HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Welcome and Programme Introductions Applications – Mr I Price Finance – Mrs P Shann Questions

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Overview of Support Tutorial programme Pastoral team Form tutors Higher Education Day Higher Education Evening Leeds HE Day - UCAS Convention

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Key Dates Year 12 Summer Term – Research – 1 st Draft of personal statement 15 Oct 2013 – Oxbridge, Medical, Veterinary, Dentistry 19 Nov 2013 – School deadline for all applications 15 Jan 2014 – UCAS deadline

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL SPECIALIST ADMISSIONS IN MUSIC, DANCE AND DRAMA CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) n Application system is very like UCAS but with some important differences n Music application deadline is OCTOBER 1 ST 2013 (IF STARTING IN 2014) n Dance and Drama deadline in usually same as UCAS – check prospectus. n In addition to the school subject reference, you also need a ‘specialism’ reference (to be arranged through Mrs Shann). n Offers are made differently: they can be ‘guaranteed’ or ‘reserve’ (which means you are on a waiting list). Full details from Mrs Shann if you decide to apply through CUKAS

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL The successful UCAS application

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Good advice; accepted by students Early application Good personal statements Detailed references Thorough preparation for interview A broad curriculum and good results Reasons For Success

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL The application form UCAS apply Maximum 5 choices A good personal statement A detailed reference Predicted grades

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Think carefully about choices Do not mix courses or apply for 3 different courses at one university Check universities’ entry requirements carefully (aptitude tests for some courses in Law, Medicine, Dentistry) Be realistic! Advice

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Look carefully at institutions’ numbers i.e. 35 applications for each place as opposed to 5 Visit your top 3 choices Early application Oxbridge, veterinary, dentistry and medical course A gap year? Deferred entry Advice

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Early interviews Early offers - sets targets & increases motivation Concentrate on studies In many highly competitive institutions 33% of offers go to the first 15% of applications Advantages of early application

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL A good personal statement...

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL A comprehensive reference...

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL With a senior member of staff Performance debrief & advice In the week before your interview See Mrs Shann Mock Interview

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Visit to Higher Education Fair Higher Education Day UCAS apply Personal statement completed References begun by subject tutors Exam grades given - guide for choice Visits to Open Days! Timetable - June/July Year 12

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Forms, personal statements and references completed Forms processed From October - mock & real interviews October to March - offers Decisions on two final choices (late April) August results & confirmation of offers (IB July 2014) Timetable – Year 13

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Specified A level grades in 3 designated subjects (plus specified AS level grade). Specified A level grade in 1 designated subject + specified grades in choice of others (may include General Studies) Total IB score and specified score in particular subject (24-45 points) Universities’ requirements

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Specified grades across all subjects (may include General Studies and/or a mix of A levels and AS levels) Total points offer (may include General Studies and additional AS) Universities’ requirements

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL A Level Points A*=140 A = 120 B = 100 C = 80 D = 60 E = 40 AS = counts as half points shown

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Acceptances 1 firm and 1 conditional (insurance) Recommendation That insurance should be appreciably lower and carefully considered Offer of university places

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Mrs P. Shann Assistant Director of Sixth Form

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Higher Education – what are the costs?  Tuition Fees  Accommodation & Food  Other living expenses (travel, books, clothes, spending, etc.) (travel, books, clothes, spending, etc.)

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Where will the money come from?  Tuition Fee Loan  Maintenance Loan  Maintenance Grant  National Scholarship Programme  Disabled Students’ Allowance  Part time job / own savings / parents help?

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL REPAYABLE NON REPAYABLE to ‘Student Finance England’ (SFE)  Tuition Fee Loan  Maintenance Loan  Maintenance Grant  National Scholarship programme  Disabled Students’ Allowance

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Tuition Fee Loan ~ (for Sept 2013 entry)  This is the yearly amount universities will charge students to study. They vary by university and also by course, but the maximum that new full-time students can be charged is £9,000 a year (fixed for 2014/15 entry)  Universities that want to charge more than £6,000 have to make sure that students from all income groups have access to their courses  Full amount can be borrowed as ‘Tuition Fee Loan’ each year, and is only paid back when student is earning above £21,000 annual salary  The SFE pay these Fees direct to the University – not into student bank account  Can be paid ‘up front’ by parents / student if desired

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Maintenance Loan ~ (figures for Sept 2013 entry: expected to be plus 1`% for 2014/15 entry) Maintenance Loan ~ (figures for Sept 2013 entry: expected to be plus 1`% for 2014/15 entry)  To cover the cost of accommodation, food and living  Paid at the start of each term – direct to the student bank account  Maximum available is £5,500 each year (£7,675 for living & studying in London)  For students living at home, the maximum is £4,375  65% of the max. is guaranteed to all students  The remaining 35% is ‘means tested’ according to joint parental income  This will be added to the Tuition Fee Loan and paid back as one amount

