The Next Step to Higher Education

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The Next Step to Higher Education

• Making an informed choice where to start and
  what to do
• Mandy Firth
• Head of UK/EU Recruitment

2
What the talk will cover

• Setting the scene
• How to prepare
• The application process
• Student finance
• What to do next
• Any questions?

3
Why start planning now?

• Application timetable
• Competition for places
• Additional skills and experience
• Time to research
• Avoid common mistakes

4
A few statistics.

• Over 35,000 courses and 320 colleges and
  universities in the UCAS system
• Top four subjects Nursing, Psychology, Design
  Studies, Law (2012 figures)
• 558,898 applicants 2013 entry ( 3.5)
• 17,596 home/EU applications to Keele, up 2.05
  with 7,964 holding offers, intake of 1,119 ABB

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The timetable

• Year 12
• start researching course choices
• attend HE fair
• work/voluntary experience?
• register for admissions tests (UKCAT/LNAT)
• attend open days
• log on to UCAS apply
• Year 13
• submit application to UCAS and SLC
• called for interview?
• (re) visit institutions? virtual tour?
• make first (CF) and second (CI) choice
• sit exams followed by publication of results
• place confirmed?

6
Decision time

• Type of institution
• Type of course
• Entry requirements
• Interview policy/admissions tests/portfolio
• Reputation/League tables
• Other facilities
• Student finance package

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Which institution?

• Campus versus civic
• Living at home or away?
• Availability and cost of accommodation
• Cost of living
• Facilities sporting, social, academic
• Welfare support
• Student finance package inc. bursaries
• Overall student experience

8
Which course?

• Level of qualification HND, Foundation, Degree
  or Fast track
• Professional/academic/vocational course
• Single/dual/combined honours
• Course content
• Entry requirements
• Teaching and assessment methods
• Placements/Study Abroad options
• Exemptions/professional accreditation
• Progression to postgraduate study and the
  workplace

9
Which course?

• If good at Chemistry and Biology could consider
  Medicine, Microbiology, Marine Biology,
  Physiological Sciences, Human Nutrition, or
  Environmental Sciences
• If good at History you could consider
  Archaeology, Ancient History, Politics,
  International Relations, Classical Studies, or
  Egyptology
• If enjoy Business consider Business Enterprise,
  Business Computing

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Which course?

• Computing?
• Why not try
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computer Technology
• Software Engineering
• Computing Software Design
• Business Computing

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Which course?

• Brewing and Distilling
• Wildlife Management
• Cosmetic Science
• Packaging
• Disaster Management
• Voluntary Sector Management
• Sustainable Design
• Property Development

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Entry requirements

• Price to secure a place
• Need to ensure have correct qualifications
• GCSE requirements
• A or AS levels or equivalent
• Correct subjects at KS5 / approved A levels
• Admissions tests?
• What is required at the point of application?
• Policy on resits
• Work/voluntary experience or other criteria
• Reference based on work in Year 12

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How the price varies

• Accounting and Finance
• Cardiff AAB or DDD (business related)
• Birmingham City 280 tariff points
• Forensic Science
• De Montford 260 points
• University of Kent BBB or DDM (Science)
• Law
• Birmingham AAB-AAA or DDD LNAT
• Bournemouth 320 points
• Plus check subject requirements

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How to apply

• Online application at www.ucas.com
• Register and record personal ID
• Up to five choices (four for Medicine et al)
• Drop down menus/help text create application
  save and edit
• Blind application
• Choices listed in alpha-order
• Application fee 23 or 12

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What happens next

• UCAS process application
• Apply similarity detection software
• Sent welcome letter contact UCAS if details
  incorrect or change
• View application in UCAS Track
• Universities consider application paperless
  admissions

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Track

• Welcome screen what is currently happening e.g.
  need to reply to offers
• Can update personal details
• View decisions from universities in choices
  section
• Receive interview details / Reply to offers
• Can cancel but not replace choice
• View application form exc. reference

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Key dates

• June
• September
• 15 October
• 15 January
• 24 March

• Release of UCAS Apply
• Applications can be sent to UCAS
• Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry
• Oxford or Cambridge universities
• On time application deadline
• Deadline for some art and design courses

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What are selectors looking for?

• Can student matriculate?
• Do they meet the subject entry requirements?
• What are the GCSE grades?
• AS grades if certificated
• What are the predicted grades?
• Performance at interview/subject tests
• Explanation for any discrepancies

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What are selectors looking for?

