Advice and information for parents and carers of applicants to Higher Education

Queen Mary, University of LondonAdvice and information for parents and carersof applicants to Higher Education

Contents

Queen Mary, University of London 3

Why choose Queen Mary? 4

Why study at the University of London? 6

Support for students at Queen Mary 8

Accommodation at Queen Mary 10

What are the career advantages of a degree? 12

Student finance explained: fees, loans, grants and bursaries 14

Help your child to budget 17

Studying at home – help your child get the best out of university 19

Off to university... 21

Parent case study 23

What happens next? 24

Useful contacts and websites 25

At Queen Mary, werecognise that manyparents have concernsregarding their son ordaughter’s transition tohigher education, fromworries about how theirchild will be supported andwhere they will live, to

financial considerations – and whether a degreereally does improve career prospects. TheEducation Liaison Office has produced thisbooklet in order to address these issues. Wehave a huge amount of experience of advisingboth students and their parents on a whole rangeof higher education-related topics, regularlyvisiting schools to give talks, and meetingthousands of students each year through thesevisits and attendance at UCAS conventions. Wekeep up to date with the issues that concern youand are happy to pass on our knowledge.

We hope you will find this booklet useful, but ifyou have any queries about higher education ingeneral and Queen Mary in particular, please donot hesitate to contact the Office. Either [email protected] 020 7882 3064 or visitwww.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/educationliaison

Brigitte BurrowsHead of Education Liaison

The information given in this brochure is correct at the time of going topress. The College reserves the right to modify or cancel any statement in itand accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any such changes.

Why choose Queen Mary?

Sending a child off to university can be a daunting prospect for many parents.However, you can rest assured that your son or daughter will be fully supported in a welcoming environment during their time at Queen Mary.

Here are just some of the reasons why QueenMary is a great place for your child to study:

Satisfied StudentsThe 2011 National Student Survey (which asksstudents about their experiences at university)places Queen Mary equal first in London (amongthe major universities). Queen Mary also scoreshigher than the average achieved by any of theRussell Group universities confirming that thevast majority of our students are very satisfiedwith the quality of the teaching they receive here,our campus and the quality of a University ofLondon degree from Queen Mary.

The University of LondonQueen Mary is the third largest University of London college, with around 16,900 students,and all Queen Mary graduates gain a Universityof London degree – recognised world-wide as aguarantee of quality.

High-quality researchThe vast majority of our academic staff alsoundertake research. This means that students willbenefit from being taught by real experts in theirsubject, often doing cutting-edge research – whoseenthusiasm and knowledge is guaranteed to ruboff. Students get a real buzz from, for example,reading their tutor’s comments on a news item in a national newspaper, or seeing them in a TVdocumentary. The latest Government ResearchAssessment Exercise (RAE) rankings confirmedour position as a top research university, ranking us 11th nationally (The Guardian).

4 Queen Mary, University of London

The Queens’ Building

Teaching qualityAt Queen Mary we use small group teaching andtutorials in many subject areas, and students’feedback is encouraged and acted upon. We alsohave an excellent modular scheme which allowsstudents considerable flexibility to choose topicswhich interest them. Our excellent performancein the 2011 National Student Survey confirmsthat the vast majority of our students are verysatisfied with the quality of their degree and of theCollege.

Good career prospectsOur location between the City and Docklandsgives our students a huge advantage in the jobmarket, and many of our graduates go intofinancial careers such as investment banking,accountancy and management consultancy. Thequality of Queen Mary graduates is well-known,and many blue-chip companies advertise theirtraining places with us and visit the College torecruit students. Our students graduate with thenecessary transferable skills to succeed in theircareers, so it is no coincidence that Queen Marygraduates are consistently in the top 10 forgraduate starting salaries in the UK (The SundayTimes University Guide 2012).

Campus lifestyleWe are one of very few city-based campusuniversities, so students mix with people frommany departments and never have to walk far.The Westfield Student Village at the Mile EndCampus boasts 1,195 en-suite bedrooms and alljust a few minutes’ walk from our lecture theatresand the Students’ Union. Your child will never bebored here! We have a vibrant student body whoare able to take advantage of extensive sports,social and entertainment activities.

Friendly communityatmosphereEveryone who visits Queen Mary is struck by our friendliness. Relations between staff andstudents are excellent, and the social life of the College is legendary. The Students’ Unionsupports a big range of clubs and societies.Never underestimate the value of a healthy social life at university!


Why study at the University of London?

You’ll know that Queen Mary is part of theUniversity of London, but what exactly does this mean for your child?

