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