1. Higher Education Evening
Mrs Gray – Applying to University
Mr Alexander & Sejal Modasia – Student Life
Sian Hiskey UCS – Student Finance

2. Applying to University
Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

3. Why go to Higher Education ?
40 % of the UK population go to HE, 1.8 million students
30% of under 21 year olds progress on to HE
80% of graduates are employed in graduate-entry jobs
70% of graduates are not using their subjects directly in their work
Graduates earn on average 20 _ 100% more by the middle of their working lives than those without a degree
Net financial gain from a degree averages £160,000 over a life time
Graduates enjoy more fulfilling and enjoyable jobs, better health, less likely to smoke and enjoy more successful relationships
84.2% of graduates are happy with their careers

4. Why read for a degree?
Transferable skills – knowledge, communication, team work, analysis, problem solving, numeracy, IT
Greatly improved career prospects, graduates are highly valued by employers
Essential for some careers
Academic and social experience of university life
Three million fewer lower skilled jobs in the UK by 2020
40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a degree

5. UCAS The University and College Admissions System
An independent charity
One of most popular websites in the UK
The most popular educational website in the UK
UCAS website is updated hourly
UCAS card offered to all students – advice/ discounts
Process is totally electronic and on-line at
Parents section – - free e -newsletters and a parents blog

7. Applications 2013-2014 4% rise in applications on 2013- 580,000,
Application numbers have reached the level they were before the fee increase
35% of 18 year olds applied this year, the highest level recorded.
University places are very competitive with certain courses very heavily oversubscribed.
27% drop in the number of undergraduate degree courses in the last six years due to government cuts

8. Researching Options
In the UK 35,000+ courses are available at more than 320 institutions (125 universities and 195 HE colleges)
Open days start in March and continue in April, June, July and the Autumn Term
Best to visit two institutions if possible
Taster courses available –
Course search for 2015 opens May, registering for application opens in mid June

9. Finding the Right Course
Research thoroughly – 10% who start university do not finish their degree
Course search via UCAS – grades and points
Entry profiles
Entry requirements
Relevant work experience for vocational courses
Location
Type of institution – campus or city?
Employability activities offered

10. Top Ten Degree Courses 2013 1. Business and Management 2. Law
3. Sociology
4. Art and Design
5. I.T/Computer Science
6. Psychology
7. Education
8. Nursing
9. Biosciences
10. History

11. The Application Process
5 choices of course
4 choices for medicine, veterinary, dentistry plus one other choice if required
Personal statement
Length – 4,000 characters
Content – 60-80% about subject, 20-40% about individual
Plagiarism – Three times higher in 2012 up to 8,500 cases
Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

12. Deadlines Northgate internal deadline
Oxbridge & Medical – 22 September 2014
All others – 4 November 2014
Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2015
Some Art and Design Courses – 24 March 2015

13. Additional Tests UK CAT – Clinical Aptitude Test
BMAT – Bio-Medical Assessment Test
LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law
CUKAS – Musical Conservatoires
Oxbridge additional tests – History, Modern Language, Maths, English and Thinking Skills, Physics

14. Gap Year? Two Options Deferred entry – 2016
Apply Sept 2015 through Northgate with final results – usually leads to an unconditional offer
Gap Year students 2013 – Where did they go?
1. Employment to earn money for university
2. Work experience relevant to degree/career choice
3. Doing something close to home

15. Finalising the Choice Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2015
Students must make their decision by 9 May 2015
Students should not make any decision until all five offers are in
Students choose one firm offer - first choice
Students choose one insurance offer with a lower entry requirement as a second choice (at least 40 points below)
Clearing – July onwards – up 9% to 55,721
Adjustment period – post results – up 140% to 1,329

16. Important Dates Oxbridge Conference – 23 April 2014
Higher Education Fair – 12 June 2014
Medics Course - 30 June 2014
Oxbridge preparation course – October 2014
Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – November 2014

