Presentation delivered at the Post-Aquinas Options Evening describing the support we give to students when they are considering their options for further study.

1. Post Aquinas Options -
Support For Students
Parents’ Information Evening 2012

2.  Advice  Subject Tutors
 Group Tutors
 Guidance  Senior Tutors
 Principal
 Support  Vice Principal
 Student Support
Advisers
 Careers Team
 Parents

3. Spring Term
Tutorials
▪ making choices – debate on options
▪ apprenticeships – guest speaker
▪ student finance – cost of university
▪ researching information on UCAS and
individual university websites
▪ interest guides on moodle

4. Summer Term
 UCAS tariff system
 Opportunity to speak to Universities and
Apprenticeship providers – May 10th
 Personal profiling – skills and subject interests
 Open days - www.opendays.co.uk
 Career sampling week 25th – 29th June
 Careers day – Wednesday 4th July
 UCAS day – Thursday 5th July

5. The Application Process
Thursday 5th July 2012
 Registration day for
 UCAS Apply
 National Apprenticeship Service
 National Careers Service
 Personal statement writing – guest speaker
from a local University will be giving a
presentation on ‘How to write an excellent
personal statement’

6. Personal Statement
 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.

7. 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.

8. Summer Holidays
 Additional career sampling
 Further research – university or apprenticeship
 University open days
 Complete draft of personal statement
 AS level results – Thursday August 16th
 Enrolment interviews in college – week
beginning 20th August

9. Additional Entrance Tests
 BMAT Medicine – Oxford, Cambridge,
UCL, Imperial College, Royal
Veterinary College
 UKCAT Medicine – National test for
medicine
 LNAT Law
 HAT History
 ELAT English

10. UCAS Application Process
 students complete the application form
 application form checked by Group Tutor
 reference written by Group Tutor
 application form checked by Senior Tutor
 student then pays online
 application form checked by Vice Principal
 application form sent by the college to UCAS

11. Autumn Term Deadlines!!
o Medicine, Veterinary
Medicine, Dentistry, Oxford & Cambridge –
◦ 21st September (college deadline)
◦ 15th October (UCAS deadline)
o all other applications
◦ 30th November (college deadline)
◦ 15th January (UCAS deadline)
For Competitive Courses
THE SOONER THE BETTER!!

12. Autumn and Spring Term
 mock interviews if required
 university interviews
 offers – conditional or unconditional
 decisions – firm and insurance usually to
be made by 31st May 2013.

13. If things don’t go to plan
o UCAS Extra – March/June 2013
o Results day 15th August 2013
o Come into college for advice !!
o Clearing – August 2013

14. Financial Support For
Students
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
Parents’ Information Evening 2012

15. Student Finance
 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.

16. Financial Support for
Students
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

17. Loans
o 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.
o All students can take out a Maintenance
Loan to cover their living and study costs.
o Loan up to £5,500 live away from home
outside London,
o Loan up to £7,675 if studying in London,
o Loan up to £4,375 if live with parents.
o These loans have to be repaid

18. Maintenance Grant
 Maintenance grant – help with living and study
costs.
 It is income assessed.
 Household income up to £25,000 - full grant £3,250.
 Household income between £25,000 and £42,600 -
grant between £50 and £3,250.
 Above £42,600 – 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

19. Disabled Student Allowances
 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

20. Help from the University
 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
waiver, help with accommodation fees.
 Details will be contained on the individual
university websites.
 Students must research what is available.

21. Loan Repayment
Comparison - proposals
Approximate monthly payment
Income before tax Now – old system New system
£15,000 £0 £0
£16,000 £8 £0
£18,000 £23 £0
£21,000 £45 £0
£24,000 £68 £23
£27,000 £90 £45
£30,000 £113 £68
£33,000 £135 £90
£36,000 £158 £113
£40,000 £188 £143

22. How to apply
o Students register and apply on-line
o Students can apply from around January.
o Deadline 31st May.
o The sooner the better – it does not matter if
the student has not made their firm choice as
details can be changed.
o Further information is available on the
College Careers Moodle site and from
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

23. Students must decide
o Do they want to go to University?
o If so
◦ Research the courses and content very carefully.
◦ Research the location.
◦ Then research the financial help available.
◦ Apply by deadlines.
o University not for them!
◦ Register with approved training providers.
◦ Look at training opportunities with large employers.
◦ Keep their CV up-to-date.
◦ Gain as much work experience as possible.