Applying to Higher Education

1. Applying to Higher Education Colin Ferguson Senior Assistant Schools Development Officer

2. Russell Group & 1994 Group • Both groups: • are comprised of highly ranked universities • promote excellence in research and teaching • play a leading role in developments in the HE sector • Neither is ‘better’ than the other • Main difference: Russell Group universities have a medical school

3. Applying through UCAS 1st September 2011: UCAS starts to receive UCAS applications 15th October 2011: Closing date for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science & Oxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge) 15th January 2012: UCAS closing date for all other applications 16 January - 30 June 2012: Applications received between these dates are late applications and Universities are not legally obliged to consider them End February – 30 June 2012 UCAS Extra

4. Online Application Form • Apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) • Complete UCAS application online (‘Apply’) • Obtain a buzzword from your school • Log on as many times as you need to • Help notes for each section • Automatic checking prevents mistakes (except spelling mistakes)

5. Online Application Form • Personal details • Education, including grade predictions • Course/University selection • Check course and institution codes • Employment history • Disabilities/special needs • Personal Statement • Academic Reference

6. Personal Details What Details Will They Want? first names, surnames, title, sex, DOB, address, telephone numbers and email address student support (finance), nominated access, criminal convictions, disabilities.

9. Additional Information Ethnic origin, national identity, activities in preparation for higher education, time in care, parental occupation, job title of parent…

11. Choices • 5 Course choices in any order • (Apply puts them into alphabetical order) • No more than four choices for dentistry, medicine or veterinary science • No more than one choice for either Oxford or Cambridge

13. Education & Employment • Education • Name, exam centre number (if applicable), start date, finish date and type of attendance for 3 most recent secondary schools, colleges or universities you have attended • List of qualifications • Employment • You must include weekend and holiday jobs. • Details of unpaid work experience should be included in your personal statement.

16. Common Mistakes… • Incorrect date of birth • Incorrect residential category • Disability section not completed • Choice codes incorrect • Criminal convictions: you must tick the box if you have a relevant criminal conviction which is not spent

17. Reference • Your teacher has to write you a reference • May use your personal statement as a guide • Submit your personal statement in plenty of time • Ensure your referee has enough time to write you a good reference

19. What Happens Next? • Confirmation your application has been received by UCAS • Universities consider applications and make decisions • Invisibility of choices • Applicants view the progress of their application on ‘UCAS Track’ • Track shows when universities have made a decision – either an offer or a rejection

20. What Happens Next? • Offers can be: • ‘unconditional’ where the applicant has already satisfied the entry criteria • ‘conditional’ where the applicant has to achieve certain grades or points • ‘Reject’ means you have been unsuccessful in securing a place • Decisions from universities can take several months

21. Shortlisting “This is my first choice if I get the grades..! ” Pick one University as your FIRM CHOICE Pick one University as your INSURANCE choice “If I don’t get the grades I want, I’d be happy here!”

22. UCAS Extra • UCAS Extra allows you to apply for courses which still have vacancies between the end of February and the end of June • You need to have made five choices and be holding no offers – either you have declined them all or have not received any • Places at competitive universities / popular courses may be scarce during this period

23. Results Day

24. Clearing • Clearing is for applicants who have not secured a place at university or college for the current year • Universities who still have places available on their courses advertise them to applicants during this period • It begins in August following A Level results • You are eligible for clearing if you are holding no offers following your application

25. Course Choices

26. Choosing the right course…. • Entry requirements (be realistic but ambitious!) • Course Length • Content – compulsory modules and options • Teaching style and assessment • Career prospects / graduate destinations • Accreditation if applicable (e.g. BPS, QTS) Do your research!

