at University of West London

A guide for Parents, Guardians and Carers of Applicants

Clearing

*According to employment performance indicators (EPIs) published by HESA in July 2018, in relation to graduates who studied an undergraduate degree.**A modern university is a university created in, or after, 1992.

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The University of West London draws on a heritage of 150 years in teaching and professional education. Our vision is to be a sector leading institution specialising in the education and development of ‘creative professionals’ and our current mission is to raise aspiration through the pursuit of excellence. We also pride ourselves on being a friendly and supportive University.

2017-18 has been a momentous year of achievements for the University of West London; we are the best modern university** in London for graduate employability with 98% of our students within work or further study within six months of graduating*; we reached an impressive no. 50 in the Guardian University Guide 2019 and our Students’ Union won ‘Students’ Union of the Year’ and the ‘Participation Award’ at the 2018 NUS Awards.

We have also recently completed a major investment in our campus providing excellent new facilities including a fabulous new library, auditorium and performance space, specialist laboratories, new social and learning spaces and a wonderful industry-standard radio studio, ensuring that we put the student at the heart of everything we do.

Our vibrant campuses are located in both Reading and the heart of west London’s diverse and thriving boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, and we are situated in one of the UK’s most successful business regions.

We have forged strong links with multinational corporations such as the BBC, British Airways, Oracle, Microsoft and JC Decaux. These provide our students with increased potential to secure internships and a myriad of career and business opportunities.

The region has excellent transport links and is served by a vast network of trains, buses and the London Underground, enabling our students to gain access to the innumerable cultural, social and employment opportunities the capital has to offer.

We are always delighted to welcome parents, guardians and carers at our open days, where academic and support staff will be happy to answer any questions you have. So if you’re yet to visit us and would like to explore our facilities and meet our staff, you can book onto our Clearing Advice Day on Saturday 18 August, or one of our numerous Campus Tours at: uwl.ac.uk/clearing.

98%of our graduates

are in employment or further studywithin six months

of graduating*

Welcometo the University of West London

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2018

No.1 modern

university in London

What is Clearing?Clearing is the process by which universities can list vacancies on full-time undergraduate courses for September.

Who can use Clearing?Students can use the Clearing system if they applied through UCAS this year and:

• they were not made any offers • they did not meet the conditions of their

firm or insurance choices• they declined all offers they received

Or, if they didn’t apply earlier in the cycle and are applying after 30 June.

Students who find they have been unsuccessful in securing their firm or insurance choices, may expect Clearing to be a disappointing or daunting experience.

ContentsWhat is Clearing? 3Applying through Clearing to UWL 4Interviews, Selection Days, Auditions 6New courses 7Our campus 8Visit UWL during Clearing 9Accommodation at UWL 10Fees and funding 11 Scholarships and Bursaries 12Student Loans Company 13Student services and support 16Excellent career prospects 17Our location 18

However, it’s important remember that:• plenty of people find themselves in this

position every year, for a multitude of reasons

• the Clearing system exists to give them another opportunity to go to university

• they may well discover a course and/or university they hadn’t seen before which more closely matches their interests and ambitions.

At UWL, we are constantly innovating and often launch new courses to ensure students gain the skills and knowledge they need in today’s industries (see page 7). We are experienced in welcoming students through Clearing, so we also know how to help students prepare, in a shorter time frame, for enrolling and starting their studies in September. As a parent, guardian or carer of a Clearing applicant your support and understanding of the system will be very important. In this guide we will take you through the Clearing process at UWL and the services available to students to enable them to make their university experience a great success.

Clearing courses at UWLOur website will be kept updated with our available courses in Clearing and is the first port of call for information for applicants:

uwl.ac.uk/clearing

There are also useful resources for both applicants and those supporting them on the UCAS website:

ucas.com/clearing

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UCAS ApplicantsIf an applicant has already applied through UCAS this year, they will have a UCAS Track account which enables them to view the decisions from the universities they have applied to so far.If an applicant is eligible for Clearing, they will have a unique Clearing number and a button on their Track homepage clearly labelled ‘Add a clearing choice’.Here applicants can simply add the University of West London as their choice. However, it is important the applicant makes the right choice and knows they are eligible for the course they wish to apply for. For this reason the applicant should call the UWL Clearing hotline first, so we can check they meet the Clearing entry criteria and discuss other courses they may be eligible for, and so the student can ask us any questions they have.

Non-UCAS ApplicantsIf an applicant is just deciding now to apply for a full-time undergraduate course starting in September, they should call the UWL Clearing hotline and we can guide them through the application process whilst we discuss the course they are interested in and whether they meet the criteria.

