Year 13 Parents’ Information

 Choice of A-level 3/4 subjects (Sept)  Interview with Careers staff (Sept)  UCAS applications (Sept / Oct)  CAO applications (Sept – Dec)  F&HE applications (Feb 2014)  Subject specific mock interviews (Oct)  Offers released (Oct – June 2014)  Offers accepted (Oct – June 2014)  Results of re-sits sent to universities (March)  A-level examinations (May/June)  A-level results (August 2014)

 University Talks (Jan – April)  UCAS Conference (March)  Personal statement event (April/May)  Pupils should carry out university research over the summer and familiarize themselves with the UCAS website  QUB and UU Open Days, September 2013

 Talk and prompt action  Encourage research of options  Discuss finance  Give support

 University  College of Further and Higher Education  Gap Year  Work and Training

 Home or Away?  Consider financial implications  Attend Open Days and visit universities  Discuss the advantages of taking a Gap Year  Deferred Entry?

 Pupils register on UCAS September  Online application started  Personal Statements submitted early September  Interviews with Careers staff September

 Personal Details  Up to 5 choices  Examination results (GCSE and AS-level)  Personal Statement  Predicted A-level grades  Academic reference

 Check all personal information is correct  Examination results should be copied from examination certificates  A Parent/guardian should be ‘nominated access’  Information on disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty may require you to contact the universities to discuss any support you might need before filling in this section

 5 courses  No rank order  Blind entry  Consider choices carefully

 Must be tailored to the courses applied for  Must evidence enthusiasm and interest for the courses  No spelling or grammatical errors  Highly competitive

 Subject Teachers predict A-level grades using AS- levels a an indicator of A2-level performance  GCSE and AS grades are entered on the UCAS application (even if unsuccessful)  Some universities also require unit or module grades

Includes:  An academic assessment from A-level teachers  Information on the applicant in relation to achievement school responsibilities, extra- curricular interests and volunteering  Details of work experience

UCAS deadlines:  Oxford/Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary - 15th October  All other courses - 15th January  CUKAS ( Conservatoires Admissions Service UK) 1 st October School deadlines:  Music (CUKAS) 9 September  Oxford/Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary - 16 September  Recommend that all other applications should meet the 14 October

 Applications to the Republic of Ireland Information session held October  Deadline February 2014  10 choices in order of preference  No personal statement  No reference  No Tuition Fees  Student contribution of 2,500 Euro and maintenance costs are assessed as for other courses by Student Finance NI

 Some courses require an admission test  It is the responsibility of the pupil to arrange these  Information can be found online TESTRegistration OpensRegistration Deadline UKCAT UK Clinical Aptitude Test 1 st May th September 2013 BMAT Biomedical Admissions Test 1 st September th October 2013 LNAT National Admissions Test for Law August 2013June 2014 HPAT Ireland Health Professions Admissions Test November 2013January 2014 Hpat UU Health Professions Admissions Test October 2013January 2014

 Discuss with Careers staff  A Gap Year should be planned  University deferral has to be managed carefully  Bloomfield will assist with UCAS applications for past pupils (if not engaged in full time education elsewhere)

 Check level of course (5&6 HE)  Foundation Degree/ HND  Highly competitive  Apply early (Feb)  UCAS application?  Fees can be less  Maintenance loans are available for HE courses

 Pupils must take a pro-active approach  Apprenticeships and Work related training opportunities are increasing  Pupils notified of opportunities throughout the year by the Careers Department

Student Finance Northern Ireland

 Fees  Living costs (Maintenance) Financial help is available for both

 Northern Ireland (£3,575)  England (up to £9,000)  Wales (up to £9,000)  Scotland (up to £9,000)  Republic of Ireland (2,500 Euro) Fees do not have to be paid up front. Student loans cover the cost of fees and will be paid back when students start to earn over £16,365 per annum

 Living away from home in London - up to £6,780  Living away from home elsewhere - up to £4,840  Living at home - up to £3,750  Paid in three installments at the start of each term  The loan amount is based on joint household income

 Based on joint family income  Less than £19,203 - Full grant of £3,475  Between £19,204 and £41,065 - Partial grant  Over £41,065 - No grant

 Students qualify for this if they are in receipt of a student maintenance grant  Each university operates a different system for assessing this  Please contact the universities for details

 Awards for academic achievement  Awards for studying certain subjects  Awards and bursaries from professional bodies  Contact the universities for more information

 Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, Dietetics, Nursing, some social work courses  Check with student Finance NI

 Student Loans are only repayable once students have left their course and are earning over £16,365 a year  Repayments based on what is earned, eg earnings at £18,000 pay back £12 … earnings of £25,000 pay back £65 a month  Grants are not repayable unless a student withdraws from their course or fails final examinations

 Non-advanced courses, eg AVCE, BTEC Nat Dip, NVQ, GNVQ at local colleges of F&HE  Student aged 19 on 1 July 2010  Support for fees available  Means tested bursary available  Support for Disabled Students Contact:Student Finance NI Further Education Awards Section 1 Hospital Road Omagh

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 The information in this PowerPoint was correct when shown in May  As information on university applications and finance can change, you are advised to check before taking any action.