Applying to University:

UCAS, Personal Statements and Student Finance

Louise CarrSchool and College Liaison Officer

www.le.ac.uk

UCAS

• UCAS Process• Researching your choices• The UCAS time-line• Making your application

• Writing your personal statement

• Student Finance

Researching your Choices

What type of course?

• Professionaleg. Medicine / Engineering / Law

• Vocationaleg. Management / Biochemistry / Media

• Academiceg. American Studies / Geography / History of Art

Keep in mind…

• Enjoyment• Courses at different universities do not

necessarily contain the same content or are taught in the same way

• Vast range available so if you narrow your choice in your research stage it will be easier to write your Personal Statement

What can you study?• American Studies• Archaeology and Ancient

History• Biological Sciences• Chemistry• Computer Science• Criminology • Economics• Education• Engineering• English• Geography• Geology• Historical Studies

• History of Art and Film• Interdisciplinary Science• Law• Management• Mathematics• Media and Communication• Medicine• Modern Languages• Museum Studies• Physics and Astronomy• Politics and International

Relations• Psychology• Sociology

League tables

• The Times / Sunday Times / THE• The Guardian• The Complete University Guide• World Rankings

Guides and other Websites

• www.unistats.com (NSS) • www.ucas.com &

www.ucas.tv• www.push.com• www.unionview.com• University websites

Social networking

• www.yougofurther.co.uk• www.thestudentroom.co.

uk• www.whatuni.com

The UCAS Time-line

APPLY 15th Oct

DECIDE9 May• Must tell

UCAS which course

you select. If not they

will decline all your offers.

Research Prospectuses Open Days

UCAS Conventions

APPLY 15th Jan• All courses

(except 15 Oct & 24 Mar exceptions)

24 Mar• Some Art/Design

March – Sept

Results

• Dentistry • Medicine • Vet Science • Oxford • Cambridge

Interviews/offers & Visit

Days

October January May 16 August October

Start

http://www.ucas.com/students/importantdates#2013

Making your Application

UCAS Application

• Universities & Colleges Admissions Service• Applications are done online in

collaboration with your School/College– You don’t have to do it all at once!– Keep track of your applications

• Register at: www.ucas.com• Space for 5 courses (4 for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science/Medicine)

Gap Years?

• Can be a great option if you are still uncertain about university

• Not all courses/universities look favourably on gap years

• If you wish to take a gap year you can apply for deferred entry – You still get the benefit of applying with

support from your college

• If you take more than one year out it can be difficult to get an academic reference

Personal Statement

Personal Statement

• Your opportunity to say why you should be considered

• A clearly structured and well written statement• Academic ability• Enthusiasm – clear reasons for wanting to study the

subject• An understanding of the subject• Check UCAS website entry profiles for required skills• Include relevant work experience and/or social

activities• Link to school reference if possible

Entry Profile Archaeology at Leicester

No prior knowledge or experience of Archaeology is required, although any knowledge of the subject that you do have will be valuable. Previous experience of archaeological fieldwork and self-directed reading about the subject are particularly welcomed.

Successful students display a wide variety of key skills. These include excellent written and oral communication skills, a capacity to think critically, time management and the ability to learn independently.

In addition to academic ability, successful students will be highly motivated and self-disciplined and will be original and

innovative thinkers.

“From watching and reading Sherlock Holmes, Cracker, CSI and Crime Watch, my interest

in criminology has developed. Criminology has always had a glamorous image but it is more than that it deals with criminals and supports the justice system. Criminology is all about crime and punishment. It is an exciting inter-disciplinary subject which draws on Sociology, Psychology and Law to help examine how crime is defined, why people commit crimes, and how society responds to crimes.”

Criminology

“Examination of any quality newspaper will probably demonstrate that more of the headlines address economic problems than any other topic. The importance and relevance of economics and related disciplines to the modern world have led me to want to pursue the study of the subject at a higher level. I am particularly interested in the behaviour of firms and organizations from an economic standpoint. During my study, I have come across many real life complexities and, while attempting to apply theoretical ideas, I have developed a keen interest in analyzing and understanding how the world of business is influenced by economics.”