Choice and reputationWith 3,700 courses to choose from at around 40 colleges and smaller institutes, virtually every degree subject you can think of can be studied somewhere in the University of London – from anthropology and ancienthistory to tropical diseases and zoology. The quality of the teaching and research at the colleges and institutes of the University is consistently high (check the league tablescores in The Times or the Guardian online), and the University as a whole also has an outstanding international reputation.

Career prospectsEmployers know about the University of Londonand the calibre of its graduates. Wherever in theUniversity your child studies, he or she will get aUniversity of London degree, respected world-wide as the sign of a well-qualified graduate –giving your child a head start in their chosencareer. Nearly half of all the University’sgraduates stay in the capital after completingtheir degrees, are highly sought after by topcompanies and organisations – and earn goodsalaries.

University of LondonStudents’ Union (ULU)Based in Bloomsbury, ULU is one of the largeststudents’ unions in the UK, representing all120,000 students in the University. ULUcampaigns on educational and regional issuessuch as student finance, fair trade and ethicalemployment. It supports a long list of clubs andsocieties, and publishes the London Studentnewspaper. They also run the Duck and Dive pub,the Gallery restaurant and a live music venue.

Sports For the more athletically inclined, Queen Marynow boasts a brand new industry leading gym,with two fitness studios, daily fitness classes anda ladies only section. QMotion Health and FitnessCentre is the place for your son or daughter tokeep fit and have fun. But ULU also runs somevery high quality sports facilities. Energy Base is open to all the University’s students andmembership includes use of the 60-station gym and 33-metre swimming pool, exerciseclasses and even beauty therapy treatments (atreasonable prices). Students can also take part in London-wide intercollegiate sports leagues or play for ULU itself. Recent ULU successesinclude top rankings in the British UniversitySports Association (BUSA) championships forthe water polo and ice hockey teams, and othermedals in sailing, karate and volleyball.


CultureIs your son or daughter a culture vulture? Goodnews: several of the University’s Colleges houseimportant museums and galleries. These includeThe Courtauld Institute of Art Gallery, and the Petrie Museum of Archaeology at UCL. Manyothers also collaborate with cultural institutionslike the British Museum, the British Library, the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the South Bank Centre, the Science Museum, theNational Theatre, the National Film Theatre,Shakespeare’s Globe and Tate Modern. Free (the magic word for students) lectures, concertsand events on a wide range of subjects areorganised by all of the Colleges. Recent popularevents at Queen Mary have included lectures by Jon Snow, Channel 4 News anchor (on ‘TheReporter as Witness’),Melvyn Bragg (on ‘Arts and The Media’), Andrew Marr (on ‘Journalismand History’), and Jeremy Paxman (on ‘Why dowe still have a monarchy?).

LibrariesIf one library just isn’t enough for your child, then you will be pleased to hear that they alsohave access to not only all the other Colleges’collections, via the Inter-Library Loan system, but also to the main University Library at SenateHouse in Bloomsbury. This is a fantasticresource, housing important special collectionsin a range of subjects including English literature,history, palaeography and manuscript studiesand even magic! It’s definitely worth joining.


Senate House

Support for students at Queen Mary

solutions to problems, Welfare Advisers can alsogive advice on how to avoid problems before theyhappen. For example, students can get help withplanning a budget and check that they aregetting all the funding they are entitled to.

Professional counsellors and therapists are alsoavailable to offer support with emotional,personal and psychological concerns.

The Advice and Counselling Service alsowelcomes enquiries from prospective students.Your son or daughter can contact them on 0207882 8717, or visit their website atwww.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

Disability and Dyslexia ServiceQueen Mary’s Disability and Dyslexia Serviceprovides advice, guidance and support forstudents with disabilities and/or specific learningdifficulties like dyslexia, as well as providingsupport to students who may be coming to termswith a recent diagnosis of a disability or specificlearning difficulty.

Many students who do not necessarily considerthemselves disabled are offered support andguidance through the Disability and DyslexiaService, as well as students with short-termdisabilities and those with specific learningdifficulties.


Although your son or daughter will obviously betreated as an adult once they start university, it is reassuring to know that he or she will be fullysupported should any problems arise. At QueenMary we take our students’ welfare very seriouslyand pride ourselves on providing a realcommunity atmosphere in which your child can flourish and make the best of the studentexperience. Most students have a trouble-freetime at university, but just in case problems doarise, your child will have access to the followingsupport:

Personal tutorThis is a member of the teaching staff of your sonor daughter’s department, with whom they candiscuss academic issues such as module choice,and any difficulties they might be having. Theyshould meet with their personal tutor early in thefirst term and will usually keep the same tutor fortheir entire degree.

