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UCAS Information Evening

UCAS Information Evening. Nicholas Quaile Head of Careers. Outline of Presentation. Post A-Level Options Importance of Year 14 Choosing a Course The UCAS System Finances The Role of Parents. Post A-Level Options. Importance of Year 14. Sacrifice Relaxation Organised Study Decisions

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UCAS Information Evening

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  1. UCAS Information Evening Nicholas Quaile Head of Careers

  2. Outline of Presentation • Post A-Level Options • Importance of Year 14 • Choosing a Course • The UCAS System • Finances • The Role of Parents

  3. Post A-Level Options

  4. Importance of Year 14 • Sacrifice • Relaxation • Organised Study • Decisions • Personal Action Planning

  5. List 1: Personal Statements Subjects and Activities In School and Outside Work Experience Show Strengths and Achievements Build on what you are good at List 2 Goals for the future University/HE? What do they want out of this? Progression beyond degree Degree not always necessary! Personal Action Planning

  6. Other Options • Go directly into employment • Work and part-time study combination • NVQ/HND/Foundation Degree leading to degree level

  7. Choosing A Higher Education Course

  8. Benefits of Broader Courses • Try something new, interesting and challenging • Keeps more options open • Flexibility to change career path later on • Not necessary to specialise until Post-Graduate level • You aren’t necessarily tied to a degree because of your A-Level choices!

  9. Other Considerations when Choosing Universities and Courses • Teaching Methods: Class based, Lab work, Field Work, Assignment Weightings, etc • Where to Study: Type of Institution, Specialist or Multi-Faculty, Size, Location, Accommodation, Social Life, Work Load • Identify the correct route rather than follow the crowd! • It is important to feel comfortable in your surroundings and enjoy your time at university!

  10. Taking Action • Talk to Friends, Teachers, Family, Careers Staff • Research career guidance books, university prospectuses, etc • Note the entry requirements and be realistic! • Consider financial impact of choices • Keep in mind that it is more than just the grades in the prospectus

  11. The Qualifications Available • Degree • Usually 3-4 years in duration • Vocational or Non-Vocational • Single, Joint, Combined, Major/Minor, Sandwich • Continue with or Change Subjects

  12. Qualifications Available (Cont.) • HND, Associate Bachelor, Foundation Degree • Usually 1-2 years duration • Minimum 1 A-Level pass with, usually, one other subject examined • Offered as single subject but may involve elements of other subjects • Taught in manner relevant to employers’ needs or as preparation for full degree course

  13. How This All Fits Together

  14. The UCAS System • Role: UCAS facilitates the admission of students to Higher Education • It is purely an administrative body and makes no decisions on the suitability of candidates for a course • Deals with c.580,000 applications per year

  15. The Application System • Use of apply web based application • Single form used for all applications • Completed on screen over the internet • Forms then electronically transmitted to UCAS • After processing student receives acknowledgement letter and applicant number • Students can track application progress on-line

  16. The Scheme • Student completes form in Autumn term, before October Half Term • Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary and Stranmillis must be completed earlier • Electronic payment made and forms sent to UCAS • UCAS sends one copy to each institution named on the form • Offers come back in Spring term directly to student

  17. Replying to Offers • The student waits until all offers are in • Replies must be made as soon as possible after this in order to secure places • Final reply date is indicated in Track • Failure to reply will lead to loss of all offers • The student can only hold TWO, a firm and an insurance

  18. Firm Acceptance: A Warning • A student can accept ONE offer as his/her FIRM choice • Once done the student cannot change their minds on this unless they withdraw completely from the scheme • An INSURANCE is taken in case the firm is missed • Again the student is committed to this should they miss their firm • All other offers must then be DECLINED

  19. Success or Failure? • If the student receives the required grades for the firm then they are committed to that • If they miss the firm but meet the insurance then they are committed to that • Applicants who miss both offers go automatically into CLEARING

  20. UCAS Extra • Runs between March and June • Allows for late FIRST TIME applications • OR re-application by those who get no offers AND have used ALL applications

  21. How Clearing Works • This system is there to match unsuccessful candidates to places still available after confirmation • Those who did not apply earlier may do so through clearing • Students must be proactive here. Check the clearing lists, phone the universities and secure a place

  22. How Successful Is Clearing? • By no means 100% • 2 Main Factors: • 1. Number and type of places available • 2. The student’s own initiative to gain a place • Will be ‘interviewed’ on the phone and offered a place or not

  23. CAO: Irish Universities • This system is different and has different deadlines • Information and prospectuses don’t arrive in school until late September • Students can make up to 10 applications which must be in genuine order of preference • Offers are not made until results are published in August • Places are offered based on mathematical formulae

  24. Student Finances • Fees, Loans & Grant Rates in line with inflation! • Income assessment for parents • ‘Cohabiting partner/spouse’ income assessed • Steps to Application • Costs & Help Available • Parental Contributions • Other Financial Help

  25. Steps to Application • Online application system • Combined Financial Assessment Form & Student Loan Form: PN1 • The sooner you apply the better, (c.20th June is normal deadline)

  26. Costs & Help Available • There are 2 main costs: Fees & Living Costs • Support for Fees: Fee Loan • Support for Living Costs available from: • Loans • Grants • Scholarships • Bursaries

  27. Variable Fees (2010 Figures) FEES: Up to £3,290 pa in England & N. Ireland Different in Scotland & Wales ALL students now pay this regardless of income: Use of Fee Loan These are deferred until the April aftergraduation, so nothing payable ‘up-front’ Must be earning more than £15,000 Direct from salary as TAX

  28. Living Expenses • Student Loans (2010/11 figures) • Max. Available is £4,840 • (£6,780 for London/£3,750 for home students) • 75% automatic/25% means tested • High income backgrounds = Reduced maximum • (eg. £53,448 or more = £2,810 max.)

  29. Grants • Income less than £19,203: FULL GRANT • NI: £3,475: Student Loan REDUCED by this • Sliding scale to £41,065+: NO GRANT and only 75% available from loan • Universities must also contribute: • Bursaries & Scholarships • Varies from place to place: see web sites

  30. The Role of Parents

  31. Some Useful Web Sites • www.ucas.com • www.qaa.ac.uk • www.hefc.ac.uk • www.tqi.ac.uk • www.studentfinanceni.co.uk • www.ulster.ac.uk • www.qub.ac.uk

  32. Thank You

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