Careers Information EveningTuesday 13th September 2011

1. Welcome and Introduction: The Headmaster, Mr. T.D. Robinson

2. Format of the Evening: Mr. D. Irvine

3. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance provided by Lurgan College and the University Application Process, Mr. R. Uprichard

4. What happens when results come out in August? Mr. G. Caldwell

5. Student Finance: Student Finance Manager, Mrs. J. Montgomery

6. Further Education: Department of Employment and Learning Careers Officer, Mrs. J. Fitzgerald

Careers Information EveningTuesday 13th September 2011

Mission Statement of Careers Department :

“Pupils of Lurgan College will have access to the best possible programme of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG). CEIAG will be pupil centred.”

The Challenge of Applying for University in 2011/12

Fees much lower in Northern Ireland than mainland universities (£3465 v £7000+)

Traditionally 30% of NI school leavers went to mainland Universities

More pressure for places will result in higher entrance criteria and less flexibility

1. Education

2. Information

3. Advice and Guidance

CEIAG at Lurgan College

Interview Skills DayThursday 24th November 2011

Completing the UCAS form1. Registration (completed by 31st August)2. Personal details3. Qualifications (GCSE, AS, A2, Music, Speech and

Drama, Key Skills and CoPE). (completed by 12th September)

4. 5 Course Choices (due 26th September)5. Personal Statement (due 7th November)

6. Reference and Predicted Grades (upon receipt)

15 October 2011 is the application deadline for: all medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge

Extra Application Requirements

Admission Tests: UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) for Medical and Dental Degrees

HPAT Ulster (Health Professions Admissions Test) for degrees such as Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech and Language Therapy

LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) for some Law courses on the mainland

BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at certain Universities e.g. Oxford and Cambridge

Entrance Exams e.g. Oxford and Cambridge

Interviews : e.g. Stranmillis / Nursing / Social Work / Medicine

Submission of work : e.g. Essays and Portfolios

Receiving Offers

15th January – 31st MarchConditional Offer or UnsuccessfulConditions can be based on grades, points or a mixture of

bothGrades offer : BBB / BBCb Points offer : 260 pointsMix : 240 points to include grades CC

A2

A* = 140

A = 120

B = 100

C = 80

D = 60

E = 40

UCAS Points

AS

A = 60

B = 50

C = 40

D = 30

E = 20

Specific grades in certain subjects may also be part of a conditional offer e.g. grade B in GCSE Maths and grade C in A-level Chemistry.

Replying to Offers

31st March - 9th May

Accept as Firm (CF), accept as Insurance (CI) or decline

Insurance offer must have more attainable conditions

Higher Education Applications outside of UCAS

1. QUB Nursing Applications

2. CAO for Irish Universities(Central Applications Office)

3. Belfast Met / SRC

What happens when results come out in

August?

Mr. G. Caldwell (Careers Teacher)

Scenario A (ideal)

• 7 am Log on with CCEA code

• UCAS track will keep student up to date with current scenario

• School has Adviser Track and local University situation

• Importance of being in NI or not far away!

Results Morning

The Journey

Course 5

Course 1

Course 2

Course 3

Course 4

CF

CI

Scenario A (ideal)

• Student meets required points or grades

• Student accepts CF choice and prepares for entrance into preferred option

• University will need reply of course acceptance

• Best case scenario

• For example Sports Studies at UU ABB asked for student gains AAB

• AAC may not work

Scenario A: Gains CF Requirements

Scenario B

• Student misses CF and will then be offered their CI choice

• This reinforces the need for a variation in the CF and CI choices

• No CI places will be lost if the student is waiting on a decision from the CF university

Scenario B: Misses CF

• “Decision Pending” “Waiting Game”

• Alternative course offer e.g. Journalism may offer English or a joint degree e.g. Journalism with XYZ

• Tough on students and families

• 2011: 17 days• Clearing not open yet

to student so careful thinking required

• Make contact with admissions

Scenario C:Decision Pending

Scenario D: Clearing

• If grades don’t meet requirements don’t panic (not easy) but be proactive

• University Clearing Days go and visit• CF and CI rejection = ‘Clearing’• Clearing courses picked up via UCAS Track• Clearing lists on websites and newspapers• Change of Course Return Form option• Teacher and Student Information Lines• Keep telephoning (university and school) UCAS track• Clearing Read conditions of all choices carefully

• UCA S communication very important

University Guidance If you have already submitted a UCAS application for programmes starting in

2011 and are not holding any offers, you will be allocated a 6-digit Clearing Number, which you can view in UCAS Track.

• How to apply through Clearing• Contact the Admissions Tutor/Clearing Contact for the programme you are interested in

applying for. If they are unavailable, please contact the Admissions Office. • We will discuss your programme with you and will ask you about your qualifications so

we can assess whether or not they meet our entry requirements. • If we wish to offer you a place, we will confirm this when speaking to you (the offer

may be dependant on you providing us with copies of your examination certificates). We will then email an offer to you.Please note: you can only apply to one choice in Clearing, so you should only add a Clearing choice if we have offered you a place and you want to accept it. If you add a choice without being offered a place, this may delay your application.

