What is UCAS?

1. What is UCAS? • Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Centralised application processing service • On-line system and application form • Secure site, can be worked on anywhere • Not just used for applying to university: • Entry profiles (Course Specific Requirements) • Advice on choosing courses • Useful links

2. UCAS key dates 2013/2014 • 25 February - UCAS Extra begins (for late applicants, those that have changed their mind or those who have no offers) • 31 March - majority of decisions made by institutions • 7 May – applicants need to reply to any offers by this date • 30 June - last day for late applications • 14 August - results day • Mid-September – applications can be processed by UCAS • 1 October – HCC advisory deadline for applications for Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary science • 15 October – UCAS closing date for Oxbridge, medicine, veterinary science • 25October – HCC advisory deadline for applications • 15 January - MAIN UCAS CLOSING DATE (except some Art and Design Courses which have 24th March as deadline)

3. Making an application • Over 50,000 courses to choose from • Only have five choices available on the form • Lots of competition – it is important to have a strong application form

4. Making informed choices • Research the 4 C’s (course, career, campus and city) • Unistats.direct.gov.uk • Be realistic about choices, for example: • x2 ambitious entry requirements to aim for • x1 match to your predicted grades • x2 lower entry requirements to fall back on. • If you can’t decide between courses try and select similar subjects eg Business and Accounting. This will make the personal statement more focused.

5. Applying online • Seven key sections to complete • Can be completed in any order • Can return to a section to make changes if necessary • Students need to write down username and password and keep them safe • can be found on key sections of the UCAS form and provides answers to FAQ’s

6. What happens next? • UCAS acknowledges receipt of the form • Students must track their application process online (using UCAS track facility) • University Admissions Tutors assess each application • Possible invitation to an interview (not required for all courses) • Decisions/offers made via UCAS track • Some universities send offer letters or emails as well

7. Types of offer • Conditional offer • Unconditional offer • Alternative course offer • Unsuccessful • Offers may be expressed in either grades or UCAS points, for example, BBB or 300 UCAS points

8. UCAS points system A Levels

9. UCAS points system BTEC Nationals

10. After the offer • Students need to select two choices – firm and insurance • Students have now entered into an agreement with these universities, if they change their mind they will need to by released by the institutions • UCAS Extra – for late applicants, those who change their mind or students who receive no offers • Results day – 14th August • Clearing

11. Student Finance • The Headlines • Students do not need cash up front to go to university • They only repay when earning over £21,000 and the debt is wiped after 30 years • Monthly repayments are lower than under the previous system • They will owe money for longer and pay a lot more • Many will never pay it all back

12. What support could students get?

13. Tuition Fee Loan • They don’t need to find the money for fees up-front, they can take a loan which does not depend on income • The amount they get depends on the cost of their fees – up to max £9,000 in 2014 • Before applying for a full-time course , they should check with their university or college how much their tuition is likely to cost • They pay back once they have graduated, when they are earning. • Student Finance pay the university or college the fees,

14. Loan RepaymentComparison

15. Living Cost SupportMaintenance Loan • Some of the amount students receive depends on their parental/household income, but not all of it – everyone can get some sort of loan support • A loan of up to £5,500 will be available for students who live away from home and study at a university outside of London • A larger loan of up to £7,675 will be available for students who live away from home and study at a university in London • A loan of up to £4,375 will be available for students who • stay living at home whilst at university • Loans have to be repaid!

16. Living Cost SupportMaintenance Grant • Extra help with living costs for some students • How much students could get depends totally on their parental/household income • Maximum grant in 2014 will be £3,354 • Households with income below £25k will receive full support, households with income up to £42,611 will get less depending on income • Grants don’t have to be paid back.

17. Living Cost SupportMaintenance Loan & Grant – away from home outside London

18. Additional Support • There is a National Scholarship Programme to help students from lower income families. • Extra support is available if they have are disabled or have a learning difficulty • Extra support is available if they have adults or children who are dependent on them • Trusts, funds, charities or employer sponsorship, Mum, Dad, other family!

19. Scholarships and bursaries • University of Sussex – family income below £42,600 will benefit from a £1,000 cash bursary in the first year, plus a choice of £2,000 rent reduction to help them live on campus or a £2,000 fee waiver. • First Generation Scholars

20. Additional Information • A student loan is very unlikely to affect a students ability to get a mortgage (The Council for Mortgage Lenders ) • Mortgage lenders are most interested in monthly income (‘ability to repay’)

21. How to apply • Online • It’s the quickest and easiest way to apply : www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance • Register and provide personal and course information • In most cases students can just provide their UK passport number and parent’s/partner’s National Insurance Numbers – they can then automatically check the identity and household income

22. Getting things right • You can estimate how much support you can get online: • www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator • Start research early – students should know when to apply, how much they might get and what information they might need. • Do not wait until they have a confirmed place – students can always amend their finance application later on via ‘My Account’ • Send in any evidence they request straight away

23. Support for Students www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance twitter.com/sf_england facebook.com/SFEngland

24. Universities Abroad • America • Ireland • Spain • Italy • Holland • Australia • New Zealand

25. UCAS support available • Subject staff • Coaches • Mr Howard and Mrs Thoburn • Careers/University Resource Room • University admissions tutors • Through UCAS website • www.ucas.com • HCC presentations and resources from college website • PSHE lessons and tutors • Websites • http://unistats.direct.gov.uk • www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

26. Top tips • Make informed choices – students do need to research • Read all instructions carefully • Accuracy – check spelling and grammar • Be aware of key dates • Don’t be afraid to ask questions