WELCOME TO OUR OPEN DOOR MEETING

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WELCOME TO OUR OPEN DOOR MEETING

• LIFE AFTER
• RICHMOND UPON THAMES COLLEGE

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This presentation will cover

• UCAS process
• Results
• Gap Year
• Financial help
• University Life

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What happens next?

• Some students are making their final university
  choices
• Others have chosen to go straight into employment
  with training
• Some students are undecided about what to do next
  year.
• For all students, careers advisers in college and
  local
• Connexions offices can help with advice and
  support.

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UCAS applicants May - Sept

• Route A (General)
• Some students will have replied already (May 5th)
• Others will have a later reply date
• 6th June / 7th July / 31st July
• Students make a decision about their university
  choices once they have heard from all the
  institutions they applied to.
• Students make a Firm choice and an Insurance
  choice and must decline the rest.
• Route B (Art and Design)
• In Art and Design Route B students need to
  confirm their acceptance of an offer within
  approximately two weeks.

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UCAS Extra

• UCAS Extra is an early Clearing system available
  until 30th June for students who have applied but
  have not had any offers, or have chosen to
  decline them.
• Students can apply for one more choice at a time.
• Students in this situation will be contacted by
  UCAS and apply via an online tracking system.
• Universities indicate where places are available
  on the Course Search section of the UCAS website
  (www.ucas.com) with an X next to the course which
  has spaces.

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Results

• International Baccalaureate results will be
  available on the IB website from 330pm on Sunday
  6th July 2008. All IB students have been given a
  Pin number so they can access their results
  there.
• A2 students will be able to collect their results
  in the morning of 14th August (between 11am and
  1.30pm) or they will be posted home in the
  afternoon.
• AS students will be able to collect their results
  in the afternoon of 14th August (between 1.30pm
  and 3.00pm) or they will be posted home that
  afternoon.
• BTEC National Diploma and Certificate results are
  available from Course Managers - see them for
  more details.
• GCSE results arrive on Thursday 21st August and
  will be posted home to arrive on 22nd August.
  Students cannot collect these from college.

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Results

• UCAS Track - offers may be confirmed on Track on
  14th August, so it is worth checking.
• Even if a student does not get the grades,
  universities may decide to offer a place.
• If the Firm choice is not confirmed, the
  application is sent to the Insurance choice.
• Careers and Connexions staff are in college to
  help on 14th and 15th August.

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Clearing

• This is a system which identifies all courses
  that universities have not yet filled.
• Places are available for students who do not get
  the grades required by the universities they had
  offers from or those who hold no offer.
• These students automatically become eligible for
  Clearing.
• Clearing vacancies are advertised on the UCAS
  website and in the broadsheet newspapers.

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Gap Year(s)!

• This may have been pre-planned.
• It may be the best option at this stage.
• There is a lot of information in the Careers
  Centre about gap year projects AND finding a job.
• We will support a student through the UCAS apply
  system after they have left.

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Financial help for thoseentering full time
highereducation in 2008
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Finance 2008

• Information already delivered to students.
• As an overview, students will need to budget for
• Tuition Fees
• Living Expenses
• accommodation / food
• travel
• insurance
• course costs
• personal and social expenditure

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Tuition Fees

• Most universities are charging degree tuition
  fees of 3,145 per year.
• Fees do not have to be paid upfront
• Everyone can apply for a loan
• Payment of fees deferred until end of studies
• Repayable once earning over 15,000
• If students do not take out a loan, they will be
  required to pay fees on enrolment.

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Maintenance Loan

• The amount that can be borrowed is based on
  family income, e.g.

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Maintenance Grant

• Up to 2,835
• Non-repayable
• Family income is assessed
• Support for living costs
• Up to 1,260 of the grant will be paid in
  substitution for part of the maintenance loan
• Maximum rate where the family income is below
  25,000
• Sliding scale up to 60,000

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Financial help from the university

• Bursaries
• A minimum amount of 310 a year from the colleges
  and universities that charge the maximum fee of
  3,145
• Available to students who are eligible for the
  full 2,835 maintenance grant
• Non-repayable
• If a student gets into financial difficulties,
  universities will have a financial support office
  to offer advice and assistance.

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Disabled Students Allowance

• Disabled Students Allowances are grants to help
  meet the extra costs of studying that students
  face as a direct result of disability or specific
  learning difficulty (e.g. Dyslexia).
• Not dependent on income
• Non-repayable
• Learning support needs can still be assessed at
  this stage, either at college or at university.

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Disabled Students Allowance
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How loans and grants are paid

• If students have applied for a Tuition Fee Loan,
  this will be paid directly to the university.
• Maintenance Loans and Grants will be paid in
  installments at beginning of each term during the
  academic year.
• Approximately (for on time applicants)
• September
• January
• April

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How and when to apply

• Contact your Local Authority NOW for a paper
  application form or apply online via the Student
  Finance Direct website.
• Deadlines for applications
• All non-means tested applications should be made
  ASAP
• All means tested applications should be made by
  27th June 2008
• Complete the form fully and return it to your
  Local Authority by the deadline.
• Students must submit their passport with their
  application.
• If you are declaring your income, you will be
  required to provide evidence of income. This can
  be done confidentially.

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Further Information

• www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
• www.richmond.gov.uk/studentsupport
• www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport
• www.aimhigher.ac.uk
• http//unimoney.direct.gov.uk
• http//bursarymap.direct.gov.uk

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University Life
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Health and Lifestyle Issues

• All young people leaving home or living more
  independently need
• to be taking responsibility for health and
  lifestyle issues.
• Bank Accounts
• Set up a bank account
• Budgeting
• Check finances frequently
• Consider costs of mobiles
• Take care using Credit Cards
• If in difficulty, make an appointment with the
  bank, Citizens Advice Bureau, or university
  finance office

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Health and Lifestyle Issues

• Health Issues
• Make sure students register with a GP or
  university medical centre
• Vaccinations
• Diet and Nutrition
• Sexual Health
• Mental Health
• As a parent be aware of the stress of moving away
  from home.
• Note changes in behaviour that may indicate
  problems.

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Accommodation

• Students will be advised by their Firm choice
  university when and how to apply.
• Often in June / July.
• Information can be accessed on universitys own
  website.

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Finally

• We hope that your son or daughter
• has enjoyed their time at
• Richmond upon Thames College
• and we wish them well in the future