38. 5 THE STUDENT ROOM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCES www.thestudentroom.co.uk/studentfinance

  39. 5 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW SFE FOR THE LATEST NEWS www.facebook.com/SFEngland www.twitter.com/sf_england

  40. 5 UNISTATS COMPARE UNI’S COURSES AND FEES www.unistats.direct.gov.uk

More Related