1. Farmor’s Sixth Form Where Next? Summer / Autumn 2013

2. Post A-Level Options • University • Employment • Apprenticeship • GAP Year • Vocational Training • Internship (experience with little remuneration)

3. The Process

4. What the UCAS form entails • Personal details • Education history and results (all U grades now have to be recorded too) • Employment history • Choices (up to 5 for all courses except medicine which have 4) • Personal statement (4000 characters or 47 lines) • Tutors then add predicted grades and a reference.

5. Have Fun Love of Learning Friends Get Away To Grow up To develop important transferable skills Initial employability Improving career prospects Course range & flexibility To pursue career goal Introduction – Why apply ?

6. Why NOT to apply NOW • Really no idea of course / career • University is not for you – don’t kid yourself • Financial – is this a valid reason? • Not utilising your strengths • Aspirations lie elsewhere

7. Overview • A massive choice: 50,000+ possible courses at over 325 institutions reduced to a maximum of five • Approximately 8 months to make choices – but the earlier the better • A combination of practical, personal and academic factors

8. What if I want a Gap Year ? • Finances • Generally well received by universities • Usually best to apply now and defer – where will you be in October/November next year ? • Odd courses do not defer entry – watch out • Ask yourself ‘why do I want a Gap Year?’ • What if I apply for 2013 and then decide I want a gap year?

9. The UCAS tariff • OFFERS • Still vary between: • a points offer: eg. 340 points and • a grades offer eg. BBC • Some offers include AS grade, others do not - BEWARE

10. An offer example: • Psychology: This offer is subject to you obtaining grades AAA at A-Level in 3 subjects excluding General Studies. Obtain Grade B or above in GCSE Mathematics. • Business Management: This offer is subject to you obtaining A minimum total of 280 points, consisting of at least 220 points at A Level or equivalent; including a grade C or above in A-level Business Studies or Applied Business. COPE can be counted towards the overall score, but not towards the A level requirements.

11. Choosing courses and institutions A vast amount of information available: • Tutors / Sixth Form Management Team • Teachers • Parents • Prospects PA (Careers advice) • Library – Books • HE/Careers days • Websites • Literature from institutions, careers guides and UCAS. • Higher Education Convention – UWE • Open Days • UCAS Applications – Student Guide

12. How to Choose a University& make the most of Open Days

13. How to Choose a Course

14. Choosing Courses and Institutions The Internet www.ucas.ac.uk :UCAS – One Stop Shop (University Clearing and Admissions Service) www.prospects.ac.uk - where your subjects may take you

18. Choosing Courses and Institutions Books • The Times Good University Guide • The Guardian University Guide • The Heap Guides – Course Offers / Details • The Virgin Alternative Guide • The UCAS Directories • Open Days • How many to go to? • How to make the best of them? • www.opendays.com

19. University League Tables • Existed since 1993 • The Guardian / The Times / the Complete University Guide • Many indicators used often taken from common sources (HEFCE) • Can be useful but beware! • The Guardian results based on more current information Unistats www.unistats.com • Benefits from being student centred and current (2009 results currently being displayed)

20. The Guardian

25. Money MattersStudent Finance 4 prongs • Maintenance Grant • Student Loans to cover Maintenance / Living Costs • Loans to cover Variable Tuition Fees • Sponsorships / Bursaries / Discounts / Offers in Kind

26. Money MattersMaintenance Grant – ‘Free Money’ • Maximum grant of £3250 pa • Based on Household Income Non-repayable – NOT part of loan system

27. Money MattersStudent loan for Maintenance • 65% available to everyone regardless of parental income • 35% dependant on parental income • Annual Amount but allocated termly • Higher figures if attending London universities

28. The exact amount full-time students can borrow depends on: • your family’s income • where you live • what year of study you’re in • what help you get through the Maintenance Grant • You can also get student grants to help with living costs. • Maximum Maintenance Loan rates for full-time students •  Where you live and study Maintenance Loan • You live at home £4375  • You live away from home and study outside London £5500  • You live away from home and study in London £7675  • You spend a year of a UK course studying overseas £6535

30. Money MattersVariable Tuition Fees • Maximum of £9000 per year (England) • No-upfront payment – annual loan is added to final debt • Payment is paid automatically by ‘Student Finance England’ to the University • Sandwich courses: For year away tuition fee often lower • UCAS website details • www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

31. Repayment of Student Loans

32. Money MattersTotal Debt & Repayment £9000 tuition fee pa £27000 £5500 Maintenance Loan £16500 Total Debt £43500 BUT… • Written off after 30 years • Rate of Interest linked to Inflation

34. Money MattersDiscounts / Scholarships / Bursaries You may find some offers: Discounts – likely for shortage subjects (Cash Sum) Scholarships – to encourage able students Bursaries – for low-income / disadvantaged students. Students receiving full maintenance grant and paying full tuition fee will receive a bursary of at least £300 Offers in Kind – free laptops / rent rebates / sports memberships etc Disability Allowance – specific support like a laptop for dyslexic students.

35. University of Bath…

37. Scholarship example An applicant applies for a place on a degree scheme at Lancaster and receives a conditional offer (via UCAS) of a place provided that they achieve BBB at A-level. The applicant may be told that if they achieve grades of AAB or higher, and make Lancaster their firm choice, they will receive an Academic Scholarship of £1,000 per year.

38. Choosing the wrong course / uni … • Many people do it • Can be a very costly mistake • Do everything you can do make sure you choose the right uni / course

39. “I’m too good to be rejected” An applicant for History “I can accept the rejection from Cambridge, as so many able students apply, but I could not understand why I was rejected by the other universities” (Durham, Edinburgh, York), The Times.

40. Competition • 9% drop in applications but mostly from older students. • More places, but for AAB or ABB students (so lower grades may get squeezed out). • Popular courses at top universities have had up to 20 applicants per place. • Course fees are still changing.

41. The APPLY system • Students will be applying online • This enables UCAS applications to be done at home • Training to be given in Futures Week • They will receive a guidebook and full support • Lunchtime drop-ins available throughout the autumn term

42. Entry Tests • BMAT: for Medicine, Veterinary & Pharmacology at Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Veterinary College, UCL, Imperial - £42.50 (2012) • Test on the 7th November. Apply by the 30th September. • UKCAT: Medicine - £65 • Book by 21st September – taken at a Pearson test centre between 3rd July and 5th October. • LNAT: for Law at Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Kings, Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, UCL - £50 • Other Entry tests – for example: Maths @ Cambridge, History @ Oxford, Natural Sciences @ Cambridge

43. ROLES Role of the Student • Carry out research – and get going NOW • Work Hard – it’s a competitive world • Ask for help Role of the tutor • Provide support and guidance with personal statements • Check forms / personal statements • Write the reference • Monitor offers / rejections • Primary source of advice Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form • Check all Personal Statements & References • Guidance & Support Parents’ Role • Open days • ‘Gentle’ encouragement

44. Thank you… any questions?