Why go to university?

1. Why go to university? An Introduction to University, Personal Statements & Finance Schools and Colleges Liaison

2. Many professions require employees to be trained to degree standardbefore they can work and the list increases year on year Doctor Dentist Veterinary Surgeon Solicitor Architect Journalist Primary School Teacher Software Programmer Pharmacist The profession requires it Top marks from the Quality Assurance Agency

3. Enhance your subject knowledge • Most students choose to go to university and study a subject that interests them • There are over 37,250 HE courses to choose from across the UK • Delivered by 376 universities and colleges • There is something out there for everyone High Student Satisfaction

4. Advantages of going to university • Career prospects and academic opportunities: • Average starting salary £25,000 • Graduates on average earn a great deal more in a lifetime • International recognition • Route to higher level qualifications (Masters and research degrees) Historic city centre location

5. Gain and develop transferable skills Team work Research Independent thinking Presentation skills Time management All of which employers really look for in a candidate. To increase employment prospects World Class Research

6. What is different about university? • The way you learn: • Lectures, seminars and tutorials • Emphasis on self study • A great deal of reading/research • Self driven • No one will chase you for work Award winning community radio station

7. Students’ Union • Enhances the student experience • Organises sporting/social events • Represents the student body • Social life • Meet new people • Job shop • Volunteering £160 Million investment into the campus

8. Students’ Union • Enhances the student experience • Organises sporting/social events • Represents the student body • Social life • Meet new people • Job shop • Volunteering Personal Statements £160 Million investment into the campus

9. What do tutors look for in your UCAS application? • Appropriate academic qualifications • A good personal statement • A good academic reference • A well prepared and thought out application- a last minute job will be easily noticed World Class Research

10. The Personal Statement • Admissions tutors will question: • Your interest in the course • Research • Your suitability for the course • The qualifications you have/are working towards • Can you work under pressure? • How you will adjust to life at university • Can you communicate effectively? • Are you hardworking? Excellent graduate employment

11. Personal Statement- Content • Example: • “Having studied law at college I found criminal law the most interesting aspect of the course and would like to concentrate on Criminology at university. The ideal career for me would be to investigate crime or deal with rehabilitation of offenders in the Probationary Service.” Award winning community radio station

12. Personal Statement- Content • What do I enjoy studying now and why? • Have I undertaken any work experience/voluntary work alongside my studies? • Have I gained any extra qualifications or achievements outside of your studies? e.g. DofE, EPQ • What have I gained from any field trips or extra-curricular activities? £160 Million investment into the campus

13. Personal Statement- Content • Example: • “At school I joined an activity known as Young Enterprise, an organisation that enabled a group of students to set up their own company. The company ran for around a year and in that time I learned many aspects of running a business. I gained skills in working in a group situation and working to a deadline. I gave the company my full commitment and as a result along with the rest of the group we succeeded.” Times Higher Award Employer Engagement

14. Personal Statement- Content • Extra information to include: • Positions of responsibility • Gap year plans • Sports, hobbies and interests • Volunteer work • Extra-curricular activities The media archive for Central England is located on campus

15. Personal Statement- Content • Example: • “I enjoy music and have passed my Grade VIII Flute exam. I have taken an active part in the school orchestra, performing both solo and group pieces. I also like to be involved with school productions, appearing as a dancer in productions of ‘Grease’ and ‘Bugsy Malone’. More recently I became involved in a different way by joining the stage and sound crew for ‘Whistle Down the Wind’.” Safest University in the East Midlands

16. Personal Statement- Content • Be positive: • Being a dedicated team member of… • The skills I have gained… • My A level subjects have… • My achievements include… • As a volunteer of… Student as Producer initiative

17. Personal Statement- Hints & Tips • Use language effectively • Not: ‘I am the captain of the football team’ • But: ‘My role as captain of the football team has helped me to develop leadership skills in planning home and away fixtures.’ • Only include information you would be happy to answer questions on in an interview • Humour does not work • Type out in Word first Excellent Scholarship Packages

