Rough guide to going to University

Dr Lindsay VareUniversity of Hertfordshire

Why go to university?

The main reasons

• You will get to study a subject you love

• You will have an experience that you’ll never forget

• Develop independence

• Employment prospects

Choosing your course

• Which subjects interest me?

• What are my talents?

• What job would I like to do after university or college?

• Which academic skills would I like to improve?

• Vocational or academic?

Choosing a university

• Your predicted grades

• Geographic considerations

• University or College

Choosing a university

• University type

• Facilities

• Opportunities

• Costs

How do I choose?

• Look on ucas.com for courses

Choices - UCAS

Choices - UCAS

How do I choose?

•University Websites and attend open days opendays.com

How do I choose?

• Investigate career options prospects.ac.uk

• Careers / personal advisers / teachers / parents

• 5 options to put onto your UCAS form

Choices - Prospects

Student Finance for September 2012 Entry

Student Expenditure

• Cost of tuition fees-Money paid directly to the university from Student Finance England loan company to cover the cost of your studies

• Living costs-This can include rent, study materials, household bills, food, socialising, insurance, TV Licence, travel, leisure, household items, clothes, telephone

Financial Support

• Tuition Fees Loan-Repayable -Available to everyone

• Living Costs Loan-Repayable- Available to all but dependent onhousehold income

• Living Costs Grant- Non-repayable - Dependent on household

income

• Scholarships-Non-repayable -Vary across institutions-National Scholarship

Programme

Tuition Fees

• No up-front fees for Home and EU full-time undergraduate courses

• Students will receive a repayable loan to cover the cost of tuition

• Paid directly from Student Finance England to the institution• Variable tuition fees across institutions and possibly within

each institution• From Sept 2012, universities and colleges charging more than

£6,000 per year will participate in the National Scholarship Programme

Living Costs Support – Loan

• Full-time students can apply for a Living Costs Loan which is repayable

• The exact amount you can borrow will depend on several factors such as:

-your household income -where you decide to live -what help you get through the Living Costs Grant

Living Costs Loan Figures

Living situation

Full rate(100%)

Doesn’t depend on household income (65%)

Depends on household

income (35%)

Living at home £4,375 £2,843 £1,532

Living away from home

and studying outside London

£5,500 £3,575 £1,925

Living away from home

and studying in London

£7,675 £4,988 £2,687

Living and studying

abroad for at least one

academic term

£6,535 £4,247 £2,288

Repayments

• Taken automatically out of your wages• Repay from the April following graduation • Only repay if you are in employment and earning

£21,000• If you don’t pay back the full balance after 30 years, the

outstanding balance will be written off• Interest is payable on student loans, variable depending

on income

Repayments proposalSubject to approval

Financial Support

• Tuition Fees Loan-Repayable -Available to everyone

• Living Costs Loan-Repayable- Available to all but dependent onhousehold income

• Living Costs Grant- Non-repayable - Dependent on household

income

• Scholarships-Non-repayable -Vary across institutions-National Scholarship

Programme

Living Costs Support – Grant

• The Living Costs Grant is non-repayable• You will receive the maximum Living Costs

Grant of £3,250 if your household income is £25,000 or under

• If your household income is between £25,001-£42,600 you will get a partial sum of this grant

• For every £1 of grant to which you are entitled, your living costs loan entitlement is reduced by £0.50

In addition

• Special support grant - If you qualify for Income Support or Housing Benefit you may get the Special Support Grant instead of the Living Costs Grant

• A range of scholarships • National Scholarship programme• Scholarships from individual universities

The University of HertfordshireNational Scholarship Programme

The University will award scholarships worth £1,488,000 to eligible UK students on programmes charging fees above £6,000 and who fall into one or more of the following groups:

• Live an area with low level of progression to University and with a household income of £25,000 or less

• In receipt of incapacity benefit

• Identified as a Looked After Child (using the statutory definition)

Check your eligibility on our website.

The University of HertfordshireScholarships

• 60 Chancellor’s Diamond Scholarships worth £3,000 per year for the duration of your studies– You need a minimum of 400 UCAS points and support from your school

• Higher Achievers’ Diamond Scholarship providing £2000 fee waiver and access to professional support and placement opportunities– You need a minimum of 450 UCAS points

• See our website for full details of these scholarships

• You must apply by April 13th 2012 to be considered

• The University has a number of other Scholarship programmes; please see our website for further details or speak to your admissions tutor

• http://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/scholarships/home.cfm

The University of HertfordshireFees

• Range of fees from £5,800 (for Foundation Degrees in our partner colleges) to £8,500

• University-based programmes fall into one of three fee bands: £7,400, £7,800 and £8,500

• Most of our courses are in the lower two bands with an average fee of £7,500

For further information

http://yourfuture.direct.gov.uk/

For further information

http://direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Start planning your finances now

Income

• Living Costs Loan

• Living Costs Grant

• Parental contributions

• Gap Year earnings

• Part-time work

• Scholarships / Sponsorships

• Savings from holiday work

• Placement earnings

Expenditure

• Rent

• Household bills

• TV Licence

• Phone

• Food

• Household items

• Clothes

• Socialising

• Sports and clubs

• Insurance

• Car expenses

• Travel

• Books/Stationery

• Toiletries

UCAS Website

• UCAS: University & College Admissions Service

• One online form to apply for your five courses

• Act as a bridge between you and universities

What goes on a UCAS form?

• Your GCSE grades

• AS grades and predicted A Level grades (or equivalent course)

• Reference from a teacher

• Personal statement written by you

• Most universities will use only this application to decide if they should make you an offer –

MAKE IT STAND OUTMAKE IT STAND OUT

Personal StatementsA good template

Paragraph/s Content

Opening • Why do you want to study the course?

2 and 3 • How your interest in the subject/s developed• Include details of wider reading and exploration• Work experience relevant to the subject

Closing • Extra-Curricular Activities• Positions of responsibility• How you will make the most of your place outside your studies• Career goals

Deadlines 2011/2012

Be aware of the deadlines –

For this year:•15 October - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all professional medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses, and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

•15 January - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed above with a 15 October deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline.

•24 March - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for art and design courses except those listed with a 15 January deadline.

What happens next?

• Tracking number from UCAS• Universities must let you know their decisions by the end of March• Invitation to interview• Conditional offer

– A place is offered if the applicant meets certain conditions, usually based on exam results

• Unconditional offer• Unsuccessful application• Select Firm and Insurance choices

What to do next - Advice

• Work to get the best grades that you can achieve

• Have a look at www.ucas.com

• Go on Open Days

• Ask advice from teachers/parents/Year 13s

Research options and make the best choice for you

What to do next

• Work to get the best grades that you can achieve

• Have a look at www.ucas.com

• Go on Open Days

• Ask advice from teachers/parents/Year 13s

Research options and make the best choice for you

Thank you for your attention

Any questions?