Higher Education

What is Higher Education?

• Higher level qualifications

• Usually studied post 18

• Over 65,000 courses nationwide

• Almost 300 Higher Education Institutions across the UK

• Higher education courses are offered by colleges, specialist art institutions and colleges of agriculture, as well as universities

• Includes a wide range of courses, not just degrees.

Types of qualifications

• Bachelor degrees (BA, BSc, BEng)

– BA: Bachelor of Arts

– BSc: Bachelor of Science

– BEng: Bachelor of Engineering

• Usually 3 years full time

• Option of doing a work placement year (sandwich course)

• Single/Joint/Combined.

Types of qualifications

• Foundation degrees (FdA, FdSc, FdEng) and higher national

diplomas (HNDs)

– FdA: Foundation degree Arts

– FdSc: Foundation degree Science

– FdEng: Foundation degree Engineering

• 2 years full time in vocational subjects

• Often includes work placements

• Top-up courses of one year to qualify to degree level

• Often lower and more flexible entry requirements.

UCAS Tariff System *Please see NTU website for full table.

*

Progression Diplomas

BTEC Award BTEC Certificate BTEC Diploma AS A Level/Applied A Level

GCE & AVCE Double award

Points Score

DDD 360

A* 350

DDM 320

A 300

DMM A*A* 280

A*A 260

B 250

DD MMM AA 240

AB 220

C DM MMP BB 200

BC 180

MM MPP CC 160

D 150

A* CD 140

D MP PPP A DD 120

E B DE 100

M PP C EE 80

A D 60

B 50

P C E 40

D 30

E 20

Higher Education – is it worth it?

Long term benefits

• Less chance of unemployment

• Greater choice of careers

• Higher salaries

• Earning power increases at a greater rate

• Transferable skills

Immediate benefits

• Academic interest

• Independence

• Friends and socialising

• Travel.

Choosing a course

• Talk to your tutors and careers advisors

• Career

• Entry requirements

• Academic or vocational courses

• Single/joint/combined degrees

• Assessment

• Placements.

Choosing an institution

• Type of institution

• Courses

• Location

• Statistics

• Facilities

• Atmosphere

• Graduate contribution

• Bursaries and other financial support.

Main costs

• Graduate Contribution– Up to £9,000– Cover cost of course– Paid for each year of your course

• Living Costs– Approximately £7,150

– Accommodation (based on halls): £4,000

– Food: £1,000

– Course costs: £100 - £400

– Socialising: £1,000

– TV licence: £145.50

– Bills (e.g. phone and internet): £350

– Travel: £400.

Income and support

Student Loans

Graduate contribution:

• No upfront fees

The Student Maintenance Loan:

• Major way of financing higher education

• Exact amount to be decided

All loans are:

• None obligatory

• Low rate of interest.

Repayments

• Repayable after graduation and only if you are earning £21,000 per year

• No pressure to pay back loans if you can’t get a job

• If higher education has not be worth it for you, you don’t pay for it

• You pay it back in small increments depending on your salary

• The repayments come out of your wages like tax and national insurance

• www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk for the most up to date information about interest rates.

Repayments

Comparison between the new and old repayment system. This table is for guidance only and is subject to the approval of parliament.

Annual earnings

Gross monthly income

(before tax)

Old system monthly repayment

(25 years)

New system monthly repayment

(30 years)

£15,000 £1,250 £0 £0

£21,000 £1,750 £45 £0

£25,000 £2,083 £75 £30

£30,000 £2,500 £112 £68

£40,000 £3,333 £187 £143

£50,000 £4,167 £262 £218

National Scholarship Scheme

• £150m per year

• Still to be confirmed

• Universities and colleges may offer additional bursaries to help you

financially

• Some universities offer more than others and can offer different kinds

of bursaries

• To check what is on offer

– www.offa.org.uk

– http://bursarymap.direct.gov.uk/

• NHS Grants information and Approved Social Work Courses

– www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students.

Other financial support

• Maintenance Grant – amount to be confirmed but approx £3,000 per year

• Special Support Grant – replaces the Maintenance Grant for some people e.g. those receiving income

related benefits. This does not reduce the amount of loan entitlement.

• Gap year and/or placement year

• Employment – term time and/or holidays

• Scholarships– http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk

• Sponsorship

• Access to Learning funds

• Overdrafts.

What should I do next?

• February – September 2011: research courses and institutions

• June – December 2011: start UCAS, write personal statement, start online finance application

• July 2011: attend summer schools

• July – November 2011: attend open days

• December 2011 – April 2012: get offers from universities

• March 2012: finalise finance application

• April 2012– make final courses choices

• May 2012– exams/finishing coursework

• August 2012– results day and Clearing begins

• September/October 2012– start your new course!

Useful sources of information

http://www.push.co.uk

Ruthlessly independent guide to Universities

http://www.UNIAID.org.uk

Helping you with student finance and University life

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

General information on going to University

http://www.ucas.ac.uk

University & Colleges Admissions Service

http://www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk

Applying for student finance

www.ntu.ac.uk.

Contact details

Schools, Colleges & Community Outreach Team

0115 848 6089

schoolscolleges@ntu.ac.uk

www.ntu.ac.uk/community