Farmor’s Sixth Form Where Next? Applying to HE Summer / Autumn 2012

Post A-Level Options University Employment Apprenticeship GAP Year Vocational Training Internship (experience with little remuneration)

Introduction – Why apply ? Have Fun Love of Learning Friends Get Away To Grow up To develop important transferable skills Initial employability Improving career prospects Course range & flexibility To pursue career goal

Why NOT to apply NOW Really no idea of course / career University is not for you – don’t kid yourself Financial – is this a valid reason? Not utilising your strengths Aspirations lie elsewhere

The Process

Overview A massive choice: 50,000+ possible courses at over 325 institutions reduced to a maximum of five Approximately 8 months to make choices – but the earlier the better A combination of practical, personal and academic factors

What if I want a Gap Year ? Finances Generally well received by universities Usually best to apply now and defer – where will you be in October/November next year ? Odd courses do not defer entry – watch out Ask yourself ‘why do I want a Gap Year?’ What if I apply for 2012 and then decide I want a gap year?

The UCAS tariff OFFERS Still vary between: a points offer: eg. 340 points and a grades offer eg. BBC Some offers include AS grade, others do not - BEWARE

Choosing courses and institutions A vast amount of information available: Tutors / Sixth Form Management Team Teachers Parents Connexions PA Library – Books HE/Careers days Websites Literature from institutions, careers guides and UCAS. Higher Education Convention – UWE Open Days UCAS Applications – Student Guide

5 th April HE Day 109 seminars on different aspects of post A level options. Only £4 Includes University information on a vast range of courses as well as Oxbridge, Medicine and vocational options.

How to Choose a University & make the most of Open Days Campus or City University What’s the difference? The University Teaching facilities Study facilities etc. Accommodation How much university accommodation available Student Lifestyle Social Life / Clubs & Societies / Cost / Sporting facilities Distance from home What is the optimum Quality League Tables – more info to come

How to Choose a Course Interest Type of Qualification Foundation / Honours Single / Joint Opportunities to Specialise Duration of Course Sandwich / Industrial Placements Subject Specific Open Days Entry Requirements Be realistic Course Content / Structure Methods of Teaching and Assessment Career Opportunities / Intentions Tuition Fees, Scholarships, Bursaries & Grants Employment opportunities

Choosing Courses and Institutions The Internet :UCAS – One Stop Shop (University Clearing and Admissions Service) - where your subjects may take you Use the Stamford Test – On the UCAS website. Gives some initial ideas - FREE

Choosing Courses and Institutions Books The Times Good University Guide The Guardian University Guide The Heap Guides – Course Offers / Details The Virgin Alternative Guide The UCAS Directories Open Days How many to go to? How to make the best of them?

University League Tables Existed since 1993 The Guardian / The Times / the Complete University Guide Many indicators used often taken from common sources (HEFCE) Can be useful but beware! The Guardian results based on more current information Unistats Benefits from being student centred and current (2010 results currently being displayed)

The Russell Group Universities University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University University of Edinburgh University of Glasgow Imperial College London King's College London University of Leeds University of Liverpool London School of Economics & Political Science London School of Economics & Political Science University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen's University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton University College London University of Warwick Likely to demand higher qualifications Oxbridge require at least 8 A* grades at GCSE as well as A*AA at A level. Competition can be higher in popular courses.

Money Matters Student Finance 4 prongs Maintenance Grant Student Loans to cover Maintenance / Living Costs Loans to cover Variable Tuition Fees Sponsorships / Bursaries / Discounts / Offers in Kind

Money Matters Maintenance Grant – ‘Free Money’ Maximum grant of £2906 pa Based on Household Income Below income of £25,000 = £2906 grant £25,000 – £50,020 = Partial maintenance grant Non-repayable – NOT part of loan system THIS MAY CHANGE AS A RESULT OF TUITION FEE INCREASES