Advice and Counselling ServiceThe Advice and Counselling Service at QueenMary, University of London offers a range of freeand confidential professional support services.

Welfare Advisers have specialist training to offerprofessional advice on a range of welfare rights,financial and legal issues. This helps students tounderstand their rights and entitlements andaccess professional support to remedy anyproblems, therefore enabling them toconcentrate on their studies. Advice includes: allaspects of Student Finance; (loans, grants,bursaries, fee status); welfare and disabilitybenefits; NHS funding; council tax; immigrationlaw and more. As well as helping students find

Students with disabilities or dyslexia who areinterested in studying at the College may contactthe Disability and Dyslexia Service staff on 0207882 2756 for an informal discussion about theirsupport needs whilst studying, or [email protected]. Prospective students withsensory or mobility difficulties are invited toevaluate the College environment on a campustour. Queen Mary, University of London, is acampus-based university; this makes itparticularly attractive to students with disabilities.More information on the support availablethrough the Disability and Dyslexia Service canbe found at www.dds.qmul.ac.uk

Student Health ServiceQueen Mary’s onsite Student Health Serviceprovides a number of medical services for itsstudents including consultations with a GP ornurse.

Information about other health services such asdentists, opticians and sexual health is alsoavailable at the Student Health Service. It isrecommended that students register with theStudent Health Service as soon as they arrive atCollege in their first term.

Careers ServiceAs a parent, you are undoubtedly concernedabout your child’s career prospects. QueenMary’s Careers Service supports our students inall aspects of career planning and jobapplications throughout their time at the College.

As well as offering the opportunity to talk to aCareers Consultant one-to-one, the team runs acomprehensive Information Library andorganises over 80 on-campus events throughout

the year: employer networking events, skillstraining and recruitment fairs.

The team also maintains an online Jobs Boardgiving students 24-hour access to part-time jobvacancies, work experience opportunities(including internships) and graduate jobs. Thisservice has been extended to includeinternational opportunities.

Queen Mary Careers Service is part of TheCareers Group, University of London, the largestcareers service in the country. This means thatour students have access to major recruitmentfairs and sector specific careers courses too. Thecareers team regularly visits employers to find outwhat they are looking for in new graduates, andspend time researching the graduate labourmarket on your child’s behalf. In addition to theirone-to-one and group work responsibilities,careers staff produce a wide range of targetedwritten materials for students to take away.

To find out more about all of our careers servicesand how they can support your child during theirtime at Queen Mary, please visit:www.careers.qmul.ac.uk


Accommodation at Queen Mary

When picturing university student halls, it’s notuncommon for parents to imagine old-fashioned,dark and damp rooms along dimly-lit corridors.But not at Queen Mary! We can offer your childhigh-quality award-winning accommodation inour recently developed Westfield Student Village.

RoomsOur en-suite rooms come complete with a self-contained shower room, plenty of storage spaceand an under-desk fridge/freezer unit. En-suite flats typically comprise between six toeleven rooms, with students sharing a largekitchen/dining area. Non en-suite rooms featureplenty of storage areas as well as a washbasin.Students will be sharing a shower room andkitchen with only five others. For both types ofrooms, broadband and daily communal-areacleaning are provided as standard.

Eating and drinkingThere is a variety of food outlets on campus. The Curve is just one of several catering facilitieswhere students can enjoy breakfast or lunch.Situated in the Student Village, students can visitthe sandwich deli bar, hot food counter or evenour coffee bar, where we proudly brew Starbuckscoffee. For a place to drink and space to relaxaway from their rooms, students can chill out atWorld Marché. Situated within the Village andoffering great views of the Regent’s Canal, WorldMarché is ideally located for students living in theVillage.

Mucci’s also provides genuine Italian food in arelaxed café environment.

Ground serves a range of sandwiches andpaninis, cakes and pastries as well as CostaCoffee.


Sir Christopher France House

GroceriesFor all grocery requirements, students can visitthe Village Shop. There are other food stores and supermarkets near the Campus.

Laundry facilitiesThe Village boasts three separate areas forlaundry so Queen Mary students no longer haveany excuses for sending their dirty washinghome!

Reception point and stewardsPlenty of support is available to all those stayingon campus. Each flat is overseen by a residencessteward who is available 24 hours a day to provide any assistance that may be required.Furthermore, should a student’s light bulb expire at 3am, don’t worry, as the Village 24-hourmanned reception is available to help.

Although we aim to accommodate as manyrequests as possible, due to high demand wecannot always guarantee room availability,especially if your child lives close enough tocommute. However, we will always help studentsfind alternative accommodation in the local area.

