A parent’s guide touniversity

The purpose of this guideMaking decisions about University can be a very difficult process for young people. Future applicants must decide what subject or subjects they will specialise in as well as where in the country they will live for several years. There are also financial questions to consider, and it is important to find a University and course that can offer great career prospects. Because Higher Education has changed a great deal in the past decade, this guide aims to help all parents and guardians – regardless of whether they have a history of University education themselves – assist their son or daughter to make informed choices.

3 Why go to University?

4 Making the right choices

5 How you can help

6 Fees and Funding

9 UCAS/Making an Application

10 Context: Aston

12 Academic Life

14 Student placement profiles

16 Student support

17 A-Z of Terminology

20 Useful Contacts

Did you know: Aston is home to students from 120 countries?

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University study provides opportunities and learning experiences unavailable via other routes. We believe that all students – regardless of socio-economic background – who have the ability and ambition to study for a degree should do so.

Some of the reasons students may have for going to University include:

f To study something they enjoy or love

f To develop new skills and acquire knowledge

f To pursue a specific profession that requires a degree (e.g. Chemical Engineering or Pharmacy)

f To network and meet people from around the world

Increased Earnings

University study is not simply about learning and meeting people, it also makes the student more employable upon graduation. This can be helped further by working or volunteering during studies, and

also by undertaking a sandwich placement year, all of which add skills and experiences to CVs.

A recent decade-long study by the Office for National Statistics showed graduates earned an average of £12,000 per year more than non-graduates. Plus, the percentage difference in earnings between male and female graduates is smaller than that between male and female non-graduates.

More than a quarter of all jobs now require a degree, and the percentage of University graduates occupying graduate-level roles has risen by 5% since 2006. Graduates are able to apply to a wide range of jobs in almost any industry, making their degree highly transferable.

Average earnings for graduates and non-graduates in two example sectors (2001-2011).

+87.6%+83.7%

Public Administration & Education Banking & Finance

Non-graduate

£14,700Non-graduate

£20,300Graduate

£27,600Graduate

£37,300

Why go to University?

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Making the right choices

Year 9

In Year 9 students usually choose what they want to study at GCSE (in Years 10 and 11) and this can affect their options for post-16 study. For example, if they want to study Science after GCSE it may be a good idea for them to take three science subjects – Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. You can help your son or daughter to think this decision through carefully.

Year 11

Performance in GCSE exams in Year 11 can affect future options for study at University. Many Medicine courses will expect students to have very good grades (A or A*) in English, Mathematics, and Science, for example. For degrees in Business and Psychology, a grade B in Mathematics is often required. For this reason it is important to remind students that GCSEs really do matter.

In Year 11 students also make decisions about what to study at post-16 level (often called ‘Sixth Form’, or ‘College’). These decisions are very important for future progression to University and career pathways. Students can opt to study a wide variety of courses, including A Levels, BTECs, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Vocational Qualifications. It is

sometimes possible to combine more than one of these courses to create a joint qualification (e.g. two A Levels and a BTEC course). It is important for students to choose subjects that stimulate them and in which they can do well.

Subjects studied at post-16 should also allow your son or daughter to pursue University study – if they should choose to – and so it is important that students are aware of University entry requirements. The UCAS website (www.ucas.com) shows thousands of courses and the specific entry requirements of each. Aston also hosts campus open days where students considering studying for a degree can chat with academic staff about admission (www.aston.ac.uk/opendays).

Post-16 (Years 12 & 13 – College or Sixth Form)

The qualifications earned in Year 12 and Year 13 are usually those on which Universities base their decision to admit applicants. For A Level students, offers of a place are usually based on predicted grades (because A Level results are published after the normal University application period has closed). These predictions are made by your son or daughter’s sixth form or college, and it is important that the student works hard to achieve these grades.

