A Parents’ Guide
to Higher Education
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Making the Right Choice
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Edge Hill University
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A Great Place to Study
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Understanding Funding and Finance
11 The Application Process 13 Support for Students 15 Starting University: How Parents can help 16 Useful Websites
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This guide is not just for parents – it’s for anybody who is helping someone make decisions about higher education.
2 A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Contents
As the supporter of someone who is applying to university you will play an important role in helping them to make an informed decision about what and where to study.
This guide addresses some of the questions you may have about applying to higher education, and Edge Hill University in particular. What are the benefits of going to university? Studying at University is a life changing experience that will allow your son or daughter to:
Enhance employability Competition for jobs in today’s market is tough, and having a degree will give your child the edge against non-graduates. Not only will your child have a qualification they can be proud of, they will pick up valuable transferable skills along the way, such as; communication skills, teamwork, organisation and time-management. Our on-campus Careers Team help our students find work placements, paid work and voluntary roles to boost their employability even further. Gain independence Studying at university, and possibly living away from home for the first time is an experience like no other. Your son or daughter can gain their independence and increase their self-confidence and social skills.
Make friends for life Although university requires lots of hard-work, students will enjoy the social side and in the process make friends for life. Here at Edge Hill, we have a very close community which our students love being a part of.
When choosing a university course it is important to select a subject in the area that is enjoyable and that can bring benefits. With over 50,000 courses available nationally, at a variety of city and campus-based universities, there is a lot of choice.
4 A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Making the Right Choice
Opportunity from Knowledge Founded in 1885, Edge Hill is a thriving university providing an outstanding student experience with a strong focus on employability. Our award-winning campus features some of the best facilities you will see in higher education, set in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.
We were the proud winner of the Times Higher Education UK University of the Year Award in 2014 as well as being shortlisted in 2007/8, 2010/11 and 2011/12 – the only university to be shortlisted four times in seven years.
Great graduate employment prospects The Edge Hill University experience is designed to prepare our students for their future careers. We have an excellent track record in graduate employment with 95.3% of Edge Hill University’s full-time and part-time degree and undergraduate award holders finding work or further study within six months of graduating. (HESA
Destination of Leavers Survey pub. June 2013, DLHE survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency 2014).
Satisfied Students Edge Hill University offers an outstanding student experience and this is reinforced by our consistent success in national surveys: •
Ranked in the top 30 for Student Experience
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4.2 out of 5 for Overall Student Satisfaction
• •
(Times Higher Education survey, 2015) (National Student Survey, 2015)
Top 20 University for making a great first impression – making students feel at home straight away. (Youth Sight 2014)
Safest Campus in the North West for fourth year running (Complete University Guide 2015)
6 A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Edge Hill University
The Edge Hill University campus is located close to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, and is perfectly placed for students to benefit from the local countryside or the nearby cities, all of which are all easily accessible by road or rail.
Our Ormskirk campus offers everything on site, from state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities to modern student accommodation, and a choice of places to study, socialise and relax.
Our cutting edge resources are designed to ensure students get experience of industry standard facilities to prepare them for the world of work.
Departmental facilities are complemented by the University Library, giving students access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and study spaces. Extensive IT and multimedia provision is available in the Learning Innovation Centre and the ÂŁ16m Creative Edge building.
The facilities across campus, together with the expertise of our teaching staff, easily accessible student support services and 24-hour security provide peace of mind and an environment where our students are encouraged to succeed.
Edge Hill University has been ranked the safest campus in the North West (Complete University Guide 2015). Many new students appreciate the supportive, sociable and secure atmosphere that life in halls can offer. As we are campus based, everything is just a few minutes’ walk from the student accommodation.
Visit edgehill.ac.uk/accommodation for further information on our accommodation application and allocation process.
8 A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
A Great Place to Study
Understanding Funding and Finance
The standard undergraduate tuition fee will be £9,000 per year for all BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Full-time students who are studying for their first degree can benefit from a range of financial support.
Tuition Fee Loan - No upfront tuition fees Eligible students (UK/EU) can borrow the full cost of their tuition fee which will be £9,000 in the form of a loan, subject to previous degree or higher level study, and should not have to pay for their course upfront.
