Ponteland High School

Higher Education Evening

February 2013

Information for Parents

1. Choosing where to study & what to study

2. How the application process works at PCHS

3. Financial concerns

Higher Education

• Universities• Colleges and

Institutes of Higher Education

• Further Education Colleges

Single English Language (BA)

Joint Geography and Statistics (BSc)

Major/Minor Modern Languages with Accounting (BA)

Sandwich Applied Biology with Placement

Year (BSc)

Choosing the Right Institution• Where would I live?• Halls of Residence?• Self catering flats?• Private accommodation?

What type? Old or new? Collegiate? City or campus?

Accessibility? How far is it from home? How much will it cost to go home?

What Size? Number of students in total? Number on selected course?

Social Life? Clubs & societies? Sport? Music, theatre….

Choosing a course and an institution

www.ucas.com/parents

www.educationuk.orgwww.prospects.ac.uk

www.Whatuni.com

The Application Process at PCHS

The UCAS Application Form

Apply Online: www.ucas.com The form asks for:• Personal information • Examination results: GCSE, AS

+ other relevant exams• A2 subjects to be taken• Chosen institutions• Personal statement• Reference

The 2013 application costs: £12 for one choice; £23 for 2-5 choices

UCAS 2014 will go ‘live’ in July 2013

Applying to University

July 2013 Registration begins

September First draft of form ready

Tutors check formsReturn for corrections

Process repeated if needed

Students give Dr Allena hard copy of the

complete applicationfor fine-tuning

Forms returned to student if needed

Reference addedApplication sent to UCAS

if UCAS fee has been paid

Deadlines

Oxbridge, Medics, Vets & DentistsOfficial deadlines:

15 October

Everyone else

(apart from Art & Design Route B)15 January

Internal deadlines

23 September

28 October (draft)

How places are offered

Two systems:• Grades e.g AAB• Tariff points:140 = A* at A2 level120 = A 100 = B80 = C60 = D40 = E

Also:• Portfolios of work• Sample work• Interviews• Auditions• Tests• Unit grades• Contextual

information

Following offers through

• Track – a system by which students can monitor their application

• Students can elect to keep 2 offers:

Conditional Firm - CF

Conditional Insurance - CI

In August students are automatically allocated to their firm offer if they meet the grade requirements

The UCAS ReferenceAdmissions Tutors look for:

• Good academic performance

• Academic potential

• Inter-relation with personal statement

The UCAS Personal Statement

Suggested structure:• Why do you want to study this subject?• What have you done in the past that

makes you particularly suitable to study this subject?

• What else have you done that would contribute to the course and the university community and makes you an interesting and unique individual?

Reasons for Rejection

• Too many excellent candidates for too few places

• Unconvincing personal statement • Applicants for vocational courses not

demonstrating appropriate work experience• Predicted grades do not match expectations of

institution• Failure to meet the academic requirements in

August (leads to UCAS Extra in March or Clearing in August)

The Financial Aspect

‘ A mixture of a graduate tax and a loan on good terms’Martyn Lewis

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/ -https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance (online forms)

Tuition Fees

• Much of the cost of HE is still paid by the government

• In 2006 universities began to charge variable fees – currently capped at £9000 per year

• Most English institutions have opted for £9000 - ‘You get what you pay for’ image

An important messageNO undergraduates are required to pay any fees at any time while they are studying at university

• Fees can be paid at the time or deferred until after graduation, & only when earning at least £21,000 per year.

• This is done by taking out a fee loan alongside a maintenance (living cost) loan.

Student Loans

Two types which combined = amount of debt

a graduate repays

Living cost LoanPaid directly to student;

Income assessed3 instalments

Tuition fee LoanCovers fees

Paid directly to universityNon-income assessed

Living cost loans (2013 entry figures)

Students receive their loan in 3 instalments.

£5,500 max. for those living away from home

(£7,675 max. in London)

£4,375 max. if living at home

What will university cost?

Up to £9,000 fees per annum (+inflation)

So …

£9,000 per annum x 3 yr. degree £27,000

Living costs loan of about £16,000

Total loan debt on graduation perhaps around £43,000

Living Cost Loan + Grant

Variable rates dependent on income:

Income Loan + Grant = Total£25,000 £3875 £3250 £7125£35,000 £4784 £1432 £6216£40,000 £5239 £523 £5762£50,000 £4788 0 £4788£60,000 £3788 0 £3788

Special offers!

• Discounts likely for shortage subjects • Scholarships possible to encourage

more able students• Bursaries for disadvantaged and/or

high achieving students• Offers ‘in kind’ – laptops, rent rebates,

field trips, sports membership etc. Be cautious!

• Partners: www.ncl.ac.uk/partners

NHS Bursarieshttp://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/816.aspx - • Chiropody• Dental Hygiene• Dental Therapy• Dietetics• Nursing• Midwifery• Occupational

Therapy

• Orthoptics

• Physiotherapy

• Prosthetics & Orthotics

• Radiography

• Speech & Language

Loan Repayment

• Repayments begin once earning are in excess of £21,000

• Repayments are fixed at 9% of any income over £21,000

• Repayments are deducted at source• Interest is added according to the rate of

inflation and is means tested.• Outstanding loan debts are written off after 30

years.• Some on low salaries will NEVER pay off their

loan in full during the 30 years.

Typical Repayments

• Graduate salary of £21,000 or less: repayment = nil.

• Graduate salary of £24,000: • repayment = £22.50 pcm• Graduate salary of £30,000:• Repayment = £67.50 pcm• salary of £50,000• Repayment = £217 pcm

Additional Government Help

For certain undergraduates:• Disabled Students’ Allowance

• Parents’ Learning Allowance

• Adult Dependents’ Allowance

• Care Leavers’ Allowance

• Access to Learning Fund (AFL)

Is it worth the expense? It’s important to be realistic

What about getting a job?Study the university tables – jobs depend on subject,

degree qualification, institution & what else a student has to offer. A degree becomes a ‘screening device’ for employers

What if I want to make money?medicine (including vet.), dentistry, engineering &

economics fare well• But …most jobs do NOT depend on the subject of the

degree.• Graduate earnings are better than non-graduate

earnings (approx. £300,000 over a working life on average)

Is it worth the expense?

YES!• A life-changing experience• A long-term investment in your career• Many jobs only employ graduates • Opportunity to make the most of yourself• HE tends to happen once & the loan is only

taken out once

• But .. It’s not about money, but controlling your own destiny.

And now for something completely different!

Studying Abroad Information EveningWednesday 13th March at 17.30 

Durham Johnston Comprehensive SchoolCrossgate MoorDurhamDH1 4SU

Speakers from European and American universities will be present to discuss this option

• Parents information studying abroad: www.astarfuture.co.uk/parents.html