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How you can helpChoosing where to study is a major decision, particularly for a young person (it is probably the biggest decision they have yet made). By having frequent conversations with your son or daughter you can encourage them to think through their options fully. Some areas to consider may be:

f What subject to study? f A single honours or joint honours degree? (e.g. Politics on its own, or International Politics & Spanish)

f Are scholarships offered by the University?

f A work placement or overseas study element? (70% of Aston students choose one of these, and there are some great reasons to consider doing so)

f Stay at home or move away? (the two experiences can be quite different)

It is important for your son or daughter to think carefully about what and where to study. Many months of research should go into choosing Universities to apply to, and of course the final decision should always be their own.

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Tuition Fees

Universities in the UK can charge up to £9,000 per year in tuition fees. This money is not paid up front by the student, but is instead paid as a loan directly to the University by the Student Loans Company. The fee is used to cover teaching costs as well as support many areas of campus maintenance and development (e.g. library resources, Students’ Union, and sports facilities). Prospective students who already hold a degree-level qualification may not qualify for this tuition fee funding (check eligibility at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance).

Living Costs

All students can have a loan for living costs. Around two thirds of the maximum loan amount is not means-tested (i.e. the amount which can be borrowed does not depend on family income). These loans are paid to the student in three instalments, and the maximum amounts which can be borrowed depend on whether the student lives at home or away at University. In 2014 students who lived away from home (and studied outside of London) could borrow a maximum of £5,555 per year, and those living in the parental home outside of London could borrow up to £4,418 per year. Financial support is also available for those spending a year outside of the UK as part of their studies.

Loan Repayments

Graduates must be earning at least £21,000 per year before loan repayments begin (if applicable, payments begin in the April of the year following graduation). Loans are repaid at 9% of gross income over this £21,000 threshold. This table gives an indication of what a graduate would repay per month, depending on income level:

Annual Salary

Monthly Loan Repayment

Percentage of Gross Annual Income

£21,000 Nil N/A

£25,000 £30 1.44%

£30,000 £67.50 2.70%

£35,000 £105 3.60%

£40,000 £142.50 4.27%

If income should drop back below £21,000, repayments are suspended. The remaining balance of the loan is written off after 30 years of repayments.

Grants and Bursaries

Depending on family income and nationality, it may be possible for your son or daughter to secure a non-repayable financial award in addition to a loan. These amounts change each academic year, so it is important to check online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance. The 2014 amounts (subject to annual change), with the qualifying income thresholds, are shown below:

Did you know that around 60% of our students will be eligible for one or more of our Aston University Scholarships? These are designed to reduce the cost of study and to reward students taking a placement year.

Household Income:

<£25,000

£30,000

£35,000

£40,000

£42,620

£42,620+

2014 grant amount:

£3,387

£2,441

£1,494

£547

£50

Nil

Fees and Funding w

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University Grants and Scholarships

Some Universities offer their own means-tested bursaries and academic scholarships, and it is important to check what is available before making a UCAS application. Aston University expects that around 60% of its new Undergraduate students will qualify for a financial award of between £1,000 and £5,000 (some students will be eligible for more than one award). For entry in 2015, the financial support available is shown here:

Name of Award

Qualifying Criteria Year 1 Year 2 Placement Year/ Year Abroad

Year 4

Aston Aspire Scholarship

Household income up to £25,000; UK resident and living in an Aston University residence in Year 1.

£1,000 £1,000

Aston Progression Scholarship

Household income £25,001 to £35,000; UK resident and living in an Aston University residence in Year 1.

£500 £500 £500

Aston Placement Scholarship

UK or EU students who take a year of work or study abroad, or an unpaid placement in the UK.

£1,000

Aston Excellence Scholarship

UK or EU student achieving AAB (or equivalent) at A Level. This award can be won in combination with other awards.

£1,000 £500 £500

Awards can be made either as tuition or accommodation fee discounts, or as cash payments into a student’s bank account. Terms and conditions, as well as exclusions, apply. Full details are available at www.aston.ac.uk/scholarships

Fees and Funding

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Part-Time Employment

Many students choose to work part-time during their studies, and this can help to increase their employability once they have graduated. After all, employers will be looking for a range of communication and organisational skills in addition to the degree.