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Means Testing ~   The SFE will take into account the gross combined parental income (or of one parent and their partner) less certain allowances (e.g. pension contributions, allowances for younger siblings, etc) – this is then known as your ‘residual income’   Based on earnings for the previous tax year (eg. April 2012 to April 13 if student applying to study in 2014/15)   If you expect a 15% drop or more in income, then you can ask to be assessed on the current tax year

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL   Repayments will only start when the student is earning above £21,000   The ‘loan interest rate’ will be inflation (RPI) + max. 3%   9% of income earned above £21,000 is paid back each year through automatic salary deduction at source e.g. income £21,000 – monthly repayment £0 income £24,000 – monthly repayment £23 income £27,000 – monthly repayment £45   Repayments stop if salary falls below £21,000 at any time   Outstanding repayments are written off after 30 years from when you start to pay it back   No penalty for early repayment of student loan   This student loan will not show on credit files nor affect future credit ratings Loan Repayments ~

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Non Repayable Finance ~ Maintenance Grant: (expected to be plus 1% for entry 2014/15) n Maximum available will be £3,354 per year for students starting in 2013 n ‘Means tested’ according to household income n Currently residual incomes less than £25,000 receive the full grant n Between £25,001 and £42,611 receive a partial grant n Those households with a residual income over £42,611 will not be eligible for this grant. n Paid in 3 instalments, at the start of each term n If you receive a Maintenance grant your Maintenance Loan will be reduced (ratio of £1 to 50p). Therefore more non repayable grant = less repayable loan

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Non Repayable Finance ~ National Scholarship Programme : n £150m National Scholarship programme to help students from lower income families. (income up to £25,000) This may include reduced or waived tuition fees, or free accommodation for example. Each university will decide what support they’ll offer so you need to check and see what your chosen university is offering and whether you’re eligible. The individual details are available on university and college websites

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Non Repayable Finance ~ NHS Bursary : n NHS courses are currently eligible for a bursary from the ‘NHS Student Bursaries Scheme’ n Application forms and a downloadable booklet - ‘Financial help for Health Care Students’ - are available on where full details on NHS finance is availablewww.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students You can also get further advice by phoning for NHS bursaries

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Non Repayable Finance ~ Disabled Students’ Allowance : n As well as a general allowance each year, finance is available for specialist equipment, travel costs, etc. n There is a specific guide called ‘Bridging the Gap’ with full details of eligibility and what is available (tel ) n The following websites have further information – (student section)

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL 1. 1.Students & parents complete an online application form at - from January 2014 (students will also receive summary information for parents in January, with the correct finance figures for 2014/15) The website also offers an online demo and presentation, taking you through the whole application process 3. 3.There is also an ‘entitlement calculator ‘ where you can calculate a rough estimate of loans/grants likely to be available to you 4. 4.Following receipt of your application, ‘Student Finance England’ will inform you of all the financial support that is available to you How do I apply?

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL IMPORTANT- You MUST complete a ‘student finance application’ in order to receive the Tuition Fee payment to the university, even if you are sure that you are not eligible for any further financial help - if not you may be required to pay the entire Tuition fee (which is in reality more than the maximum £9,000 Universities may be asking for) and students would not then be eligible for a loan during that year

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Helpful advice ~ ( for students and parents) n Students should try to take up a part time job in their holidays and save money for Uni whenever they can n Open a new ‘student bank account’ (banks will require your ‘offer letter’ from the Uni as evidence before you can do this) n A railcard is the best ‘free gift’ from a bank! n Get an NUS card as soon as possible after Uni term starts, for lots of local, national and international student discounts n If necessary, organise a part time job as early as possible – every uni has a ‘job agency’ n When you know how much money is available to you, try and calculate a weekly/monthly budget plan before arriving at University

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL n Avoid credit cards – leave them at home n Contract mobile phone – make sure you know who’s footing the bill n Avoid taking small amounts of cash from the ‘hole in the wall’ on a regular basis – can be a new student’s biggest downfall n Keep track of your finances each week and don’t think that you are loaded when the first payment goes into your account n You are likely to need more money at the start of your course for things like ‘Fresher's Week’, sports membership, going out more with new friends, equipment, etc. Helpful advice ~ ( for students and parents)

HUNTINGTONSCHOOL Further Information For the most up to date and correct information visit For general enquiries call ‘Student Finance England’ on (Mon to Fri: 8am to 8pm; Sat and Sun: 9am to 5.30pm) resources.aspx for an online finance calculator resources.aspx Pick up the ‘NHS information sheet’ here if relevant Feel free to take any of my remaining 2013/14 ‘money matters’ brochures