Money Matters Student loan for Maintenance 72% available to everyone regardless of parental income 28% dependant on parental income Annual Amount but allocated termly Higher figures if attending London universities Eg. for a non London university living away from home £3564 approx– not based on parental income £1386 approx – based on parental income Potential Maximum Student Loan: £4950 (London - £6928) Approx £145 per week during term time

Money Matters Variable Tuition Fees Maximum of £9000 per year (England) No-upfront payment – annual loan is added to final debt Payment is paid automatically by ‘Student Finance England’ to the University Sandwich courses: For year away tuition fee often lower UCAS website details

Money Matters Total Debt & Repayment £9000 tuition fee pa £27000 £3564 Maintenance Loan£10692 Total Debt£37692 Repayment based on earnings after graduation (this was the old picture… what will it be now?) Under £15000 – No repayment £ £7 per month £ £22 per month £ £45 per month £ £300 per month Written off after 25 years Rate of Interest linked to Inflation

Some facts…. The difference in gross hourly earnings (full- time workers) between graduates and those educated to A-level is 47%. The average lifetime earnings of a graduate is £160,000 more than those of a non-graduate with two A-levels. Within this average there is a range from £340,315 for medical and dental graduates to £51,549 for a humanities degree and £34,949 for an arts degree.

Money Matters Discounts / Scholarships / Bursaries With increased tuition fees all universities are tasked to encourage less wealthy students to attend. They do this through: Discounts – likely for shortage subjects (Cash Sum) Scholarships – to encourage able students Bursaries – for low-income / disadvantaged students. Students receiving full maintenance grant and paying full tuition fee will receive a bursary of at least £319 Offers in Kind – free laptops / rent rebates / sports memberships etc Look for specific offers at your chosen Universities; ask at open days. Get the highest grades you can.

Choosing the wrong course / uni … Many people do it Can be a very costly mistake Do everything you can do make sure you choose the right uni / course

“I’m too good to be rejected” An applicant for History “ I can accept the rejection from Cambridge, as so many able students apply, but I could not understand why I was rejected by the other universities” (Durham, Edinburgh, York), The Times, 9 th May ApplicantsOffersEntrants Cambridge Durham Edinburgh Warwick

Competition 23% increase in applications 200,000 more students applying than 4 years ago No increase in places and £449 million cut in HE funding Popular courses at top universities have had up to 20 applicants per place Higher offers and increased numbers of unsuccessful applications

HOW TO GET IN? The UCAS Form Basic Information 5 Course Choices – Unis can NOT see other choices made Personal Statement Reference – From Subjects / Put together by the tutor

The APPLY system Students will be applying online This enables UCAS applications to be done at home Training to be given in the summer term They will receive a guidebook and full support

Entry Tests BMAT: for Medicine, Veterinary & Pharmacology at Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Veterinary College, UCL, Imperial - £21.50 (2009) Test on the 2 nd November. Apply by the 30 th September. UKCAT: Medicine - £60 Aberdeen, Queen Mary (Barts and The London), Birmingham (graduates only), Brighton and Sussex, Dundee, Durham, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Glasgow, King's College, Hull and York, Imperial (graduates only), Keele, Leeds, Leicester, Warwick (graduates only), Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford (graduates only), Exeter and Plymouth (Peninsula), St. George's, Sheffield, Southampton, St. Andrew's, Cardiff, Queens (Belfast) Book by 24 th September – taken at a Pearson test centre LNAT: for Law at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Kings, Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL - £40 Other Entry tests – for example: Cambridge, Oxford, Natural Cambridge

ROLES Role of the Student Carry out research – and get going NOW Work Hard – it’s a competitive world Ask for help Role of the tutor Provide support and guidance with personal statements Check forms / personal statements Write the reference Monitor offers / rejections Primary source of advice Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form Check all Personal Statements & References Guidance & Support Parents’ Role Open days ‘Gentle’ encouragement

And now? Refreshments by PTA Information about Student Finance. Information about Gap Years. Prospectuses for Universities. Open Days on Notice board. Information on Connexions / Year in Industry etc. Information about 5 th April HE Day

Thank you … any questions?