Aston University’s Job Shop advertises hundreds of roles each year, with example vacancy titles including:

f Student Ambassador f Brand Ambassador f Translators f Bar Staff f Maths/English Tutors f Web Developer f Hockey Coach

f Children’s Science Presenters

f Market Researcher f Waiting Staff f Summer Camp Counsellor f Retail Assistant

The Job Shop is careful to check that employers are reputable, and we only advertise roles that will not adversely impact on students’ academic commitments.

Budgeting

It can be tricky to know in advance exactly what University will cost, but it is possible to make some good estimates. Plus, there are some excellent phone and desktop Apps available to assist students with tracking what they spend, and to help them stay out of their overdraft.

Purpose Cost per Week (42 Week Year)

Student A Student B Student C

Accommodation from £116 from £116 from £116

Food £35 £45 £55

Phone £10 £20 £35

Books & Materials

£5 £10 £10

Travel £0 £10 £10

Entertainment £25 £35 £50

Annual Totals: £8,022 £9,912 £11,592

Fees and Funding

Student A makes great use of the library’s resources so spends only £210 per year on books and other materials. They also have a pay-as-you-go phone, and buy their groceries carefully. Because Student A does not go to pubs/clubs very often, their Entertainment spend is low.

Student B spends more on food because they choose to shop more at a local convenience store, rather than a supermarket. This student has a contract phone, and also spends money on bus fare around the city, rather than walking to meet friends, etc.

Student C buys lunches from fast food outlets most days, and also has a costly smartphone contract. They use the library less than Student A, and go out partying at least two nights per week.

“Alongside my final year of university, I am working eight hours a week as an Admin Assistant at Topshop/Topman, all on a Sunday. By knowing I have to work on Sundays, I find myself working more efficiently and productively during the week. My part time job offers an escape from the final year hustle and bustle and allows me to meet and interact with people away from university.“

Gagan Aggarwal, BSc Mathematics and Spanish

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All applications to UK Universities are made via UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). There are several key dates to remember, and it is worth reading through the parents’ section of the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/parents-and-guardians

Making an Application Key UCAS Facts:

f Applications are made and tracked online. f The maximum number of application choices is five. These are the number of course choices rather than the number of Universities (for instance, a student may apply to study two courses at the same University, but this would use two of the five application choices).

f An application fee is payable (for entry in September 2015 this was £12 for one application choice, and £23 for two to five choices).

f Applications are usually made with predicted grades, which help the University to decide if it should make an offer or not. Some prospective students apply once they have their grades (e.g. if they have taken a gap year).

f Students complete a personal statement in support of their application. Universities read these in detail, and the personal statement forms a key part of the admissions decision-making process. It should be entirely original and written only by the applicant.

f A reference is provided in support of the application. This is usually from a teacher at the applicant’s school, and it helps guide admissions tutors when making decisions.

f Restrictions apply to certain professional courses. For example, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine applicants can only make four course choices (but can use the fifth option to add a choice which may be related to their intended course of study, e.g. Chemistry).

f A student can only apply to one of Oxford or Cambridge – it is not possible to apply to both of these.

f When a University receives a student’s application it does not know which other Universities have been applied to. We call these invisible applications.

f Applicants who are made multiple Conditional offers will choose one course as Firm and one as Insurance. Unwanted offers made to the applicant can be Declined online.

f Applicants are not committed to selecting one of their five original choices. UCAS Extra gives an opportunity to add more choices where the applicant was not accepted to – or declined offers to – their original choices.

Summer, one year prior to beginning University

Think about where to apply to. Look at course entry requirements on www.ucas.com and University websites, and begin thinking about the personal statement.

September 1

The UCAS application system opens.

October 15

Deadline for all applications to Oxford or Cambridge, plus Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine at all UK Universities.

