Briefing for Parents and Partners

Peter Smith

Assistant Dean For Recruitment

Overview• Aim: to help you support the

students in their decision-making process.

• We’d like to spend some time on:• UCAS System• Finance• Students In Higher Education

• Then, over to you…

The UCAS System: Outline• UCAS aims to ensure simplicity and

fairness• For both applicants and universities

• For conditional applicants, the stages are:• Application (student) • Offer (university) • Choice - firm and insurance (student) ?• Results and decision (university) ?• Confirmation and Clearing (student)?

• What is our admissions policy?

Offers - Outline Policy• Common admissions policy for all degrees• Typical offers this year, for all degrees,

are:• A-levels: 360 TP excluding Key Skills (e.g. ABB +

C in AS)• Advanced Diploma treated as per Tariff. • BTEC National: DDD• Overseas/Non-standard: individual basis

• Maths, science, technology subjects preferred

What are Tariff Points?• A method of equating different qualifications.• A – Levels (Year 12 AS level, Year 13 A2 level). A-level grades

are A-E (a grade A is worth 120 TP, grade B 100 points, grade C – 80 points). AS levels are worth half that amount.

• Does 360 TP = AAA? – Not necessarily. A 360 TP offer may also include AS results.

• Example: a student takes 4 AS levels at year 12 (Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology) – gains AAAC, drops Biology (grade C) in year 13, gains ABB at year 13 (total tariff points = 120+100+100 + As grade C (40) – total 360 TP).

• Other things may also count (e.g. grade 8 Bagpipes, DOE Gold).

Choices In May• Once all the offers are in...

• They choose up to two (UCAS sets deadline - read letter!), or enter clearing:

• One as firm (i.e. preferred)• One as insurance (optional, “just in case”)

• Adopting a harder insurance than firm a bad idea

• If accepted by firm, they are stuck with them• Ultimately its their choice

• Please give support and offer advice, but…• They are the ones who have to study

Results and Decision• We get UK A-level/Highers results electronically

• But we are sworn to secrecy on pain of our jobs!• Universities must take you if grades met

• But can accept lower grades at their discretion• If successful, they are contracted to go

• We need evidence of special circumstances• Tell us well in advance of results!

• If unsuccessful with both choices• They will enter clearing (not as bad as it seems)

How Much Will HE Cost?• Tuition Fees

• Living Expenses

• £9,000 (2012/13)• Increases each year with inflation

• £800-£1,000 per month living in London

• £600-£700 per month outside London

Student Loan for FeesAll Home/EU students can take out a Student Loan for Fees

charged by the University • Paid to the University• Not means-tested• Loans are repayable once students have left their course

and are earning over the threshold: £21,000 p.a. • 9% of Gross above threshold of £21KAnnual salary after

graduatingRepayment (per month)

£20,000 £0

£22,000 £7.50

£25,000 £30

£28,000 £52.50

•Interest rate currently 3.0%+ RPI (after graduation, interest rate depends on income).•Variable, set each September

Student Loans for Maintenance• For living and study costs such as rent, food & books• Repayable after graduation• Paid in three instalments, direct to bank account

Living circumstances Maximum loan

Away from home, study in London £7,675

Away from home, study outside London £5,550

Living at parent’s home £4,375

direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Maintenance Grant• Worth up to £3,250 per year, depending on

household income• Household income < £25,000 = full grant• Independent status, household income = £0, full

grant• Household income between £25,000 - £42,600 =

partial grant• Paid in 3 instalments, directly into students’ bank

accounts• Doesn’t have to be paid back

How To Apply• Visit direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

• Apply from Autumn for the following academic year

• National Insurance Number (NINO)

• No NIN, no student loan

• Job Centre Plus - www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

• Apply each year of your course

University Bursaries and Scholarships• Lord Mayor’s Scholarships

• Based on Academic Excellence• National Scholarship Programme

• Half Government Funded, Half University Funded

• Eligibility Based on Household Income

The Lord Mayor’s Scholarships• Awarded For Exceptional Academic Performance.

• The award extends over three or four years and is available to anyone who meets the grade criteria.

• The Scholarship is a cash-back award.• The award for Computing courses is as follows:

• A*AA - £3000 per annum• AAA (or BTEC DDD) - £2000 per annum• ABB (or BTEC DDM) - £1000 per annum

National Scholarship Scheme• Half government funded, half university funded

• Home and EU students can be considered

• Eligibility to be based on household income as assessed by SFE

• 302 scholarships on offer

• Awards of £3,000 each for first year• £1,000 of which can be paid to the student

Some Advice…• Universities have changed dramatically

• Much of your experience may not be valid!• No degree is a “meal ticket” - competitive job market• Employers look for more than paper qualifications

• The applicant has to take the course….• Motivation/interest is everything! HE not for all…• Any other reason is inviting drop-out…

• We can only deal with applicants themselves• There are data protection issues• It’s the applicant who needs to convince us!• This counts double in clearing/confirmation