Calling the Clearing hotlineStudents interested in a course in Nursing, Midwifery, Operating Department Practice or Social Work should call our dedicated hotline on:

T: 020 8231 2525

Students interested in any of our other full-time undergraduate courses should call the main Clearing hotline:

T: 0800 036 8888

Our hotlines are staffed by a team of friendly advisers who can provide the applicant with a whole host of information about our courses and student life at UWL.The hotline (both numbers above) will be open for extended hours and weekends after A level results day.

UWL Clearing hotline opening hours:

Thursday 16 August, 7am - 8pmFriday 17 August, 7am - 8pmSaturday 18 August, 9am - 5pmSunday 19 August, 9am - 5pmMonday 20 - Friday 24 August, 9am - 5pmSaturday 25 August, 9am - 5pmSunday 26 August, 9am - 5pmMonday (bank holiday) 27 August, 9am - 5pmTuesday 28 August onwards, 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday.

Preparing for the phone call

Applying through Clearing to UWL

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Once the applicant has received a verbal offer on the Clearing hotline from us, if they already have a UCAS Track account they can add UWL as their Clearing choice on UCAS Track. They will be given the necessary details they will need to enter, including the University code (W05) and the correct course code. If the applicant does not have a UCAS Track account, we will ask them to complete an online application form (called an RPA form) which will be sent to them via email.

Once these details are submitted, their application will be processed by our Undergraduate Admissions team who will then send out further instructions confirming their place and details of enrolment by email.It is important that the applicant keeps a look out for these details and contacts us if they do not receive this email within 24 hours. Students seeking a place in University accommodation (Paragon Student Lets) can now apply for this (see page 10).

After the phone call

Before making the call, applicants should:

• have all their results from level 3 qualifications (A levels, BTECs etc) and from level 2 qualifications (GCSEs)

• know which course(s) they are interested in and have any questions prepared that they wish to be answered before they make their clearing choice

• be ready to speak to an adviser or a member of academic staff about why they wish to join this course at UWL

Our phonelines are expected to be very busy from Thursday 16 August but we will want to speak to every applicant who calls in detail so please don’t be discouraged if there is a wait. Please note we can only discuss an application with the applicant themself, or the nominated person on the applicant’s UCAS application who has been given explicit permission from the applicant to have access to their application.

During the call, the applicant will be asked for their contact details, qualifications and reasons for choosing the course. If the applicant meets our Clearing entry criteria, and there is availability on the course, they will receive a verbal offer of a place to study with us.

If the applicant does not meet the minimum criteria, we may pass the call through to a member of academic staff to discuss other courses which may be more suitable.If we are unable to offer the applicant a place on any of our courses, we will advise them how they can go about reapplying in future to UWL should they wish to.

Depending on the course and/or entry criteria, the applicant may be invited to attend an interview, audition, selection day or to submit a portfolio before a decision can be made.During the Clearing process these arrangements will need to be made quickly as courses will close as soon as they are full.

InterviewsThis is an opportunity for the applicant to further discuss their interest in the course area with an academic member of staff. The academic will be assessing the applicant’s suitability for the course and will decide whether to offer them a place based on their qualifications and responses. During the Clearing period, interviews for some courses are often conducted over the phone, sometimes as part of the first phone call the applicant makes to us so it’s important the student is prepared for this call.

How you can help – You can help them by practising how to articulate their strengths and passion for a subject area.

AuditionsSome courses within the London College of Music require an audition as part of the application process. The applicant will be given further details of what they need to prepare (if applicable) prior to their audition. Once the audition has taken place a decision will be made as to whether the applicant is given a place on the course. There are instances when an alternative course will be offered to the one they applied for. This decision will be discussed with the applicant to make sure they are aware of why this is and what the alternative course involves.

Selection daysFor all UWL Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Operating Department Practice applicants

For Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practice there are two elements to the Selection day:

• Group discussion

• Individual Interview - this will consist of Academic staff members and may include Clinicians from the healthcare sector.

For Social Work, the Selection Day consists of:

• a written task

• an interview - the panel will include a social worker, a social work academic and a service-user representative.

If the applicant successfully passes all elements of the Selection day an offer will be made to them.

How you can help - If they are due to attend an Interview/Audition/Selection day you can assist them with preparing for this in advance by thoroughly reading the information in the instructions they are sent and, on the day, by helping them to relax and enjoy the experience.

PortfoliosStudents interested in our Music Technology, Fashion, Photography or Design courses may be asked to submit a portfolio before a decision can be made on their Clearing application. In this instance, the student will be advised on the hotline what format the portfolio should consist of and how to submit it for review. During the Clearing period we usually request digital portfolios so that decisions can be made quickly.

