Returning to Study

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Returning to Study An Insight into Higher Education Pippa Waller Routes to Higher Education

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Returning to Study. An Insight into Higher Education Pippa Waller Routes to Higher Education. An Insight in to Higher Education. What can I study? How do I choose? What do I need? What will it be like? How will I fund it? Will I….? What sort of support is there?. Is it just me?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Returning to Study

Page 1: Returning to Study

Returning to StudyAn Insight into Higher Education

Pippa WallerRoutes to Higher Education

Page 2: Returning to Study

An Insight in to Higher Education

• What can I study?• How do I choose?• What do I need? • What will it be like?• How will I fund it?• Will I….?• What sort of support is there?

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Is it just me?

Fresh start

Change of priorities since schooldays

Higher Education never an option

Doing something you have always wanted

to do

Career enhancement

Change of domestic responsibilities

Inspired by a subject

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What can I study? Types of Qualifications

• ‘Bachelors’ Degrees (BSc, BA …)– Sandwich degrees– ‘Honours’ (Hons)

• Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education

• Foundation Degrees • Higher National Diplomas

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What can I study?Subject areas

Vocational/Professional

Teaching, Social Work, Health

Professions, Medicine Law, Engineering,

Architecture…Work-related

Psychology, Business Studies, Natural and Physical Sciences,

Computing…

AcademicHistory, English, Politics, Modern

Languages, Criminal Justice,

International

Relations…

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How do I choose? Career considerations

• Profession-specific qualifications– Ensure job profile is right for you– Get work experience, speak to people in the field– Websites: Careers and professional bodies– What happens if you change your mind?

• Is there a job at the other end?– Research: Labour market; graduate destinations– Be proactive about improving employability– Consider ‘sandwich’ courses

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How do I choose?Subject considerations

• Personal fulfillment/enjoyment– What subjects interested you in the past?– Hobbies? May be a connection!

• In need of ideas?– Try UK Course Finder or other guidance

packages• Ensure the course goals match yours

– look beyond the title and general perception– look at subject combinations

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What do I need to get in?Academic requirements

• General Admissions policy• ‘Ability to study at a higher level’–

advanced level academic study• ‘Recent’ academic study• Specific subjects in some cases

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What do I need to get in?Possible qualification routes

• Access to Higher Education• ‘Year zero’ courses• A and AS level• BTEC/Edexcel qualifications• Open University credits• Foundation degree pathways• Other qualifications/experience

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What do I need to get in?What Admissions Tutors look for

• Focus, enthusiasm and commitment to choice of course

• Genuine interest and understanding• Experience for professional qualifications• Potential to benefit from the course and

from higher education generally• Relevant skills and qualities to succeed

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How do I apply?

• UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service– 15 October Medicine, Dentistry &

Veterinary Medicine, Oxbridge– 15 January All other applications

• Advisory deadlines but strongly recommend meeting them– will guarantee your application is considered

• Application distributed to Universities

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What will it be like?Common learning and teaching styles

• Face-to-face’ learning• Lectures & tutorials• Group work• Presentations• Lab work

• Placements

• Private study• Research• Directed• Discussion

Responsible for own learning

• Contact hours• Operational

hours

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What will it be Like?Assessment methods

• Examination• Coursework, reports & essays• Practical assessment• Problem-based learning• Seminar presentations• Group projects

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How will it be funded?

Student Finance England•Tuition fee loan

•Maintenance loan (upper age limit)

•Maintenance or Special Support Grant

•Adult Dependant’s Grant

•Parents’ Learning Allowance

•Childcare grant

•Disabled Students’ Allowances

Subject to meeting eligibility criteria and means-testing

University•Bursaries under the ‘OFFA’ agreement

•University Access to Learning Fund

Other•Social Work Bursary

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How are health professions courses funded?

Dip HE

Non means tested bursaries

BSc (Hons)

Means tested bursaries

Reduced rate student loan

Subject to meeting eligibility criteria

University Access to Learning Fund

Fees paid by DoH

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Ah yes, loans….

• Not credit scored

• Low interest

• Charged from point of borrowing

• Repayments start April after graduation if earnings > £15,000 pa

• Government writes off outstanding balance 25 years after this date

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Loan Repayment

£1,250

£1,333

£1,417

£1,500

£1,583

£1,667

£1,750

£1,833

£1,917

£2,000

£2,083

£0

£10

£20

£30

£40

£50

£60

£70

£80

Monthly Earnings

Monthly Repay-ments

9%

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Will I…..

fit in?

manage financially?

be good enough?

fit it all in?

be able to study with dyslexia?

ever find my way around!?

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What we can do

• Academic support– Tutor– Learning Skills– Disability ASSIST– Careers– Library– Media workshops– Computing

• Practical/personal– Accommodation– Freshlings Nursery– Chaplaincy– Health & Welfare– Students Union– Funding

• Transitions

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What it’s all about

• Studying something you love• Personal accomplishment• Meeting new people• Improving your prospects• Improving self-confidence• Indulging and enjoying yourself!

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Good luck and thank you for

listening!

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Pippa [email protected]

01752 587963