Higher Education Evening 2015
Welcome to Higher Education evening
Higher Education Evening 2015
1. Why should I consider university?2. What should I consider before applying?3. What should I consider when making my
application?4. How long does it take?5. How can I finance my degree?
Higher Education Evening 2015
1. Why should I consider university?
For long-term financial reasons• The average lifetime earnings are £160,000 more for a
graduate(Medicine / Dentistry = £340,315)(Humanities = £51,549)(Arts = £34,949)
Higher Education Evening 2015
1. Why should I consider university?
For academic reasons• It is probably your only opportunity in life for study for its own
sake• It provides you with transferrable skills• It opens up new opportunities• It buys valuable time if you are still unsure of your career path
Higher Education Evening 2015
1. Why should I consider university?
For reasons of competition• Tens of thousands of entry-level jobs now require degree-level
education• 634,610 applicants for 416,000 places in 2014
Higher Education Evening 2015
Higher Education Evening 2015
Higher Education Evening 2015
1. Why should I consider university?
If you are unsure about university, you should apply anyway
You can always decide not to go next September
Having an option to go is better than not having any option at all
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Location, location, location!
• Close to home or as far away as possible?• Could I commute, particularly to London?• Independence
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Specifics of the degree course• Choose wisely!• Prerequisites - Chemistry for Medicine
- Maths (and possibly Further Maths) and Physics for Engineering- Preferred subjects for Law
• Prospects - Potential career path- Professional exemptions
• Modules of study• Duration of study – length of course and contact hours
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsAccountancy Maths* Maths, Business Studies, Economics
Architecture None Art, Maths, DT, Physics
Biochemistry Chemistry, 1 from Maths/Biol/Phys Maths, Biology, Physics
Chemical Engineering Chemistry, Maths Physics
Chemistry Chemistry, 1 from Maths/Biol/Phys Maths, Biology, Physics
Computer Science Maths* Computing, Further Maths
Dentistry Chemistry, Biology*, Maths* Physics
Economics Maths* Economics, Business Studies
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsEngineering Maths, Physics Further Maths, Computing
Geography Geography*, 1 from Biol/Chem/Phys* Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Law English* History, Politics
Maths Maths, Further Maths* Further Maths, Physics
Medicine Chemistry, Biology*, Maths* Maths, Physics
Modern Languages Varies by university
Nursing and Midwifery Biology Chemistry, Physics
Pharmacy Chemistry, 1 from Biol/Maths/Phys Biology, Maths, Physics
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Course Essential subjects Useful subjectsPhysics Maths, Physics, Further Maths* Further Maths
Physiotherapy Biology, 1 from Maths/Chem/Phys* Chem, Maths, Physics, Psychology
Psychology 1 from Biol/Chem/Maths/Phys* Biol, Chem, Maths, Phys, Psychology
Sports Science 1 from Biol/Chem/Maths/Phys* Biol, Chem, Maths, Physics, PE
Teacher Training At least 2 facilitating subjects
Veterinary Science Chemistry, Biology, Maths or Physics Maths, Physics, Further Maths
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Quality and reputation
• Take university league tables with a truckload of salt!• Consult Unistats and Unifrog• Remember that a university’s rankings are only ever
as good as the previous cohort of students to graduate!
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Accessibility – the UCAS tariff A Level AS Level EPQ UCAS Points
A* 140
A 120
B 100
C 80
A* 70
D A A 60
B B 50
E C C 40
D D 30
E E 20
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Accessibility
Course Tariff range Applicants Course Tariff range Applicants
Medicine 487 – 651 10.6 Psychology 212 – 654 5.6
Veterinary Science 468 – 620 8.9 English (incl. Literature) 210 – 572 5.5
Architecture 202 – 577 6.7 Chemical Engineering 273 – 641 6.1
Economics 208 – 634 6.9 Law 207 – 584 5.5
French 237 – 585 5.9 Electrical Engineering 185 – 646 5.0
**** = 560 AAAA = 480 AAA = 360 AAB = 340 BBB = 300 BBC = 280 CCC = 240 DDD = 180
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Value for money
• Entry thresholds (Cambridge 614 Bedfordshire 225)• Research Excellence Framework (Imperial 3.36 Solent 1.63)
(Max. = 4.0)• Staffing ratios (UCL 10.2 Bishop Grosseteste 30.2)• Degree completion (Oxford 99% East London 67%)• Employment prospects (Imperial 88% East London 43%)
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Value for money
• Academic spend (St George’s £5,280 Bishop Grosseteste £331)
• Facilities spend (Buckinghamshire New £1,291 St George’s £77)
• Student satisfaction (Buckingham 4.34 St George’s 3.78) (Max. = 5.0)
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
University facilities
• City vs collegiate vs campus• Accommodation• Universal requirements vs specialist interests• Services offered by the students’ union
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Years in industry and years abroad
• The company for which you work during your year in industry may offer you a permanent job after graduation
• Students who have completed either years in industry or years abroad are 24% more employable on average than other graduates
Higher Education Evening 2015
2. What should I consider before applying?
Study abroad
• Tuition fees in Ireland are free. Students pay €3,000 per year to cover use of facilities, administration and exam fees. However you are charged in full for non-completion!
• Tuition fees in Denmark are free – over 1,500 English-language courses
• Tuition in the Netherlands is typically €1,900 per year – over 1,500 English-language courses
Higher Education Evening 2015
3. What should I consider when making my application?
The basics
• ‘Early applicant’ group – Oxbridge, Medics, Vets, Dentists, Optometrists
• Predicted grades – based largely on AS level grades• Entrance exams• Interviews / Portfolios• The personal statement• The school’s reference
Higher Education Evening 2015
3. What should I consider when making my application?
Using your five choices wisely
• Oxford or Cambridge?• The fifth medical choice• Applying for different subjects• Applying for multiple courses at the same university• Deferred entry• Be realistic!
Higher Education Evening 2015
4. How does the timing work?
30 June 2015 Essex UCAS Convention, ARU Chelmsford
July / Aug 2015 Summer preparation
13 Aug 2015 AS Level results issued
Sept / Oct 2015 Application season
15 Oct 2015 Early applicant deadline
Higher Education Evening 2015
4. How does the timing work?
23 Oct 2015 Sweyne Park deadline for applications
15 Jan 2016 Final UCAS deadline
25 Feb 2016 UCAS Extra opens
31 March 2016 Universities’ deadline to respond to applications
Higher Education Evening 2015
4. How does the timing work?
8 May 2016 Student deadline to respond to university offers
31 May 2016 Deadline for student finance
18 Aug 2016 A2 Level results issued
Aug / Sept 2016 Confirmation of offers Clearing or Adjustment
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
www.gov.uk/student-finance
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
There are three main streams of funding:
1. Tuition fee loan (available to all)2. Maintenance loan (35% means tested)3. Maintenance grant (fully means tested)
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
1. Tuition fee loan
• Open to all• Paid directly to university or college• Full amount is covered – no more, no less• Repayable, with interest*
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
2. Maintenance loan
• 35% means tested• Paid termly into bank account• Repayable, with interest*
Status Max. amountLiving at home £4,565Living away from home £5,740Living in London £8,009Year abroad £6,820
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
3. Maintenance grant
• 100% means tested• Paid termly into bank account• Not repayable• Every £1 of your grant reduces your loan eligibility by 50p!
Household income Grant£25,000 or less £3,387£30,000 £2,441£35,000 £1,494£40,000 £547£42,260 £50Over £42,260 £0
Higher Education Evening 2015
5. How can I finance my degree?
Repaying your loan
• Income dependent in later years, not borrowing dependent• 9% of all earnings over £21,000• Outstanding balance written off after 30 years• Student loans do not appear on your credit file
Higher Education Evening 2015
What further support will Sweyne Park provide for parents and students?
• UCAS literature – The Little Guide and the Parent Guide• UCAS workshops for students• All students will be allocated a UCAS mentor• A mock interview
Higher Education Evening 2015
Useful websites
www.ucas.com www.unifrog.org unistats.direct.gov.ukwww.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk www.opendays.comwww.gov.uk/student-finance