After Aquinas - Support For Students

Parents’ Information Evening 2013

Advice

Guidance

Support

Subject Tutors

Group Tutors

Senior Tutors

Vice Principal

Principal

Careers Team

Parents

Tutorials Kudos Inspire - Interest Guide

Career Sectors and Labour Market

Making choices – debate on options

Apprenticeships – guest speaker

Student finance – cost of university

Researching information on UCAS and individual university websites

UCAS Tariff

Gap Year

Summer Term

• Open days - www.opendays.com

• Personal profiling – skills and subject interests

• Work Experience Week 24th – 28th June

• Careers Day – Wednesday 3rd July

• Applications Day – Thursday 4th July

The Application Process

Thursday 4th July 2013 Registration day for

▪ UCAS Apply

▪ National Apprenticeship Service

▪ National Careers Service

Personal statement writing – guest speaker from Sheffield University will be giving a presentation on ‘Writing an excellent personal statement’

Ex-students on ‘University Life’

Two of the most important things to include are: Why they are applying for the course?

▪ reasons why that subject interests them▪ include evidence that they understand the

content of the course▪ explain why they want to go to University –

career progression Why they are suitable for the course?

▪ explain the skills and experience they have that will help them to succeed on the course

▪ explain how current studies relate to the course

Personal Statement

Reasons given by Universities for rejecting a personal statement

Your personal statement does not strongly support your desire to study your chosen degree.

Your personal statement did not show sufficient understanding, relevance or knowledge about the course you are applying for.

You failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and interest in the subject in your personal statement.

Personal Statement

Summer Holidays

Additional work experience

Further research – university or apprenticeship

University open days

Complete draft of personal statement

AS level results – Thursday August 15th

Enrolment interviews in college – week beginning 19th August

Additional Entrance Tests

BMAT Medicine – Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College, Royal Veterinary College

UKCAT Medicine – National test for medicine

LNAT Law

HAT History - Oxford

ELAT English - Oxford

UCAS Application Process

students complete the application form

application form given to Group Tutor

reference written by Group Tutor

student then pays online

application and reference linked by the college

application form sent by the college to UCAS

Autumn Term Deadlines!!

Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Oxford & Cambridge – ▪ 21st September (college

deadline)

▪ 15th October (UCAS deadline)

all other applications▪ 30th November (college

deadline)

▪ 15th January (UCAS deadline)For Competitive Courses

THE SOONER THE BETTER!!

Autumn and Spring Term

mock interviews if required

university interviews

offers – conditional or unconditional

decisions – firm and insurance usually to be made at the start of May 2014.

If things don’t go to plan

UCAS Extra – March/June 2014

Results day 14th August 2014

Come into college for advice !!

Clearing – August 2014

Get your son/daughter to talk about what they would like to do – discuss their strengths, skills, interests

Discuss their results from Kudos Inspire or do it with them – details are on Careers Moodle

Look on the National Careers Service website at different job descriptions with them – does anything appeal?

Look on the www.opendays.com website – attend a University Open Day with them. There are often parent talks

Help them with their personal statement – check the spelling and grammar

Help them with their CV – make sure they keep it up-to-date

Encourage them to gain a work experience placement or volunteer over the summer

How you can help

Financial Support For Students

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Some Careers require a degree.

Students should think about the cost of University as an investment in their future not a loan.

Don’t have to pay anything up front.

Don’t pay anything back unless earning more that £21,000 per year.

If a career break is taken – repayments stop.

Loan cleared after 30 years.

Student Finance

Expenses at University fall broadly

into two categories:

Tuition fees – which help meet the cost of a course.

General living costs – including accommodation, educational expenses, books.

Financial Support for Students

All students can take out a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the tuition fees. Universities can charge new students up to a maximum of £9000 a year for their courses.

All students can take out a Maintenance Loan to cover their living and study costs.

Loan up to £5,500 living away from home outside London,

Loan up to £7,675 if studying in London,

Loan up to £4,375 if living with parents.

These loans have to be repaid

Loans

Maintenance grant – help with living and study costs.

It is income assessed.

Household income £25,000 or less- full grant £3,354.

Household income between £25,001 and £42,611 - grant between £50 and £3,354.

Above £42,611 – no grant.

It does not have to be paid back.

If a grant is received the amount of maintenance loan is reduced.

http://www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

Maintenance Grant

The amount a student gets depends on the type of help they need and it does not have to be re-paid.

What can DSAs be used for?▪ specialist equipment e.g. computer software

▪ non-medical helpers, such as a note-taker or reader

▪ extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability

▪ other costs - for example, tapes or Braille paper

Disabled Student Allowances

Universities charging the maximum tuition fees must provide extra help to students from low income households.

These could be in the form of bursaries, fee waivers, help with accommodation fees.

Details will be contained on the individual university websites.

Students must research what is available.

As a general rule, it is more beneficial to take the cash rather than accept a fee waiver.

Help from the University

Income each yearbefore tax

Monthly Gross Salary

Approximatemonthly repayment – 9% over £21,000

£21,000 or below £1,750 £0

£24,000 £2,000 £22

£27,000 £2,250 £45

£30,000 £2,500 £67

£33,000 £2,750 £90

£36,000 £3,000 £112

£40,000 £3,333 £142

Interest is paid at RPI plus 3% whilst the student is studying then at different rates once they are earning up

to RPI plus 3%

Loan Repayment depends on income not on what has been borrowed

Students register and apply on-line

Students can apply from around January.

Deadline usually 31st May.

The sooner the better – it does not matter if the student has not made their firm choice as details can be changed.

They will need help from home to complete the application.

Further information is available on the

College Careers Moodle site and from

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

How to apply

Thank you for listening