• You are then ready to go ahead and enter the details of the programme as your Clearing Choice in UCAS Track.

• UCAS will send us notification of your Clearing application the next day and then we will formally accept you. It usually takes a further 24 hours for your Unconditional Firm offer to show in UCAS Track.

University Guidance

Scenario E: Other alternatives

• 2011-12 Alternative Options

• Foundation Degrees

• Other pathways e.g. BMC, SRC (JF)

• Part-time Study e.g. UU

2011-12

• Honouring of offers e.g. change of mind• Quick Remark Option• 2009 introduction of ‘Upgrade’• Feeling from QUB and UU Open Days - going to be

very competitive this year and grade inflation likely. Most up to date information is online and makes printed prospectus information out of date in some cases.

STUDENT FINANCESTUDENT FINANCE

2012

A guide for parents

Contents

Student Finance ni / Student Loans Company Course costs Types of support Exceptions How is support determined? Repayments Application process Additional information Help available

Student Finance ni / Student Loans Company

Student Finance ni Employees from the 5 Education and Library Boards who

determine whether students are eligible for finance and if so, how much

Your local office – Armagh

Student Loans Company – Glasgow Works in partnership with Student Finance ni to pay support to

students and deal with recovery process Responsible for the Call centre which deals with general

enquiries

Course costs

There are two main areas of expenditure:1. Tuition fees Payable each year to the institution Slight increase if studying in NI – (£3290 for 2011/12), £9000 in

England, Scotland and Wales No fees for students at ROI institutions. Registration fee of €2000

payable by Student Finance

2. Living expenses Accommodation (QUB Elms - £3100 - £3671 per year) Food, clothes, books, travel Social life

Types of support

Tuition Fee Loan

Not means-tested on household income Fee loan available to cover approved amounts charged If fee loan is requested, fees are paid to student’s institution by SLC Repayment at completion of studies

Payment of fees is responsibility of student if they are not eligible / do not request a fee loan

Types of support

Maintenance Loan

Means-tested on household income Maximum amounts (2011/12 rates):

Lodgings £4840Home £3750London £6780

Non means-tested amounts (2011/12 rates): Lodgings £3630

Home £2812London £5085

Parental contribution commences at £42,000Loans are reduced if student receives a Maintenance grant

Types of support

Maintenance grant / Special Support grant Means-tested on household income Non-repayable grant where household income < £41,065

(2011/12 rates) Maximum grant available - £3475 (income below £19,203) Special Support Grant payable where student has underlying

eligibility to Social Security Agency or Housing Executive benefits e.g. student with child

Students at ROI institutions are eligible for HE Bursary, maximum amount £2000 (income below £23,606)

Types of support

Extra help with living expenses

Parents’ Learning Allowance – maximum £1538 per year

Childcare Grant – maximum £148.75 a week for one child and £255 a week for two or more children

Adult Dependants’ Grant – maximum £2695

Types of support

Extra help with living expenses

Disabled Students’ Allowance – non means-tested help for

students with disabilities

Equipment allowance – maximum £5266 for the whole course Non-medical helpers’ allowance – maximum £20,938 per year General allowance – maximum £1759 per year Extra travel costs as a result of a disability

Types of support

Extra help with living expenses

Institutional bursaries Institutions which charge the maximum fee must provide a

bursary (£329 in 2011/12) to students who are eligible for the full maintenance grant

Non-repayable Household income details on application form are shared with

institution Ask for full details at institution

Exceptions

Health Professional degrees at NI institutions Tuition fees paid in full Income assessed bursary of £2355 plus reduced loan of £2370

(2011/12 rate)

Nursing degrees / diplomas at NI institutions Not eligible for any Student Finance

Social Work degrees at NI institutions Eligible for additional funding from DHSSPS of non-means tested

bursary and contribution towards work based learning expenses

Exceptions

Part-time study

Students can follow part-time HE courses and apply for

support as follows:

Means-tested Tuition Fee Grant, maximum £1230 Means-tested Course Grant, maximum £265 Disabled Students’ Allowance

Exceptions

Further Education Awards

Courses with an entry requirement of fewer than 5 GCSE passes e.g. GNVQ

Must be vocational courses listed on the National Database of Approved Qualifications (NDAQ)

Separate application form required Students eligible for approved Tuition fees and means-tested

maintenance grant Closing dates: Full-time – 31 August 2012

Part-time - 30 September 2012 Apply to Student Finance ni, 1 Hospital Road, Omagh

How is support determined?

Student Finance ni uses household income which includes:

Gross taxable income of the student, excluding any

earnings; PLUS Gross taxable income of parent(s) / partners / step-

parents; LESS Deductions for payments into pension funds and

£1153 (2011/12 rate) for each dependant child

Household income assessment does not apply to

single independent students

Repayments

Repayments

Student Loans (for Fees and Maintenance) are only repayable once students have completed their courses and are earning > £15,000 a year

Debt belongs to student, not parents Repayments are based on earnings (9% of gross salary above

£15,000) Deducted from salary via tax system Balance is cancelled after 25 years Grants are not repayable unless a student withdraws or a re-

assessment is carried out due to a change in circumstances

Application process

February / March 2012 Presentation to students in school Student Finance assists students with completion of non-financial sections of the formApril 2012 Return completed application form to Student Finance ni (Armagh) with proof of identity

and incomeMay / June 2012 Student Loans Company sends student details of payment dates and support due July 2012 Reminders sent to student/parents by Student Loans Company re: any missing detailsAugust 2012 Student confirms any change in course and /or institution after A level results Student Loans Company confirms payment dates and support due for new courseSeptember 2012 Student takes notification to enrolment for confirmation of Tuition Fee payment Maintenance Loan and grant (if applicable) is paid directly into student’s nominated

bank/building society account at start of course.