18. I am passionate about a career in Business Management especially the fashion trade, therefore chose to take a more practical BTEC qualification in preference to the traditional three A levels, as this is more relevant to my proposed career. I have also supplemented this with an A level and I am hopeful of obtaining good grades. I am conscious of the competition for places in Business Management, but would stress that I am thoroughly motivated. I have undertaken work experience with an both an insurance company and in a Birmingham department store. This has given me good experience, helped to focus on my career aim and developed my social skills. Membership of a drama society and work with local charities has developed my communication skills, team work and ability to think and work on my own. I am concerned about pollution and have campaigned for the introduction of recycling in my college. With a great interest in music from classical to more popular, I play the flute and have achieved grade 8 in my recent exams. My reading ranges from poetry to politics and last year I attended a Shakespeare Summer School at Stratford, taking part in a production of Hamlet. Personal Statement- good example Journalism and Psychology top 10 in the country

19. rancid therapy slipknot run dmc ronisize rage against the machine blink 182 hip hop madness nirvana sex pistols sugarhill gang iggy pop sepultura blondie a specials kittie prodigy eels deftones beastie boys Personal Statement- bad example Industry accreditations across our courses

20. Student Finance 2014 Schools and Colleges Liaison Student Finance 2015

21. The things you need to know • No upfront payments required • Bigger borrowing does not increase repayment amount • Loans will be written off World Class Research

22. The Financial Support • Tuition fee loan • Maintenance loan • Maintenance grant • Additional funding sources Excellent graduate employment

23. Tuition fee loan • Fees up to £9,000 • Everyone entitled to the loan • Can be a full or partial loan • Paid directly to institution • Apply for each year of study Historic city centre location

24. Maintenance loan • Available to all; partly means tested • 100% amount depends on where you decide to live whilst at university • £4,565 at home • £5,740 away from home • £8,009 away from home, in London • Three instalments • The exact amount you get is based on your household income (thresholds are £25,000 to £58,200 at home, £62,143 outside London, £69,766 in London) • This loan is applied for each year you study Award winning community radio station

25. Maintenance grant • Additional help for low household income students and is wholly means tested • The maximum students will receive is £3,387 • The thresholds for household income are £25,000 to £42,875 • This grant is not repayable • Applied for each year you study £160 Million investment into the campus

26. Potential extra support • Disabled Students’ Allowance • Adult Dependents’ Grant • Childcare Grant • Parents’ Learning Allowance • All of the above are non-repayable • Applied for each year you study The media archive for Central England is located on campus

27. Other funding sources • NHS • University scholarships/bursaries • Worthy cause funding • Always check Excellent Scholarship Packages

28. Repaying the loans • Two loans added together- one overall repayment amount • Repayments start in the April following graduation • Earning more than £21,000 per annum • Deducted directly from salary Accountancy and Finance ranked 1st in the country for the last 5 years

29. What you pay • Repayment amount is 9% of your gross salary, once earning above £21,000 • At a starting salary of £25,000 – the repayment will be £360/year or £30/month (9% of £4,000) • Lump sum payments can be made • Interest accrued from day one of the loan Journalism and Psychology top 10 in the country

30. How to apply • Applications for the main loans and grants made online or on paper via Student Finance England • SFE deadline 31st May • Individual university bursaries and scholarships- check with institution • Other sources- check on how to apply via the institution or funding website Lincoln Cathedral celebrated as one of the finest medieval landmarks in Europe

31. Resources: • slc.co.uk • gov.uk/student-finance • gov.uk/unimoney • scholarship-search.org.uk • unigrants.co.uk • studentcashpoint.co.uk • moneysavingexpert.com/students • Student Finance England Customer Support Line: 0300 100 0607 First School of Engineering built in the last 20 years

32. Thank you for listening | Any questions? • Open days 2014 • Saturday 7th June • Saturday 12th July • Saturday 20th September • Saturday 4th October • Saturday 18th Ocotber • Saturday 15th November • Wednesday 3rd December All of our open days can be booked online and we run informal tours regularly Contact Us: lincoln.ac.uk enquiries@lincoln.ac.uk 01522 886644 /UniversityOfLincoln @UniLincoln £160 million investment into the campus