The Next Step to Higher Education

1. 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 35,000courses 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

5. 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’

7. 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…

10. Which course? Computing? Why not try: • Computer Engineering • Computer Science • Computer Technology • Software Engineering • Computing Software Design • Business Computing

11. Which course? • Brewing and Distilling • Wildlife Management • Cosmetic Science • Packaging • Disaster Management • Voluntary Sector Management • Sustainable Design • Property Development

12. 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

13. 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 A*AB-AAA or DDD + LNAT Bournemouth 320 points Plus check subject requirements

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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 Key dates

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

23. 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

25. 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

26. 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%)

27. 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

28. 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

29. MAINTENANCE LOAN – 13/14 RATES ! ! Additional means tested loan is available for each extra week of study for students attending their course beyond 30 weeks (*) Slightly lower rates of support apply to final year students

30. Non-repayable 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.

31. COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT Student living away from home, outside London 2013/14

32. 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

33. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT – THE FIGURES Repay 9% of income above £21,000 Any outstanding loan balance will be cleared 30 years after entering repayment. !

34. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT – INTEREST RATES During study until entering repayment • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Earnings: Below £21,000 • Interest rate is: • Set at RPI Only No penalties will be placed on students making early repayments. ! Earnings Between: £21,000 - £41,000 • RPI plus some amount • between 0% and 3% Earnings: Above £41,000 • Interest rate is: • Retail Price Index (RPI) +3%

35. 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

36. 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

37. Find out more from UCAS @ucas_online www.yougo.co.uk www.facebook.com/ucasonline http://ucas.faq-help.com www.youtube.com/ucasonline

38. 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

39. 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.

40. 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?