Sheila Jamieson Sixth Form Pastoral Head

Choices and Opportunities Over 37,000 programmes of study in the UK 370 HE institutions Huge range of subjects, approaches, teaching styles, and assessment methods What kind of institution? City, campus, ancient, redbrick, or modern?

Where will I fit in? A large city university? A campus? A rural college?

Support and Social Think about what you want: Sports, arts and social facilities? SU societies? Halls of residence? Support services such as study skills, disability advice or money advice centres?

Choosing a course One of your A Levels Something new Vocational History American Studies Heritage Studies Biology Natural Sciences Wildlife Management Chemistry Pharmacology Medicine Physics Mechanical Engineering Construction Engineering Management French International Management and Languages French and Translation

Choosing a course Choose something you enjoy Be open-minded Look at subjects which build on but are not the same as your current course choices Look at the detail - content varies greatly. Contact hours vary greatly, check on unistats Check entry requirements

Level 3 qualifications A levels universally accepted. Typical offers range between 3 grade As to 2 Ds however the A* now forms part of some offers BTEC National Diploma accepted on many but not all HE courses need to check Extended project valued as a good preparation for University by many Universities and may even be part of offer

Entry Requirements Research the course requirements in detail Ensure that you have the appropriate prior knowledge and experience entry requirements are there to ensure that you can cope Reflect your interest in and knowledge of the subject in your personal statement Check the university website

UCAS tariff A levels UCAS Tariff Offers could be expressed as UCAS points, A level grades or other specific requirement Not all Universities make use UCAS tariff points BBC 280 BBB 300 ABB 320 AAB 340

UCAS tariff GCE A Level UCAS points GCE AS Level UCAS points A* 140 A* 70 A 120 A 60 B 100 B 50 C 80 C 40 D 60 D 30 E 40 E 20

Assessing the quality No official rankings Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA) Newspaper rankings The Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Guardian Unistats www.unistats.com Which http://university.which.co.uk

Where will it lead? Think about where your chosen subject may lead in terms of a career But don t worry if you don t know Any subject at degree level will challenge and develop you and will enhance your employability

UCAS A centralised admissions system for most higher education courses One application for up to 5 institutions Start thinking about higher education now apply Autumn term in Year 13

What happens to the UCAS form? Once it is received electronically by UCAS it is sent out to your 5 choices Your application will be considered by Admissions officers/tutors You may be invited to an interview, open day or made an offer You will need to decide on a firm and insurance choice

Offers Course Institution Offer Your decision English Plymouth 300 points Insurance English Cardiff AAB Decline English Exeter AAB Firm English Nottingham unsuccessful English Bath Spa 280 points Decline

What an offer is based on Academic performance Academic potential Reference Personal Statement

What is the personal statement? Your opportunity to state what is special about you. Why your current study is relevant. How your personal experiences support your application.

What should I include? Your reasons for wanting to study the course (about 70-80% of the personal statement) Explain how you are right for the course Say what you have done outside of the classroom Why this is relevant to your course Why is this relevant to your chosen career Discuss the transferable skills you have gained Expand on the most relevant ones Show that you are a critical thinker

Key dates Students have started the application process this week. Early applications equal early offers Apply 2016 opens mid-september Most applications are due by 6pm on the 15 th January 2016 Early applications (for medicine, dentistry, vet science and vet medicine, as well as all applications for Oxford and Cambridge) are due by 6pm on the 15 th October 2015. Blue School internal deadline: 30 th September 2015 for early applications 4 th December 2015 for all other applications.

Any questions?

Higher Education Funding July 2015

What are the main costs at university? Tuition fees Books and course extras Accommodation (rent and bills) Food Insurance Travel Social life Clothes Telephone https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/finan ce-and-support/tuition-fees-and-student-loans

UK Universities max tuition fees of 9000 per year in 2016 Foundation degree programmes, typically 2 years, may have lower fees than 3 year plus programmes Scottish university fees capped at 27000 (typically 4 year degrees) Fees are not paid up front by the student. Students can apply for a tuition loan, and they do not start paying this back until they earn more than 21,000pa. The tuition fee loan is available to all home students, regardless of household income. Tuition fees 2016

Specific living costs These vary according to: Length and type of course Year of study Type of accommodation Placements Any additional needs, e.g. dyslexia software

Planning a budget Cost of Accommodation - University and Privately rented Course costs ask at the department for costs of course material, books, field trips etc Part time work opportunities at JobLink in the Students Union www.studentcalculator.org.uk Plan for both your firm and insurance choices.

