AWS Introduction to UCAS & Finance

Intro to UCAS/HE & Finance

Higher education University degrees

Why study for a degree?

 You want to study a specific subject at an advanced level

 Some jobs require a degree  HE qualification gives you an advantage  Potential to earn more over your career  Want to develop your subject knowledge and transferable skills

Traditional degrees  Over 43,000 courses through over 300 institutions  Minimum course length is 3 years  Many students go on to a variety of careers not necessarily in their degree subject  A loan from student finance will cover tuition fees and support living costs  Live in university accommodation in your first year -full university ‘experience’

University Life University is more than the academic study  Meet new people from all over the world  Live independently for the first time  Opportunities to study abroad  Opportunities to travel through volunteering  Many clubs and societies to try.

Course options

How can I study?  Single honours or joint honours  Full-time or part-time  BA, BSc or MSci, BEng or MEng, LLB  Sandwich courses/year in industry  International exchange  HND, Foundation degree, Foundation Year

UCAS

What is UCAS?

 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service  Central applications agency for HE applications in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

 Handles over 650,000 applications per year

UCAS – Key facts

 ‘Invisibility’  Maximum of five choices (some exceptions)  Simultaneous consideration  Offers – 2 can be held  £24 Registration Fee (£18 for one course)

The annual UCAS process Summer September Mid October EndMid February End March May/June Start July Mid January March Mid AugustSeptember/ 2018 October

Deadline for Art Research courses Apply for opens Start filling in the Deadline Deadline for for most UCAS extra Clearing Deadline Extra for closes A level results day closes and Design and universities form – can’t Oxbridge other courses for accommodation candidates with replying to offers courses on individual submit until candidates, no (depends offers Clearing opens Attend openSeptember days 5thmedicine, dentistry universities) ‘Deadline’ for and vet medicine Adjustment opens universities to Think about skills courses respond and achievements UCAS apply opens

The annual UCAS process

The UCAS website

UCAS tariffs

How do students apply?

UCAS apply  School will help student to register 7 sections

 Student’s personal details  additional information  finance  choices  education  employment  personal statement

UCASapply – Personal details

UCASapply – Choices

Make 5 choices  Same subject  Same institution  A combination

UCASapply – Education

UCASapply – Employment

UCASapply – Personal statement

Personal Statements Key Points

Consider:

 Limited to 47 lines (4000 characters)  Save a copy of the statement  Students are encouraged to ask for guidance and proof-reading

Personal statements

An opportunity to evidence:  Main reasons for studying the course

 A specific area of interest within the chosen subject  Analysis of academic activities or work experiences related  Analysis of extra-curricular activities

References

 Written by a member of staff at school  Often written as a basis on study & performance  Students encouraged to speak to their referee and explain why they have chosen their university/college choices

 Additional evidence/special circumstances e.g. caring responsibilities

What happens next?

 Once completed the application is sent to UCAS

 UCAS will send an acknowledgement  Copies of application are sent to choices

What happens next?

 Check email regularly & UCAS Track  Offers: unconditional, conditional, unsuccessful

 Interviews/auditions possible  Decisions: firm, insurance, decline

UCAS Extra

 Open between February and July  Used when you have:

Made five choices Had no offers or declined all the offers you have received  You can apply for any course with vacancies one course at a time

Clearing

 Automatically ‘released’ into clearing if results do not meet the entry requirements for your choices  Can also be asked to be ‘released’ into clearing if entry requirements are met and you change mind  You will then contact other universities to find places available on alternative courses  Course vacancies are published on UCAS and university websites and are updated continually  Entry requirements are often lower than previously advertised

Adjustment

 If you obtain higher grades than your firm choice requires then you can look at alternative university places, with higher entry requirements  You can hold your existing Firm place for five days  You must contact the institutions directly in exactly the same way as for Clearing places  If you don’t find an alternative course you will remain accepted on your Firm choice

How to make an informed decision  Start your research early and be proactive!  Think about which subjects you enjoy and whywould you want to take this interest further?  Use the advice and guidance available; websites, Open Days, teachers and advisors  Think about opportunities to support your application-both for university and employment  Start drafting your personal statement/covering letter for courses and roles you may be interested in

Any questions about UCAS?