To find out whether your son or daughter is eligible for a room on campus, or for any furtherinformation on our accommodation, please visit our Residences Office website atwww.residences.qmul.ac.uk


What are the career advantages of a degree?

As well as givingstudents endlessopportunities todeepen their subjectknowledge and meetlarge numbers of newpeople (with whomsocialising is more orless compulsory)getting a degreegreatly improves theirchances of landing

that dream job. Head of Careers at Queen Mary,Emily Huns, explains the career benefits ofgetting a degree.

In the current economic climate, what hashappened to graduate employment?Whilst the current climate makes job-huntingmore challenging for everyone, evidenceconsistently suggests that graduates are in abetter position than non-graduates.Unemployment amongst Queen Mary graduatesis relatively low and, what's more, students canimprove their chances significantly by doingthree things:

• building work experience from Year 1 (goodwork experience for first years doesn't have tobe paid and could include communityvolunteering or a job role on-campus);

• attending some of the 80+ careers events runon the QM campus each year;

• taking advantage of the weekly training QueenMary Careers provides in applications, CVwriting and interview technique.

Can graduates still earn a lot more than A-level leavers?They can do, yes. Much depends on whichsector and role the graduate goes into. Averagegraduate salaries – in the larger firms whichreport such figures – were increasing year-onyear for a long time and have stayed remarkablystable during this recession.


Are graduates still in demand?Yes! Despite the recession, Queen Mary Careershas engaged 25 additional employers in oncampus careers events for students this year,and the graduate job market is starting to recover– particularly in financial services. Other sectorsare still affected by the current climate. We arekeeping an eye on hiring figures across all sectorsand update students regularly via our websiteand blog.

What should students do – study a subject they arelikely to enjoy, or one they think will lead to a job?Generally, one they enjoy and are good at, sincemotivation and a good grade are two of the five mostimportant factors in making a graduate employable.The other three are work experience that showcasesgraduate level skills, a real understanding of what ajob entails and a well presented and evidence-based application and interview (my team can helpstudents with all of this).

Remember that around half of graduate jobs areopen to students whatever they’ve studied.However, if a student feels safer doing somethingthey feel will lead them to a job rather than thesubject they enjoy most, that's ok too – as long asthey like it enough to do well in the subject.

How can university careers teams help students?

By:

• helping students find work experience andpart-time work on and off campus;

• arranging careers events through whichstudents meet prospective employers andnetwork with past students;

• guiding students through their career optionsafter university;

• advertising vacancies;

• training students in CV- and application-writingand interview techniques;

• advising them on whether or not postgraduatestudy will make them more employable.

Finally, tell us a little bit about Queen Mary'sCareers OfficeWell... there are 14 of us (that includes careersconsultants, information officers, an employerliaison officer and two students helpers). We'rebased in the Queens' Building, on the Mile EndCampus, with a satellite service for medical anddental students at our Whitechapel Campus. Weprovide all the above services plus have aparticular focus on integrated careers work inacademic departments, graduate careerscoaching, creating new student work experienceopportunities and skills training for studentgroups such as Students' Union societies andvolunteers. Read more about the team and ourrange of services at www.careers.qmul.ac.uk,where you'll also find job vacancies, our JobsBlog and student career profiles.


Student finance explained: fees, loans, grantsand bursaries

Most parents worry about the costs associatedwith going to university, particularly in light of therecent changes to funding in higher education.Fortunately, there is no requirement for studentsto pay tuition fees up front or while studying. Theoverall support package available should coveressential living costs and universities also offernon-repayable bursaries.

With the new finance arrangements for 2012splashed all over the media it is understandablethat you may be confused. In fact, students willbe able to borrow the cost of their tuition fees andmoney to cover their living expenses – and repaythem after they graduate, in manageableamounts related to their income. Additionally,there will be lots of ‘free’ money available tostudents if they are from a low or even middleincome household.

Tuition fees: how much –and how do they pay?From 2012, universities will be able to chargebetween £6,000 and £9,000, as long as theymeet strict criteria to ensure that all students canaccess their courses, regardless of familyincome. The majority of universities haveannounced that they’ll charge £9,000, but checktheir websites for full details. The good news isthat students do not have to pay their feesupfront. Instead, they can take out a Tuition FeeLoan from Student Finance England, who pay thefees direct to their university. The loan is availableto all eligible home students, on part- and full-time degree programmes, irrespective of familyincome.

Living costs: Students will need money for accommodation,food, books, socialising, communications(smartphone, plus apps), and so on. For moststudents, this will mean taking out a StudentLoan for Maintenance, again from StudentFinance England, to cover their living costs.Eligible students are entitled to at least 65 percent of the maximum amounts available; theother 35 per cent depends on household income.

