Higher Education Evening 2015 Welcome to Higher Education evening

Higher Education Evening 2015

Welcome to Higher Education evening

Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Why should I consider university?2. What should I consider before applying?3. What should I consider when making my

application?4. How long does it take?5. How can I finance my degree?

Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Why should I consider university?

For long-term financial reasons• The average lifetime earnings are £160,000 more for a

graduate(Medicine / Dentistry = £340,315)(Humanities = £51,549)(Arts = £34,949)

Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Why should I consider university?

For academic reasons• It is probably your only opportunity in life for study for its own

sake• It provides you with transferrable skills• It opens up new opportunities• It buys valuable time if you are still unsure of your career path

Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Why should I consider university?

For reasons of competition• Tens of thousands of entry-level jobs now require degree-level

education• 634,610 applicants for 416,000 places in 2014

Higher Education Evening 2015

Higher Education Evening 2015

Higher Education Evening 2015

1. Why should I consider university?

If you are unsure about university, you should apply anyway

You can always decide not to go next September

Having an option to go is better than not having any option at all

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Location, location, location!

• Close to home or as far away as possible?• Could I commute, particularly to London?• Independence

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Specifics of the degree course• Choose wisely!• Prerequisites - Chemistry for Medicine

- Maths (and possibly Further Maths) and Physics for Engineering- Preferred subjects for Law

• Prospects - Potential career path- Professional exemptions

• Modules of study• Duration of study – length of course and contact hours

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsAccountancy Maths* Maths, Business Studies, Economics

Architecture None Art, Maths, DT, Physics

Biochemistry Chemistry, 1 from Maths/Biol/Phys Maths, Biology, Physics

Chemical Engineering Chemistry, Maths Physics

Chemistry Chemistry, 1 from Maths/Biol/Phys Maths, Biology, Physics

Computer Science Maths* Computing, Further Maths

Dentistry Chemistry, Biology*, Maths* Physics

Economics Maths* Economics, Business Studies

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsEngineering Maths, Physics Further Maths, Computing

Geography Geography*, 1 from Biol/Chem/Phys* Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Law English* History, Politics

Maths Maths, Further Maths* Further Maths, Physics

Medicine Chemistry, Biology*, Maths* Maths, Physics

Modern Languages Varies by university

Nursing and Midwifery Biology Chemistry, Physics

Pharmacy Chemistry, 1 from Biol/Maths/Phys Biology, Maths, Physics

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsPhysics Maths, Physics, Further Maths* Further Maths

Physiotherapy Biology, 1 from Maths/Chem/Phys* Chem, Maths, Physics, Psychology

Psychology 1 from Biol/Chem/Maths/Phys* Biol, Chem, Maths, Phys, Psychology

Sports Science 1 from Biol/Chem/Maths/Phys* Biol, Chem, Maths, Physics, PE

Teacher Training At least 2 facilitating subjects

Veterinary Science Chemistry, Biology, Maths or Physics Maths, Physics, Further Maths

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Quality and reputation

• Take university league tables with a truckload of salt!• Consult Unistats and Unifrog• Remember that a university’s rankings are only ever

as good as the previous cohort of students to graduate!

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Accessibility – the UCAS tariff A Level AS Level EPQ UCAS Points

A* 140

A 120

B 100

C 80

A* 70

D A A 60

B B 50

E C C 40

D D 30

E E 20

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Accessibility

Course Tariff range Applicants Course Tariff range Applicants

Medicine 487 – 651 10.6 Psychology 212 – 654 5.6

Veterinary Science 468 – 620 8.9 English (incl. Literature) 210 – 572 5.5

Architecture 202 – 577 6.7 Chemical Engineering 273 – 641 6.1

Economics 208 – 634 6.9 Law 207 – 584 5.5

French 237 – 585 5.9 Electrical Engineering 185 – 646 5.0

**** = 560 AAAA = 480 AAA = 360 AAB = 340 BBB = 300 BBC = 280 CCC = 240 DDD = 180

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Value for money

• Entry thresholds (Cambridge 614 Bedfordshire 225)• Research Excellence Framework (Imperial 3.36 Solent 1.63)