Mid-August

A Level results are issued. Most University applicants must wait until this time to learn for certain if they have a place.

Early May

Universities will decide by this date if they will make offers or not.

January 15

Deadline for the majority of UK students’ applications if they are to be given equal consideration. Your son or daughter’s school is likely to have its own (earlier) deadline, and this should be stuck to.

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Context: AstonThere are over 150 Universities in the UK, and so it is important that your son or daughter identifies which criteria are most significant to them. This will help them to narrow their choices and make a decision that is right for them.

Location

Aston is in the heart of Britain’s second city, and benefits from all of the advantages this brings. These include fantastic transport links both within the city and to other parts of the UK, world-class cultural attractions (museums and galleries), great nightlife (live music, restaurants), and a huge number of employers offering part time work to students.

Campus

Over one million people (including almost 70,000 University students) live in Birmingham, but our self-contained campus provides a safe and green environment for every student’s needs. We guarantee on-campus accommodation to our first year Undergraduates, so your son or daughter can live just ten minutes’ walk from New Street and the Bullring Shopping Centre, and only seconds from their classes.

Facilities

The University Library has four floors and contains 200,000 volumes with over 800 reader places. There is also online access to over 14,000 electronic journals in all subject areas.

Aston boasts a large sports centre on its campus, complete with swimming pool and gym. All-weather sports pitches are also available at the heart of campus, and further pitches are available at our Outdoor Sports Centre.

Accommodation

In September 2013 the University completed a four year building project which means we now have over 3,000 high quality en suite rooms on campus. We guarantee a University managed room to any first year Undergraduates who want one, provided applications are received on time. This provides a brilliant opportunity for your son or daughter to focus on their studies in a safe and fun environment, as well as to take part in all of the social and sporting activities offered across campus.

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Did you know all of our social, support, accommodation and academic facilities are based on campus?

Did you know that the emphasis for the University library is on accessibility and user-friendliness? That’s why we have a range of seating, group work pods and special equipment with additional needs all available to students.

Did you know students can choose which residence they would like to live in? Flat sizes vary between 5 and 10 students sharing, and laundry rooms are located close to each residence.

Did you know that New St Station is the UK’s busiest railway station outside of London? It’s easy for Aston’s students to travel home from Birmingham thanks to great rail and bus links.

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Lectures and Seminars

Lectures are an important part of Undergraduate (i.e. first degree) learning at University. Students are expected to attend a fixed timetable of lectures throughout their time on the course, and to read about the lecture content. What they learn in the lecture and in their own time spent reading is then discussed in smaller groups called seminars. These usually take place later in the same week of the lecture, and are intended to encourage debate and critical thinking around the topic.

Students also have regular tutorials with their academic tutor, and these one-to-one sessions

Lab Time

If your son or daughter aims to study Engineering or a Science it is likely they will spend significant time in practical lab-based sessions. As with lectures and seminars, a record of attendance is often kept, and it is important that students can manage a busy timetable.

Independent Learning

University is very different from school or college, and requires a high level of discipline from students. Undergraduates will have coursework and project deadlines, and will of course need to study for examinations. There will also be frequent need for group working (e.g. when preparing a presentation for a seminar) and it is important that students are able to manage their schedule, show up for class, and contribute in a meaningful way.

Did you know that University study used to commonly be referred to as ‘reading for a degree’? It is less common to hear this now, but it is still true that students are expected to complete tens of hours of reading, in addition to lectures and seminars. This can be as many as 40 hours of reading per week.

Find out more at www.bit.ly/studyaston

Academic lifew

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Placement Year/Study Abroad

Around 70% of Aston’s Undergraduate students take a placement year in industry or a year of language study abroad. This is one of the highest proportions of any UK University, and helps to explain why Aston students do so well when seeking graduate employment. Some placements are paid and some are voluntary, and the placement year fee is just £1,000 instead of £9,000. What’s more, this fee is waived if the student studies overseas or has an unpaid placement. The placement allows a student to apply what he or she has learned in the classroom, and the real-world context helps to better-prepare the student for employment after graduation. Our scheme is so successful that around a third of Aston’s placement students are offered full-time graduate roles by their placement firm.

