University and Colleges Admission Service http://www.ucas.ac.uk/

Presentation will cover the following areas:

   1) The application process 2) Finance 3) Support

Quick quiz

     Do you know what the following mean?

LNAT UKCAT BMAT HAT

The Timeline



March – September 2010

Research courses and universities Write personal statement 

15 th October 2010

Deadline for Oxford and Cambridge applications Deadline for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses

The Timeline



15 th October 2010

Students should aim to have completed their application form together with their personal statement. From this year students will be expected to state the grades they received for their individual AS modules. This will only apply to the AS units that they have received certification for.

The Timeline



19th November 2010

College deadline for UCAS applications. After this date we can not guarantee that tutor references will be attached in time to meet the final deadline 

15 th January 2011

UCAS application deadline

The Timeline



24 th March 2011

UCAS deadline for some Art & Design Courses  

December – April

Offers start to come in Final Deadline for UCAS 30 th June 

18 th August 2011

AS/A2 Results Day

Researching courses and universities

     Sources of Information  Tutors – list of best universities for particular courses Internet – UCAS Fairs www.ucas.com

& Stamford Test Sixth Form Study Room – copies of university prospectuses available Contact the universities You can apply for up to 5 courses (exceptions Medicine/Dentistry & Route B courses)

What things to consider.

    Which subjects interest me? What are my talents? What job would I like to do after attending university or college? Which academic skills would I like to improve?

Entry Profiles

   These are available on the university website and via the prospectus.

They give a clear statement of the grades and other requirements the university is looking for. It is the student’s responsibility to provide their tutor, who writes their reference, with a copy of the entry profile.

How to apply

 Students are to complete the application form via the internet.

 Student must attach their personal statement.

 Sixth Form Office will attach their tutor reference.

Different Types of Offers

   Most offers are conditional – this means they must get a particular set of grades/points in order to be accepted.

Some courses will state that they need a certain number of points i.e. 240 points.

Others will state that they need 2 B’s and a C in their A2 subjects and they may specify which subject they need to get the grade B’s in.

Points

C D E AS Level Grade A B Points 60 50 40 30 20 B C D E A2 Level/AVCE Grade Points A* A 140 120 100 80 60 40

University Fees

     For 2010/11 entry the fees will be up to £3290 per year - depending on the university you choose and the level of course you are on.

Therefore a 3 year degree course will cost £9870 just in tuition fees.

Nobody has to pay fees ‘up front’ (although you can, if you want to). Students will start paying it back once they have graduated and are earning more than £15,000 per year.

On top of the tuition fees students will need to finance their living costs e.g. rent, food etc.

Grants / Loans

   Maximum loan for 2010/11 is £4,950 per year. Everyone is entitled to 72% of loan, the rest is dependent on household income, (lower threshold £25,000 upper threshold £57,708) Amount of loan you can apply for depends on the amount of maintenance grant you receive Partial grants are available if the annual household income is between £17,910 and £38,330.

Maintenance Grants

 Non repayable  Dependent on household income  Full grant is £2,906 for incomes under £25,000  Incomes up to £50,000 proportion of grant

Total support available

H/hold Income £25,000 £30,000 £40,000 £50,020 £60,000+ Grant

£2,906 £1,906 £711 £50 £0

M Loan £3,497 £3,997 £4,595 £4,925 £3,564 Fee Loan Total support available £3,290 £3,290 £9,693 £9,193 £3,290 £8,596 £3,290 £8,265 £3,290 £6,854

Other Sources of Finance

   1) Bursaries – available from individual universities to students from low income households.

2) Scholarships – available for students who meet specific criteria.

More information is available on www.direct.gov.uk

Parents/Carers Disabled Student Allowance Loans, grants, bursaries Access to Learning Fund Sources of Student Finance Sponsorship Gap year work Scholarships

Success

    Students must be well organised.

Courses and universities must be thoroughly researched.

Meet the deadlines. The earlier the application goes in the better chance of success! We advise before the October Half Term.

Ask for advice – your tutor is there to help you.

How can you, as parents, help?

    Talk to them about the choices they are making – check entry profiles.

Encourage them to aim high and have the correct work ethos to enable them to achieve their aspirations.

Be aware of the deadlines and encourage them to meet these.

Discuss the financial implications and encourage them to start saving now!

        

Careers advisor/tutor at school/college

Careers library Connexions staff University of choice/local university www.ucas.com

(lots of information about everything) www.slc.co.uk

(student loans) www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

– Student Finance England) www.uniaid.org.uk

finance) (financial support for HE students (a student charity helping you with student http://www.funderfinder.org.uk/ (sponsorship)

Queries

If you require any further information contact the Sixth Form Office on 01484 868769 or e-mail us at [email protected]

UCAS also have a special website designed for parents with advice and financial information – www.ucas.com