Interviews, Auditions, Selection Days and Portfolios

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Clearing provides an opportunity for students to discover new courses which may not have been published when they initially researched their options.At UWL we have recently launched a range of new courses designed to equip students to make a real and required difference in today’s society.

You can view all our available courses at:

uwl.ac.uk/clearing

* subject to validation

• BA (Hons) Community Development

• BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (also available with Industrial Placement)

• BA (Hons) Content, Media and Film Production

(also available with Foundation Year)

• BSc (Hons) Hospitality Entrepreneurship*

• BA (Hons) Interior Design (also available with Foundation Year)

• BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Food Management

(also available with Foundation Year or with Placement)

• BA (Hons) Policing*

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New Courses at UWL

Over a three year period the University embarked on a £100million+redevelopment project, known as Future Campus, to enhance students’ social and learning experiences thereby maintaining our position as a leading modern university in London. We have worked closely with the Students’ Union and student representatives throughout the process to make sure the student experience is at the heart of the project.

Where are we now?• Heart opened in January 2015 providing

a new social space in the heart of the campus.

• The William Brake Student Services Centre provides all the help students will need in one central space.

• A brand new Students’ Union with a bar, lounge, gym and modern café.

• London College of Music students benefit from a state-of-the-art performance centre.

• Improved teaching facilities including a radio studio, musical theatre spaces and specialist architecture and civil engineering facilities.

• Brand new modern Library on the Ealing site.

• New auditorium seating over 220.• 7 brand new music studios at Paragon

Annex.• New state of the art Simulation Centre

at our Reading site.

uwl.ac.uk/ournewcampus

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Our Campus

The best way to get a feel for what life at the University of West London is like is to come and visit us.

We are holding a dedicated Clearing Advice Day on Saturday 18 August, from 11am – 3pm at our Ealing site on St Mary’s Road.

The Advice Session will be a great opportunity not only to see the campus but also to speak to our academics regarding what we offer, and engage with various support teams from Admissions, accommodation and finance.

*Friday 17 August – Friday 31 August and at least once per week after this date.

The Advice Session is open both to students who have applied and secured a place with us through Clearing, as well as those who are still seeking a place and would like to find out more before applying.

If you are unable to join us at our Advice Day, we also have daily* campus tours of our Ealing site, led by our Student Ambassadors. You will be shown around the campus highlighting some of our fantastic facilities listed on page 8.

For further details of the Advice Day or tours, and to book a place:

uwl.ac.uk/clearing

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Visit UWL during Clearing

The best way to get a feel for what life at the University of West London is like is to come and visit us.

Clearing Advice Day

Saturday 18 August

11am - 3pm

Going to University is often the first time the applicant will be living away from home, and we understand how important it is to gain suitable accommodation in a friendly and secure environment.

Our Accommodation team is able to assist with information about accommodation available at the University as well as within the private rented sector. The team can also advise on the current legislation regarding health and safety issues in the private rented sector.

It is advisable that the applicant applies for accommodation as soon as they receive their confirmation email from admissions, containing their Student ID number. If you or the applicant has any questions or concerns about accommodation we would advise you to get in touch with the team:

E: financehelp@uwl.ac.ukT: +44 (0)20 8280 0283

uwl.ac.uk/accommodation

Paragon Student LetsThe University’s halls of residence, known as Paragon Student Lets, at our Brentford site are perfect for applicants studying at our West London campus. Paragon Student Lets is located in the heart of West London and is easily accessible from the Ealing site by a free shuttle bus.

*The University has limited spaces available at Paragon Student Lets for clearing students. Once a student has their UWL Student ID number they can apply for accommodation.

Berkshire Student AccommodationApplicants studying our pre-registration Nursing or Midwifery courses at our Berkshire campus are advised to stay in local student accommodation, as 80% of the course in the first year is based at our Reading campus. The University can put students in contact with housing providers, taking into consideration students’ budgets and preferences, which we advise students joining us to consider.

Accommodation

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uwl.ac.uk

Paying the tuition feesAll courses have tuition fees which the applicant will need to pay or make alternative arrangements to pay for, depending on their eligibility. The amount of tuition fees they pay depends on whether they are assessed as a Home/UK, EU or International applicant.