17. Student profiles
GCSE grades are used as a major part of the decision making process. Some competitive courses are now openly asking for 8A* grades
Some degree courses are asking for specific GCSE grades e.g. a B in Maths for many Psychology and Business courses, B grades in Maths, English and Science for Primary teaching courses
Very competitive courses, for example Medicine and Oxbridge, need a high number of A* grades at GCSE, at least 3 A grades at AS and one or more A* grades predicted at A2

18. Support at Northgate
Careers Department, Mrs Gray, Post 16 Adviser Mrs Smith, Careers Adviser Mrs Young
Tutors
Sixth form team
Subject teachers
Head of Sixth Form, Mr Elmy
Deputy Head, Mr Trench

19. Mr Alexander – Assistant Head of Sixth Form
Student Life
Mr Alexander – Assistant Head of Sixth Form
Sejal Modasia – Ex Northgate Student, third year medical student at Kings College London

21. My Mum Said….. Finance Accommodation- Halls, Flats and Houses Emotion
Preparation
Keep their room as it is
Washing

22. Workload Not 9-5 Independent study
Range of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab time
Different assessment methods

23. Life Skills Independence Ability to manage money
Cooking, cleaning, washing?

24. Social Life Meet lots of new people
Students’ Union - represents students
Students’ Union also runs all of the clubs and societies
Sports
Part Time Job?

25. Student Support
University Student Support teams offer a range of information, advice and guidance services including:
Accommodation
Finance
Counselling
Careers Guidance
Disability Support
Health and Wellbeing

26. Sejal Modasia What did you study at Northgate?
What and where do you study now?
How have you enjoyed being a student?
What has been difficult? Any initial problems?
What do you wish you had known then that you know now?
How has the experience been for your parents?

27. Student Finance

28. Overview Expenses at university fall broadly into two categories:
Tuition costs
Access to lecturers and academics
Library and IT facilities
Lab and practical activities and facilities
Does not usually cover fieldtrips
Living costs
Accommodation and food
Travel
Course books and stationery

29. Tuition Fees: 2014 Entry
Universities can charge up to £9000 per year if they meet criteria on access
UCS fees:
£8500 BA/BSc
£7500 Foundation degrees
Students can take a non-means tested tuition fee loan
Tuition fee loans are paid directly to the University from the Student Loans Company
Loans are repaid from the April after graduation, over 30 years
Some courses are funded by the NHS

30. NHS Funded Courses
The NHS will pay the tuition fees for some courses, and provide a means-tested bursary. These courses are:
Nursing and Midwifery
Radiography/Radiotherapy
Operating Department Practice
Physiotherapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Dental Hygiene
Maximum Maintenance loan of £2324 per year for NHS students living away from home and not in London
Social Work students pay tuition fees but can also access a bursary from the NHS

31. Support for NHS students
If you study up to 45 weeks a year, you’ll get:
Where you study and live
Grant
Bursary
Maintenance Loan
In London
£1,000
Up to £5,460
Up to £3,263
Outside London
Up to £4,395
Up to £2,324
With parents
Up to £3,351
Up to £1,744
NHS students are also eligible to a £1000 Grant in each year of study to help towards living costs
In your final year of study, the maintenance loan is reduced slightly

32. Living Costs: Maintenance Loans
Most students take a maintenance loan to help with living costs
Maximum maintenance loans for students starting University in 2014:
Student living away from home and in London: £7751
Student living away from home: £5555
Student living at home: £4418
You have to apply for the tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and grant each year of study
All students are entitled to 65% of the loan. The remaining 35% is means-tested on household income

33. Living Costs: Maintenance Grants
The Maintenance Grant is a non-repayable means-tested grant to help with living costs.
It is paid for each year of study
You must apply EVERY year
Not available to NHS students
Household Income
Maintenance Grant
Up to £25,000
Full grant: £3387
£30,000
£2439
£35,000
£1491
£40,000
£545
£42,620
£50
More than £42,620
No grant