27. Choosing the right course…. • Year abroad/ industrial placement • No. of subjects (single, joint or combined honours) • Type of assessment • Term length • Teaching quality • Research Assessment Exercise scores Think about:

28. Things to consider Accommodation Size of institution Distancefrom home Think about… Social Life SupportServices Sports & Societies Type of institution Development Opportunities

29. Sources of further information Open Days/Visit Days Higher Education/UCAS Fairs Taster sessions/summer schools Teachers, Careers Advisers, relatives Current students University websites Prospectuses Independent Assessments (e.g. Times, Guardian league tables)

30. Personal Statements

31. What Do Admissions Tutors Look For? • GCSEs • AS Results • A-Level Predictions • Interviews • Admissions Tests e.g. LNAT/UKCat, if applicable • Personal Statement • Reference

32. The Application Form • Submit your Personal Statement online as part of your application • Check your spelling and grammar • Paste your Personal Statement in from a word package • 47 lines or 4000 characters including spaces • Draft and re-draft before putting it into Apply • Remember to save a copy once finished

33. Personal Statement • Why do you want to study the subject? • 2. What have you done in the past that makes you particularly suitable to study the subject • 3. What else have you done that would contribute to the course and institution and makes you an interesting and unique individual?

34. Why This Subject? • Enthusiasm & academic potential • Knowledge of the subject area • Where it could it lead? • What does the course entail? • Why does it interest you? • What interests you the most?

35. Why You? • Experience so far • Work experience (e.g. law, physiotherapy) • Project work • Voluntary work • Hobbies • Books, newspapers, TV programmes • Year out • Appropriate Skills

36. Interesting and Unique? • Who are you? • What do you enjoy • Hobbies, leisure activities • Sports • Extra-curricular activities • Responsibilities • Achievements • Employment

37. Tips • Be original • Do not mention individual institutions • Do not be too general with your choices • Do not try to be funny – the Admissions Tutor may not have the same sense of humour • Be careful when you talk about your interests and hobbies

38. Plagiarism • REMEMBER: • The personal statement must be an authentic statement written by the applicant • UCAS uses a similarity detection system to check all statements for evidence of similarities • Doing this could result in the application being instantly rejected • It is unlikely that a second personal statement will be accepted

39. Student Finance £

40. How much will a degree cost? Up-front Costs • The average student spent £8,950 on living and course costs. • “Living and Course Costs” include: • Fees other than Tuition Fees, accommodation,books and equipment, photocopying and printing, utilities, laundry, insurance, clothing, travel, leisure, extra costs for some students e.g. students with dependants or disabilities. *Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/08 (DIUS, April 2009)

41. How much will a degree cost? Deferred Costs • Durham University is planning to charge tuition fees of £9,000 for the academic year 2012/13 (as are two-thirds of Universities). • The Government offers Tuition Fee loans which will pay these fees directly to the University. Money for these fees is not required upfront, and eligibility is not means-tested. • Loan repayments are deferred until after graduation, and will not commence until the graduate is earning over £21,000

42. What will my income be? • Maintenance Loan • Up to £5,239 per year. • Depends on your Household Income, where you live whilst studying, your year of study. • Paid to you in three termly instalments. • You only start repaying it when you start earning over £21,000.

43. What will my income be? • Maintenance Grant • Up to £3,250 per year. • Depends on your Household Income. • Paid to you in three termly instalments. • Non-repayable.

44. What will my income be?

45. What will my income be? • A £150 million National Scholarship Programme will be introduced from 2012/13. • University-Specific Information will appear on universities’ websites from July 2011. • Other Income • Other funding from your University. • Interest-free bank overdrafts. • Paid work. • Parents/family.

46. How do I apply? Apply for your Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan, Maintenance Grant and any other statutory support for which you are eligible through Student Finance England. You and your parent(s) will need to complete the secure online form at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance The application process will begin in September 2011 and you must submit your application by the deadline to guarantee funding for the start of the academic year. The deadline is likely to be in May 2012.

47. How do I apply?

48. What happens afterwards? • You only start to repay your student loans once you are earning over £21,000. • You repay 9% of your income above £21,000, so if you were earning £25,000 you would repay 9% of £4,000 which is £360 per year or £30 per month. • Interest is applied at RPI +3% while you are studying. • Interest is applied at the rate of inflation if you earn less than £21,000. • Interest is applied from RPI to RPI +3% if you earn between £21,000 and £41,000. • Interest is applied at RPI +3% if you earn more than £41,000.

49. What happens afterwards? • Loan repayments will be deducted from your salary, normally through the tax system. • If you have not repaid your loan within 30 years it will be written off. • Your loan will not affect your credit rating. • Your loan will not affect your application for a mortgage.

50. Any Questions?