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Student placement profiles

James Fincham, BSc Construction Project Management

Before joining Aston University I worked in construction as a labourer. However, I decided to go to University to study construction as I wanted to take the next step from being a labourer on a site to managing projects, taking control and using my initiative. For this reason the role within DSM Demolition Group represented the perfect position for me. DSM is a small company but undertakes large scale demolition projects so there was a huge learning curve from studying construction at University to learning how to plan a large scale demolition of a building (including the demolition of the old Aston University residences!).

The first two months of my placement were spent in the office learning the ropes and setting up jobs for the demolition. I was involved in various tasks such as creating drawings/plans and undertaking site visits. This whole work experience has provided me with a wider picture of the role of demolition, and the notable highlight of the placement has to be causing legal destruction. It gave me a real sense of achievement working towards the demolition of the buildings and finally seeing it all collapse.

Amy Leighton, BSc Business & Sociology

As my main goal was to not only leave University with a degree but was to also improve my employability skills I have undertaken two work placements. As well as academic performance Graduate Recruiters look for relevant work experience and therefore I completed my first 12 month placement at a creative undergraduate agency in London, as a Marketing and Sales Executive. I had a fantastic time on placement as this was an opportunity to put elements of my sociology degree into practice and receive a full time salary! As Aston is an internationally recognised University, I was fortunate enough to have friends completing placements abroad and made several trips to cities such as Paris to visit them. An opportunity that I would not have had under normal circumstances! After leaving London I went on to complete a further 3 month internship with AkzoNobel, the owners of Dulux as a Marketing Brand Manager.

Ben Culloty, BSc Business & Politics

I started my placement for Airbus as a Government Affairs Assistant. It was my job to assist a small team in analysing government policy to deduce how it might affect our ability to do business. I was also required to engage with key political stakeholders, and write speeches for key political events. Some of my highlights included interviewing George Osborne, and being responsible for the formulation of select committee evidence. The

perks with any placement are something that keeps you and your peers amused when you are finally reunited. For me, the fact I got to fly to work on occasion certainly did beat the average commute.

Katrina Rattu, BSc Politics with International Relations

During my Placement Year I witnessed with my own eyes events that I had studied and seen on the news, especially when travelling to places like Egypt and Jordan, working in Palestine and the West Bank, and studying in Turkey. My Placement Year has profoundly shaped me because in the long term I know that I want to live and work abroad on security and defence issues.

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Ellie Spencer, BSc Translation Studies (French and Spanish)

“I guess the main thing that attracted me to study here, along with the University’s central location, is the fact that Aston is one of very few Universities to offer a degree course in actual translation, something which will hopefully make me stand out to future employers. Since the teaching is all undertaken in the target language, it can seem extremely daunting at first, but since being on placement I cannot stress enough how beneficial it has been for coming abroad.

The first 6 months of my placement have been spent in Madrid, where I have worked for the translation company CPSL. I think the obvious benefit of this was gaining a first-hand experience of the industry which I hope to work in once I graduate. The Year Abroad also enables you to learn things which would simply never come up in a lecture, just being surrounded by the language and culture is such an invaluable experience.”

Tomi Olarewaju, BSc Sociology

During my placement year I went to New York where I worked in marketing, advertising and promotions. I learnt how to create direct marketing campaigns and present them to potential clients, how to plan, implement and evaluate partnerships and promotions, and also how to conduct research for current and future projects. I got the opportunity to assist in creating direct marketing campaigns and also helped accumulate financial statements and reviews. I aided the coordination of market research projects and assisted in the formulating of future marketing schemes. The skills I gained include time management, self-discipline, improved communication skills, and also team cooperation. I learnt how to understand different viewpoints as well as my own.