Guide to Student Finance

How much does university cost?

There are two main costs:  Tuition Fees

The cost of the university course  Living Costs To include the cost of: accommodation, bills, food, travel, leisure and socialising

What financial support is available?

Loans from government

Tuition Fee Loan  Universities can charge up to £9250 per year  Full loan available from the government to full and part time students  Paid straight to your child’s chosen HE institution  Repay when graduated and earning over £25,000

Loans from government

Maintenance Loan  Repayable loan from the government to cover cost of living  Amount varies depending on a range of factors  Paid directly into your child’s bank account in three instalments per year

Maintenance Loan (2019/2020) Full-time student

Maintenance Loan

Living at home (with parents aged under 25)

Up to £7,529

Living away from home, outside London

Up to £8,944

Living away from home, in London

Up to £11,672

Studying abroad (living and studying for at least one term abroad on a UK course)

Up to £10,242

Loan amounts dependent on household income Home (under 25 & in parental home)

Elsewhere

London

£25,000 & under

£7,529

£8,944

£11,672

£30,000

£6,895

£8,303

£11,020

£35,000

£6,260

£7,661

£10,367

£40,000

£5,626

£7,019

£9,714

£45,000

£4,991

£6,377

£9,062

£50,000

£4,357

£5,735

£8,409

£55,000

£3,722

£5,093

£7,756

£60,000

£3,314

£4,452

£7,103

£65,000

£3,314

£4,168

£6,451

£70,000 & over

£3,314

£4,168

£5,812

Household Income

Actual costs

Standard University of Nottingham self-catered accommodation £4660 (*minimum loan would just about cover this)

Work 10 hours a week at minimum wage x 31 weeks = £2427.30 Work 30 hours a week at minimum wage x 12 week summer = £2818.88 Total = £5246.10/52 weeks = £100 a week

Support from universities

Support from universities

Bursaries, scholarships and fee waivers

 All universities charging over £6000 a year for tuition fees must offer additional financial support  These are non-repayable and usually means-tested

Support from universities

Bursaries and Scholarships examples:      

In relation to their chosen course To assist those with disabilities In relation to their sporting achievement In relation to their entry route If they’ve spent time in care If they’ve attended university Summer Schools or other programmes

Repayment

Repayment

 Tuition and maintenance loans will be combined after your child graduates  They only start repaying their loans when they are earning over £25,000  Pay back 9% of what they earn over £25,000  If salary drops below £25,000 then repayments stop  Repayment is done automatically

 Completely written off after 30 years  If they work overseas or are self-employed they must still repay

Repayment

Salary

Amount of salary from which 9% will be deducted

Monthly repayment

Approximate take home pay after tax, NI, pension and SL

£25,000 £29,000 £35,000 £40,000 £45,000

£0 £4,000 £10,000 £15,000 £20,000

£0 £30 £75 £112.50 £150

£1632 £1785 £2060 £2290 £2519

Repayment

Interest rates on loans Students pay interest from the time their first payment is made, until they pay their loan back in full.

Income While studying £21,000 or less £21,000 to £41,000

£41,000 and over

Interest rate Rate of inflation: Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3% RPI only = 1.6% (2016/17) RPI plus up to 3%, depending on their income Rate of inflation plus 3%

How to apply

How to apply

How do they apply?  www.gov.uk/student-finance  Students apply for student finance in the year they plan to start university  The deadline is usually the end of May  Encourage students not to leave it until the last minute to apply!

Key messages

 There is nothing to pay upfront  There is financial support available from the Government  There is additional financial support available from the universities

 Repayments are manageable and do not start until after graduation and your child is earning over £25,000 a year

Further information

 www.gov.uk/student-finance  www.nottingham.ac.uk/financial support  www.slc.co.uk  www.ucas.com/studentfinance  www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/budgetplanner  www.moneysavingexpert.com

Any questions?

Email my team: wpadmin@nottingham.ac.uk @UoNoutreach The University of Nottingham www.youtube.com/user/NottmUniversity