Maintenance Loan A Maintenance Loan is available to help students with living and study costs. All students (full-time, UK/EU), who live away from home and outside London, will be eligible for a loan of up to £8,200. Those who choose to live with their parents will be eligible for a loan of up to £6,904. Students will only be required to start repaying student loans (tuition and maintenance) after they have graduated and are earning over £21,000 per annum. When it comes to repayment terms, tuition fee and maintenance loans are combined to make one monthly repayment. Graduates’ monthly repayments are based on the amount they earn and not on how much they have borrowed. For further details see our website at: edgehill.ac.uk/fees
Applying for Student Finance As the parent of a student, you will usually have to support their student finance application if the student is applying based on their household income. Three things you can do to support an application are: 1. After your son or daughter has submitted their application, you will be sent an email asking you to confirm your income. 2. If you expect your income to drop by 15% or more, you can let Student Finance know. 3. Student Finance may ask for more details and evidence of your income or circumstances. For more information, and details of what evidence you may have to supply visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/parents-and-partners i
When Student Finance start processing applications they get incredibly busy, so it is worth encouraging your son or daughter to get in touch with them to ensure they have all the information they need. Any delays in providing documents/evidence to Student Finance could result in your son or daughter not getting their first instalment of maintenance loan at the start of term.
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What is a scholarship? A scholarship is a financial award in recognition of excellence to support your son or daughter while they are at university. It is awarded purely on merit and does not have to be repaid.
High Achievers Scholarship - £1,000 Outstanding students who achieve 360 UCAS points in their final A2 (or equivalent) subjects, may qualify for a High Achievers Scholarship.
Excellence Scholarship - up to £2,000 If an applicant can demonstrate determination, commitment and achievement outside of work or study, they could make a substantial difference to their student life and finances by applying for an Excellence Scholarship.
Liverpool Scholarship - up to £3,000 This scholarship will be paid to the City of Liverpool student(s) who achieves the highest UCAS tariff score. To be eligible applicants must be domiciled in the City of Liverpool and have applied to study a full-time undergraduate degree programme.
Sports Scholarship - up to £1,000 If your child is talented at sport, participates at a competitive level or coaches and can demonstrate the ability and ambition to improve whilst they are studying here, they could receive a Sports Scholarship.
Earn while you learn Students gain valuable skills and experience through working alongside their studies, and with plenty of part-time job opportunities available on and off the campus, this can be a perfect stepping stone from study to employment. The Careers Centre offers an online vacancy service where students can search for part-time and casual vacancies as well as work placements and volunteering opportunities. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/careers for more information
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edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships
A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Additional financial support at Edge Hill University Our range of scholarships for students recognise determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering, and also reward outstanding examination results.
The Application Process Students apply to university through an online system called UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Students can apply to a maximum of five choices, in no particular order. Some students make just one choice, others go for two different courses; the majority of students pick a similar subject at five different universities. A point to note is that the same Personal Statement will be used for all five choices.
What happens next? Once UCAS has received a completed application, the next steps are:
1. 2. 3. 4.
UCAS will process the application. They will send a welcome letter confirming personal details and choices. The University can view the application online. The University will then decide whether to make an offer of a place or not.
Students can access their application via ‘Track’ on the UCAS website. Track is an online system which allows applicants to view their application, make changes to their personal details, view decisions made by the universities and colleges and reply to any offers received. The majority of communication about applicants and their places will come via UCAS, rather than direct from the universities. Students will most likely receive either an unconditional offer, which means that they have got a place, if they want it, with no conditions attached, or a conditional offer, which means they may have to get certain grades to secure a place on their chosen course.
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September – December • Complete UCAS application, including an excellent personal statement • Attend Open Days
January – April • The deadline to submit a UCAS application is 15 January at 6pm • Begin applying for Student Finance. Visit www.gov.uk/student-finance for more information • Await decisions from universities and colleges • Accepting and declining offers – choose one university as a FIRM choice and one as an INSURANCE choice • Apply for accommodation at Edge Hill if it is a FIRM choice
May – July • Check the UCAS website for important deadlines: www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/key-dates/2016 • Look out for further information from us, this may include pre-course information such as reading lists. This information will be sent to the email address on your son or daughter’s UCAS form. To ensure they don’t miss any important information, if their email address changes they need to inform UCAS and the University as soon as possible • Results published for some examinations such as BTECs. If a completed BTEC qualification is a condition of an offer, confirmation of a place will be sent out from us. If the conditions of the offer are not met, each application will be individually reconsidered and the student may still be offered a place on their chosen course or an alternative course August • A level results day and Clearing opens. Clearing enables students who have not secured a university place to apply for course vacancies • If a place is secured welcome information will be sent out from us
September • Enrolment – the process to officially join the University. Further details will be sent nearer the time; however we advise that you do not plan to be away beyond the first week in September • Moving in day – this is when students who have been allocated on-campus accommodation complete the enrolment process, collect their keys, and move in • First Week starts i
Ensure that all the appropriate documentation is brought to enrolment. You can check what is required by visiting our website from early September.
