Higher Education Evening

1. Higher Education Evening Mrs Gray – Applying to University Mr Alexander & Sejal Modasia – Student Life Sian Hiskey UCS – Student Finance

2. Applying to University Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

3. Why go to Higher Education ? • 40 % of the UK population go to HE, 1.8 million students • 30% of under 21 year olds progress on to HE • 80% of graduates are employed in graduate-entry jobs • 70% of graduates are not using their subjects directly in their work • Graduates earn on average 65% more than non-graduates during their working life (up from 44% in 2001) • Net financial gain from A Levels £47,000, from a degree £227,000 • Graduates enjoy more fulfilling and enjoyable jobs, better health, less likely to smoke and enjoy more successful relationships • 84.2% of graduates are happy with their careers

4. Why read for a degree? • Transferable skills – knowledge, communication, team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, IT • Greatly improved career prospects, graduates are highly valued by employers • Essential for some careers • Academic and social experience of university life • Three million fewer lower skilled jobs in the UK by 2020 • 40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a degree

5. UCAS • The University and College Admissions System • An independent charity • One of most popular websites in the UK • The most popular educational website in the UK • UCAS website is updated hourly • UCAS card offered to all students – advice/ discounts • Process is totally electronic and on-line at www.ucas.com • Parents section – www.ucas.com/parents - free e -newsletters and a parents blog

7. Applications 2012-2013 • 2.8% rise in applications on 2012 (558,898) the highest number of 18 and 19 year old applicants ever. 10% increase in applications from outside the EU • Applicant numbers have dramatically increased over the past five years with a small dip last year after fees increased. 180,000 not placed in 2011-12 • University places are very competitive with certain courses very heavily oversubscribed. October 15th deadline up 2% to the highest number ever 56,753 • 27% drop in the number of undergraduate degree courses in the last six years due to government cuts

8. Researching Options • In the UK 35,000+ courses are available at more than 320 institutions (125 universities and 195 HE colleges) • Open days start in March and continue in April, June, July and the Autumn Term • Best to visit two institutions if possible • Taster courses available – www.london.ac.uk/tasters • www.opendays.com • Course search for 2014 opens May, registering for 2014 application opens in mid June

9. Finding the Right Course • Research thoroughly – 10% who start university do not finish their degree • Course search via UCAS – grades and points • Entry profiles – 80% of courses have these • Entry requirements • Relevant work experience for vocational courses • Location • Type of institution – campus or city? • Employability activities offered

10. Top Ten Degree Courses 2012 1. Nursing 2. Business Management 3. Design Studies 4. Law 5. Psychology 6. Medicine 7. Computer Science 8. English 9. Social Work 10. Sports science

11. The Application Process • 5 choices of course • 4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry plus one other choice if required • Personal statement • Length – 4,000 characters • Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about individual • Plagiarism – Three times higher in 2012 up to 8,500 cases • Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

12. Deadlines • Northgate internal deadline • Oxbridge & Medical – 23 September 2013 • All others – 4 November 2013 • Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2014 • Some Art and Design Courses – 24 March 2014

13. Additional Tests • UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test • BMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment Test • LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law • CUKAS – Musical Conservatoires • Oxbridge additional tests – History, Modern Language, Maths, English and Thinking Skills, Physics

14. Gap Year? • Two Options • Deferred entry – 2015 • Apply Sept 2014 through Northgate with final results – usually leads to an unconditional offer Gap Year students 2012 – Where did they go? • 1. Employment to earn money for university • 2. Work experience relevant to degree/career choice • 3. Doing something close to home

15. Finalising the Choice • Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2014 • Students must make their decision by 9 May 2014 • Students should not make any decision until all five offers are in • Students choose one firm offer - first choice • Students choose one insurance offer with a lower entry requirement as a second choice (at least 40 points below) • Clearing – July onwards – up 9% to 55,721 • Adjustment period – post results – up 140% to 1,329

16. Important Dates • Oxbridge Conference – 16 April 2013 • Higher Education Fair – 12 June 2013 • Medics Course - 1 July 2013 • Oxbridge preparation course – October 2013 • Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – November 2013

17. Student profiles • GCSE grades are used as a major part of the decision making process. Some competitive courses are now openly asking for 8A* grades • Some degree courses are asking for specific GCSE grades e.g. a B in Maths for many Psychology and Business courses, B grades in Maths, English and Science for Primary teaching courses • Very competitive courses, for example Medicine and Oxbridge, need a high number of A* grades at GCSE, at least 3 A grades at AS and one or more A* grades predicted at A2

18. Support at Northgate • Careers Department, Mrs Gray, Post 16 Adviser Mrs Hunt/Mrs Smith, Careers Adviser Mrs Young • Tutors • Sixth form team • Subject teachers • Head of Sixth Form, Mr Elmy • Deputy Head, Mr Trench

19. Student Life Mr Alexander – Assistant Head of Sixth Form SejalModasia – Ex Northgate Student, 4th year medical student at Kings College London

21. My Mum Said….. • Finance • Accommodation- Halls, Flats and Houses • Emotion • Preparation • Keep their room as it is • Washing

22. Workload • Not 9-5 • Independent study • Range of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab time • Different assessment methods

23. Life Skills • Independence • Ability to manage money • Cooking, cleaning, washing?

24. Social Life • Meet lots of new people • Students’ Union - represents students • Students’ Union also runs all of the clubs and societies • Sports • Part Time Job?

