1. Higher Education Evening Mrs Gray – Applying to University Mr Riches & Josh Hardman – Student Life Emma Blades UCS – Student Finance

2. Applying to University Applying to University Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

3. Why go to Higher Education ? 44 % of the UK population go to HE. 532,300 started at university in September 2015, the highest figure ever recorded 80% of new jobs are in occupations with high concentrations of graduates 80% of graduates are employed in graduate-entry jobs. There were 15.7% more graduate jobs available in 2015 than in 2014 70% of graduates are not using their subjects directly in their work Graduates earn on average 20 _ 100% more by the middle of their working lives than those without a degree Net financial gain from a degree averages £160,000 over a life time but can be as much as £500,000 (up to £12,000 per annum more) Graduates enjoy more fulfilling and enjoyable jobs, better health, less likely to smoke and enjoy more successful relationships 84.2% of graduates are happy with their careers

4. Why read for a degree? Transferable skills – knowledge, communication, team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, IT Greatly improved career prospects, graduates are highly valued by employers Essential for some careers Academic and social experience of university life Three million fewer lower skilled jobs in the UK by 2020 44% of eighteen years olds progress onto university

5. UCAS The University and College Admissions System An independent charity One of most popular websites in the UK The most popular educational website in the UK UCAS website is updated hourly UCAS videos/news app Process is totally electronic and on-line at www.ucas.com www.ucas.com Parents section – www.ucas.com/parents - free e - newsletters and a parents blog

7. Headline Figures 592,290 applicants by the January 15 th deadline Application numbers have increased for the past four years and have exceeded the level they were before the fee increase (583,530) Women are currently 35% more likely to go to university than men University places are very competitive with certain courses very heavily oversubscribed.

8. Researching Options In the UK 35,000+ courses are available at more than 380 Higher Education Providers Open days start in March and continue in April, June, July and the Autumn Term Best to visit two institutions if possible Taster courses available – www.london.ac.uk/tasters www.opendays.com Course search for 2017 opens May, registering for 2017 application opens in mid June

9. Finding the Right Course Research thoroughly – 10% who start university do not finish their degree Course search via UCAS – grades and points Entry profiles Entry requirements Relevant work experience for vocational courses Location Type of institution – campus or city? Employability activities offered

10. Top Ten Degree Courses 2015 1. Business and Administration (54,530) 2. Art and Design 3. Biological Sciences 4. Subjects allied to Medicine 5. Social Studies 6. Engineering 7. Computer Science 8. Physical Sciences 9. Education 10. Historical and Philosophical Studies

11. The Application Process 5 choices of course 4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry plus one other choice if required Personal statement – Length – 4,000 characters – Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about individual – Plagiarism – Three times higher in 2012 up to 8,500 cases Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

12. Deadlines Northgate internal deadline – Oxbridge & Medical – 19 September 2016 – All others – 4 th November 2016 – Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2017 – Some Art and Design Courses – 24 March 2017

13. Support at Northgate Careers Department, Mrs Gray, Post 16 Adviser Mrs Smith, Careers Adviser Mrs Young Tutors Sixth form team Subject teachers Head of Sixth Form, Mr Elmy

14. Additional Tests UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test BMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment Test LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law CUKAS – Musical Conservatoires Oxbridge additional tests – Many new tests being introduced in a wide variety of subjects

15. Gap Year? Two Options – Deferred entry – 2018 – Apply Sept 2017 through Northgate with final results – usually leads to an unconditional offer Gap Year students – What do they do? – 1. Employment to earn money for university – 2. Work experience relevant to degree/career choice – 3. Doing something close to home

16. Finalising the Choice Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2017 Students must make their decision by 7 May 2017 Students should not make any decision until all five offers are in Students choose one firm offer - first choice Students choose one insurance offer with a lower entry requirement as a second choice (at least two grades below) Clearing – July onwards – up 5% to 64,300 Adjustment period – post results – up to 1,382

17. Important Dates Oxbridge Conference – 19 April 2016 Higher Education Convention UCS – 30 June 2016 Medics Course – 4 th July 2016 Oxbridge preparation course – October 2016 Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – November 2016

18. Student profiles GCSE grades are used as a major part of the decision making process. Some competitive courses are now openly asking for 8A* grades Some degree courses are asking for specific GCSE grades e.g. a B in Maths for many Psychology and Business courses, B grades in Maths, English and Science for Primary teaching courses Very competitive courses, for example Medicine and Oxbridge, need a high number of A* grades at GCSE, at least 3 A grades at AS and one or more A* grades predicted at A2

19. Student Life Mr Riches – Teacher of English + Head of KS5 English Language. Josh Hardman – Ex Northgate Student, second year student at LSE London reading Government and Politics

20. What my mum thought… Finance (both of us!!) Accommodation / Survival Emotion Friends Preparation Outcomes

22. Workload Not 9-5 Independent study Range of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab time Different assessment methods

23. Life Skills Independence Ability to manage money Cooking, cleaning, washing (?!) Communication How to deal with problems

24. Social Life Meet lots of new people Students’ Union - represents students Students’ Union also runs all of the clubs and societies Sports Part Time Job

25. Student Support University Student Support teams offer a range of information, advice and guidance services including: – Accommodation – Finance – Counselling – Careers Guidance – Disability Support – Health and Wellbeing

26. A Minute With…Josh Hardman What did you study at Northgate? What and where do you study now? How have you enjoyed being a student? What has been difficult? Any initial problems? What do you wish you had known then that you know now? How has the experience been for your parents?

27. Student Finance

28. Tuition costs Living costs Cost of university

29. Tuition costs Up to £9000 per year UCS: £9000 BA/BSc £8000 FdA/FdSc Non-means tested Tuition Fee Loan Paid directly to the University from the Student Loans Company Cost of university

30. Living costs Maintenance Loan Means-tested Loan (per academic year) –at home: Up to £6,904 –away from home outside London: Up to £8,200 –away from home in London: Up to £10,702 Cost of university

31. Repayment of Loans One monthly payment Repayment starts the April after graduation - if earning over £21,000 per year Payments are taken from your salary via the tax system Any remaining loan is written-off after 30 years 9% above £21,000 Annual SalaryMonthly salary after tax*Monthly Repayments £21,000£12250 £23,000£1342£15 £25,000£1458£30 £30,000£1750£67.50 * Tax/NI is calculated as 30% of earnings above £6000

32. Extra Support Government support: Disabled Students’ Allowance Childcare Grant Adult Dependent’s Grant Access to Learning Fund UCS 2016 support: UCS Bursary Care Leavers Bursary

33. Other tips Part time jobs Paid internships Savings Student bank account Overdraft/credit card* Student discounts Learning to cook Budgeting * Emergencies

34. Is It Worth It? Graduates earn an average of £220,000 more in their lifetime than non-graduates Average starting salary: Graduates: around £25,000 Non-graduates: around £13,000 Other Graduate Benefits: Career flexibility Less likely to be unemployed A range of employment opportunities

35. Want to know more? www.ucs.ac.uk/studentfinance www.gov.uk/studentfinance Upcoming Open Events at UCS Ipswich Saturday 16 April 2016, 10.30am-2.30pm www.ucs.ac.ukschools@ucs.ac.uk

36. To Sum Up “More people go to university today than got five GCSEs in 1997” Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of UCAS