The maximum loan available will vary dependingon where the student lives and studies. If thestudent moves away from home to study inLondon, the maximum will be £7,675. For astudent living away from home outside London itwill be £5,500, and for students living at home itwill be £4,375. The loan will be paid into thestudent’s bank account in termly instalments:advise your son or daughter to not spend it all infreshers’ week on clothes/socialising/a car!


How will students repay the loans?The fee and maintenance loans will be combinedand students will start paying them back throughthe tax system from the April after they graduate,but, only if they are earning over £21,000. Themost important point is that their monthlyrepayments will be linked to how much they earn,not the amount they actually owe: graduatesrepay at a rate of 9 per cent of their income above£21,000. For example, a graduate earning£25,000 will pay back approximately £30 amonth. If for any reason their income dropsbelow £21,000, their repayments will stop. Anydebt left after 30 years will be written off. Theinterest rate is linked to the Retail Price Index(RPI), plus extra depending on their graduateincome. The maximum interest rate, which willonly apply once a graduate is earning over£41,000 a year, will be RPI plus 3 per cent.

Maintenance Grant (non-repayable)If your family’s household income is £25,000 orless, your son or daughter will be entitled to anon-repayable Maintenance Grant of up to£3,250; students from households with incomesof up to £42,600 will be entitled to a partialMaintenance Grant. The student’s family incomewill be assessed before they go to university. Likethe maintenance loan, any grant the studentreceives will be paid termly. (However, themaintenance loan will be reduced by 50p forevery £1 of grant the student receives.)

Bursaries (non-repayable)Universities charging between £6,000 and£9,000 have to agree to provide financial supportto help students from low income backgrounds.Students should check universities’ websites to

find out what they are offering; as an illustration,Queen Mary, University of London, plans to offera generous bursary package: £1,500 a year forstudents in receipt of the full Maintenance Grantand £1,200 for students who get a partialMaintenance Grant. Visitwww.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfundingfor further details.

National Scholarship ProgrammeThe Government has announced a £150mNational Scholarships Programme for studentsfrom lower income families. Again, studentsshould check with individual universities to seehow they will administer this. For example,Queen Mary plans to offer 266 students from lowincome families a £3,000 benefit in their firstyear: a £1,500 fee reduction plus £1,500 madeup of a cash bursary and ‘in-kind’ support. Intheir second and third years, they’ll receive theQueen Mary Bursary.


Student finance explained: fees, loans, grantsand bursaries (cont)

Scholarships (non-repayable)Many universities also offer scholarships,although information on these can be hard tofind. They usually reward academicachievement, for example, excellent results inyear 13 exams, or, once the student is atuniversity, their first year exam results. To find outmore, students can contact university financeadvisers, usually located in welfare or studentsupport offices; they can advise on all aspects offinancial support.

Additional sources of fundingStudent bank accountsThese usually include an interest-free overdraftfacility, which, if used effectively, can be a usefulsource of cash, especially at certain times of theyear, for example when waiting for the next loaninstalment. However, please encourage your sonor daughter to do their homework and choose thebest overall deal – not just the best freebie!www.fool.co.uk is a good starting-point.

Earnings from part-time workMany students choose to work part-time and inthe vacations to top up their income, but to avoidthis compromising their studies we recommendthat your son or daughter first checks with theirdepartment for guidance on the maximumnumber of hours a week they should work.

SponsorshipsSome companies, the Armed Forces and someGovernment departments pay students to go touniversity, so sponsorships are well worthapplying for. Your son or daughter should ask hisor her careers teacher for guidance here.


Trusts and charitiesSome trusts and charities can help with a smallgrant but this is usually a one-off payment andstudents generally need to have exceptionalcircumstances to get this type of financial help.Your child should speak to a Welfare Adviser atthe Advice and Counselling Service if they areinterested in applying, as we can advise on trustsand charities that fit their circumstances, and onmaking an application.

Students can work out how much money they areeligible to receive by reading the StudentFinancial Support (undergraduates) leaflet,written by the Advice and Counselling Service atQueen Mary www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/ug

Important note: these arrangements refer tostudents living in England and studying for aneligible course at an English university, andwho qualify as home students. Some of thisinformation might change before your son ordaughter starts university so keep up to date at:www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and/orwww.bis.gov/studentfinance

Help your child to budget

As a parent, one of the most important ways in which you can support your soon-to-be-a-student son or daughter is by encouraging them to plan and stick to a realistic budget.

Queen Mary’s experienced Finance Adviserssuggest that you encourage your child to:

1 Plan in advanceThe worst pitfall awaiting the badly-organisedstudent is the failure to budget in advance. Yourson or daughter really does need to think abouttheir spending. This means sitting them in a roomwith a calculator and getting them to total up theirincome for the months they’re at university:Student Loan; any Maintenance Grant payment,university bursary or scholarship, part-time jobearnings and so on. The next step is to plan theirexpenditure…

2 Be realistic Where does the money go? If your child is leavinghome, rent will obviously be the biggest chunk.Then they’ll spend at least £50 a week on food,including snacks during the day, £5 or more aweek on toiletries; a minimum of £15-20 on their social life; and £10 on mobile phone (a conservative estimate!). Then there are books and equipment, photocopying, TV licence,possibly field trips… and so on. The vast majorityof students find that their outgoings are morethan their income (see tip no. 7, below).

3 Remember the hidden extrasThese include rental deposit for second yearprivate-sector accommodation, clubmembership fees, travel home at weekends and other unforeseen expenses.

4 Avoid credit and store cardsThe message for your student son or daughterwill be this: you are poor – if you can’t afford itnow, don’t buy it – you won’t be able to afford it next week, either.

5 Shop around for the best bank dealGet them to look beyond the freebies, andconsider what the account can actually do forthem. Ask them to look at the overdraft facility in particular.

6 Open bank statementsIt’s vital that your son or daughter knows if it’s allgoing wrong financially, so that they can get helpbefore going into melt-down; it’s much easiernow to track finances online.


Help your child to budget (cont)

7 Sort out a part-time job early onThis is the key to most students’ financial survival,and it makes sense to organise it as soon as possible. If your child already works for a chain, they could ask to be transferred to abranch near their university. We advise the ‘littleand often’ approach right from the start, ratherthan leaving it till the summer (ie exam) term andthen working when they should be revising. Also,encourage him or her to get some office skills,especially word-processing, and approach officetemp agencies – their hourly rates are higher thanfor shop or security work. Working during theholidays is also a good option. University summerholidays can be as long as 14 weeks, giving plentyof scope for some full or part-time work. Mostuniversities also employ: bar and shop work andstudent tutor and student ambassador schemesare very popular, so encourage your child to gettheir applications in early.

8 Learn to cook; avoid the takeaway trapBeing a student means eating cheaply, whichusually means going self-catering. You can passon some essential money-saving tips early on: noready meals; no living on takeaways. Make surethey locate cheap food sources as soon as theyarrive (discount supermarkets, street marketsand so on). They should also invest in a studentcook book.

9 Shop within one’s meansThat means no designer clothes or sports cars!

10 Get help as soon as things go wrongThis is probably the most important advice. They can book an appointment with one of theCollege’s Finance Advisers who will help themwith their budgeting, sort things out with the bankand, if necessary, help them apply for a hardshippayment from the Access to Learning Fund.


Studying at home – help your child get the best out of university

More students are choosing to live at home andcommute to a local university, and this can makesound financial sense for your son or daughter –but what can you do to make sure that they getthe best from their university experience, bothacademically and socially?

IndependenceUniversity is very different from school or college:your child will be treated as an adult – and theapparent lack of school-like discipline mightcome as a shock to both you and him or her.Instead, self-discipline will be the order of theday, with your son or daughter facing thechallenges of meeting coursework deadlines and getting to early morning lectures withoutreminders or nagging from teachers. It istherefore important that you give your child spaceto develop their own way of organising their time.Ultimately, getting that project/essay/labreport/exercise in to their tutor on time is your sonor daughter’s responsibility – the university willnot write to you if a deadline is missed or a tutorial

not attended – and you might need to resist theurge to try and manage their academic studiesfor them. This ability to work independently is oneof the key transferable skills which employers willlook for in a graduate: it’s therefore vital that youallow your child to find their best method,whether it’s the ‘keeping on top of things andhanding work in early’ or the ‘I can’t study untilthe adrenaline flows’ (ie the night before it’s duein) approach.

Study spaceAs well as psychological space, physical space inwhich to actually study is a good idea, if you canprovide it: somewhere quiet and conducive tointellectual activity, ideally with a desk or table for books and a computer. If this is not possible,remember that your child will have access to their university’s extensive library and computersuites, which usually have long opening hoursduring term-time. It is not unusual for students tospend entire evenings in the library, especially ifan exam or essay deadline is looming.