(Max. = 4.0)• Staffing ratios (UCL 10.2 Bishop Grosseteste 30.2)• Degree completion (Oxford 99% East London 67%)• Employment prospects (Imperial 88% East London 43%)

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Value for money

• Academic spend (St George’s £5,280 Bishop Grosseteste £331)

• Facilities spend (Buckinghamshire New £1,291 St George’s £77)

• Student satisfaction (Buckingham 4.34 St George’s 3.78) (Max. = 5.0)

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

University facilities

• City vs collegiate vs campus• Accommodation• Universal requirements vs specialist interests• Services offered by the students’ union

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Years in industry and years abroad

• The company for which you work during your year in industry may offer you a permanent job after graduation

• Students who have completed either years in industry or years abroad are 24% more employable on average than other graduates

Higher Education Evening 2015

2. What should I consider before applying?

Study abroad

• Tuition fees in Ireland are free. Students pay €3,000 per year to cover use of facilities, administration and exam fees. However you are charged in full for non-completion!

• Tuition fees in Denmark are free – over 1,500 English-language courses

• Tuition in the Netherlands is typically €1,900 per year – over 1,500 English-language courses

Higher Education Evening 2015

3. What should I consider when making my application?

The basics

• ‘Early applicant’ group – Oxbridge, Medics, Vets, Dentists, Optometrists

• Predicted grades – based largely on AS level grades• Entrance exams• Interviews / Portfolios• The personal statement• The school’s reference

Higher Education Evening 2015

3. What should I consider when making my application?

Using your five choices wisely

• Oxford or Cambridge?• The fifth medical choice• Applying for different subjects• Applying for multiple courses at the same university• Deferred entry• Be realistic!

Higher Education Evening 2015

4. How does the timing work?

30 June 2015 Essex UCAS Convention, ARU Chelmsford

July / Aug 2015 Summer preparation

13 Aug 2015 AS Level results issued

Sept / Oct 2015 Application season

15 Oct 2015 Early applicant deadline

Higher Education Evening 2015

4. How does the timing work?

23 Oct 2015 Sweyne Park deadline for applications

15 Jan 2016 Final UCAS deadline

25 Feb 2016 UCAS Extra opens

31 March 2016 Universities’ deadline to respond to applications

Higher Education Evening 2015

4. How does the timing work?

8 May 2016 Student deadline to respond to university offers

31 May 2016 Deadline for student finance

18 Aug 2016 A2 Level results issued

Aug / Sept 2016 Confirmation of offers Clearing or Adjustment

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

www.gov.uk/student-finance

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

There are three main streams of funding:

1. Tuition fee loan (available to all)2. Maintenance loan (35% means tested)3. Maintenance grant (fully means tested)

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

1. Tuition fee loan

• Open to all• Paid directly to university or college• Full amount is covered – no more, no less• Repayable, with interest*

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

2. Maintenance loan

• 35% means tested• Paid termly into bank account• Repayable, with interest*

Status Max. amountLiving at home £4,565Living away from home £5,740Living in London £8,009Year abroad £6,820

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

3. Maintenance grant

• 100% means tested• Paid termly into bank account• Not repayable• Every £1 of your grant reduces your loan eligibility by 50p!

Household income Grant£25,000 or less £3,387£30,000 £2,441£35,000 £1,494£40,000 £547£42,260 £50Over £42,260 £0

Higher Education Evening 2015

5. How can I finance my degree?

Repaying your loan

• Income dependent in later years, not borrowing dependent• 9% of all earnings over £21,000• Outstanding balance written off after 30 years• Student loans do not appear on your credit file

Higher Education Evening 2015

What further support will Sweyne Park provide for parents and students?

• UCAS literature – The Little Guide and the Parent Guide• UCAS workshops for students• All students will be allocated a UCAS mentor• A mock interview

Higher Education Evening 2015

Useful websites

www.ucas.com www.unifrog.org unistats.direct.gov.ukwww.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk www.opendays.comwww.gov.uk/student-finance