www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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A Parents Guide
Jenny Fernandes Head of International Office
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Making the Right Choices

• Range of opportunities in Higher Education is
  enormous and exciting
• A third of young people now progress from school
  to university
• 55,000 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 4 Nobel Prize
  winners
• In the worlds top 200 universities
• Around 14,000 students
• 120 nationalities
• Over 550 degree programmes
• Research Intensive around 90 of research
  activity of international quality

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The University at a Glance

• 3 Colleges divided into the following
  disciplines
• Arts Divinity
• Social Sciences Law
• Medicine, Dentistry 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 ten years
• The Hub
• Wireless campus
• Aberdeen Sports Village
• Suttie Centre
• Library
• Curriculum Reform

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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
Alan Monteith Student Recruitment 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) Unconditional offer, Firmly accepted
• (CF) Conditional offer, Firmly accepted
• (CFCI) Conditional offer, Firmly accepted
• Conditional offer as Insurance
• (CFUI) Conditional offer Firmly accepted offer
  
• Unconditional offer as Insurance

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Admissions Process
When to Reply
Last decision from University
Reply Date
31 March 2009
5 May 2009
8 May 2009
5 June 2009
12 June 2009
6 July 2009
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Admissions Process
UCAS EXTRA

• Applications to all degrees except Medicine
• Possible to make sequential applications
• If all 5 choices used and no offers received
• From 26th February 2009, will receive a letter
  if eligible
• Application locked for 21 working days
• Can accept or decline, if decline can apply to
  next choice
• Live up to and including 30th June 2009, 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 2007
applicants onwards)
15 Oct 2008
Application to UCAS
UNIVERSITIES Make Offers Conditional
Unconditional
Some offers made from January, bulk by end
March 2009
Based on 3 stage scoring system
(A)Academic Scoring including UKCAT, (B) UCAS
Form, (C) Interview
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Education Admissions Process
Application to UCAS
15 Jan 2009
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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Applicant Days Visits

• BSc 25th Feb
• MA 4th March
• Engineering 25th February and 25th March
• Law 6th and 20th March
• Open Door policy tour campus and visit
  departments. Normally require 2 weeks notice

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Finance
SAAS - Student Awards Agency for Scotland
www.saas.gov.uk 0845 111 1711
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Fees Rest of UK

• Variable tuition fees are charged at UK
  institutions outside of Scotland. Maximum 3225
  per year, which nearly every institution charges.
  
• Standard tuition fees for other UK students
  studying in Scotland is 1,820 per year
  for all degree courses, with the exception of
  Medicine where the fee is 2,895 per year.

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Finance - Student Support

• SAAS pay tuition fees for Scottish and non UK EU
  domiciled students
• SAAS pay all fees directly to Scottish
  Universities
• These tuition fees do not need to be repaid
• Students need to apply to SAAS each year to
  ensure their fees are paid

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Finance Student Funding

• Maintenance Grant Local Education Authority

• Parental Contribution

• Grants/Bursaries

• Part-time Work

• Savings

• Travelling Expenses -after 1st 159 can receive
  between 811-955

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Finance Additional Support

• Hardship Funds

• Supplementary Grants

• Dependants Grant means-tested

• Lone Parents Grant means-tested

• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) - not means
  tested

• Travelling Expenses -after 1st 159 can receive
  between 811-955

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Finance Maintenance Grant

• Main source of funding to cover living expenses
• Application is through Local Authority (eg.
  www.dublincity.ie)
• Applications should be made as early as
  possible. Process usually opens in June each year
• Deadline is usually late August
• Award is means-tested and highest level of grant
  is currently 6,690 Euros
• For Information at www.studentfinance.ie

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Student Life
Duncan McKay Student Association President
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Student Life
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Accommodation - Guaranteed

• Catered
• From 116 per week
• Food 15 per week
• 38 week lease
• Total 4,978
• Self-catered
• From 72 per week
• Food 30 per week
• 38 week lease
• Total 3,876

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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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AUSA Students Association

• Info Advice Centre
• Niteline
• The Sabbs
• AUSA Council
• Events

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Study Assessment

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Private Study
• Library Facilities
• Computers wireless campus

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Freshers Week

• Week before term starts
• Move in and make friends
• Meet Adviser and members of academic staff
• Find out about clubs and societies

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Clubs, Societies Sport

• Over 100 societies and 50 sports clubs
• Sublime to ridiculous
• Learn new things
• Teams Competitions
• Meet people from other universities

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Social Life

• Student friendly city
• Charities Campaign
• Debater
• Gaudie
• Aberdeen 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