Self-funding?If the applicant will be paying their own fees, details will be given to them during enrolment by the UWL Student Finance team about the methods of payment available.If there are any further questions or queries about tuition fees at UWL please contact our finance team on:

T: 020 8280 0283 uwl.ac.uk/fees

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Fees and Funding

uwl.ac.uk

UWL ScholarshipsThere are various scholarships available to full-time undergraduate applicants which we would advise eligible applicants to apply for to help with the cost of university.

UWL Full-time Undergraduate Bursary SchemeThe University provides up to 550 bursaries to UWL full time undergraduate students. The bursaries offer £1,500 paid over three academic years as a credit towards the cost of study, including the cost of learning materials, catering outlets, accommodation and transport costs.

Path to Success ScholarshipThe University offers the Path to Success scholarship to all new Home/EU entrants enrolling on a four-year degree with a foundation year starting in September 2018.

The scholarship consists of a £2,000 cash award paid over four academic years.

Aspire SchemeUndergraduate full-time Foundation and First Year students will receive a free book bundle upon enrolment, followed by two payments of £100 over the course of their studies. The award is credited onto students’ Aspire cards, which can be used to help pay for the extra costs associated with studying.

Donor/Alumni/PrizesEach year UWL also awards a range of scholarships and bursaries which are funded by philanthropic organisations, private or corporate donors to support our undergraduate and postgraduate students. The number, value and eligibility criteria of these scholarships and bursaries vary. Awards are made on the basis of financial need and academic merit.

For further information about all scholarships and bursaries and details of how to apply, please contact the team on:

E: scholarships@uwl.ac.uk

uwl.ac.uk/scholarships

Scholarships and Bursaries

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uwl.ac.uk

Applicants who are UK nationals for the purpose of paying fees, should apply for student finance or update their details as early as possible in the Clearing process. If the applicant has already applied for funding, they should inform the Student Loans Company if they are changing to a different course or university as the amount they are entitled to may change.

If the applicant has yet to apply for a student loan they should do so urgently now to ensure their funding is in place for the start of the academic year.

www.gov.uk/apply-online-for- student-finance

Who is the Student Loans Company and what do they do?Student Loans Company is a non-profit making, government-owned, organisation. The main aim of this company is to provide eligible students with loans and grants to help them with the cost of studying at a university.

They provide various funding to cater for a wide variety of students, the main ones being the Tuition Fee Loan and the Maintenance Loan.

Some applicants might also be eligible for other loans on top of this, if for example the applicant is on a low income, is disabled or has children.

If you’re the parent, guardian or carer of an applicant, you’ll normally need to support an applicant’s student finance application.

Tuition Fee Loan explainedThe Tuition Fee Loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition fees.This loan is paid directly to the university, and the student will have to repay this loan. The amount available to the student is based on the university tuition fee for the course they intend to study.

Maintenance Loan explainedThe Maintenance Loan is provided for living costs to help the student with books, housing, bills, and other living expenses. This however will require you, the parent, guardian or carer, to provide details of your household income as this is a means-tested loan.

Please note European Union applicants can’t apply for Maintenance Loans.

Student Loans Company

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uwl.ac.uk

Type of funding Repayable Non- repayable

Meanstested

Non-meanstested

Tuition fee loan Full value up to £9,250 ü üMaintenanceloan

Up to £11,354 (if living away from home, in London)

ü üFee waivers and bursaries ü üScholarships for academic excellence

ü üScholarships for music and sport ü üScholarships forspecific schemes ü ü

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Student Loans Company

Once the applicant has completed their study the repayment of the loan will start from April; as long as they are employed and earning over £25,000 per annum*. The employer will take repayments from their salary during any pay period where the earnings before tax are over the weekly or monthly threshold.

By pay period, we mean each time they receive their salary. This could be every:

• Week• Four weeks• Calendar month

The earnings threshold is:

• £480 a week• £2,083 a month• £25,000 a year

They pay 9% of their income over the threshold.

* For English or Welsh students who started their course on or after 1 September 2012.

How to work out their monthly repayment amount1. Take away £25,000 from their annual salary before tax

2. Work out 9% of the remainder

3. Divide that figure by 12

4. Round down to the nearest pound

For example, if they were earning £30,000 per year:1. £30,000 – £25,000 = £5,000

2. 9% of £5,000 = £450

3. £450 / 12 = £37.50

4. Round down

So their monthly student loan repayment would be £37.

