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Parents’ Guide to the HE/UCAS Applications Process
Spring 2014
Senior Tutors lead a series of activities in tutor group meetings designed to help
students think about the choices available to them after completing their A’ Levels or
BTEC Diploma. Senior Tutors also teach students how to carry out research using the
UCAS website and what to include in a personal statement.
12 March
College trip to the Manchester HE Convention attended by 180 exhibitors, including
universities, employers, charities, apprenticeship schemes and the armed forces.
17 March
Parents’ Evening on Higher Education: Talks on how to apply to university and student
finance. Guest speakers from the universities of Manchester, Salford, Lancaster, Edge
Hill and Manchester Metropolitan University.
19 March
HE/Careers Day: A full day of careers activities in college, including talks by employers
and university representatives; and workshops on how to write a good personal
statement.
Summer
Exams
From 12 May to the 16 June AS students will be taking external examinations, whilst
BTEC diploma students will be completing and improving their assignments; some
students will also be re-sitting GCSE Mathematics or GCSE English Language. These are
all essential entry qualifications for higher education, so thorough revision and hard
work is necessary. The universities will ask about these results.
June
Trips to university open-days and HE conventions will be advertised.
University applicants need to pay their UCAS fees at Student Information. Applicants for
autumn 2015 can begin making their application on-line, ready for when the UCAS
opens to receive applications on 1 September 2014. Senior tutors will help students
with this task during tutor group meetings. Senior tutors will teach students how to
complete the on-line application and ensure that students complete an end of lowersixth personal statement.
14 August
21 August
1 September
AS and A2 Results Day
GCSE Results Day
Start of Autumn Term – students enter their final year at college.
UCAS will accept applications for entry to higher education in autumn 2015.
15 October
Applications to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; and all applications for
Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science must be received by UCAS. In practice, this
means all applicants must complete their application at college before 30 September
1 November
All UCAS applications should have been completed and sent to senior tutors for
checking, except those applying for Route B Art & Design courses.
15 January 2015
UCAS closes for all students, except those applying for Route B Art & Design courses.
24 March 2015
UCAS closes for Art & Design Route B applications.
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We are here to help!
Staff at Bolton Sixth Form College want university applicants to be
successful and we will do all we can to help students make realistic,
well-informed choices.
University applicants at BSFC are highly successful at securing university
places, whether they are A’ Level students or BTEC Diploma students. Indeed, our BTEC Diploma students,
who achieve triple Distinction or above have progressed to the best universities, including degree courses at
the University of Manchester and other Russell Group universities.
Senior Tutors & Tutor Group Meetings
During tutor group meetings and one-to-one interviews, senior tutors will guide students through the
Higher Education Programme. This includes using the UCAS website to research university courses, learning
how to make a university application and how to write a personal statement.
Subject Teachers
Subject teachers are experts in their own fields and can give students valuable advice about degree courses
in their specialism or related to what they teach.
UCAS References
The basis of the UCAS reference is drafted in June by senior tutors and up-dated in September, to include
results in summer examinations. The senior tutor constructs the UCAS reference taking into account
information provided by subject teachers regarding a student’s progress and potential as an undergraduate.
No negative comments are ever made about students; but an honest assessment is given of a student’s final
grades at A’ Level or at the end of the BTEC diploma course.
Careers Library & Resource Centres
There are well stocked Careers Resources Centres on both campuses, located within the libraries. The CRCs
contain information on all universities and higher education colleges in the UK, including specialist colleges
(e.g. LIPA). The UCAS website and useful careers websites can also be accessed on both campuses.
Careers Advice
As well as the senior tutors, the college has two full-time careers officers: Linda Stanley and Paul Fenner,
who can help students needing careers guidance or help with finding apprenticeships.
The Student Bulletin
Advanced notice of university opens days, sixth form conferences, and HE workshops can be found in the
Student Bulletin, which is published each Monday.
Useful Websites
www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk
www.ucas.co.uk
http://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=times+university+guide+2014
www.scholarship-search.org.uk
www.yougofurther.co.uk
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University Courses
Foundation Degrees
E.g. Art & Design, Nursing, Biomedical Sciences
Higher National Diplomas (HND)
These are vocational courses, related to specific careers and normally take 2 years
to complete or 3 years with work-experience. Many HND students do a two year HND course followed by a
further two years study leading to a degree.
Diplomas in Higher Education (DipHE)
These are equivalent to the first 2 years of a degree course. Entry requirements are often only 2 A2s or an
Applied A’ Level. DipHE can be a stepping stone to a degree.
First Degrees (BSc, BA, BEd, BEng)
Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Bachelor of Engineering
(BEng), etc. Most first degrees take 3 years to complete or 4 years for a sandwich
course, including work-placements.
Vocational Degrees
Some careers can only be entered via a vocational degree
course, e.g. Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy,
Optometry, Veterinary Science, etc. These vocational
courses are great, if a student is certain of their future
career path; however, before starting a vocational course it is essential to know what the career involves by
talking to people in the profession or by work-shadowing. Some courses are vocational but also leave
students with a wide range of post-graduate options, e.g. engineering.
Courses leading to Professional Status
Some degree courses included professional training for a chosen career, e.g. Primary Education with
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, whilst some university courses lead to full professional
qualifications: others do not. Applicants need to make sure they read the prospectus carefully.
