1. Farmor’s Sixth Form Where Next? Summer / Autumn 2013

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

3. The Process

4. What the UCAS form entails Personal details Education history and results (all U grades now have to be recorded too) Employment history Choices (up to 5 for all courses except medicine which have 4) Personal statement (4000 characters or 47 lines) Tutors then add predicted grades and a reference.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 2013 and then decide I want a gap year?

9. 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

10. An offer example: Psychology: This offer is subject to you obtaining grades AAA at A-Level in 3 subjects excluding General Studies. Obtain Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics. Business Management: This offer is subject to you obtaining A minimum total of 280 points, consisting of at least 220 points at A Level or equivalent; including a grade C or above in A-level Business Studies or Applied Business. COPE can be counted towards the overall score, but not towards the A level requirements.

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Choosing Courses and Institutions The Internet www.ucas.ac.ukwww.ucas.ac.uk :UCAS – One Stop Shop (University Clearing and Admissions Service) www.prospects.ac.ukwww.prospects.ac.uk - where your subjects may take you

18. 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? www.opendays.com

19. 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 www.unistats.com Benefits from being student centred and current (2009 results currently being displayed)

20. The Guardian

25. 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

26. Money Matters Maintenance Grant – ‘Free Money’ Maximum grant of £3250 pa Based on Household Income Non-repayable – NOT part of loan system

27. Money Matters Student loan for Maintenance 65% available to everyone regardless of parental income 35% dependant on parental income Annual Amount but allocated termly Higher figures if attending London universities

28. The exact amount full-time students can borrow depends on: your family’s income where you live what year of study you’re in what help you get through the Maintenance Grant You can also get student grants to help with living costs. Maximum Maintenance Loan rates for full-time students Where you live and study Maintenance Loan You live at home £4375 You live away from home and study outside London £5500 You live away from home and study in London £7675 You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas £6535

30. 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 www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

31. Repayment of Student Loans

32. Money Matters Total Debt & Repayment £9000 tuition fee pa £27000 £5500 Maintenance Loan£16500 Total Debt£43500 BUT… Written off after 30 years Rate of Interest linked to Inflation

34. Money Matters Discounts / Scholarships / Bursaries You may find some offers: 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 £300 Offers in Kind – free laptops / rent rebates / sports memberships etc Disability Allowance – specific support like a laptop for dyslexic students.

35. University of Bath…

37. Scholarship example An applicant applies for a place on a degree scheme at Lancaster and receives a conditional offer (via UCAS) of a place provided that they achieve BBB at A-level. The applicant may be told that if they achieve grades of AAB or higher, and make Lancaster their firm choice, they will receive an Academic Scholarship of £1,000 per year.

38. 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

39. “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. ApplicantsOffersEntrants Cambridge806297198 Durham2026499116 Edinburgh1683481136 Warwick140045095

40. Competition 9% drop in applications but mostly from older students. More places, but for AAB or ABB students (so lower grades may get squeezed out). Popular courses at top universities have had up to 20 applicants per place. Course fees are still changing.

41. The APPLY system Students will be applying online This enables UCAS applications to be done at home Training to be given in Futures Week They will receive a guidebook and full support Lunchtime drop-ins available throughout the autumn term

42. Entry Tests BMAT: for Medicine, Veterinary & Pharmacology at Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Veterinary College, UCL, Imperial - £42.50 (2012) Test on the 7 th November. Apply by the 30 th September. UKCAT: Medicine - £65 Book by 21st September – taken at a Pearson test centre between 3 rd July and 5 th October. LNAT: for Law at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Kings, Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL - £50 Other Entry tests – for example: Maths @ Cambridge, History @ Oxford, Natural Sciences @ Cambridge

43. 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

44. Thank you … any questions?