1. Ralph Thoresby School Preparing for University Stewart McGill

2. Aims Introduce the benefits of Higher Education
Understand key dates, including those for special courses
Consider application requirements for students participating in additional programmes
Begin to review the financial implications of going to university

3. Why go to University?

4. The earning potential
80% of jobs created in the last decade have been for graduates.
Graduates are 50% more likely to be promoted and 50% less likely to become unemployed.
Over 10 years, the average student earns £13,000 more.

5. The UCAS Process

6. Action Immediately
Consider what degree you may like to do and use UCAS to search ALL universities that offer this.
Only when you have a ‘long list’ should you begin to narrow this down.
Consider a) the grade requirement, b) whether there are additional opportunities like a year in industry or abroad and c) consider the university style.
Visit open days (You MUST book first).

7. You can apply to a maximum of 5 universities.
search.ucas.com
Quick Facts
You can apply to a maximum of 5 universities.
All universities see the same form (so don’t mention one of them in the personal statement).
It costs £23.

8. Two ways different sets of entry requirements
A given number of grades (e.g. AAB)
A given number of UCAS points

9. UCAS Points (A brand new tariff)
AS Levels
If you take an AS course and drop it after Year 12, you will get 40% of the full A-Level points

10. Getting started on UCAS
Students will be signed up to UCAS during the final week of term.
They can complete any part of it, but cannot submit it until 1st September.
School deadline is 15th October (which coincides with deadlines for medicine and dentistry as well as all courses at Oxford and Cambridge.

11. Seven Sections

12. The Personal Statement
Up to 4,000 characters over a maximum of 47 lines.
Why have you chosen the course? What do you hope to get out of university? What skills do you have now that will help?
How can we help at home?
Proof read it
Ensure that students meet the initial deadline of 27th July
Continue to encourage work on it over summer
Be realistic about accomplishments
NEVER COPY (TurnItIn knows)

13. Hearing Back from UCAS Conditional Offer Unconditional Offer
Unsuccessful
Withdrawn
Your two replies
A Firm
B Insurance
UCAS Extra
Clearing

14. Medicine, Dentistry and Oxbridge
Entrance Exams (BMAT, UKCAT, STEP)-Information on UCAS and the university webpage.
Interviews (Support available in school).

15. Mentioning University Programmes
Realising Opportunities Reach For Excellence-Access to Leeds Durham Supported Progression Sutton Trust (Summer Schools/Pathways to Law)

16. Student Finance

17. Myth Buster
True
False
Universities can charge up to £9,000 a year for tuition.
There is no longer a government grant.
I have to pay for my university course up front.
Everyone gets the same amount of money.
Because the grant has disappeared, I will not be entitled to any money.
I will have to start paying back my debt as soon as I finish university.
My parents have a good income so I will not get any help.
I want to go to London but will get the same amount of support at London universities.

18. Tuition Fees and Loans-How it works
With tuition fees of up to £9,000, how can you afford to go to uni?
Eligible students won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front.
A Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover the fee charged by a university
or college.*
A Tuition Fee Loan doesn’t depend on household income.
SFE pay the Tuition Fee Loan directly to your university or college.
The loan is repayable, but only when your income is over £21,000 a year.

19. But what about living costs?
A Maintenance Loan is available to help with your living costs while in
higher education.
All eligible students can get some Maintenance support.
The amount of Maintenance Loan you can get depends on where you
live and study.
Maintenance Loan is paid directly into your bank account each term.
Maintenance Loans have to be paid back but not until you’ve left university and you’re income is over £21,000 a year.

20. What’s the most I can receive for maintenance?
Parental home
Live at home while you study
Up to
£6,904
Elsewhere
Live away from home & study outside London
Up to
£8,200
London
Live away from home & study in London
Up to
£10,702

21. Our Household income means we would struggle to support our child financially
Many universities and colleges offer financial support to their students
through bursaries and scholarships:
Bursaries:
linked to personal circumstances and often, household income
awards can include discounted tuition fees, accommodation or cash
Sometimes an application is required and sometimes it isn’t. You must check on the university’s webpage for specific information.
Scholarships:
linked to academic results or ability in an area such as sport or music
can be subject specific and are usually limited in numbers (You typically have to apply)

22. Tips for Applying
Each year thousands of students apply late for their finance and have no
way to pay for their course or accommodation, some even have to drop out
...don’t let that be you!
Apply online at gov.uk/studentfinance*
Apply early to make sure your student finance is ready for the start
of your course.
You don’t need a confirmed place at university or college to apply.
Apply with your preferred choice, you can change details later if required.

23. Paying it back
You won’t make repayments until your income is over £21,000 a year.
If you study a full-time course, you will be due to start repaying in the
April after graduating or leaving higher education.
You’ll repay 9% of your income over £21,000 and if you’re employed deductions will be made from your pay through the HMRC tax system.*
If your income falls to £21,000 or below your repayments will stop.
Any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment.

24. What does that look like?
Income each year before tax
9% will be deducted from
Monthly repayment (Approx)
£21,000 £0
£30,000
£9,000
£67
£40,000
£19,000
£142
£50,000
£29,000
£217
£60,000
£39,000
£292

25. How much will I actually receive?
Household Income
Living Cost Loan
£25,000
£8,200
£30,000
£7,612
£35,000
£7,023
£40,000
£6,434
£45,000
£5,845
£50,000
£5,256
Over £62,180
£3,821

26. Key Dates Registration for Open Days-Now
Completion of the UCAS Form-Now
UKCAT/BMAT (medical exams) registration-Now
UCAS applications open-1st September
Ralph Thoresby seadline-15th October
Student Finance application opens-1st March
Deadline for applications for bursaries (direct from university)-Varies
Deadline for selection Firm and Insurance choices-4th May
Deadline for completing finance applications-31st May
Results Day-16th August
Deadline for formally accepting an offer-Immediately after results
Deadline for applying for university accommodation-Varies

27. Key Webpages www.ucas.com (for applications) search.ucas.com