Higher Education Evening
Mrs Gray – Applying to UniversityMr Alexander & Sejal Modasia –
Student LifeMr Elmy – Student Finance
Applying to University
Mrs Gray – Head of Careers
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
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
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
www.ucas.com Parents section – www.ucas.com/parents -
free e -newsletters and a parents blog
Applications 2011-2012 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.
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 –
www.london.ac.uk/tasters www.opendays.com www.suttontrust.com Course search for 2013 opens May,
registering for 2013 application opens in mid June
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
Top Ten Degree Courses 2011
1. Nursing2. Business Management3. Design Studies4. Law5. Psychology6. Medicine7. Computer Science8. English9. Social Work10. Computer science
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 0.25 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 1.25 A grades
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
Student LifeMr Alexander – Assistant Head of Sixth
Form
Sejal Modasia – Ex Northgate Student, third year medical student at Kings
College London
My Mum Said…..
Finance
Accommodation- Halls, Flats and Houses
Emotion
Preparation
Keep their room as it is
Washing
Workload
Not 9-5
Independent study
Range of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab time
Different assessment methods
Life Skills
Independence
Ability to manage money
Cooking, cleaning, washing?
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?
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
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?
Student Finance
Mr Elmy – Head of Sixth Form
Higher Education Finance 2013/14
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.
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
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
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
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%
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.
Health Related Courses
Administered by NHSBSA (National Health Service Business Services Authority)
Proposed tuition fees are paid
Possible to get a non-repayable bursary
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
Further Information
www.directgov.co.uk/studentfinance
www.slc.co.uk
www.nhsbsa.nhs.co.uk
Thank you for coming
to our
Higher Education Evening