34. Total Support 2014 Entry Household Income Maintenance Loan
Maintenance Grant
Total
Home
Away
<£25,000
£2725
£3862
£3387
£6112
£7249
£30,000
£3198
£4335
£2441
£5639
£6776
£35,000
£3671
£4808
£1494
£5165
£6302
£40,000
£4145
£5282
£547
£4692
£5829
£42,620
£4393
£5530
£50
£4443
£5580
£42,621
£4418
£5555 £0
£45,000
£4204
£5288
£50,000
£3699
£4836
£55,000
£3194
£4288
£60,000
£2871
£3826
Over £62,132
£3610
All students are also entitled to a tuition fee loan

35. Other Support available
Disabled Students’ Allowance: Available for full-time students, or students studying 50% of a course. Maximum support £5212 (if helper required, maximum is £20,725) per year
Childcare Grant: Based on household income, and grant is calculated as 85% of actual childcare costs
Adult Dependent’s Grant: For students with an adult member of the family who is financially dependent on them
Access to Learning Fund: Administered by individual universities
More information is available at

36. How to Apply
Students apply online via Student Finance England (
Applications are normally available from December - check the website for more information
The information you provide will be used to assess the means-tested support
If you do not want to provide all the information requested, students will be assessed for the minimum support: Tuition fee loan and 65% of the maintenance loan
You will not be assessed for the maintenance grant if you do not provide all information

37. Monthly salary after tax*
Repayment of Loans
Tuition fee loans and maintenance loans are combined into a single monthly payment
Graduates start repaying the loans from the April after graduation, but only if they are earning over £21,000 per year
The repayment is 9% of earnings above £21,000 and payments are taken directly from the salary via the tax system
Any remaining loan is written-off after 30 years
Annual Salary
Monthly salary after tax*
Monthly Repayments
£21,000
£1225
£23,000
£1342
£15
£25,000
£1458
£30
£30,000
£1750
£67.50
* Tax/NI is calculated as 30% of earnings above £6000

38. Student Finance at UCS Tuition fees for 2014 entry:
£8500 per year BSc/BA degrees
£7500 per year FdA degrees
Fees for 2015 will be set in the summer
Fee-waivers and Bursaries:
National Scholarship Programme: £1000 fee waiver and £1000 bursary in first year and £3000 fee waiver in second year. Criteria found at (
Suffolk Access Champion Scheme: Bursary of £2000 in return for 40hrs of mentoring in your old high school

39. Student Finance at UCS
UCS Bursary: For students who meet eligibility criteria and who are living away from home: £1000 in year 1, and £500 in years 2&3
Excellence Bursary: £500 bursary in each year of study for students achieving grades ABB (or equivalent) and above
Summer School Bursary: Students who participate in the UCS Year 12 Summer School, will be eligible for a total bursary of £4,000, (Bursary of £2,000 in year 1, and £1,000 in year 2&3)
Care Leavers Bursary: Students who live, or have lived, in local authority care will be eligible to apply for a bursary of £500 for each year

40. Other Sources of Income
Part-time and vacation jobs
Bursaries and scholarships
Savings
Overdraft
Credit card
Supplementary grants

41. Look Out For Student Discounts Local jobs
Internships and vacation opportunities: Great for getting good experience for future careers, and they can be well-paid!
Student bank accounts
Travel opportunities
Students societies and clubs

42. Is It Worth It? Debt of up to £40,000. Is it worth it?
Graduates earn an average of £200,000 more in their lifetime than non-graduates
Average starting salary for graduates: £20,000
Average starting salary non-graduates: £11,000
Graduates:
Greater career flexibility (changing jobs)
Less likely to be unemployed – and would spend less time unemployed
A degree opens the door to a wide range of employment opportunities
BUT: You have to take opportunities at university to expand your experience and skills and to make yourself more employable

43. Finding out more Student Finance: www.gov.uk/student-finance
Unistats:
Contact us on
Open events:
Friday 18 July 2013
see

44. David Willetts – Universities Minister 2014
To Sum Up
“The substantial expected rise in graduate vacancies in 2014 shows that confidence in the economy is growing and businesses really value the skills the UK’s first rate graduates can bring their companies. A degree is still one of the best routes to a good job and rewarding career”.
David Willetts – Universities Minister 2014