Studying at home – help your child get thebest out of university (cont)

Social life and extra-curricular activitiesJust as universities typically look for non-academic activities in a UCAS application,graduate employers also like to see a roundedindividual with evidence of communication skillsand other abilities developed outside formalstudy. It’s therefore important that your childtakes full advantage of all aspects of universitylife, not just the academic side – from developingnew friendships and joining clubs and societiesto taking part in sport and voluntary work orgetting involved with the Students’ Union. Somestudents who live at home neglect this side ofstudent life and can be at a disadvantage whenapplying for jobs, as their CVs can be rathernarrow. Students who live at home are not barredfrom entering the Students’ Union! Encourageyour son or daughter to take part fully in Freshers’Week at the start of their first year. This meansattending the Freshers’ Fair and signing up forsome clubs, maybe putting their name down for a couple of sports teams. Encourage them to getinvolved from the start with any departmentalsocial activities and to consider undertakingvoluntary work such as helping out in a localschool or care home. Encourage them also tomake new friends: living at home can meansticking with their existing social group, andobviously they will want to maintain thesefriendships – but if they ignore new ones they are missing out on a whole new horizon, not to mention holiday destinations!



Off to university...

It’s natural for parents to worry about theirchildren starting university, especially if they areleaving home. Apart from the practical side, fromnow on your son or daughter is going to betreated as the adult they have become and willhave to take responsibility for managing their life.However, there are lots of things you can do toensure a smooth transition:

Getting thereStudents often assume that they just getsomehow beamed-up to university, whereas infact it is likely to be their parents who will drivethem there at the start of term. If your child isshowing signs of independence and announcesthat they are going by themselves on NationalExpress, strongly encourage them to re-think thisplan. In reality, attempting to transport all theirbelongings, including duvet and computer, bycoach, will be a huge mistake.

What’s provided?Find out what they need to take with them: forexample some halls provide bed linen, othersdon’t. They’ll need towels too, plus, possibly,mugs, salt and pepper, a tin-opener and tea-towels. The university will send information onwhat’s supplied, so get your child to check.

The next Jamie Oliver?Make sure they can cook, at least the basics –not just making coffee, although this is, of course,an essential skill. Most university self-cateringaccommodation is cheaper and the food willprobably be healthier than the institutional

cooking on offer in some catered halls. Teachthem some of their favourite dishes; make surethey know how to cook pasta, rice and bakedpotatoes.

Insuring their worldly goodsInsurance is essential: most students now havemobile phones, laptops, iPods… the list is almostendless. If they have a break-in and their thingsaren’t insured, who will re-stock their rooms?Sometimes parents can get their children’sbelongings added to their own insurance policies.

Do they need a TV licence?Probably, if they have their own television in theirroom – check this with the university.

Off to university... (cont)

The mysteries of cleaning Most halls have a cleaning service, but it is stilladvisable for students to keep their room, at thevery least, tidy enough for a cleaner to getthrough the door. They might even have to wield ahoover themselves, so it would be a good idea toknow the basics (how to turn it on?). Then thereare clothes: many students have never had to dotheir own washing and ironing (not that the latterfeatures heavily in most students’ lives). You havea choice here. You can accept the fact that theywill return home halfway through term with ahuge bag of washing; or you can show them how to use a washing machine.

Essential equipmentAll students feel more secure with certain vitalitems: coffee, sugar, milk, biscuits. With thesethey can start out on their social life at university.You should also expect that when they returnhome for a weekend they will raid your foodstores for luxury items.

The goodbye lunchWhen dropping them off on their first day atuniversity, resist the temptation to take them out for a goodbye dinner. It’s vital that they are around that first evening – that’s whenfriendships are forged and cliques start to form. Take them for lunch instead.

HomesicknessSome students take longer than others to settle inand this stage can last anything from five minutesto several weeks. Some students go homevirtually every weekend in their first term, but thisusually tails off after that. If they are talking aboutleaving within the first week persuade them togive it more time – it’s a very drastic decision tomake based on only a few days’ experience. Alluniversities have counselling services, so there isalways someone they can talk to if they feel down.


Student-Parent case study: Alice and Clare Carney


We spoke to recent Queen Mary graduate AliceCarney and her mother Clare about theirexperiences of Alice starting university

Clare (mother)What advice did you give Alice?Don’t spend all of your loan on clothes and drink!Try and eat fruit and veg at least once a week! Goto lectures or you’ll regret it when it comes toexams. Most importantly, enjoy being a studentand make the most of the university experience.

How did you approach the financial side?We went through how much Alice would haveeach term and discussed how to budget for rent,food, books, entertainment etc. We also did a trialshopping trip together before Alice left to showhow buying in bulk, buying home brands etc canbe more cost effective.

How was moving-in day?A little stressful! It’s a difficult balance betweenwanting to stay and help your child to settle in andleaving them to meet their flatmates. But overall itwent reasonably smoothly.