Economics

Don’t cheat

• 5% of applicants “borrow” from websites• 800 applicants - “a dramatic chemistry set

incident aged 8”• 234 applicants – “a fascination with the

human body”!• 175 applicants – “an elderly or infirm

grandfather”• You WILL be caught!

In summary

• Do your research– the right course & uni for you– talk to advisors and professional associations– visit Open Days and Applicant Visit Days

• Well structured and reflective personal statement

• Keep deadlines in mind • Make an independent choice• … and then do well in your exams

Good luck!

Student Finance

• How it works & what you can get

• Case studies

• Budgeting and money management

How to apply

• Apply through Student Finance England online www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

• Means testing based on previous tax year (i.e. April 2011 - April 2012)

• Can apply for “Current Income Assessment” if income changes (more than 15%)

• Link to UCAS application

Funding

Student Finance

Tuition Fee Loan

Maintenance Grant

Maintenance Loan

Additional Support University

of Leicester

Scholarships

Tuition Fees

• The standard tuition fee for all undergraduate courses at Leicester is £9,000 per year

• Government will provide full Tuition Fee Loans directly to universities for eligible students

• Students/parents do not pay fees – Graduates do

Tuition Fees - Special cases at Leicester

• Foundation year - £6,000• Erasmus year - £1,250• Other year abroad - £1,000• Year in industry - £1,000• M Level degree final year - £7,000

Maintenance Support

• Maintenance loan and grant• Paid by Student Finance England to

the student• Means-tested based on household

income• Influenced by where the student

studies–London–Staying at home–Elsewhere

Maintenance Loans/Grants 2013-14Household

Income Grant Loan TOTAL

£25,000 or less £3,354 £3,823 £7,177

£30,000 £2,416 £4,292 £6,708

£35,000 £1,478 £4,761 £6,239

£40,000 £540 £5,230 £5,770

£45,000 £0 £5,288 £5,288

£50,000 £0 £4,788 £4,788

£55,000 £0 £4,288 £4,288

£60,000 £0 £3,788 £3,788

Over £62,125 £0 £3,575 £3,575

Loan Repayments

• Eligible to start repaying the April after you graduate

• No repayments until you are earning above £21,000

• Repayment = 9% of income above £21,000

• Any outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years

Loan Repayments - Examples

• There will be no penalty fees for early repayment

Salary Amount above £21,000 Monthly repayment

£21,000 £0 £0

£22,000 £1,000 £7.50

£25,000 £4,000 £30.00

£30,000 £9,000 £67.50

£40,000 £19,000 £142.50

Additional support

• Disabled Students’ Allowances– Additional grant

• Help for students with children– Childcare grant– Parents’ Learning Allowance

• Adult Dependants’ Grant• Access to Learning Fund

– Financial hardship

Recap on funding

Student Finance

Tuition Fee Loan

Maintenance Grant

Maintenance Loan

Additional Support

University of Leicester

Scholarships

Scholarships at Leicester

• Chancellor’s Scholarship– £2,000 annual fee waiver– AAA at A-level (or equivalent)

• Departmental Scholarship– £1,250 annual fee waiver– Varying academic criteria

Scholarships at Leicester – cont.• Leicester National Scholarship Programme

– £2,000 annual fee waiver– £1,000 annual cash award

For students who have academic ability and whose household income falls below £25,000 are eligible to apply

Latest scholarship information: www.le.ac.uk/fees

Case Study A: Anjali, Leicester

• Household income £25,000, away from home

• Tuition Fee Loan = £9,000• Maintenance Loan = £3,823• Maintenance Grant =

£3,354• £184.02 per week for 39

weeks• Earning £24,000 =

repayments of £22.50 per month / £5.63 per week

Case Study B: Mark, Leicester

• Household income £62,500, away from home

• Tuition Fee Loan = £9,000• Maintenance Loan = £3,575• Maintenance Grant = £0• £91 per week for 39 weeks• Earning £19,695* =

repayments of £0 per month / £0 per week

* Average Graduate wage (1st year after uni) – prospects.ac.uk

Budgeting

Variable Fixed

RENT/bills

Academic

Transport

Food

SOCIAL

Clothing

Toiletries

Stuff

Budgeting

Will students have enough money?

• Part time job• Full time job during the summer• Parents/family/savings• Student bank account• Credit card?

Any questions?