1. 30/08/20151 An introduction to UCAS and Higher Education choices Welcome

2. 30/08/20152 Available options Explore the possibilities… Employment Further education Gap year activities University (higher education) Subjects - performance and enjoyment Match subjects to courses Some vocations require specific choices

3. 30/08/20153 University and course choices Location and type (campus/city) Full-time or sandwich courses Interests - other opportunities available

4. 30/08/2015 4 What else should I think about? Course details - modules Entrance requirements (UCAS tariff) University/college open days Location Accommodation Graduate destinations & employment Tuition Fees (A range between £6000 and £9000) Financial incentives (Grants/bursaries)

5. The provision of higher education in the UK Number of institutions Number of courses Applicants Acceptances Statistics from UCAS, 2014 370 37,000+ 677,373 495,596

6. 30/08/2015 6 How do I apply/gather information? UCAS website (www.ucas.com) University & college prospectus’, websites and admissions tutors Careers library Careers interviews Guidance & advice – SFMT, Tutors, family & friends Centigrade Sixth Form website (www.netherhallsf.org)

7. 30/08/20157 Centigrade Self assessment form completed in Autumn & reviewed in Spring Yr12 150 questions on interests, personal qualities, skills & broad abilities Academic information also includes other qualifications, key skills, etc. Suggests suitable areas of interest, courses and locations for students

8. 30/08/20158 UCAS – the process at Netherhall UCAS Online application form – Remember to apply as part of a school/college (Netherhall) Personal statement (checked with tutor) Preliminary meeting with Mr Clarke Tutor writes reference based on subject teacher information which is then reviewed by Mr Clarke Final copy of UCAS form sent to us Pay the UCAS fee (online) Meet with Mr Clarke to help students with final checks… submit to UCAS UCAS Application Completion!

9. 30/08/20159 The UCAS tariff 40E20E 60D30D 80C40C 100B50B 120A60A 140A*70A* AS levelA level

10. 30/08/201510 Example A student taking three GCE A Levels plus one AS qualification. A2 Grade English grade A 120 History grade B 100 Economics grade C 80 300 GCE AS Psychology grade B 50 350

11. 30/08/201511 UCAS UCAS opening date for applications is 1 st September Students can make a choice of up to five university courses Interviews compulsory for Oxbridge & for applications to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine & teaching. (Deadline of 15 th October) All other courses have a December deadline (Netherhall) University & College offers made November – April Students can hold 2 offers for places (F) firm & (I) insurance

12. 30/08/201512 Gap Years and deferred entry… Consider your interests Find out – whole wealth of information on the web and via Tutors This option allows you to make your higher education choices, but gives you the option of doing something else for a year

13. 30/08/201513 Useful contacts Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) - www.ucas.com www.opendays.com School website - www.netherhallsf.org - HE and careers information - Where do I go from here guide - Sample personal statements

14. www.practitioners.slc.co.uk STUDENT FINANCE 2014/15 AN INTRODUCTION

15. Section 1 – The Student Finance Package Section 2 – Additional Support Section 3 – Student Loan Repayment Section 4 – Application Information Section 5 – Resources SESSION CONTENTS i

16. Bursaries & Scholarships Tuition Fee Loan Maintenance (Living Cost) Support Additional Support The Student Finance Package 1 THE STUDENT FINANCE PACKAGE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS INCLUDES:

17. Universities and colleges* can charge new full-time students up to £9,000 per year (£6,750 part-time) for tuition fees Eligible students won’t have to pay any tuition fees up front A Tuition Fee Loan is available to cover the fee charged by the university or college (Up to £6,000 for designated courses at private HEIs) The Tuition Fee Loan doesn’t depend on household income SLC pay any Tuition Fee Loan directly to a university or college The loan is repayable, but only when the student’s income is over £21,000 a year TUITION FEES & LOANS OVERVIEW 1

18. Maintenance support is available to help with living costs a student will face while in higher education Two main types of support are available, Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant The Maintenance Loan is repayable and all eligible students are entitled to receive some funding The amount of loan available will depend on where a student lives and studies Maintenance support is paid directly into the student’s bank account each term 1 MAINTENANCE SUPPORT OVERVIEW

19. Full-Year Student* 65% Non Means Tested 35% Means Tested Maximum Loan Parental Home£2,871£1,547£4,418 Elsewhere£3,610£1,945£5,555 London£5,038£2,713£7,751 Overseas£4,290£2,310£6,600 MAINTENANCE LOAN MEANS TESTING *Slightly lower rates of support apply to final year students 1

20. The Maintenance Grant doesn’t have to be repaid How much grant a student can get depends on their household income (100% means tested) Household income thresholds for 2014/2015: MAINTENANCE SUPPORT Household Income: Up to £25,000 Household Income: Up to £42,620 Full Grant of £3,387 Partial Grant 1 MAINTENANCE GRANT OVERVIEW

21. As with the Maintenance Grant the maximum Special Support Grant a student could get is £3,387, students could be eligible for a SSG if they: Are a lone (single) parent Have a partner who is also a student and one or both of them are responsible for a child/young person under 20 who is in full-time education below higher education level Have a disability and qualify for the Disability Premium or Severe Disability Premium Are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1

22. Have been treated as incapable of work for at least 28 weeks Have a disability and qualify for income-related Employment and Support Allowance Are waiting to go back to a course having taken agreed time out from that course due to an illness or caring responsibility that has now ended Are aged 60 or older Entitled to Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance Eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit Students receiving the Special Support Grant will not see a reduction in their Maintenance Loan entitlement SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1

