1 / 24

Applications, Admissions and Finance Amy Wigham Education Liaison Officer

Applications, Admissions and Finance Amy Wigham Education Liaison Officer. @ UniofReading | www.reading.ac.uk. Why go to University?. You need a degree for some jobs Study something you enjoy Better career prospects and earning potential Transferable skills Social opportunities

Download Presentation

Applications, Admissions and Finance Amy Wigham Education Liaison Officer

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Applications, Admissions and Finance Amy Wigham Education Liaison Officer @UniofReading|www.reading.ac.uk

  2. Why go to University? • You need a degree for some jobs • Study something you enjoy • Better career prospects and earning potential • Transferable skills • Social opportunities • Meet new people • Develop confidence and independence

  3. What can you study? • Traditional subjects- English Literature, Maths, Geography • Vocational-Teaching, Pharmacy, Social Work • Unusual courses- Theatre Arts, Education and Deaf Studies, Meteorology, International Football Management • Combined Courses – Music and Maths, Management and French

  4. Remember every course is different... • Course requirements • Course content • Accreditations • Number of contact hours • Student/staff ratios • Assessment – exams/ coursework • Support available • Opportunity for work placements • Study abroad • Teaching facilities- labs, lecture theatres, computer rooms etc.

  5. How to choose a university

  6. How to choose? • Prospectuses and subject brochures • Websites • University guides and websites (Times, Guardian, Unistats, The Student Room, Complete University Guide)

  7. Open Days and campus tours • Check dates and if you have to book • Make a plan for the day • Visit your Department of interest first • Decide on your other priorities: accommodation, sport, social facilities • Ask lots of questions Does it feel right???

  8. The admission procedure • UCAS is a central clearing house • Online application • 5 choices - Invisibility of choice • Consistent and Realistic choices • References • Decisions are made by universities • Post application visit days • Interviews vary between institutions

  9. When do I apply? • September 2013 Applications for 2014 entry begin • 15 October 2013 Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, Dentistry, Medicine and Vet Science • 15 January 2014 Closing date for 2014 applications. • End March 2014 Majority of decisions made • Early May 2014 Deadline for applicants to make replies to offers

  10. What do Universities look for? Motivation Commitment Experience Knowledge Technical Skill Inter-personal Skills Academic potential Enthusiasm Dedication Tenacity Intellect Aspirations

  11. Applying to university What could be included? • Why you are interested in the subject • Details of your key skills • Any work experience • Other achievements • Your future plans • Tasters and Masterclasses • Any sponsorship/placements you have applied for • If you taking a year out, your reasons why • Your social, sports or leisure interests

  12. Student Finance Tuition Fees for 2013 Entry • Full-time UK/EU undergraduates will be charged a tuition fee up to £9,000 for 2013/14 • This tuition fee will not have to be paid upfront if students take out a non-income assessed tuition fee loan from Student Finance England • Tuition fee loans • Paid directly to the University • Repayment until after graduation when the graduate is earning more than £21,000 • Maintenance Loans • Dependent on place of study and where student will be living • All loans have a variable interest of RPI plus up to 3% • Maintenance Grants and grants available to help students with disabilities or dependents (non repayable) • University bursaries and scholarships (non repayable)

  13. Maintenance Loan: UK students Everyone is entitled to a loan to cover living costs. 35% of the maximum loan amount students receive depends on their parental/household income. Repayments start after the student is earning over £21, 000.

  14. What about repayment?www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk • Repayments start the April after they leave/graduate after the student is earning over £21,000 pa (£1,750 per month) gross • Any loans ( tuition and living cost) combined for one single monthly repayment taken out of their salary. • They repay 9% of what they earn above £21,000 • Repayments are collected by HMRC • A student loan is very unlikely to affect a students ability to get a mortgage (The Council for Mortgage Lenders) • Outstanding balances are written off after 30 years • No penalties for early repayment

  15. Loan RepaymentComparison

  16. Student Finance Maintenance Grants for 2013 Sliding scale will be: £42, 611 income and over: Receive no grant Between c.£25,001 and c.£42,611 Receive some grant c.£25,000 income and below: Receive full grant • Extra help with living costs for some students • Maximum non repayable grant in 2013 will be £3,354

  17. The Paperwork! • They can estimate how much support they can get online: www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator • Start research early . Application is online via Student Finance England ( or paper PN1 form). • Apply from early www.gov.uk/student-finance. Applications being accepted now • Deadline for application to ensure that loans are received by the beginning of the course is 31st May 2013 • 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 we request straight away recorded delivery • Make sure you ‘consent to share’ your information. Otherwise, your university may not be able to make its own assessments for financial support.

  18. Student Spending £70 - £170 £30 £5 -£10 £5 - £10 £10 £2-£5 £10 £30+ £10 - upwards £25 - upwards • Accommodation • Bills ( not in halls) • Toiletries • Laundry • Phones • Stationery/photocopying • Transport/travel (local) • Food • Sports/societies • Socialising Total Approx £255+ (30 weeks=£7650) Student spend will vary depending on course, location and spending habits of the individual ( full loan Elsewhere £5, 500)

  19. Student Finance Other sources of income • Scholarships / bursaries – all Universities will have different packages • Part-time work Term-time (recommended maximum - 16 hours per week!!) Vacation Professional placement • Sponsorship • Parents • Campus banks

  20. University of Reading National Scholarship Programme Universities charging over £6,000 must participate by providing matched funding to support students from with a household income of less than £25,000 • Music Scholarships & Sports Scholarships (Up to £800 towards specialist music tuition & awards of up to £2,000 towards sports membership) • Pre – entry travel bursaries - Return travel to Visit Day or Interview. HEFCE-defined UK areas of low participation in HE • Pre-Application Bursary - UK students with a disability • Access to Learning Fund (Hardship Fund) Awards (usually non-repayable) can help with emergency expenditure or unexpected shortfalls in living costs • Hardship Fund A University fund for enrolled EU and overseas students

  21. How to save money • Buy used textbooks • Apply for relevant scholarships/bursaries • Self-catered rooms/ Avoid en-suite/double rooms • Use bike as transportation • Book any travel early with discount • Buy non-branded products • Choose best mobile phone plan • Avoid gym membership • Go to “University Nights” rather than town • Shop around for discounts

  22. Conclusions • Investment in your education and your future • University can be expensive but rewarding • It’s all about proper budgeting and time management • Write a budget and stick to it! • Get a job (income + skills) • Enjoy your time at University • Apply early for finance.

  23. Further Information Useful Websites www.gov.uk/student-finance www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/ www.thestudentroom.co.uk/ ( finance and university choices) www.ucas.co.uk www.reading.ac.uk/studentfinance twitter.com/sf_england facebook.com/SFEngland

  24. Any Questions • Come visit us ! • Open days • Saturday 21st September • Saturday 26th October • Wednesday afternoon campus tours • Email: student.recruitment@reading.ac.uk @UniofReading|www.reading.ac.uk

More Related