Did you know that unlike some other universities, Aston’s placement year or year abroad is not a “bolt-on” year? It is an assessed part of our degree programmes, and will contribute to the final degree result.

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We are committed to ensuring your son or daughter is supported during their time at Aston, and we offer a wide range of services to do this. We rely on students to access this support themselves, so make sure your son or daughter is aware of what is available to them once they reach University.

Student support

Did you know that if your son or daughter is interested in an activity or sport that does not already have a society or club in the Union, they can create a new one?

Did you know that our Disability Team can offer advice on financial and material support for students with additional learning needs, such as Dyslexia?

The Hub

The Hub is the place to go if your son or daughter needs to access any of the following services: Disability Support, Student Counselling, Student Funds Administrator, Student Registry and Student Advice.

Disability Team

Aston University’s Disability Team is here to support your son or daughter from application through to graduation. The team offers a confidential advice and support service committed to assisting students with additional needs to live, study and enjoy student life.

We encourage any potential applicants to be totally transparent in declaring their disability. The earlier this is done, the earlier we can provide support and assistance to the student. This can include giving face-to-face consultations in the student’s school, or via Skype if an applicant lives further afield, and identifying what measures can be taken to assist the individual.

For more information, see the Useful Resources and Contacts at the end of this guide.

Multi Faith Chaplaincy

The Martin Luther King Multi Faith Chaplaincy Team are a support service for staff and students that serves people of all faiths and all backgrounds.

The Students’ Union

Aston Students’ Union supports students by representing their views to the University, coordinating more than 80 clubs and societies, solving welfare issues, organising events on and off campus and campaigning for change. The Union (as it is more commonly known) also offers a range of commercial services such as The Strand hairdressers, a branch of Subway, and B4 Bar.

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AA LevelsA qualification taken after GCSEs, and commonly studied by UK students. Three A Levels are usually required for University admission, and these can be taken in a range of subjects.

Admissions TutorA University employee (e.g. a lecturer) who reads applications received via UCAS and decides who to make offers to.

BBachelor DegreeThe type of degree most students earn first (it can be followed by a Masters, and then a PhD/Doctorate). Bachelor Degrees are denoted by a series of letters, which can include: BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science), BEd (Bachelor of Education), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), and LLB (Bachelor of Law). Medicine Degrees in the UK are usually denoted by MBChB or MBBS, yet are still Bachelor Degrees.

BTECA popular qualification which can lead to University entry. BTEC stands for Business and Technician Education Council.

BursaryA financial award or grant which is usually non-repayable.

CCampus UniversityA University environment where all services and teaching spaces are located on one site. Aston is an example of a Campus University within a City Centre.

Civic UniversityA University founded in the 19th or early 20th Centuries. These were usually part-funded by local populations (hence the use of ‘civic’).

ClearingA process in which students who have not already confirmed a place on a Degree course (either because they declined offers or were unsuccessful in meeting the conditions of their offers) can make approaches to multiple Universities in August.

DDegree ClassificationThis is the ‘grade’ of the overall Degree awarded to a graduate. Generally speaking, these are ranked from highest to lowest as: First Class (a ‘first’), Upper Second Class (a ‘two-one’), Lower Second Class (a ‘two-two’), and a Third Class.

DissertationA long essay (at least 10,000 words) which forms a key part of many degree programmes. This is normally written in the final year.

DoctorateA Postgraduate (i.e. taken after you have completed Undergraduate studies) Degree normally requiring at least 3 years of study and research. Often abbreviated to ‘PhD’, most ‘doctoral’ students will have also earned a Master’s Degree prior to beginning their research.

EErasmus A scheme which provides an opportunity to study in Europe for part of your degree. Erasmus is available at all Universities in the UK, and students on most courses can choose from around 250 European University destinations. As this is an exchange between Universities, there is usually no fee charged for tuition whilst abroad.

FFoundation DegreeA vocational programme usually lasting two years (full-time). This can often lead to the completion of a Bachelor Degree, which can be done by taking more courses to ‘top-up’ the qualification.

