www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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A Parents Guide
Professor Dominic Houlihan Vice-Principal
(Research Commercialisation)
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Making the Right Choices

• Range of opportunities in Higher Education is
  enormous and exciting
• 40 of young people now progress from school to
  university
• 50,000 degree and diploma courses on offer in the
  UK

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First Step to a Rewarding Career

• Provides skills, knowledge and understanding for
  progression to a variety of careers
• Helps develop transferable skills for a dynamic
  job market
• Increases earning potential
• Increases maturity and confidence

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The University at a Glance

• Founded in 1495
• World-class institution, boasting four Nobel
  Prize winners
• Around 14,000 students
• 120 nationalities
• Over 550 degree programmes
• Research Intensive
• Ranked 137th in the World

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The University at a Glance

• 3 Colleges divided into the following
  disciplines
• Arts Divinity
• Social Sciences Law
• Medicine Medical Sciences
• Science Engineering
• Education

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500 Years of Excellence
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Investing in your Future

• Planned investment of 230 million over the next
  10 years
• The Hub
• Sports Centre
• Matthew Hay Centre
• Library

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Unique Facilities
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Unique Facilities
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Unique Facilities
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Choice and Flexibility
First and Second Year

• MA BSc students study their chosen degree
  subject e.g. Psychology, and up to four other
  subjects in each of their first two years
• Try out new subjects and tailor their degree to
  suit their needs and interests
• Flexible system allows students to change degree
  intention up to the end of second year, in
  consultation with their Adviser of Studies
• Professional qualifications e.g. Law, Teaching,
  do not offer the same flexibility

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Study Abroad
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Employment Prospects
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The city that has it all
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Admissions Process
Alison Clark Marketing Officer Student
Recruitment and Admissions Service
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Admissions Process
15 Jan
Application to UCAS
UNIVERSITIES make offers Conditional
Unconditional
By End March
UCAS sends statement of decisions letter and
reply slip
STUDENT replies to each offer Firm Acceptance (F)
Insurance (I) Decline (D)
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Admissions Process
Ways to Accept Offers

• (UF) Firmly accepted Unconditional offer (no
  insurance)
• (CF) Firmly accepted Conditional offer
• (CFCI) Firmly accepted Conditional offer a
  Conditional offer as Insurance
• (CFUI) Firmly accepted Conditional offer an
  Unconditional Insurance offer

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Admissions Process
When to Reply
Last decision from University
Reply Date
31 March 2008
6 May 2008
9 May 2008
6 June 2008
13 June 2008
7 July 2008
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Admissions Process
UCAS EXTRA

• Applications to all degrees except BEd (Hons)
  Primary Education and Medicine
• If all 5 choices used and no offers received
• From 26th February 2008, will receive a letter
  if eligible
• Application locked for 10 working days
• Possible to make sequential applications
• Can accept or decline, if decline can apply to
  next choice
• Live up to and including 30th June 2008, then
  join Clearing

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Admissions Process
Confirmation when results come out
Offer confirmed or alternative offer made
Clearing
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Medicine Admissions Process www.abdn.ac.uk/medicin
e/prospective-students www.ukcat.ac.uk (for 2008
applicants onwards)
15 Oct 2007
Application to UCAS
UNIVERSITIES Make Offers Conditional
Unconditional
Some offers made from January, bulk by end
March 2008
Based on 4 stage scoring system
(A) Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form, (C) UK CAT
Score (D) Interview
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Education Admissions Process
Application to UCAS
15 Jan 2008
Interviews Jan-March
UNIVERSITIES Make Offers Conditional
Unconditional
Based on 3 stage scoring system Criminal record
check
(A)Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form, (C) Interview
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Applicant Portal

• Unique online applicant portal that allows your
  son or daughter to check the status of their
  application and receive important information
  quickly
• Offer letters, applicant guides, accommodation
  guides will all be sent out electronically
  through the portal
• Secure password protected
• Check regularly
• Developed directly in response to requests from
  applicants to receive information electronically

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• BSc 27th Feb
• MA 5th March
• Engineering
• 27th February 08 and 19th March 08
• Law 29th February and 7th March 08
• Open Door policy tour campus and visit
  departments. Normally require 2 weeks notice

Applicant Days Visits
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Finance
Apply on line at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Cont
act your Education Library Board for more
information
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• Finance
• Fees Rest of UK
• Variable tuition fees are charged at UK
  institutions outside of Scotland. Maximum 3145
  per year, which nearly every institution charges.
  A fee loan can be taken out from the Student
  Loans Company to pay for this.
• Standard tuition fees for other UK students
  studying in Scotland is 1,775 per year for all
  degree courses, with the exception of Medicine
  where the fee is 2,825 per year.

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Finance
Student Support Maintenance Loans up to 4,625
per year A Maintenance Grant up to 2,835 per
year Full grant available for household income
of 25,000 or less.
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Student Loans / Grants
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Finance
Additional Support

• Hardship Funds
• Supplementary Grants
• Special Support Grant means tested
• Disabled Student Allowance
• Additional Support Grants (e.g. childcare)

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Finance
Student Funding

• Student Loan Repayments taken from source (9
  of income over 15,000)

• Parental Contribution

• Grants/Bursaries

• Part-time Work

• Savings

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Finance
University Accommodation

• From 103.00 per week, catered

• Additional food - 15 per week

• Total 4,484 - 38 weeks

• From 60.50 per week, self-catering

• Additional food - 30 per week

• Total 3,439 - 38 weeks

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Finance
Private Accommodation

• From 250 per month

• Heating, lighting - say, 40 per month

• Food - say, 100 per month

• Total 4,680 - 12 months

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Accommodation

• Guaranteed Accommodation
• Brand new facilities for 2008 entry
• Catered/ Self Catered
• Wardens
• Accommodation Office

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Support from a Caring Community

• Adviser of Studies
• Centre for Learning Teaching
• Medical Practice
• Chaplaincy
• Disability Support
• Counselling Service
• Careers Service

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Social Life

• Student friendly city
• Charities Campaign
• Gaudie
• Student Radio

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Further Information
For further information contact Student
Recruitment and Admissions Service T 01224
272090 / 91 E sras_at_abdn.ac.uk W
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras