UCAS Application Process and Student Finance. Vanessa Emslie. Student Recruitment and Admissions.

Transcription

1 UCAS Application Process and Student Finance Vanessa Emslie Student Recruitment and Admissions

2 Equal consideration by Universities Quick overview of 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 You can apply for more than one course at the same university Important Dates: (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) Closing date for most applications is 15 th January Restrictions on choice: For some it is 15 th October -only 4 choices But also for remember Medicine, Density, Veterinary internal Medicine deadlines or Veterinary Science -Can usually only apply for Oxford or Cambridge

3 Before you apply Useful places to find information: School careers library resources Prospectuses University website Do some research Unistats/NSS (HEFCE) websites This shows that you The are Student focussed Room & other online and helps avoid mistakes forums Subject League Tables Get some work experience? Student Finance England (SFE) Medicine, Law, Teaching Alternative prospectus Open/Visit Day or a virtual tour Think about course Talk and to university current students preferences Subject, Course content, Entry requirements, University & location, your interests and hobbies, career plan

4 What can make you stand out from other applicants, especially for the more competitive courses? An admissions tutor wants to gain a picture of YOU The importance of your UCAS application & Personal Statement Admissions tutors are looking for: You to have researched your choices You to have a passion for your subject Appropriate skills and approach 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?

5 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

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7 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

8 It needs to be: well written well punctuated grammatically correct with no mistakes Be original, honest and positive But take the application seriously, no jokes required! What is a Personal Statement? 47 lines of text (or 4,000 characters, or 500 words) expressing your suitability for the course Aim for competent, clear, well organised and well evidenced Top Tip: A strong opening paragraph will get you noticed straight away It should have a clear layout and development of ideas

9 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 courses) 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 What Charles did you Dickens learn? novels inspired my fascination with - As an aspiring scientist Demonstrate that you are clear about what the study of a new subject will entail What should my personal statement say At least half academic, social and cultural interests relating Director the of course(s) Admissions, Kings College - We recommend London: at least 50%...up to around 80% We d like to hear about a patient a student has come into contact You with need or to an demonstrate experience your they ve reasons had. and It s just motivations as valuable for to have taking spent the time course(s) as a hospital porter, as it is to have followed around the lead clinician. Work or voluntary experience (especially useful for vocational 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 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

10 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 Needs to be appropriate E.g. (Not like this) I walk my dog a lot. I can relate this to English Literature because 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?

11 Identifying your skills and experience is What Top a great examples Tips place to can start you before think writing of? your personal statement It is not simply Experience: a list of everything you ve achieved. What did you do? I would much rather read What skills/knowledge about what you did learned you develop? from observing one filling than a list of all the procedures you observed. How (Dentistry this relevant Admissions to your Tutor, course? Which? University Website Remember to use evidence, not just statements Part time job E.g. Books you have read, Checkout operator in a supermarket experiences chain you have had (inside or outside of the classroom) You don t need to Commercial use a thesaurus awareness, to Impact of improve high profile the marketing campaigns, Communication language/word s skills, Team Working, you ve used! Professionalism Looking forward to studying economics and society- explore consumer behaviour in outof-town shopping centres vs city centre shops

12 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

13 What happens next? 1. Your application is submitted through your school 2. Universities make their decisions 3. UCAS contacts you with offers via 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 31 st March

14 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 It will all be worth it! 6. Then all that s left is to work hard to pass your exams etc. and start planning your new life at University!

15 Student Finance

16 Student Finance Overview

17 What help is available? Tuition Fee Loan Maintenance Loan Grants for students with additional needs Bursaries and Scholarships (Some) professional body bursaries

18 Tuition Fees 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

19 The Maintenance Loan is available to help with living costs Maintenance loan 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

20 Repayments of the loans 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

21 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

22 How and when do I apply? 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 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.

23 Key points 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

24 Thank you for listening Any questions? If you d like further information- get in touch! Ug-admissions@york.ac.uk