Freshers’ WeekNormally held in late September, this is when all new University students arrive on campus and find out about services available to them. It is a great time to make friends and see what clubs and societies are available to join.

Further EducationAny education taken after GCSEs but before a University Degree (Higher Education).

GGap YearA year taken out of education between sixth form/college and University. Many students use this time to work or travel, and sometimes more than one Gap Year is taken.

GraduateA person who has earned a Degree.

HHigher EducationA level of education equivalent to Degree study, and most commonly offered by Universities.

Honours DegreeThe most common form of a Bachelor Degree, and denoted by ‘Hons’ in brackets after the Degree letters, e.g. BA (Hons). Where not enough marks have been achieved, a graduate is awarded an Ordinary Degree.

A to Z – University Terminology Explained

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IIndependent LearningUniversity is not like school, and students are expected to manage much of their own study outside of scheduled class times.

JJoint HonoursA Degree course where two separate subjects are studied equally. So, a student taking a BSc in Psychology and English Language will commit 50% of their time to each of those subjects. Occasionally referred to as ‘Double Honours’.

LLectureA talk given by a member of academic staff to a large group of students. Lectures are intended to provoke thought and further investigation/study by students.

MMaster DegreesA Degree earned after a Bachelor’s has been awarded. A Master’s can be denoted by a range of letters – MA (Arts), MBA (Business Administration), MSc (Science), and LLM (Law). Some Undergraduate Degrees have an integrated Master’s year (e.g. MEng Chemical Engineering at Aston).

Mature StudentThis is any student who enrols for the first year of their Undergraduate Degree whilst aged over 21 years of age.

ModuleA component part of a University course, often assessed by coursework and examinations. Some Modules are compulsory, and many more can be chosen from optionally. A certain number must be taken each year of the Degree.

NNew UniversitiesAny University established in the 1960s or later.

NightlineA counselling service run by and for students, and designed to offer support to anyone at University.

National Union of StudentsThe national body representing students throughout the country. Often abbreviated to NUS, it campaigns for student welfare and services.

OOld UniversitiesThe earliest Universities founded in the UK, such as Oxford and Cambridge. Often called ‘Ancients’ because they were established as far back as the 13th Century.

Open DaysAn opportunity to look around a University you are interested in. There are usually several Open Days per year at every University, with June and September the most popular months.

OxbridgeA combination of ‘Oxford’ and ‘Cambridge’.

PPersonal StatementA section of the UCAS form that allows applicants to write about themselves and why they wish to study a subject or course. This single statement is viewed by all Universities to which the student has applied, so it is important to think carefully about what is written. UCAS restricts the statement length to just 47 lines.

Personal TutorNormally an academic member of staff (though not always) who supports the student’s personal and academic wellbeing.

PGCEA “Postgraduate Certificate in Education” which qualifies graduates as teachers.

PlagiarismWork which is copied or stolen from other people or publications, and which is then submitted for review. It is important that any idea or research that is not a student’s own should be referenced correctly to show where it came from.

PostgraduateSomeone completing a higher degree than a Bachelor’s (e.g. a Master’s or PhD).

ProfessorA very senior academic who will often have worked for many years on their subject of expertise.

RReading ListA list of books and journals often given to students atthe start of term, and which students are expected to read. It isn’t always necessary to buy these books, however, as the library will often stock many examples of each.

Reading WeekA week in the middle of term where no lectures or seminars take place, but where the student is expected to self-study.

Redbrick

A reference to the six English civic Universities built (often) using red bricks.

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A to Z – University Terminology Explained

ReferenceAt University this can have two main meanings.

A written statement provided by someone who knows a student as part of their UCAS application to Universities (usually it is written by their subject tutor).

Whilst a University student, References are provided in written coursework and essays to show or cite where their information has come from. References are important to prevent accusations of plagiarism and to demonstrate wider learning.

ResearchA principal reason why many Universities exist (alongside Teaching). Often a University’s research is undertaken in collaboration with other institutions in the UK and internationally, and Undergraduate students are taught by these academic researchers.

SSandwich CourseA four year programme where the third year is spent working, often in an industry related to the Degree being studied. Around 70% of Aston’s students follow this option.

Scholarship

A financial award offered to students who have either done very well in their past studies, or whose family’s financial situation makes them eligible for support. At Aston we award Scholarships for both of these reasons.

SemesterOne of the three periods which make up a full academic year, and often called ‘Terms’. Generally, these are September to December (First Semester), January to March (Second Semester), and April to June (Third Semester). Some

older Universities call these Michaelmas, Lent, and Easter Semesters.

SeminarAn opportunity for a small group of students to meet with an academic and discuss what is being learned that week. Often a Seminar will follow a Lecture, and students will be expected to have read around the topic in the interim and attend the Seminar with their own ideas and interpretations.

Single Honours

Where one core topic or subject is studied for a degree (e.g. BA English Literature, or BSc Chemistry).

SocietiesGroups created by and for students to share a common interest. These can be sports-based (e.g. Badminton Society), political or national (e.g. Japan Society), or set around a hobby (for instance, many Universities now have Knit Socs – Knitting Societies!).

Students’ UnionA grouping of central services aimed at assisting and supporting students through their time at University. All new students are automatically made members of their Students’ Union (or ‘Union’, as it is commonly known), and many Unions will be home to social and sporting events and organisations.

TTerm

See ‘Semester’.

Thesis

Another name for a ‘Dissertation’, but more commonly used when talking about a research degree, or PhD.

TranscriptThis is a detailed list of courses/modules taken by a student throughout their time at University, and includes grades achieved in each subject.

Tutorial

As well as lectures and seminars, a student may be required to attend Tutorials. These are often one-to-one sessions, but can also be conducted in pairs or threes.

UUCASThis is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the body which initially handles Higher Education applications.

UCAS TariffUniversities will often calculate this when deciding who to make an offer to or accept. Each qualification (and each grade; i.e. grade A, grade B, etc.) is worth a set number of UCAS Tariff Points, and this helps ensure fairness in offer making regardless of what qualifications are studied by all applicants.

UndergraduateA person studying for their first Higher Education degree.

UniversityA Higher Education institution which is recognised by Parliament and has been granted degree-awarding powers.

YYear Abroad An optional or compulsory period spent studying a language and/or culture of another country. Modern Language students must do this, but students from almost any other discipline can consider a year (or less) spent overseas.

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Useful resources and contacts

External contactUCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Rosehill New Barn Lane Cheltenham Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ

Tel: 0371 468 0 468 (applicants) Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk Website: www.ucas.com

Student Finance England

PO Box 210 Darlington, DL1 9HJ

Tel: 0300 100 0607 Website: www.gov.uk/student-finance

Student Loans Company

100 Bothwell Street Glasgow, G2 7JD

Tel: 0300 100 0607 Website: www.slc.co.uk

Aston internal contactAston University Schools & Colleges Liaison Office

Aston Triangle Birmingham, B4 7ET

Tel: 0121 204 4771 Email: schliaison@aston.ac.uk

ARC – Advice and Representation Centre

Aston Students’ Union

Tel: 0121 204 4848 Email: arc@aston.ac.uk Website: www.aston.ac.uk/union/welfare/arc

Disability Team

Main Building

Tel: 0121 204 5015 Email: disabilityteam@aston.ac.uk

Website: www.aston.ac.uk/ current-students/hub/thedisabilityteam

Careers and Placements

Main Building

Tel: 0121 204 4757

Email: careers@aston.ac.uk

Website: www.aston.ac.uk/ current-students/careers-centre

Aston University Schools of Study

Aston Business School

Email: absugentry@aston.ac.uk

Life and Health Sciences

Email: lhsadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Languages and Social Science

Email: lss_ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Engineering and Applied Sciences

Email: engineering@aston.ac.uk

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