1. HE Choices

2. Why Higher Education ?

3. Get a good job Careers Some Jobs need HE qualifications Increased chance of promotion Fast-track opportunities Lifelong Learning Meeting the demands of the labour market Learn valuable skills Helps prepare for employment

4. Personal Development All part of character development Meet new people So many opportunities Learn to live and work together A diverse population of students Clubs & Societies Make friends Confidence-Building Gain independence The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

5. What can you study at University? Mainly Degrees and Diplomas Approximately 50,000 courses!! One subject or joint honours Different length courses Different entry requirements Practical based/essay based/research based Gap years/Industry Years/Year abroad The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

6. Over 50,000 Courses..... Accountancy & Finance / Advertising & Communications / Animation Audio & Outside Broadcast / Business & Business IT / Computer Games Computing & Networking / Construction / Design / Engineering / English Event Management / Fashion / Film / Fine Art / Geography & Environment Graphic Design / Health & Fitness / Illustration / Interior Design International Business / Journalism & Writing / Knowledge Management Law/Management/ Maritime / Marketing / Media / Media Styling Multimedia Communications / Music / Outdoor Adventure Management Performance & Comedy / Photography / Product Design / Psychology & Criminology / Public Relations / Shipping / Social Work / Sound & Music Technology / Sport & Applied Sport Science / Television Production Tourism / Watersports Management / Yacht Engineering…and many more!! The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

7. Subject Choice Does it suit your interests? Does it suit your ambitions? Do you want to study a current subject or a new subject? Single or Joint Honours The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

8. Study and assessment Assessment MIXTURE Course work Projects Live briefs with employers Exams Practicals www.solent.ac.uk Study You will study a mixture of units Some of these units will be compulsory core units Some of the units are optional, so you can pick options that are of interest to you Study will take the form of a mixture of lectures, seminars and independent learning Contact hours may vary but are usually between 10 – 20 hours per week

9. Choosing the right course Ask yourself: - Which subjects interest me? - What are my talents? - What job would I like to do after university? - Which academic skills would I like to improve? - Does my chosen profession require a specific subject?

10. Things to consider..... Entry requirements aspirational and realistic Length of course work placements? Year abroad? Method of assessment exam, practical, dissertation Accreditation BPS for Psychology, PTC & BJTC for Journalism

11. Tariff The UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points to qualifications used for entry to Higher Education Allows students to use a range of different qualifications to help secure a place on an undergraduate course Universities and Colleges use the UCAS Tariff to make comparisons between applicants with different qualifications Often used when Universities give out Conditional Offers to potential students Some universities will ask for grades The Strategic Planning Process April 2008 Tariff A level A* = 140 A = 120 B = 100 C = 80 BTEC Distinction* = 140 Distinction = 120 Merit = 100 Pass = 80

12. Useful tools: UCAS Course search - A very useful alphabetical course search - Check the entry profiles for course details STAMFORD Test - A short questionnaire which matches your interests and abilities with possible subjects Both are available via www.ucas.com The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

13. Things to consider.... Large or small Campus or non-campus City based or rural Close to home or a distance away Modern or more traditional Purpose built facilities The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

14. Money matters -Tuition fee Loans -Maintenance Loans -Maintenance Grants -Bursaries -Scholarships The Strategic Planning Process April 2008

15. WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE? FULL-TIME undergraduates: REPAYABLE:  a TUITION FEE LOAN Paid directly to the university Non-income assessed  a LOAN (for living costs)* Paid in 3 termly instalments into your bank account Part of the loan will depend on household income NON-REPAYABLE:  a GRANT (for living costs)* Up to £3,250 Household income up to £45,000 Paid in 3 termly instalments into your bank account  a NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP* Full eligibility criteria unknown as yet ● Below £25,000 Apply EVERY YEAR! *how much you get will depend on your household income

16. REPAYING LOANS  Loans are repayable after leaving university – if you have an income above £21,000 pa, otherwise it can be deferred each year.  If your loans are not repaid after 30 years they are written off.  Please go to: www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk for more information on interest rates and repayments.

17. LOAN REPAYMENT FIGURES Your Annual Salary (above £21,000) Salary amount from which 9% is deducted Approximate amount you repay each MONTH. * £22,000£1,000£7.50 £25,000£4,000£30 £30,000£9,000£67.50 £35,000£14,000£105 £40,000£19,000£142.50 £45,000£24,000£180 £50,000£29,000£217.50 £55,000£34,000£255 *Taken out of your (gross) income by HMRC – (like your tax & NI)

18. The Strategic Planning Process April 2008 Students apply online and can log on and track the progress of their application Students can make up to FIVE choices - depending on course choice - different for Medicine, veterinary science, Oxbridge, The cost for applying to more than one choice is £22, if the student makes only one choice the cost is £11 Students complete one online application form for all their choices Applying to University

19. The application year – an overview March to July – Visit Education Conventions / HE Fairs / Open Days Summer Term & Hols – Look at info and research choices - Plan the Personal Statement September to January - Fill out and submit application - Main deadline - 15 January - Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary courses & Oxbridge - Deadline 15 October October to March – Universities are making decisions December to March – Visit Days / Application Open Days February to June – UCAS Extra (Available if applied through UCAS and not holding offers) April/May – Decide on firm & insurance choice July / August – Clearing, Adjustment and Confirmation

20. Personal Statements Personal Statements are used by Admissions Tutors to decide between students with similar grades It will be used to form the basis of an interview Students should talk to people about what makes them unique, interesting & talented The Personal Statement is very important, especially as places are getting more competitive Up to 4,000 characters (or 47 lines of text) Best to draft it in a Word document & copy and paste it Approach it like an essay (make sure it flows logically) Check spelling & grammar carefully Mistakes will be picked up on and will make a bad impression Plagiarism is taken very seriously Ideally, avoid mentioning a particular University or applying to vastly different courses

21. Hints and Tips - Think about your ambitions and interests - Talk to friends, family, teachers - Find out info early - Make use of the education conventions - Visit the UCAS website - Don’t be afraid to contact universities - Get course booklets as well as prospectuses - Attend Open Days - Practise writing personal statement

22. Visit Us GENERAL OPEN DAYs Saturday 12 th May Wednesday 13 th June www.solent.ac.uk

23. Questions