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UCAS Application Process and
Student Finance
Vanessa Emslie Student Recruitment and Admissions
www.facebook.com/universityofyork @UniOfYork
(Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
Central body for all HE admissions
Separate system for Music
conservatories, and some
dance/drama
One application form on which you
can apply for up to 5 courses
Equal consideration by
Universities
Restrictions on choice:
-only 4 choices for Medicine, Density,
Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary
Science
-Can usually only apply for Oxford or Cambridge
Quick overview of…
You can apply for more than
one course at the same
university
Important Dates:
Closing date for most applications
is 15th January
For some it is 15th October
But also remember
internal deadlines
Before you apply… Do some research
This shows that you are focussed and helps avoid mistakes
Get some work experience?
Medicine, Law, Teaching
Think about course and university preferences
Subject, Course content, Entry requirements, University &
location, your interests and hobbies, career plan
Useful places to find information:
School careers library resources
Prospectuses
University website
Unistats/NSS (HEFCE) websites
‘The Student Room’ & other online
forums
Subject League Tables
Student Finance England (SFE)
‘Alternative’ prospectus
Open/Visit Day or a virtual tour
Talk to current students
UCAS application
& Personal Statement
An admissions tutor
wants to gain a picture
of YOU
What can make you stand out from
other applicants, especially for the
more competitive courses?
Find out: will the decision be
made solely on your UCAS
application? Or will you have
an interview that will be taken
into account too?
Admissions tutors are looking for:
You to have researched your choices
You to have a passion for your
subject
Appropriate skills and approach
The importance of your…
Save your application as you go along You can go back and edit it until you’re happy to send it
You can give nominated access to a
parent, guardian or advisor if you’d like
them to be able to speak on your behalf
What are admissions tutors
looking for?
Strong academic potential from past
and predicted academic achievements
Students who have a passion for their
subject and are prepared to commit to it
Students who have researched their
choices
The skills and approach appropriate for
subject applying for
What is a
‘Personal Statement’?
47 lines of text (or 4,000 characters, or 500 words) expressing your suitability for the course
It needs to be: well written well punctuated grammatically correct with no mistakes
It should have a clear layout and development of ideas
Top Tip: A strong opening paragraph will get you noticed straight away
Aim for competent, clear,
well organised and
well evidenced
Be original, honest and positive But take the application seriously, no jokes required!
What should my personal
statement say…
At least half academic, social
and cultural interests relating to the course(s)
- We recommend at least 50%...up to around
80%
You need to demonstrate your
reasons and motivations for
taking the course(s)
Why is the
University/course for you?
Show an understanding of, and
interest in, the subject area
What relevant academic skills and
experience do you have?
What have you done with your
interest in…physics?...town
planning?...French? Etc.
Can use specific examples (especially
if university course related) E.g.
What else should I include?
- Through my Biology coursework I have
improved my ability to…
- Following a visit to the Natural History
Museum…
- Reading Charles Dickens novels inspired
my fascination with…
- As an aspiring scientist…
Demonstrate that you are clear
about what the study of a new
subject will entail
Work or voluntary experience (especially useful for vocational courses)
E.g. Doing teaching work experience demonstrates that you have a commitment to becoming a teacher and (now) have an understanding of the role.
Reflect on your experience What did you learn? E.g. Life in hospital is… Working in a solicitor’s office… Working with the general public has taught me… Through my work experience, I realise that…
Director of Admissions, Kings College London: “We’d like to hear about a patient a student has come into contact with or an experience they’ve had. It’s just as valuable to have spent time as a hospital porter, as it is to have followed around the lead clinician.”
Also include… Extra-curricular activities
Personality
Other skills
E.g.
Time management,
communication,
organisation, team player or
leadership skills, energy,
enthusiasm, diversity of
interests
Need to be relevant to the
courses you’re applying for
Include career/gap year
plans (if relevant…and
realistic!)
-Show evidence of how the
gap year will be spent: do you
have plans in mind?
“I walk my dog a lot. I can relate
this to English Literature
because…”
Needs to be appropriate…
E.g. (Not like this)
Top Tips…
It is not simply a list of everything you’ve achieved.
“I would much rather read about what you learned
from observing one filling than a list of all the
procedures you observed.”
