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

2. Applying to University
Mrs Gray – Head of Careers

3. 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

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 few 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
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.

8. 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 –
Course search for 2013 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 – 80% of courses have these
Entry requirements
Relevant work experience for vocational courses
Location
Type of institution – campus or city?
Employability activities offered

10. 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

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
Contextual data/Academic reference from Northgate

12. 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

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 – 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

15. 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

16. 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

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
Successful Northgate Oxbridge students this year had 10.3A*s at GCSE and at A2 were predicted 3.75A* and 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 A grades

18. 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

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

28. Higher Education Finance 2013/14

29. 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.

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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%

34. 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.

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

36. 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

37. Further Information www.directgov.co.uk/studentfinance www.slc.co.uk

38. Thank you for coming to our Higher Education Evening