What government funding is available? Available to all: Tuition fee loan (repaid after graduation) Maintenance loan (repaid after graduation) Means tested: Maintenance grant, assessed on household income. Applies to households where total income is less than 42,600pa. Not repayable. Needs assessed Disabled Students Allowance up to 20,000 to cover extra costs, for students with dyslexia or a disability/chronic illness.

Available to all:

Means tested However, the Government announced in the budget (8 th July) that maintenance grants will be replaced by maintenance loans from 2016-17.

Maintenance support 2016-17 Household Income Maintenance Grant Living cost loan (away from home, not London) Total 25,000 or less 3387 4047 7434 30,000 2441 4520 6961 35,000 1494 The maintenance loan will be paid 4993 6487 back when graduates start earning 40,000 547 21,000pa. The 5467 maintenance loan 6014 45,000 0 will be increased 5519 to a maximum of 5519 8200 per year. 50,000 0 4998 4998 55,000 0 4476 4476 60,000 0 3955 3955 Over 62,500 0 3731 3731

Additional UK support Extra help is targeted at students in specific circumstances, and is paid on top of any standard student finance. Disabled Students Allowances are NOT income assessed, and do NOT have to be repaid. Childcare Grant, Parents Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants Grant ARE income assessed, but do NOT have to be repaid. The Access to Learning Fund continues to provide help via your University for students if you find yourself financial difficulty.

How to apply for UK grants and loans Apply online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Apply as soon as possible do not wait until you have a place confirmed. Late application may mean late payment! Information you will need to complete your application includes: National Insurance number Passport details Income details for student and household Student bank account details Medical evidence of a disability, if applicable Parents National Insurance number if income assessed

Tips for the Finance application You do not have to wait until you have made a final decision about where you will study Income assessment is the most complicated part of application, other details are easily changed e.g. course code If you are taking a gap year you cannot apply for finance now, you will need to wait until 2017 cycle opens Keep a record of your login details

Repaying student loans Two loans one for tuition fees and one for living costs Repayments start April after graduation Both loans repaid through deductions from salary like a tax but only if earning 21000 plus You repay 9% of your income over 21000 per year If you don t pay it all off in 30 years the remaining debt is written off But if you go abroad you should make arrangements for repayments It s a student loan not a parent loan parents are never liable to repay! No early repayment penalty

Student loan interest Interest is variable as it is based on inflation rate (RPI) For full-time students, interest is charged at the rate of inflation (RPI Retail Price Index) plus three per cent from the date you take out your loan to April 2018 after you ve finished studying. From April 2016 you ll be charged: the rate of inflation if you earn 21,000 or less the rate of inflation plus up to three per cent if you earn between 21,000-41,000 the rate of inflation plus three per cent if you earn over 41,000 Student loan interest

Paying back your student loan

Repaying student loans Salary Amount of salary from which 9% will be deducted 25,000 4000 30 30,000 9000 67 35,000 14,000 105 40,000 19,000 142 45,000 24,000 180 50,000 29,000 217 55,000 34,000 255 60,000 39,000 292 Monthly repayment

Moneysavingexpert.com

Scholarships and Bursaries Scholarships usually awarded on academic merit but can also be for Sporting or Musical excellence Bursaries more likely to be income related but may have additional criteria National Scholarship Scheme offering at least 3000 per year towards fees for those from lowest income families (under around 16000) All Universities will have slightly different schemes find out from their web pages about new 2012 fee waiver and bursaries Find information as you course search on www.ucas.ac.uk

Courses with additional funding Social Work and NHS courses Medical and dental students have their first four years funded in the same way as other eligible full-time higher education courses. Doctors or dentists are eligible for bursaries after the fourth year of the course. Healthcare students including those studying nursing and midwifery etc., and social work, can apply for an NHS bursary. More information on help for all medicine, dentistry and healthcare courses at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

Any questions?