(Dentistry Admissions Tutor, Which? University Website
Remember to use evidence,
not just statements
E.g. Books you have read,
experiences you have had (inside or
outside of the classroom)
You don’t need to use a thesaurus to
improve the language/word’s
you’ve used!
Identifying your skills and experience is a great place to start before writing your personal statement…
Experience: Part time job
What did you do? Checkout operator in a supermarket chain
What skills/knowledge did you develop? Commercial awareness,
Impact of high profile marketing campaigns,
Communication skills,
Team Working,
Professionalism
How is this relevant to your course? Looking forward to studying economics and
society- explore consumer behaviour in out-
of-town shopping centres vs city centre
shops
What examples can you think of?
Personal Statement DOs and Don’ts …
Do be clear and specific
about why you want to
study what you do
Don’t write your personal
statement for just one
course
Do leave some space in the
text area -A line between paragraphs is good,
but will count towards your
character count, i.e. 500 words or
4,000 characters
Don’t rush it; it needs
careful proof reading and
benefits from outside
comment (teachers, family
or friends)
Do ensure you come across
as realistic and informed
about career plans
What happens next?
1. Your application is submitted through your school
2. Universities make their decisions
3. UCAS contacts you with offers via email This is usually followed up with contact from the universities themselves
These are usually ‘conditional’ offers There may be an interview/auditions before you receive an offer You will usually find out before the 31st March
What happens next?
4. You should consider your offers in further detail You could attend a ‘Post-Offer Visit Day’
5. You choose your ‘Firm’ and ‘Insurance’ choices You will do this by early May
6. Then all that’s left is to work hard to pass your exams etc. and
start planning your new life at University!
It will all be worth it!
Student Finance
Student Finance Overview
Tuition Fee Loan
Maintenance Loan
Grants for students with additional needs
Bursaries and Scholarships
(Some) professional body bursaries
What help is available?
Universities can charge full-time students up to £9,000 per year for tuition fees
Students do not have to pay any tuition fees up front or while they are studying
The Tuition Fee Loan does not depend on household income
The Student Loan Company pay the Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university
The loan is repayable, but only when the student’s income is over £21,000 a year
Tuition Fees
Maintenance loan
The Maintenance Loan is available to help with living costs The loan is paid directly into the student’s bank account at the start of each term and is repayable The Maintenance Grant which was previously available has gone Under the new system students will be able to borrow a maximum of £8,200, dependent on household income. Note: this is more than has ever been available before.
Full-time student Loan available for the 2016 to 2017 academic year
Living at home Up to £6,904
Living away from home, outside London Up to £8,200
Living away from home, in London Up to £10,702
You spend a year of a UK course studying
abroad
Up to £9,391
Repayment only starts once the student has finished their course (from the April after graduation) AND
Is in a job with a salary of over £21,000
Automatic deductions through UK tax system (PAYE)
Monthly repayment amount depends on salary
Students pay back 9% of anything they earn over £21,000
If the student’s income stops or falls below the threshold, repayments automatically stop
Students can make voluntary repayments at any time
Repayments of the loans
The following may be available depending on personal circumstances:
Childcare Grant, Parents Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants Grant Disabled Students’ Allowance Bursaries, scholarships and awards from individual universities
Leaving local authority care bursaries Social Work bursaries NHS bursaries: From 1 August 2017, new nursing, midwifery and allied
health students will no longer receive NHS bursaries. Instead, they will have access to the same student loans system as other students.
Travel grants for clinical placements
Additional support
Apply in Spring 2017 for courses starting in September 2017
The deadline for applying is 9 months AFTER the date the course started
Students do not have to wait until they’ve accepted a place to apply for student finance
How and when do I apply?
Students reapply for each year of their course
Set up a student finance online account at Student Finance England and complete the online application
Send in proof of identity Sign and return the loan declaration, which you should receive within 6 weeks.
More money will be available for students studying in 2016/17 than ever before
Any loan remaining after 30 years will be written off Students don’t start repaying their loans until they are earning over £21,000 It is based entirely on what you earn, not what you owe Most people won’t pay back any more under the new system (only those that earn £35,000 as a graduate starting salary and subsequently earn more than the rate of inflation for the rest of their lives will, but only in the latter years of repaying their student loan!)
To apply for student finance, go to www.gov.uk/studentfinance
Key points
Thank you for listening
Any questions?
If you’d like further information- get in touch!
www.york.ac.uk
01904 324000