Higher Education Evening Mrs Gray – Applying to University Mr Alexander & Sejal Modasia – Student Life Mr Elmy – Student Finance

Applying to University Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

Why go to Higher Education ? 44% of under 21s go to university 80% of Northgate students go on to higher education 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%-25% more than non-graduates during their working life Graduate earn 85% more than those with GCSEs, GCSE average salary £8.68 ph, Graduates £16.10ph. 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

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 few lower skilled jobs in the UK by 2020 40% of available jobs by 2020 will require a degree

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 www.ucas.com Parents section – www.ucas.com/parents - free e -newsletters and a parents blog

Applications 2011-2012 540,073 had applied by the January deadline, down by 7.4% BUT 18 years old applying only down 2.6% Applicant numbers have dramatically increased over the past five years - this years cycle up 0.4% on 2010 University places are very competitive, not all who apply are accepted. Already this year 50,000 more people have applied than were offered places last year. 27% drop in the number of undergraduate degree courses in the last six years due to government cuts.

Researching Options In the UK - 39,000+ courses are available at more than 300 universities and 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 – www.london.ac.uk/tasters www.opendays.com www.suttontrust.com Course search for 2013 opens May, registering for 2013 application opens in mid June

Finding the Right Course Research thoroughly – 10% who start university do not finish their degree Course search via UCAS – grades and points Entry profiles – 80% of courses have these Entry requirements Relevant work experience for vocational courses Location Type of institution – campus or city? Employability activities offered

Top Ten Degree Courses 2011 1. Nursing 2. Business Management 3. Design Studies 4. Law 5. Psychology 6. Medicine 7. Computer Science 8. English 9. Social Work 10. Computer science

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 Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

Deadlines Northgate internal deadline Oxbridge & Medical – 24 September 2012 All others – 22 October 2012 Final UCAS deadline 15 January 2013 Some Art and Design Courses – 24 March 2013

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

Gap Year? Two Options Deferred entry – 2014 Apply Sept 2013 through Northgate with final results – usually leads to an unconditional offer Gap Year students 2010 – 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

Finalising the Choice Institutions must make offers by 31 March 2013 Students must make their decision by 9 May 2013 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 Adjustment period – post results for five days

Important Dates Oxbridge Conference – 19th April 2012 Higher Education Fair – 14th June 2012 Medics Course - 25th June 2012 Oxbridge preparation course – October 2012 Oxbridge/Medical mock interviews – November 2012

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 Successful Northgate Oxbridge students this year had 10.3A*s at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 3.75A* and 0.25 A grades Successful Northgate medics this year had 9 A*s and 1 A at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 2.5 A* and 1.25 A grades

Support at Northgate Careers Department Mrs Gray and Mrs Hunt Tutors Sixth form team Subject teachers Head of Sixth Form, Mr Elmy and Mrs Hope Deputy Head, Mr Trench

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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?

Mr Elmy – Head of Sixth Form Student Finance Mr Elmy – Head of Sixth Form

Higher Education Finance 2013/14

Tuition Fees Up to £9000 per year Fees above £6000 require approval by Office for Fair Access (OFFA) Not required “up front” Paid directly to the institution.

Maintenance Loan Rates for 2012/13 are: £5500 if you study outside London and do not live at home £7675 if you study in London and do not live at home £4375 if you live at home You are automatically entitled to apply for 65% of the maximum rate The remaining 35% is subject to household income

Maintenance Grant Totally income assessed Household income up to £25,000: £3250 Household income between £25,000 and £42,600: grant from £3250 and £50 a year on a sliding scale Non-repayable

National Scholarship Programme To help students from lower income families: household income below £25,000 Must have a benefit of £3000 Possibility: Tuition Fee Waivers Bursaries (capped at £1000) Help with accommodation costs

Repayments Tuition Fees Maintenance Loans NOT Maintenance Grants or NSP contributions Interest is charged immediately at inflation (RPI) + 3% From April after leaving university if graduate earns less than £21,000 at RPI If earning between £21,000 and £41,000 at a sliding scale rate of RPI to a maximum of RPI + 3% If earning over £41,000 at RPI + 3%

Repayments Repay 9% of salary over £21,000 from April after graduation Deducted from salary via PAYE Written off after 30 years Extra payments to repay loan early are not now to be penalised.

Health Related Courses Administered by NHSBSA (National Health Service Business Services Authority) Proposed tuition fees are paid Possible to get a non-repayable bursary

Studying Outside of England Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales can charge up to £9000 Fees, loans and grants same rules as if study in England In other EEA countries (plus Switzerland) fees charged must be the same as those charged to home students Fees will be paid No loans or grants Other countries meet all costs

Further Information www.directgov.co.uk/studentfinance www.slc.co.uk www.nhsbsa.nhs.co.uk

Thank you for coming to our Higher Education Evening