HE Choices. Why Higher Education ? Get a good job Careers Some Jobs need HE qualifications Increased chance of promotion Fast-track opportunities Lifelong

HE Choices

Why Higher Education ?

Get a good job

CareersSome Jobs need HE qualificationsIncreased chance of promotionFast-track opportunities Lifelong LearningMeeting the demands of the labour marketLearn valuable skillsHelps prepare for employment

Personal Development

All part of character developmentMeet new peopleSo many opportunitiesLearn to live and work togetherA diverse population of studentsClubs & Societies Make friends Confidence-BuildingGain independence

The Strategic Planning ProcessApril 2008

What can you study at University? Mainly Degrees and Diplomas

Approximately 50,000 courses!!

One subject or joint honours

Different length courses

Different entry requirements

Practical based/essay based/research based

Gap years/Industry Years/Year abroad


Over 50,000 Courses.....

Accountancy & Finance / Advertising & Communications / Animation

Audio & Outside Broadcast / Business & Business IT / Computer Games

Computing & Networking / Construction / Design / Engineering / English

Event Management / Fashion / Film / Fine Art / Geography & Environment

Graphic Design / Health & Fitness / Illustration / Interior Design

International Business / Journalism & Writing / Knowledge Management

Law/Management/ Maritime / Marketing / Media / Media Styling

Multimedia Communications / Music / Outdoor Adventure Management

Performance & Comedy / Photography / Product Design / Psychology &

Criminology / Public Relations / Shipping / Social Work / Sound & Music

Technology / Sport & Applied Sport Science / Television Production

Tourism / Watersports Management / Yacht Engineering…and many more!!



Study and assessment

Assessment

MIXTURE

Course work Projects Live briefs

with employers Exams Practicals

www.solent.ac.uk

Study You will study a mixture of units Some of these units will be compulsory core units Some of the units are optional, so you can pick options that are of interest to you Study will take the form of

a mixture of lectures, seminars and independent

learning Contact hours may vary but are usually between 10 – 20 hours per week

Choosing the right courseAsk yourself:

- Which subjects interest me? - What are my talents? - What job would I like to do after university? - Which academic skills would I like to improve? - Does my chosen profession require a specific subject?

Things to consider.....

Entry requirements aspirational and realistic

Length of course work placements? Year abroad?

Method of assessment exam, practical, dissertation

Accreditation BPS for Psychology, PTC & BJTC for Journalism

TariffThe UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points to qualifications used for entry to Higher Education

Allows students to use a range of different qualifications to help secure a place on an undergraduate course

Universities and Colleges use the UCAS Tariff to make comparisons between applicants with different qualifications

Often used when Universities give out Conditional Offers to potential students

Some universities will ask for grades


Tariff

A levelA* = 140A = 120B = 100C = 80

BTECDistinction* = 140Distinction = 120 Merit = 100Pass = 80

Useful tools:UCAS Course search- A very useful alphabetical course search- Check the entry profiles for course details

STAMFORD Test- A short questionnaire which matches your interests and abilities with possible subjects

Both are available via www.ucas.com


Things to consider....Large or small

Campus or non-campus

City based or rural

Close to home or a distance away

Modern or more traditional

Purpose built facilities


Money matters

- Tuition fee Loans

- Maintenance Loans

- Maintenance Grants

- Bursaries

- Scholarships


WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE? FULL-TIME undergraduates:

REPAYABLE:

a TUITION FEE LOAN•Paid directly to the university•Non-income assessed

a LOAN (for living costs)*•Paid in 3 termly instalments into your bank account•Part of the loan will depend on household income

NON-REPAYABLE:

a GRANT (for living costs)* • Up to £3,250• Household income up to £45,000• Paid in 3 termly instalments

into your bank account

a NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP*• Full eligibility criteria unknown

as yet● Below £25,000

Apply EVERY YEAR!

*how much you get will depend on your household income

REPAYING LOANS

Loans are repayable after leaving university – if you have an income above £21,000 pa, otherwise it can be deferred each year.

If your loans are not repaid after 30 years they are written off.

Please go to: www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk

for more information on interest rates and repayments.

LOAN REPAYMENT FIGURESYour Annual Salary (above £21,000)

Salary amount from which 9% is deducted

Approximate amount you repay

each MONTH.*£22,000 £1,000 £7.50

£25,000 £4,000 £30

£30,000 £9,000 £67.50

£35,000 £14,000 £105

£40,000 £19,000 £142.50

£45,000 £24,000 £180

£50,000 £29,000 £217.50

£55,000 £34,000 £255

*Taken out of your

(gross) income

by HMRC – (like

your tax & NI)


Students apply online and can log on and track the progress of their application

Students can make up to FIVE choices - depending on course choice - different for Medicine, veterinary science, Oxbridge,

The cost for applying to more than one choice is £22, if the student makes only one choice the cost is £11

Students complete one online application form for all their choices

Applying to University

The application year – an overviewMarch to July – Visit Education Conventions / HE Fairs / Open Days

Summer Term & Hols – Look at info and research choices - Plan the Personal Statement

September to January - Fill out and submit application - Main deadline - 15 January - Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary courses & Oxbridge

- Deadline 15 October

October to March – Universities are making decisions

December to March – Visit Days / Application Open Days

February to June – UCAS Extra (Available if applied through UCAS and not holding offers)

April/May – Decide on firm & insurance choice

July / August – Clearing, Adjustment and Confirmation

Personal StatementsPersonal Statements are used by Admissions Tutors to decide between students with similar grades

It will be used to form the basis of an interview

Students should talk to people about what makes them unique, interesting & talented

The Personal Statement is very important, especially as places are getting more competitive

Up to 4,000 characters (or 47 lines of text)

Best to draft it in a Word document & copy and paste it

Approach it like an essay (make sure it flows logically)

Check spelling & grammar carefully

Mistakes will be picked up on and will make a bad impression

Plagiarism is taken very seriously

Ideally, avoid mentioning a particular University or applying to vastly different courses

Hints and Tips

- Think about your ambitions and interests

- Talk to friends, family, teachers

- Find out info early

- Make use of the education conventions

- Visit the UCAS website

- Don’t be afraid to contact universities

- Get course booklets as well as prospectuses

- Attend Open Days

- Practise writing personal statement

Visit Us

GENERAL OPEN DAYs

Saturday 12th May Wednesday 13th June

www.solent.ac.uk

Questions

Documents

HE Choices. Why Higher Education ? Get a good job Careers Some Jobs need HE qualifications Increased chance of promotion Fast-track opportunities Lifelong