Additional information

Students must reapply each year Support can be reassessed if there is a drop in household income

(income for yr ended 5/04/13 instead of 5/04/11) All income must be verified in first year. Spot checks in remaining years An additional year’s support may be paid if a student needs to repeat

due to illness or other extenuating circumstances If grant is paid and subsequently not due, repayment must be made

immediately to SLC Students progressing from HND to year 1 of a degree will be ineligible

for fee and grant support for year 1 Students changing/repeating courses may be ineligible for fee and grant

support for part of new course Students on a year abroad/placement may only be entitled to a reduced

loan and fees

Help available

School Student Finance Telephone: 0845 6000 662 Visit without appointment: 3 Charlemont Place, The Mall, Armagh Web-site: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Institution: Financial Adviser

CAREERS SERVICE NORTHERN IRELAND

JOANNE FITZGERALD

2 ALEXANDER CRESCENT

LURGAN

CO. ARMAGH

BT66 6BB

Tel: 02838 313236

joanne.fitzgerald@delni.gov.uk

www.careersserviceni.com www.nidirect.gov.uk/careersserviceni

Formula For A Successful Career

Formula For A Successful Career

•Well researched choices

•Course content

•Location

•Duration

•Funding

•Entry requirements

•Added value/experience

•Progression routes

•Labour market information

•Trends

•Skills shortages

•Plan B?

Options After Year 14

A. Acceptance onto (CF) Conditional Firm offer

B. Acceptance onto (CI) Conditional Insurance offer

C. Acceptance onto Clearing Choice

D. Foundation Degree at FE/HE College

E. HND at FE/HE College

F. Apprenticeship

G. Employment

H. GAP year to travel

I. Resits

Foundation Degrees

A Foundation Degree is a HE qualification which combines academic and work related learning. In N.Ireland foundation degrees can be studied in a wide range of subject areas e.g.

•Engineering

•Construction

•Hospitality, Leisure, Travel & Tourism

•Information & Communication

Usually lasts 2 years full-time or 3-4 years part-time.

Foundation Degrees

A Foundation Degree is a qualification in its own right and you can go directly on to employment in your chosen area

or

you can progress to university to “top up” your qualification to an Honours Degree.

Entry requirements will depend on the course and College or University.

Higher National Diploma

A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a work-related course provided by higher and further education colleges.

A HND takes two years to complete if studied full-time, but opportunities to study part-time are also available.

HNDs are available in a wide range of subject areas and can be used as a route into employment or further study, with many students progressing on to the second year of a degree course in a related topic.

• Example

FOUNDATION DEGREE IN SPORT, EXERCISE AND FITNESS

How long is this course for?

2 years Full-Time and 3 years Part-Time

Entry Requirement Level 3 qualification

What can I do after the course?

Students will then have the opportunity to progress to an Honours Degree at University of Ulster, Jordanstown Suitable Honours Degree Programmes include: BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science and BSc (Hons) Sports Studies. The FdSc will provide students the opportunity of progression - within the Sport, Exercise and Fitness industry and/or to a relevant Honours Degree programmes in the UK or Ireland.

HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL

CARE (CARE PRACTICE)

How long is this course for?

2 years full-time

Entry Requirements

Level 3 qualification or significant experience of working in the social care sector

What can I do after the course?

Students can progress to a range of social/ health care jobs in the statutory and independent sector. The qualification has proven to be an excellent pathway for students working towards professional training and degrees in areas such as Social Work, Nursing, Social Policy, Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Youth and Community work.Past students have also found the qualification beneficial for career progression and promotion in the health and social care field.

Apprenticeships

As an employee you earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain your apprenticeship.

Off-the-job training, usually on a day-release basis with a Training Supplier who is contracted by the Department for Employment & Learning, (DEL) Apprentices receive training towards recognised qualifications (NVQs).

The Training Supplier provides the knowledge and skills while the employer provides the hands on practical experience.The cost of the off-the-job training is met by DEL.

Apprenticeships NI offers Apprenticeships in many occupational areas, including carpentry, engineering, childcare, sport and recreation.

Apprenticeships

In addition, some companies offer apprenticeships, including

•British Telecom

•Northern Ireland Electricity

•Engineering Training Council

•Shorts Aerospace

Other Options

Employment

GAP year to travel

Resits

Request a careers interview for assistance

Speak to school staff for assistance

Formula For A Successful Career

Well researched

Careers ideas

Continued

hard work

Viable

Back up Plan

Successful

outcome

Success is a journey, not a destination.

Author Unknown