Annual income before tax Monthly salary Monthly

repayment

£22,000 £1,833 £0

£25,000 £2,083 £0

£27,000 £2,250 £15

£30,000 £2,916 £37

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Student Loan

Example repayment amounts

uwl.ac.uk

Our dedicated Student Services team located in ‘The Street’ at our Ealing site, St Mary’s Road, is available throughout the year and aims to fully support students with any particular need and to help in any way they can, including:

• Academic writing support• Accommodation• Careers, employment services, placements and volunteering• Funding and finance advice• Health – including counselling and chaplaincy• Immigration advice• IT support• Mentoring• Support for care leavers and estranged students• Wellbeing support (disability, learning difficulties and mental health) • Welfare

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Clearing applicants will be invited to attend one of our free Study Skills Workshops this summer, if they would like help with study skills before joining us. Applicants will receive details in their offer email.

Student Services and Support

If you or the applicant require further information or have any questions the team can be contacted via:

uwl.ac.uk/studentservices

E: studentservices@uwl.ac.uk

We offer a wealth of opportunities and advice to enhance students’ employability skills and to provide the best possible connections to drive their future success.

UWL is the top modern university in London for graduate employment with 98% of our graduates in work or further study within six months of graduating according to Employment Performance Indicators (EPI) released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency HESA in 2018.

Our Student Services team bring together a range of services in a welcoming and supportive environment through our Careers Service and the World of Work (WOW).

The World of Work (WOW) team offers:• Placements (including employer-led presentations and recruitment fairs)

• Employment Services (both internal and external job opportunities)

The Careers Service offers:• Careers advice

• Curriculum development

• Volunteering and employer engagement.

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No.1 modern

university in London for

employability**Employment Performance

Indicators (EPI) released by HESA in 2018

Excellent Career Prospects

Studying in and around London is a rewarding, life-shaping experience. The University is located in two excellent locations in the heart of one of the UK’s most successful business regions: west London and Reading.

This gives our students access to one of the most vibrant and highly regarded cities in the world. London is an exciting centre for art, culture, fashion, history, sport, live music, comedy, theatre, nightlife, restaurants, exhibitions and shopping.

West LondonAt our west London campus we have two sites, one in Ealing and the other in Brentford. Both of these areas have a vibrant and cosmopolitan community and are only 25 minutes from central London by train.

Ealing provides a relaxed atmosphere with a great range of cafes, restaurants, bars, parks and local shops, and the premier shopping destination of Westfield London on the doorstep.

Brentford is just 10 minutes from our Ealing site and there is a free shuttle bus available to all of our students between the two sites.

There are also excellent local bus and rail services giving quick and convenient access to central London.

Berkshire - ReadingThe Berkshire Institute for Health in Reading supports East and West Berkshire students.It provides the focal point for the University of West London’s healthcare education, training and research within Berkshire. Reading has excellent shopping and nightlife, with plenty of entertainment aimed at students, and is less than 30 minutes from London by train.

RIVER THAMES

PICCADILLY LINE

CENTRAL LINE

DISTRICT LINE

WEST MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL

GOLDEN MILE

BRENTFORD TRAIN STATION

EALING BROADWAY

BOSTON MANOR PARK

A4 GREAT WEST ROAD

LAMMAS PARK

WALPOLE PARK

EALING STUDIOS

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

GUNNERSBURYPARK

20 MINSTO HEATHROW

30 MINSTO CENTRAL LONDON

EALING SITE

BRENTFORD SITE

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Excellent Location

Shuttle Bus InformationThe University provides a free shuttle bus service for students and staff between Ealing Broadway station and our Brentford site.

Ealing siteThe bus stop is located on St Mary’s Road to the left of The Park road (Bus stop 65).

Brentford siteFor our Brentford site the stop is located opposite the University entrance.

You can view live bus service times via: uwlshuttle.utrack.com

RIVER THAMES

PICCADILLY LINE

CENTRAL LINE

DISTRICT LINE

WEST MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL

GOLDEN MILE

BRENTFORD TRAIN STATION

EALING BROADWAY

BOSTON MANOR PARK

A4 GREAT WEST ROAD

LAMMAS PARK

WALPOLE PARK

EALING STUDIOS

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

GUNNERSBURYPARK

20 MINSTO HEATHROW

30 MINSTO CENTRAL LONDON

EALING SITE

BRENTFORD SITE

Excellent Location

Bursaries – financial awards given to eligible students

EU – European Union national

Home – UK national

International – overseas national who is non-EU

Scholarships – financial awards given to eligible students

SLC (Students Loans Company)

SLC is an organisation that helps students fund their studies by providing them with loans if eligible

UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service)

UCAS is an organisation who processes applications for all UK universities and colleges for full-time Undergraduate degree courses

All information stated in the brochure is correct at time of publication and subject to change without notice.

uwl.ac.uk/clearing

@UniWestLondon

@UniWestLondon

UniversityWestLondon

University of West London

University of West London