A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Useful dates
Support for Students Student Services can help with almost anything to do with student life. Most services are accessed via our dedicated on-campus Student Information Centre, and the teams within Student Services offer advice on accommodation, money, wellbeing and much more. The aim of Student Services is to ensure that everyone in the Edge Hill community can make the most of the opportunities for study and learning and that all our students feel valued as individuals. Some of the help offered by Student Services is detailed below: Accommodation The Accommodation Team provides support for students living on-campus as well as advice for those living off-campus. In addition to night support staff who are on hand for any issues arising out of hours, there are also Accommodation Officers who handle student queries during the day and a Student Engagement Assistant whose job is to organise fun activities and events to help students find their niche at Edge Hill. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/ accommodation to find out more.
Counselling The Counselling Service is an established, professional facility that offers a wide range of services. Experienced, qualified counsellors can offer help in finding solutions to problems, ways of coping, or just a safe place to talk. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/counselling to find out more.
Health and Wellbeing If students are finding things difficult, the Student Wellbeing team are able to offer assessments, support and advice, short-term Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions and signposting and liaison with both internal and external teams. Regular GP surgeries are also held at Milton House which is just a short walk from campus. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/the-health-well-beingcentre to find out more.
Inclusion The Inclusion team can support you with a range of needs arising from physical or sensory impairments, mental health needs or other disabilities. The team provides one-to-one academic or personal support and can also organise a Needs Assessment, advice on exam modifications, alternative assessments or adapted accommodation. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/inclusive to find out more.
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Careers Centre The Careers Centre aims to help students develop their employability, offering opportunities to learn, gain transferable skills and acquire relevant work experience. We encourage all students to use our services from their first year onwards. The Careers Centre can help with finding; part-time work, volunteering opportunities and summer jobs both in the UK and abroad. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/careers to find out more. Course Support In a students’ first year they will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will be their first point of contact for queries and concerns. Some courses also have a Peer Mentoring Scheme where second and third year students help first years to settle into the course.
IT and Library Support Students will have access to an impressive library, IT and study support facilities, access to 15,000 e-journals, over 150 online databases, 70,000 e-books and 230,000 books and DVDs. There is 24-hour PC access, free wireless internet across campus and teams to support students with a range of academic skills. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/ls to find out more.
Students’ Union The Students’ Union gives students a voice and works to improve both the educational and social experience providing a wide range of activities including sports and societies, academic advice and guidance, events, student representation, welfare and campaigns. Visit edgehillsu.org.uk to find out more.
Settling in We provide all our students with the warmest of welcomes. The first week can be a daunting time so we arrange activities to allow first year students to acclimatise to their new surroundings. There are group activities providing course information, introductory sessions with the University Library and individual meetings with their Personal Tutor.
A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
Money Advice The Money Advice team holds regular drop-in sessions for students and can help them to plan a budget, access emergency funds and apply for hardship grants. They also offer financial health checks as well as advice and support to students who are struggling financially. Visit edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/ moneyadvice to find out more.
Starting University: How Parents Can Help
Seeing your son or daughter go off to university is an important step for you, as well as them. Most parents describe mixed emotions and report that it can take time to adjust to the change. Your son or daughter will probably experience similar feelings, but on top of this they will be dealing with new ways of behaving. Below are some top tips on how you can help your child have a positive first month at university: 1. Take up opportunities to get involved in as much as possible. 2. If your child experiences homesickness, reassure them that this is perfectly normal. 3. If they experience any problems in their on-campus accommodation, they should look to the Accommodation Team for advice. Each halls of residence has a Student Assistant who will also be a good contact if there are any issues. 4. Suggest that they take part in things they enjoy, for example, joining a sports team or going to a yoga class. 5. Remind them that opportunities will continue to present themselves so friendships will continue to develop past the first month. 6. Undertaking voluntary work or fundraising can be a really positive thing to be involved with, your child can gain essential skills and make friends along the way. i
For more information, and to find out what else you can do to help, please visit;
edgehill.ac.uk/studentservices/counselling/how-we-can-help-you
and click on ‘Information for parents.’
Edge Hill information Edge Hill University EHU Students’ Union
Choosing a course and university UCAS What Uni Finance and budgeting Direct.gov Student Calculator Info for NHS funded students
General information NUS Department for Education
edgehill.ac.uk edgehillsu.org.uk ucas.com whatuni.com gov.uk/studentfinance studentcalculator.org.uk nhsbsa.nhs.uk nus.org.uk education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
For any questions you may have about Edge Hill University please contact our Course Enquiries Team: T: 01695 657000 E: study@edgehill.ac.uk
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Useful Websites
Notes
A Parents’ Guide to Higher Education
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Liverpool
Manchester
Birmingham
London
Edge Hill University St Helens Road Ormskirk Lancashire L39 4QP United Kingdom
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edgehill.ac.uk facebook.com/edgehilluniversity twitter.com/edgehill instagram.com/edgehilluniversity