• Admissions tutors assess
• Suitability for the course
• Evidence of motivation towards and understanding
  of the course
• Knowledge of the subject
• Relevant skills and experiences
• Potential to succeed
• Any extenuating circumstances

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The offer

• Admissions tutors check academic qualifications,
  potential and suitability for course
• Make conditional offer e.g.
• 300 tariff points including BC including Biology
• BBB including Biology
• Select firm (CF) and insurance (CI) choice
  institutions by early May

22
The personal statement

• Provides context for the application
• May be only opportunity to present case
• Supports reference and vice versa
• May be decider in borderline cases
• Basis for interview?
• Less of what has been done and
• More of what they got out of it

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The personal statement

• Statement should refer to
• Motivation for choosing course
• Particular interests in current studies
• Work and voluntary experience
• Career aspirations only if known
• Skills and abilities/positions of responsibility
• Interests and hobbies (recent/relevant)
• Deferred entry if applicable

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Student finance

• (Virtual) loan to pay for tuition fees free at
  point of entry 6000 - 9000 a year
• Student loan to cover living expenses income
  assessed
• Maintenance grant means tested, non-repayable,
  change to thresholds
• Different arrangements for health programmes
• Bursaries and scholarships
• Additional support
• to be paid back once graduated

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Current arrangements

• Student Loans Company / Direct.gov.uk
• Online application
• Asked to identify nominal first choice
  university
• Instant assessment
• Can request reassessment if financial situation
  changes (over 15)

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Paying the tuition fee

• Free at point of entry, no upfront fees
• Non means tested tuition fee loan i.e. not
  dependent on household income
• SLC lends tuition fee and pays institution
  directly in instalments
• Not compulsory to apply for students can also
• Pay full fees themselves OR
• Pay part of the fees and take tuition fee loan
  for the rest

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Exceptions

• Students taking the BA in Social Work, all
  nursing and midwifery courses, Operating
  Department Practice, Physiotherapy and 5th year
  Medicine receive funding from the NHS
• Students intending to study in Scotland, Wales or
  Northern Ireland need to confirm funding
  arrangements

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MAINTENANCE LOAN 13/14 RATES
Full-Year Student () 65 Non Means Tested 35 Means Tested Maximum Loan
Parental Home 2,843 1,532 4,375
Elsewhere 3,575 1,925 5,500
London 4,988 2,687 7,675
Overseas 4,247 2,288 6,535
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Non-repayable grant
Household income (before tax) Level of Grant
Up to 25,000 3,354
From 25,000 to 42,611 Partial grant
42,611 or above No grant
This grant is income assessed, does not have to
be paid back and can only be accessed if the full
loan entitlements have been taken out.
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COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT
Student living away from home, outside London
2013/14
Household Income Maintenance Grant Maintenance Loan Total
25,000 under 3,354 3,823 7,177
30,000 2,416 4,292 6,708
35,000 1,478 4,761 6,239
40,000 540 5,230 5,770
42,611 50 5,475 5,525
42,875 0 5,500 5,500
50,000 0 4,788 4,788
60,000 0 3,788 3,788
62,125 over 0 3,575 3,575
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Scholarships

• Merit scholarships
• Keele Excellence scholarships of 2000 pa for AAA
  applicants, 1000 pa for AAB, 500 pa for ABB
• Bursaries
• Keele bursary of 1000 to those in receipt of
  maximum maintenance/special support grant
• National Scholarship Programme
• At Keele bursary to value of 3000
• Check eligibility and criteria

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STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT THE FIGURES
Income each year before tax Income from which 9 will be deducted Approximate Monthly Repayment
21,000 0 0
25,000 4,000 30
30,000 9,000 67
35,000 14,000 105
40,000 19,000 142
45,000 24,000 180
50,000 29,000 217
60,000 39,000 292
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STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT INTEREST RATES
Earnings Below 21,000
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Is it worth it?

• Higher starting salary
• More likely to be employed
• More likely to be promoted
• Earn more over working life
• Graduate only route to chosen profession
• Plus
• Acquire transferable skills
• Personal development
• Once in a life time student experience

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Where to find the information

• HEI web sites e.g. www.keele.ac.uk
• UCAS www.ucas.com inc. subject profiles and
  online videos on variety of related topics
• Web sites e.g. direct.gov.uk
• Prospectus/subject leaflets
• Visits to universities and colleges
• Friends and family
• Social media

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Find out more from UCAS
_at_ucas_online
www.yougo.co.uk
www.facebook.com/ucasonline
http//ucas.faq-help.com
www.youtube.com/ucasonline
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Parents can help

• Encourage your son/daughter to be realistic
• Encourage them in their research
• Check course is what they think it is
• Find work/voluntary experience
• Visit short-listed HE institutions
• Encourage your son/daughter to ring with any
  queries or concerns

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Parents can help with

• Reading through form and checking for sense,
  spelling and grammar
• Seeing the statement is tailored to course choice
• Reminding of UCAS/school deadlines
• Remembering to advise of any change of address or
  circumstance
• Keeping a note of their Personal ID
• Provide financial details for funding app.

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And finally

• HE is a really exciting three or more years to
  look forward to
• Do plan for it
• Do talk to people and seek advice
• Thank you for your attention
• . Any questions?