APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION

1. APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION SEPTEMBER 2012

2. Why bother going to Uni? • The average graduate starting salary is £20,964 and for a non-graduate is £13,721 • Graduates entering law, banking, IT and engineering can expect salaries above this • the average lifetime earnings of a graduate are £2270,000 more than those of a non-graduate with two A-levels • The top earning graduate jobs of 2010 are law, investment banking, consultancy and confectionary manufacturing

3. Which Course?? • There are three main types of course available • Vocational Course – these are courses that lead to a particular career eg education or nursing • Non-vocational Course – these are courses in a particular subject that do not necessarily lead to a particular career eg biology (check out www.prospects.ac.uk for “What do Graduates Do?) • Sandwich Course – these are courses usually in engineering or languages where study an university is broken by a year of employment or living in another country

4. The Process • Most applications will be through UCAS • Pupils complete an on-line application form. This includes personal details, their qualifications, their five choices of courses and their personal statement • School advises that pupils select one course from Queen’s, one from the University of Ulster and one in Great Britain • Pupils make an appointment with their allocated interviewer in order to check the form

5. The Personal Statement • A personal statement is probably the single most important piece of work that pupils have had to do so far • Justify course choice (very important for a vocational course) • Work experience • Activities inside & outside school • Positions of responsibility • Concluding statement

6. Timetable • Oxbridge + Medical Courses - Closing Date 15th October 2011 • All 0ther Applications Closing Date 15th January 2012 • Student Guidance Interviews - September 26th 2011 – 14th October 2011 • Oxbridge + Medical Applications - Sent by 12th October 2011 • All Other Applications - Sent by 11th November 2009

7. What happens next?? • After the interview, pupils are asked to make any corrections as quickly as possible • Pupils then bring a finalised paper copy of their form to Mrs Browne • The form is checked one more time and pupils now pay (£21 online by debit/credit card) and then sends the electronic version to school • The school now writes the confidential reference and attached this to their electronic form and sends this to UCAS

8. What happens then?? • UCAS then sends the form electronically to all the universities • Admissions tutors then make a decision based on the personal statement, predicted A-Level grades, GCSE grades & A/S grades, evidence of motivation and the school reference • Some pupils may have to go to interview before a decision is made • They will reject an applicant or make a conditional offer

9. What next?? • If rejected, the decision is final but pupils can ask for feedback • Pupils must wait until all five decisions are made before they can confirm any decision • By early May, pupils accept a Firm Conditional offer and an Insurance Conditional offer which should have lower grades • These are binding but there may be some leeway

10. Finance 1 – Tuition fees • Universities in England, Scotland and Wales are now able to set their own tuition fees to a maximum of £9000 • NI have set fees for NI students at £3465 • All students will be eligible for a loan to cover their tuition fees (or may be paid up front) • The student takes the responsibility for the loan • It is repaid directly from their salary when they earn over £21,000

12. Finance 2 – Maintenance Loans • Loans are also available for living expenses • All eligible students are entitled to 65% of the maximum figure • The remaining 35% is means tested and depends on residual income pre-tax income minus pensions and allowances for dependents) • London £4988 - £7675 • Living away from home £3575 - £ 5500 • Living at home £2845 - £4375

13. Other info about loans • Loans are repaid at 9% of earnings above £21000 • After 30 years, any remaining debt is wiped • Above interest inflation will be charged • Allowed to earn more before repaying (previous limit was £15000). This means that those earning £21000+ will be £540 better off annually • BUT, this means that you will owe the money for longer and potentially repay more • Loans do NOT go on credit files

14. Finance 3 - Grants • Grants are non-repayable • Students from lower income households will be eligible for a non-repayable grant up to £3250 • If residual income is less than £25000, student is eligible for the whole grant • If income is more than £45000, student is eligible for none of the grant • A sliding scale works in between the upper and lower limits • If a student is entitled to the maximum grant, the maximum maintenance loan is reduced

15. Finance 4 - Bursaries • Universities have to provide additional (non repayable) support to students who receive the full grant • These are non-repayable • A number of bursaries are available in healthcare • A number of scholarships are available in engineering and IT • Universities also have “Access to Learning Funds” which are available to students on low incomes

16. Information available • www.hotcourses.com • www.prospects.ac.uk (What do graduates do? Section) • DEL – “Financial Support for Higher Education Students” (Apply in February/March) • DEL – Student Finance Branch • Education & Library Boards • www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport • www.studentfinanceni.com • www.moneysavingexpert.com

17. What if I need help?? • www ucas.com/parents (sign up to receive the UCAS parent guide and quarterly email bulletins) • Contact Mrs Browne at school (90702777 or fmcauley789@c2kni.net • Check the school’s website – updated monthly to allow parents to see what is happening that month