What tips would you pass on to parents whosechildren are starting university?Try and encourage your children to learn somebasic skills such as cooking and doing their ownwashing before leaving home. Also encouragethem to keep in touch so that you can pick up onany problems they may be having.

Alice

How did you cope with being away from your family?I’m a real ‘home’ person so found it a strugglebeing away from my family at first, but it wasn’t asbad as I thought. Everyone’s in the same boatand I was so busy and having so much fun duringthe first few weeks that I wasn’t homesick forlong!

How much did your parents help you throughuniversity?My parents helped out when I needed it, whetherit was proof reading an essay, lending me moneytowards the end of term when finances wererunning low or sending the occasional foodparcel when my cupboards were bare! They letme be independent but were there when Ineeded them.

Do you have any advice for students moving awayfrom home?Don’t worry about being homesick as everyonewill be feeling the same and you’ll be having somuch fun you’ll soon feel settled. Take lots ofhome comforts if you’re moving into halls to makeyour room your own and remember to give Mumand Dad a call once in a while to stop them fromworrying!


What happens next?

Conditional Offer

This means that your child will have to achieve certain grades to get a place at thisuniversity (for example 300 points or BBB at A-levels, DMM in a BTEC National, etc.).

Unconditional Offer

Rejection This means that your child's application has been unsuccessful, and s/he will not begiven an offer from this university.

Accept/decline offers

The student needs to choose between their offers – they can accept two: a firm (orfirst) choice and an insurance (or second) choice; the latter will normally be askingfor lower grades/points.

Will vary butgenerally by the end of April

UCAS extra

If your child has received no offers or has rejected all their offers, s/he can makeanother application via UCAS extraThis system allows applicants to make a single application to one university, thenanother if that does not produce an offer.

A-level results day

This means that your son or daughter has a place, if they want it, with no conditionsattached, at this university. This is only likely if s/he already has A-levels or the equivalent.

Waiting for decisions from UCAS

The student could receive any of the following:

Mid August

Mid – lateAugust

October onwards

Clearing

The start of your son or daughter’s university career. Good Luck! Late September/early October

Enrolment

Results dayonwards

Judgement day! Make sure your son or daughter is in the UK and not on aMediterranean beach! They might need to make some important decisions.

Has your son or daughter achieved their required grades and met their university offer?

If they have, then well done to them! Their first choice university will write to them withenrolment instructions.

If they have not met their offer, the student should still contact their first choiceuniversity to see whether they will still be accepted; they might, if they have only missedby a grade or two.

If conditional offer grades have not been met, and the first choice university withdrawstheir offer, then the student should contact their insurance choice.

A new feature is a week following A level results when students who have done betterthan expected can look for the course with higher entry requirements without having togive up either their first or insurance offer.

If the insurance choice grades have also not been met, the insurance choice universitymay also withdraw their offer. If this is the case, the student is automatically entered intoClearing.

Your son or daughter can apply for courses still available at universities across the UK.Full lists of vacancies can be found on the UCAS website – once they find a course whichinterests them they call the university and ask to be considered. NB YOUR CHILD MUSTCALL, NOT YOU!

Those universities that have made offers might invite your son or daughter to an OpenDay to help them make their final choices. Some universities call applicants for interviewbefore making a decision.

Adjustmentperiod

Useful contacts and websites

Queen Mary, University of LondonThe Education Liaison OfficeFor general enquiries regarding higher educationand Queen Mary

email: [email protected]: 020 7882 3064

Admissions and Recruitment OfficeFor all enquiries about admissions to the College


Residences OfficeFor up to date information on our halls ofresidences, including eligibility, facilities and prices


Advice and Counselling ServiceTo find out about the types of support availableto Queen Mary students, including support forstudents with disabilities, plus advice on studentfinance and budgeting


External contactsUCAS (Universities and Colleges AdmissionsService)For enquiries about your child’s application, plus extensive additional information on highereducation in general and a special section forparents

www.ucas.comTel: 01242 4680468

directgovInformation on higher education, includingstudent financial support

www.direct.gov.uk

Prospects.ac.ukA huge amount of information on graduatecareers, including the current jobs market, what employers look for in a graduate and abreakdown of career destinations by subject

www.prospects.ac.uk

UnistatsAn extensive university and course database,including up to date information on the NationalStudent Survey

www.unistats.direct.gov.uk


Notes


This guide was written by the Education LiaisonOffice and produced by Creative ServicesPub8513

For further information contact:Education Liaison OfficeQueen Mary, University of LondonMile End RoadLondonE1 4NSTel: 020 7882 3064Fax: 020 7882 3158email: [email protected]

Documents

Advice and information for parents and carers of applicants to Higher Education