HIGHER EDUCATION PRESENTATION

TO YEAR 12 STUDENTS &

PARENTS

WHY GO TO UNIVERSITY?• Less unemployment among graduates

• Better job opportunities / career prospects

• On average higher salaries for graduates

• Career directed vocational qualifications

• A unique opportunity to continue studying a subject you are interested in

• Part of maturing process

• Expanding social experience

• Developing interests

• Networking

• Put off decision making

FINANCIALSUPPORT / COSTS

TUITION FEES: Maximum annual fee contribution2009/10 £3225 not means tested

MAINTENANCE GRANT:Income £25000 or Less = £2906

£25000 to £60032 = £50 to £2906over £60032 = No grant

MAINTENANCE LOANS:For living costs – application through Student Finance England

London - £4735 - £7670Elsewhere - £3385 - £5905Living at home - £2620 - £3915

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT FINANCE 2008/2009

(Single, living away from home, 30 teaching weeks in Academic year, accommodation on campus required for 31 or 38 weeks dependant on whether catered or self catered and including Christmas and Easter vacations)

INCOME

Annual Total (Student Loan to cover 38 wks) £4,625.00 Weekly Income £121.00

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE (per week) Rent £80.00 Mobile Phone (pay as you go) £10.00 Food, laundry, personal items(average) £40.00 Books, equipment and other materials £ 9.00 Clothes (average for renewals) £ 5.00 Social Activities £10.00 Allowance for unexpected costs £ 5.00 Total estimated expenditure £159.00 per week for 38 weeks Total for 38 weeks £6,042 The figures do not include: travel costs to return home during term time or vacations any grant to which the student may be entitled any bursary to which the student may be entitled any income from part-time employment Advice Services Manager Kent Union Advice Centre

REPAYMENTS LINKED TO INCOME

Income Monthly repayment

Weekly repayment

Up to £15,000 £0 £0

£20,000 £37.50 £8.65

£25,000 £75.00 £17.31

Interest on loans linked to inflation (RPI)

Bursaries / Scholarships / sponsorship

OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME

• Loans

• Paid employment

• Text messages:

• Dear mum n dad u no hw much iv always lvd n respectd u – can u plz plz plz “lend” me sum muny

CHOICES

1. Do my A-Levels allow for a particular degree course to be studied?

a) Are particular A-Levels required for certain degrees?

b) Competition for places eg. medicine requires higher grades than most other degrees

(Research = University entrance guide: Heap plus websites)

2. Aptitude for the subject?

Seek teachers’ views / advice

3. Interest in the subjects?

3-4 years

Self awareness

4. Vocational or subject specific?

Reference books

Different subjects – not necessarily those studied at school

Modular / combined courses

WHICH COURSE?

1. How long?Most are 3 yearsSome are 4 years (eg. Modern Languages)

2. Full time or sandwich?

3. What is the content of the course?Degree courses with the same title do not necessarily have the same contentH.E. Prospectuses (look on-line)

4. How flexible is the course structure?Broad or narrow: modular

5. What teaching methods are used?

6. What forms of assessment are used?Continuous assessment / final examination

7. Is there a safety net?Degree course and HND run side by side

8. Entry requirements?see guides – be realistic

9. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDENTS:

• Performance at interview

• Work experience undertaken (MOTIVATION)

• Extra curricular activities

• PREDICTED GRADES

• The confidential reference

• Existing grades – GCSE / AS Level

• Consistency in the choices of course

• PERSONAL STATEMENT

• Suitability of A-Level subjects for the course

• Other tests eg. BMAT; UKCAT; LNAT

WHERE TO APPLY?

1. How far away?

Travel costs

2. Size?

Many thousands or a smaller community

3. Environment?

City centre; rural campus

4. Ancient or Modern

5. Does the area give scope to interests?

6. Does the area have particular advantages for the study of your subject?

Strong links with local industry

7. How good are the facilities?

ICT, Libraries, social, sporting facilities

8. Accommodation and catering arrangements

Hall of residence facilities: Cost of self-catering?

Single rooms? En-suite? - Extra cost

Close to college?

RESEARCH

Pastoral / Careers Staff

Head of Careers – Mr Williamson

Head of Sixth Form – Mr Moody

Asst Head of Sixth Form – Mr Lowis

Careers Advisor: Connexions: Form Tutors

Subject Staff Including asking/negotiating about PREDICTED GRADES

Employers

Internet

Books

Open Days

www.ucas.com/ The Stamford Test /

Times / Guardian / Telegraph websites

Degree course guides (MJM’s office)

See posters / lists and phone for a visit

RESEARCH

Prospectuses Careers Library

On-line

Alternative prospectuses

(Unofficial) – written by students!

WHAT NOW?

Completion of UCAS Form

NOW!! NOW!!

THOUGHTS →

RESEARCH

Internet

Careers Library

Prospectuses

Books

→

Completion of UCAS Form - 2

HOLIDAYS HOLIDAYS

FILTERING

Including:

Which course

Where

Visits

→ Draft personal statement

→

Completion of UCAS Form -3September

Register on www.ucas/apply

Redraft personal statement

→ School UCAS No. 11338

Buzzword: chgsramsgate

Sept/Oct Sept/Oct

UCAS forms completed → UCAS forms SENT

15th Oct

Oxbridge/Medicine/Law

Deadlines

School deadline

October half-term

Three websites which Year 12s and 13s should be using as part of their

careers/higher education planning: 1. For opportunities for bursaries and scholarships in

higher education see:• www.scholarship-search.org.uk

 2. For general university and course searches see:

• www.ucas.com

 3. To discover appropriates course/career possibilities

based on your interests and strengths see:•  www.ucas.com/stamford/index.html (can also be accessed from

ucas site directly)

Further Help

www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk www.studentfinancedirect.gov.ukwww.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancewww.aimhigher.ac.ukwww.studentmoney.orghttp://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk