Gaurav Malik,School of Architecture, Computing & Engineering

Applying to University

What is Higher Education?

• Over 50,000 course to choose from

• Study one or two subjects at a University or Higher Education College

• 18+

• Fees

What is Higher Education?

• Over 50,000 course to choose from

• Study one or two subjects at a University or Higher Education College

• 18+

• Fees

Is it available to me?

• Accessible to students from all backgrounds

• Financial Support available to ALL

• Wide variety of courses to suit all learning styles

Changes from September 2012

• New tuition fees

• Enhanced package of student financial assistance

• A new National Scholarship Programme

Tuition fees

Government funding

Tuition Fee Loans• Students will be able to apply for a Tuition Fee

Loan to cover the cost of their fees

• No upfront fees

• Fees are repaid after the student leaves university and only once they are earning over £21,000

• Repayments will be the same if you go somewhere charging £6,500 or £9,000

Maintenance (living cost) Loan• Help pay for living costs (food, travel,

accommodation, etc)

• The amount you can borrow will depend on your household income and where you live and study.

• You will only start making repayments on this loan once you have completed your course and you are earning over £21,000 per year. 

Maintenance (living cost) Loan• The maximum Maintenance Loan for students

starting in 2012/13 will be:

– £7,675 if you live away from home and study at a university or college in London

– £4,375 if you live at home

• 65% non-means tested• 35% means tested

• Paid in three instalments

Maintenance (living cost) Grant

• Full grant of £3,250 where annual household income is £25,000 or less

• Partial grant where annual household income is between £25,001 - £42,600

• Paid in three instalments directly to student’s bank account

UK UG full-time studentsSpecial Support Grant

• Full grant where annual household income is £25,000 or less

• Partial grant (calculated on a sliding scale) where annual household income is £25,001 - £42,600

• The amount you can get through the Special Support Grant is the same as that available through the Maintenance Grant but it won’t reduce how much you get for your Maintenance Loan.

• Students who receive the full Special Support Grant will receive the full student loan

Loan repayments• Only start making repayments once you have

finished your studies and you are earning over £21,000 per year 

• You pay 9% of the amount you are earning over £21,000.  If your annual salary was £25,000 per year you would pay back 9% of £4,000, which is about £30 a month

• The repayment amount each month is the same regardless of how much you borrowed

• Any remaining debt will be written off by the government after 30 years

Loan repayment examples• Repayments are affordable and will be deducted

automatically from your pay packet through the tax system

Calculate your likely repayments at yourfuture.direct.gov.uk/calculate

Gross annual salary

Monthly income after tax (estimate)

Monthly loan repayment

£21,000 £1,360 None

£25,000 £1,590 £30.00

£30,000 £1,880 £67.50

£40,000 £2,506 £142.50

Loan interest rates• While you are studying and up until the end of April after

you leave university - Interest on your loan will be charged at inflation plus 3%

• From the April after you leave university if you are earning below £21,000, interest will be applied at the rate of inflation.

• Graduates earning between £21,000 and £41,000 will be charged interest on a sliding scale up to a maximum of inflation plus 3%.

• Graduates earning above £41,000, will be charged interest at the full rate of inflation plus 3%.

Scholarships & bursaries

National Scholarship Programme• New £150m National Scholarship

Programme (NSP) for lower income families

• New UEL NSP Bursary to eligible students from partner institutions or our New Beginnings pre-entry programme

• The bursary is a package made up of a £1000 cash bursary and £2000 enhanced Progress Bursary

Additional support

• Disabled Students’ Allowances• Adult Dependants’ Grant• Childcare Grant• Parents’ Learning Allowance• Foyer and Care Leavers• Student Athlete Scholarship Scheme• Access to Learning Fund

Support for part-time students

Part-time fees and funding

• From September 2012 part-time UG students will pay £1,500 per module

• For the first time they will be able to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover tuition fee costs meaning no upfront costs

• Part-time students will not be eligible for a grant or loan for their living costs

Where to apply?

• www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

What are the benefits?• Improved job and earning prospects

• Develop a range of transferable skills

• Gain independence and broaden horizons

• Opportunity to study subject of choice in depth

Key Decisions

City or Campus

Home or Away

Exams or Coursework

University or College

Facilities

Full time or Part Time

Course Options• Foundation degree

– Vocational – Employment related– 2 years full time

• Higher National Certificate (HNC) / Higher National Diploma (HND)

– HNC – often studied part-time over 2 years while working– HND – 2 years full-time to complete– Allow entry to an Honours degree

• Diploma in Higher Education– Diploma of Higher Education– Similar to a degree but with less content– Two year course – can convert to a full degree by studying for an extra year

Degree Options

• Extended Degree– Students who do not have the qualifications required to get onto a

degree course– Foundation year – introductory year to provide necessary

background to complete full degree

• Honours Degree– Takes from 3-5 years full-time, can also be studied part-time– Many are subject-based, some are more vocational– Offer a wide range of employment options

How to choose a course?

Professional SubjectE.g. Law, Medicine,

Engineering

Subject from current study

E.g. English Language, Maths, History

Hobby or interestE.g. Sports, Music, Film

Related SubjectE.g. Biochemistry, American

Studies

Something completely new!

E.g. Criminology, Archaeology, Motorsports

Study something you love!

PERFORMINGARTS

FASHION

JOURNALISM

SPORTS COACHING

FILM STUDIES

FORENSIC SCIENCE

EARLY CHILDHOOD

STUDIES

More than just a degree…

Transferable Skills

Confidence

Team Work

Communication

Organisation

Presentation

Independence

Time Management

Entry Routes

• Post 16 qualifications, such as A-levels, GNVQs, BTEC awards, Scottish or Irish Highers, the Baccalaureate

• Extended Degree• Completion of an approved Access

programme • Recent study/employment experience

Where to Live

• Save Money• Stay near Family

and Friends• Stay in a familiar

area• Nicer to live at

home than in halls• Fewer distractions

– easier to study

• Gain independence• Free to come and

go as you like• Opportunity to

meet more people in halls etc.

• More responsibility• Discover a new

town / city

AT HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Moving awayHalls of Residence•Catered or self-catering•Often organise social events•Convenient for university facilities•Feel part of student community•Chance to meet people and make friends

Room in a house•Often after living in halls•Choose who to live with•Choose where to live•More independence•More responsibility

What to look for – Moving away

Local environment / accommodation

•Imagine living there?•Are the halls convenient for

university facilities?•Is it safe / secure?

Sports facilities•Facilities to play their favourite sport? Or to take up something new?•Are there teams to join?

Students Union•Can they get involved?

•Are there clubs and societies to match their interests?

•Facilities for socialising

The town / city •Good student life?•Nightlife / theatre / sports

•Would you like to live there?

Questions?Ray Ruocco, Claire Daltrey, Aloysius Edoh