23. Household Income Maintenance Grant Maintenance Loan Total £25,000 & under£3,387£3,862£7,249 £30,000£2,441£4,335£6,776 £35,000£1,494£4,808£6,302 £40,000£547£5,282£5,829 £42,620£50£5,530£5,580 £42,875£0£5,555 £50,000£0£4,836 £62,132 & over£0£3,610 COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT LIVING AWAY FROM HOME, OUTSIDE LONDON 1 Students can get a quick estimate of their student finance entitlement using the calculator on gov.uk/studentfinancegov.uk/studentfinance

24. 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 fee waivers or cash Scholarships: Can be linked to academic results or outstanding ability in an area such as sport, music or art Can be subject specific and are limited in numbers BURSARIES & SCHOLARSHIPS OVERVIEW 1 Students should check university websites early and ask at open days for information on support available and how to apply

25. Extra money or support may be available to students if they: Have children or adults dependent on them Have a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty Are studying an NHS or Social Work course NHS courses include: Nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, chiropody, dietetics, radiography, occupational therapy, the later stages of medicine and dentistry For further information and applications students should visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OVERVIEW 2

26. Students won’t make repayment contributions until their income is over £21,000 a year (£1,750 pm) gross On entering repayment, this threshold will rise annually in line with average earnings increase Full-time students will begin to repay in the April after graduating from/leaving their HE course (from April 2016 at the earliest) Part-time students enter repayment in the April 4 years after they started their course, or the April after they leave their course, whichever comes first Repayments will be a basic 9% of income earned over £21,000, but if income falls to £21,000 or below, repayments will stop STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS AN OVERVIEW 3

27. Income each year before tax Income from which 9% is deducted Monthly Repayment (Approx) £21,000£0 £25,000£4,000£30 £30,000£9,000£67 £35,000£14,000£105 £40,000£19,000£142 £45,000£24,000£180 £50,000£29,000£217 £60,000£39,000£292 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE FIGURES Early repayments can be made at any time, but any outstanding loan balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment 3

28. Interest added will vary, depending on a students circumstances: During study until entering repayment Interest rate is: Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Income: Below £21,000 Interest rate is: Set at RPI Only Income: £21,000 to £41,000 Interest rate is: RPI plus up to 3% Income: Above £41,000 Interest rate is: Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% The interest rate applied is updated once a year in September, using the rate of RPI from that March which is carried forward STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS THE INTEREST 3

29. While studying and until whichever comes first of: April after graduating or leaving a course April 4 years after the start of a course Income: Under £21,000 Income: £21,000 up to £41,000 Income: Over £41,000 Interest Rate Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Retail Price Index (RPI) Only Retail Price Index (RPI) + Up to 3% Retail Price Index (RPI) +3% Interest added will then be linked to a students income (From April 2016) PART-TIME LOAN REPAYMENTS INTEREST ON A LOAN WILL VARY Students who finish or leave a course before April 2016; RPI plus 3% until the April after leaving the course, then RPI only until April 2016 3

30. www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk 3 STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS DEDICATED WEBSITE

31. Apply online at gov.uk/studentfinance as soon as possible to make sure student finance is in place for the start of their course Register on UCAS and we can let students know when it’s time to apply They do not need a confirmed place at university or college to apply Make a note of their account log-in details and keep them safe Agree to share information from their application, this helps apply for many bursaries and some scholarships 4 APPLICATION INFORMATION KEY MESSAGES

32. APPLICATION INFORMATION COMPLETING AN APPLICATION Before starting an application, students should have the following to hand: Passport - SFE can check identity using valid UK passport details University and course details Bank account details and National Insurance number If parents or other sponsors will be supporting a students application, they will need their own account on GOV.UK and provide information including: National Insurance number(s) Household income information Details of other child dependants If sponsors can’t submit income details online, they should send a photocopy of evidence including: P60s, Pay slips or Tax returns 4

33. www.gov.uk/studentfinance GOV.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO APPLY 4

34. 4 NEW LOOK ‘MY ACCOUNT’ MAKING IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE & UNDERSTAND

35. SFE require all students to provide identity evidence in order for their application to progress. The following list details acceptable identification evidence (ID): UK Students - Identity Evidence Students confirm identity by providing valid passport details in their online application If they haven't included passport details with online application they will need to send one of the following: A completed UK Passport Details Form (If holding valid passport) Original UK birth or adoption certificate along with a countersigned Birth/Adoption Certificate Form (ADIF) STUDENT FINANCE APPLICATIONS IDENTITY EVIDENCE 4

36. If supporting an application for means tested student finance, SFE will need to see details of parent(s) partners or other sponsors household (taxable earned and unearned) income and National Insurance number(s) Earned income includes: Wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay Long-term disability benefits received prior to minimum retirement age Net earnings from self-employment Unearned income includes: Interest from savings (only the annual summary is required) Benefits and Pensions Rent from property or a room For most applications, SLC verify income from these NI numbers with no need to send any documents, unless we ask for them 4 SUPPORTING AN APPLICATION HOUSEHOLD INCOME

37. Series of informative guides, introducing the main areas of student finance to students and their parents, including: Financial Support for Students Disabled Students’ Allowances How Students are Assessed and Paid Student Loan Terms and Conditions Download now from the SFE finance page on The Student Room SFE FULL & QUICK-START GUIDES STUDENT GUIDES NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2014/15 5

38. www.thestudentroom.co.uk/studentfinance THE STUDENT ROOM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & RESOURCES 5

39. www.facebook.com/SFEngland www.twitter.com/sf_england SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW SFE FOR THE LATEST NEWS 5

40. UNISTATS COMPARE UNI’S COURSES AND FEES 5 www.unistats.direct.gov.uk