1. Applying to university: the timescale
June January 2019:
Students research into courses and apply using the UCAS online application form. Support is given in school; references are written.
September and October : Open Days at Universities
15 October 2018: Deadline for application to Oxford, Cambridge, medical and veterinary degrees.
15 January 2019:
Deadline for remaining applications. After this date, applications will be ‘late’.
January 2019 – June 2019:
Students (with parents) apply for finance online. UCAS will send prompts.
May 2019:
By this time students will have selected ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choice.
August 2019:
A level results published, places confirmed. Start of the Clearing process.
Tracking application: use the ‘track’ option on the left side of the screen to see updates and offers.

2. Higher education
The Costs and Support

3. HE: The costs
Maximum annual tuition fees of £9,250 will be charged by most universities for most courses. University is free at the point of entry; no fees are payable up front.
Other tuition related costs, including books and writing equipment, trips and visits, photocopying etc.
Living costs such as rent, utility bills, food, clothing, mobile phone and travel, as well as ‘fun’, and car tax, insurance and fuel if you own a car.

4. HE: Financial help available
Help available from a number of sources:
Tuition fee loan
Maintenance loan
Other grants, such as disability grants
Bursaries and scholarships
Part-time employment

5. Tuition fee loan (to pay for course fees)
Covers the full cost of the tuition fee charged by the university, i.e. up to £9,250 per year.
Paid direct to the university.
All UK students are eligible for the full amount.
Students do not have to take this loan if they wish, and are able, to pay privately.

6. Maintenance loan (to pay for living costs)
Paid directly to students in termly instalments.
Maximum amounts:
Means tested on ‘household income’
Max £
65%
35%
Living away from home & studying in London
£11,354
£7,380
£3,974
Living away from home & studying outside London
£8,700
£5,655
£3,045
Living at home
£7,324
£4,761
£2,563

7. Additional Support Students may be eligible for: Income Support
Housing Benefit
Childcare Grant
Child Tax Credit
Adult Dependents' Grant
Disabled Students’ Allowance

8. Bursaries, scholarships & other support
Universities can award bursaries or a reduction on tuition fees. Not everyone can get a bursary and they can be awarded for different reasons.
Bursaries do not have to be repaid.
Specific bursaries / support for students studying some health courses (NHS bursaries), social work and teacher training.

9. Repayments Parents are NOT responsible for repayments.
Remember, grants and bursaries do not have to be repaid.
Upon completion of the course, all loans are bundled together.
Repayments start in the April following graduation.
Student must be earning over £25,000 before repayments are made, and repayments stop if income falls below this.
Repayments are based on earnings NOT size of debt.
Repayments are calculated at 9% of earnings over £25,000.
All outstanding debt is written off after 30 years.

10. Interest and Repayments
Interest is charged from the moment the loan is given. The rate varies at different times , but the maximum charged will be the rate of inflation plus 3% .
Exemplar repayments are:
Income per year
Monthly repayment
£25,000 and under
Nil
£27,000
£15
£30,000
£37

11. Part-time employment
Most students now work while they are completing their courses.
Typical jobs include shop and bar work, although universities themselves are big employers of students.
This can provide vital additional income but must be balanced with university work.
Universities set guidelines as to how many hours students should work.