25. Student Support • University Student Support teams offer a range of information, advice and guidance services including: • Accommodation • Finance • Counselling • Careers Guidance • Disability Support • Health and Wellbeing

26. Sejal Modasia • What did you study at Northgate? • What and where do you study now? • How have you enjoyed being a student? • What has been difficult? Any initial problems? • What do you wish you had known then that you know now? • How has the experience been for your parents?

27. Student Finance: A Parents’ Guide Sian Hiskey Widening Participation Officer

28. The UCS Ipswich Campus

29. UCS Degrees

30. Student Life and Employment Prospects

31. Overview Expenses at university fall broadly into two categories: • Tuition costs • Access to lecturers and academics • Library and IT facilities • Lab and practical activities and facilities • Does not usually cover fieldtrips • Living costs • Accommodation and food • Travel • Course books and stationary

32. Tuition Fees: 2013 Entry • Universities can charge up to £9000 per year if they meet criteria on access • UCS fees: • £8000 BA/BSc • £7500 Foundation degrees • Students can take a non-means tested tuition fee loan • Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the University from the Student Loans Company • Loans are repaid from the April after graduation, over 30 years • Some courses are funded by the NHS

33. NHS Funded Courses • The NHS will pay the tuition fees for some courses, and provide a means-tested bursary. These courses are: • Dental Hygiene • Nursing and Midwifery • Physiotherapy • Radiography/Radiotherapy • Speech and Language Therapy • Social Work students pay tuition fees but can also access a bursary from the GSCC

34. Support for NHS students

35. Living Costs: Maintenance Loans • Most students take a maintenance loan to help with living costs • Maximum maintenance loans for students starting University in 2013: • Student living at home: £4375 • Student living away from home: £5500 • Student living away from home and in London: £7675 • All students have to apply for their maintenance loan and grant, and tuition fee loan each year of study • All students are entitled to 65% of the loan. The remaining 35% is means-tested

36. Living Costs: Maintenance Grants • The Maintenance Grant is a non-repayable means-tested grant to help with living costs. • It is paid to students for each year of study. • Students must apply EVERY year.

37. Total Support 2013 Entry All students are also entitled to a tuition fee loan

38. Other Support • Parental contribution: Assessed by Student Finance England • Disabled Students’ Allowance: Available for full-time students, or students studying 50% of a course • Childcare Grant: Based on household income, and grant is calculated as 85% of actual childcare costs • Adult Dependent’s Grant: For students with an adult member of the family who is financially dependent on them • Access to Learning Fund: Available from UCS if students get into financial difficulty while studying

39. How to Apply • Students apply on-line on www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance • Applications are normally available from December • The information provided will be used to assess the means-tested support • Students who do not provide all the information requested will be assessed for the minimum support: tuition fee loan and 65% of the maintenance loan • Students will not therefore be assessed for the maintenance grant

40. Repayment of Loans • Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans are combined into a single monthly payment • Graduates start repaying the loans from the April after graduation, but only if they are earning over £21,000 per year • The repayment is 9% of earnings above £21,000 and payments are taken directly from the salary via the tax system. • Any remaining loan is written-off after 30 years * Tax/NI is calculated as 30% of earnings above £6000

41. Interest Rates • Interest rates will be applied to the loans: • While studying: RPI + 3% • After graduation, salary up to £21,000: RPI • Salary of £21,000 - £42,000: RPI + up to 3% • Salary of >£42,000: RPI + 3% • No early repayment charge • Repayments (and interest) change with individual circumstances

42. Old System vs New System Example 1 (old system): • Old system student borrows £21,000 at end of studies (£3,000 per year fees loan x 3 + £4,000 living cost loan per year x 3) • Plus interest owes approx. £23,000 after studies • Starting salary of £24,000 • Total repayments = £35,500 (repaying full balance in approx. 24.5 years) Assumptions: 2% salary growth, 3% average inflation/interest

43. Old System vs New System Example 2 (new system): • New system student owes £40,000 at end of studies (£9,000 per year fees loan x 3 + £4,300 per year living cost loan x 3) • Plus interest owes approx. £45,000 after studies • Starting salary of £24,000 • Total repayments = £22,000 (balance written off after 30 years) Assumptions: 2% salary growth, 3% average inflation/interest

44. Other Sources of Income • Part-time and vacation jobs • Bursaries and scholarships • Access to Learning Fund • Savings • Overdraft • Credit card • Supplementary grants

45. To Sum Up “A degree remains a good investment in the long term and is one of the best pathways to a good job and a rewarding career. Graduates, like everybody else, are facing tough times but the evidence shows they fare better than non-graduates and their prospects tend to pick up quicker during the recovery” David Willetts – Minister of State for Universities and Science 2012