1. Parents’ evening presentation

2. The Role of UCAS UCAS processes applications for full-time courses at higher education providers in the UK. We guide students through the whole process providing information and supporting services for applicants and their parents.

3. Why higher education? Opportunities whilst studying Chance to study a subject they are passionate about Achieve a qualification that will lead to their chosen career Gain confidence, independence and important life skills that will widen their prospects Making lifelong friends

4. With a degree… The opportunity to follow their career path Better job prospects Many employers target graduates Higher earning potential

5. Your son or daughter can use the UCAS search tool search.ucas.com Researching courses

6. The new tariff Extended Project Qualification AS levelA level New Tariff points BTEC Extended Diploma BTEC Diploma BTEC Subsidiary Diploma BTEC Certificate 168D*D*D* 160D*D*D 152D*DD 144DDD 128DDM 112DMMD*D* 104 D*D 96MMMDD 80MMPDM 64MPPMM A*56 D* A48PPPMPD B40 C32 PPM A* 28 D* A D24 D BA 20 CBE16 PM DC 12 D 10 E 8 P E 6

7. Other things to consider Finance – course fees, grants, travel and living costs Travel – to and from home Accommodation – uni halls or private residences? Extra curricular activities

8. Student Finance Tuition Fee Loan (£9 000) Maintenance Loan (dependent upon household income) Bursaries/scholarships Additional Support (SLD, health issues etc)

9. Key Messages for Students Important they make the right university and course choice, based on the full range of factors linked to the course, not fear of debt Research all finance available – especially bursaries and scholarships Apply on-line and on time (end of January 2017 – May 2017). No need to wait for a confirmed place. Apply for other additional support as soon as possible. Ensure all details are correct before submitting an application, and notify as soon as possible of any changes. Check and update account on-line where possible

10. The loan amount depends upon household income. Full-time studentLoan available for the 2016 to 2017 academic year Living at home Up to £6,904 Living away from home, outside London Up to £8,200 Full-rate Maintenance Loan or maximum rate final year Maintenance Loan Up to £42,875 65% Maintenance Loan – student living away from home and studying outside London £62,143

11. Assessing the household contribution Student Finance will work out your parent’s (generally including your parent’s partner) residual income. It does this by taking their gross income (before tax and National Insurance) and taking off allowances for the following: payments into private pension schemes, additional voluntary contributions and employment related expenditure £1,130 for any child other than you who is totally or mainly financially dependent £1,130 if the parent is also a student Once we’ve taken off the relevant amounts and worked out your parents’ residual income, they add this to your income and assess a household contribution as follows: no contribution for total income of up to £42,875 £1 for every £9.36 of the total income over £42, 875, until 65% of the full Maintenance Loan remains For example, if the household income is £55,000, we’ll assess a contribution of £1,295.

12. Student Finance www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk (there is a calculator here to work out what you will get depending upon your individual situation) www.gov.uk Tick the box on the student finance application to share information with universities - BURSARIES

13. Visit, visit, visit …

14. ucas.com/virtual tours

15. Key features of the UCAS undergraduate scheme One application per admissions cycle Application fee £23 / £13 Maximum five choices (some restrictions) Nominated access option Simultaneous consideration Universities cannot see the other choices

16. When to apply Mid September Applications can be submitted to UCAS 7 October School early applicant deadline 15 October Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry Oxford or Cambridge 25 November School UCAS deadline 15 January Advisory application deadline February Extra becomes available 30 June Applications held for Clearing

17. Completing the application Maximum of five choices Some choice restrictions: Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max four Oxford or Cambridge Simple application cost: 1 choice - £12 2-5 choices - £23 Application is entirely online Simultaneous consideration

18. The personal statement The only section your son or daughter has control over Their only chance to market themselves individually One personal statement for all choices Max. 4,000 characters, 47 lines Min. 1,000 characters No spelling/grammar check No formatting

19. Where to start Think about what makes them stand out in an exciting and positive way Show enthusiasm for the course they are applying for and list supporting evidence to back this up. Extra curricular activities and relevant work experience. Skills they can use on the course, leadership, communication, team work for example. Encourage them to ask you for more ideas. Allow plenty of time.

20. 3 sheets method Sheet 1 – Write down all of your qualities (academic and personal), interests, activities, work experience Sheet 2 – List the requirements of the course(s) you wish to study Sheet 3 – Merge the two together

21. Personal statement resources www.ucas.com/personalstatement

22. Tracking applications Track will allow your son or daughter to: Follow the progress of their application online See their choices and personal information See their offers Reply to offers online

23. Decisions and replies Once all decisions are received, they can hold up to two offers: One as their Firm Choice One as their Insurance Choice (if they want to) All other offers are declined Track will show their reply date FIRM = where you really want to go INANCE = Provider decisions: Unsuccessful Unconditional offer Conditional offer qualifications and achievements and or UCAS Tariff points

24. Other options Extra 24 Feb-4 July If all five choices have been used and they have no offers/rejected all offers Clearing from mid-July If there are no offers, or have applied after 30 June deadline Adjustment (from A level results day) If they’ve gained better results than the conditional offer they hold, they could apply for a different course or university

25. What your son/daughter should be doing now? Research Extra Curricular Work experience Go beyond the syllabus Focus on this year’s studies

26. How can you support the application process? Use the Parents/Guardian section of the UCAS website/Parent Guide publication – www.ucas.com/parents and sign up for the newsletter.www.ucas.com/parents Offer to attend open days, you may have a different perspective. Don’t book family holidays at key times. Make sure they read everything carefully that is sent to them. Support your son/daughter’s management of their application.

27. New videos for parents FIRM = where you really want to go INSURANCE = somewhere you would be happy to get into your FIRM choice INSURANCE = you would be happy to get into your FIRM choice UCAS has developed four videos on key topics: The UCAS process Open days Student finance Clearing www.ucas.com/parents

28. Translate ucas.com - BrowseAloud

29. ucas.com/connect

30. Additional help UCAS Customer Experience Centre 0371 468 0468 Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 18:00 (UK time)