Non-Vocational Courses
40% of employers are happy to take graduates from any
degree course. Many employers actually prefer to train
graduates themselves rather than recruiting them from
vocational courses. So, if a student has a strong academic
interest in pursuing a non-vocational course, don’t worry a
range of careers will be available to him/her after graduation.
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UCAS Points
University applicants are made offers based on their final grades or UCAS points.
The tables show how many UCAS points are awarded for each grade
UCAS
Points
360
340
320
300
280
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
A2
AAA
AAB
ABB
BBB
BBC
BCC
CCC
CCD
CDD
DDD
DDE
DEE
A
B
C
D
E
AS
A
B
C
D
E
EPQ
A*
A
B
C
D
E
Applied
A’ Level
Double
Award
Applied
A’ Level
Single
Award
AA
AB
BB
BC
CC
CD
DD
DE
EE
A
B
C
D
E
UCAS
Points
BTEC
Extended
Diploma
360
340
320
300
280
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
D*D*D*
D*DD
DDD
DDM
DMM
BTEC
Subsidiary
Diploma
MMM
MMP
MPP
PPP
Distinction
Merit
Pass
UCAS
Points
360
340
320
300
280
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
50
40
30
20
BTEC National Diploma in Children's' Care, Learning and Development
UCAS
Points
320
280
240
220
200
160
120
80
40
National
Diploma
DDD
DDM
DMM
MMM
MMP
MPP
PPP
National
Certificate
Practical
Element
DD
DM
MM
MP
PP
Distinction
Merit
Pass
UCAS
Points
320
280
240
220
200
160
120
80
40
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Entry Qualifications for Higher Education
A’ Levels and BTEC Diplomas
Good universities, offering popular degree courses, demand top grades, e.g. AAA, AAB or ABB at A2 or triple
Distinction in a BTEC Diploma. Less popular courses at less competitive universities ask for lower grades,
e.g. CCC or Triple Merit. A student who achieves lower pass grades may qualify for a Foundation degree
course.
GCSEs Matter
Most universities demand GCSE English Language and GCSE Mathematics at grade C or above. In addition,
to teach in primary schools an applicant must also have a grade C or above in GCSE Science or Biology or
Chemistry or Physics.
Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy
Applicants must be studying A’ Level Chemistry, plus two other
sciences chosen from Physics, Biology and Mathematics.
Most successful applicants achieve AAA or AAB at A2.
An A or B in A2 Chemistry is usually required.
A2 Biology is also highly desirable. Dropping Biology after AS is
unwise, due to the biological content of these degrees; it also looks
suspicious and admissions officers will wonder why the subject was dropped. A2 Physics or Mathematics is
useful because it helps with the numerical aspects of Chemistry.
Medical schools also look for between 4 and 7 GCSEs at grade A or A*, with the rest at grade B.
For more information go to: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Nursing and Midwifery
Entrance to Nursing and Midwifery degrees is highly competitive, with universities demanding very high
grades in relevant BTEC diplomas or A’ Levels.
Experience of caring for children, the sick, disabled or elderly is essential, as is the ability to get through a
rigourous interview.
Training involves 50% theory and 50% practical work, with a system of continuous assessment throughout.
Training provides students with the knowledge and skills required to care for people in hospital and the
community: the theory and practice of nursing or midwifery, sociology, psychology, health education and
promotion, the development of inter-personal skills and an awareness of current academic research.
For more information go to: http://nursing.nhscareers.nhs.uk/skills
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Teacher Training
All applicants to teacher training must have GCSE English
Language and GCSE Mathematics at grade C or above;
and those intending to teach in primary schools must
also have GCSE Science or Biology or Chemistry or
Physics at grade C or above.
There are 3 routes into the Teaching profession:
• First Degree plus a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
• Teaching Degree (BEd/BSc/BA) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• The Graduate Teacher & Registered Teacher Programmes
Secondary Schools
To teach in secondary schools an applicant must have A’ Level qualifications in two Key Stage 3 National
Curriculum subjects (BTEC Diplomas may be acceptable but check with the individual training provider.
In addition 50% to 100% of the applicant’s degree must be relevant to the National Curriculum subject s/he
intends to teach, e.g. Art, English, Geography, History, IT, Music, PE, RE,
Biology, Chemistry or Physics. If the applicant wants to teach Mathematics the
whole of his/her first degree must me in Mathematics.
Primary Schools
To teach in primary schools an applicant must have at least 1 A’ Level in a
National Curriculum subject for Key Stages 1 and 2 (BTEC Diplomas may be
acceptable but check with the individual training provider).
In addition, half of the applicant’s degree must be relevant to the National Curriculum subject s/he intends
to teach.
For more information go to: www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching
www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training
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Busting the Jargon
Ancient universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, St
Andrews and Durham were founded in the middle ages and
have world-class reputations.
Redbrick universities such as Manchester, Birmingham,
Liverpool, Bradford, Sheffield and Leeds, grew up in the
industrial cities of the nineteenth century and led the way in
the expansion of education.
Plate-glass universities such as Keele, Lancaster, Warwick and York were built during the 1960s and ‘70s
and were part of the government’s aim to increase access to higher education. Plate-glass refers to the
style of architecture used in their construction.
Campus universities are often found on green-field sites on the edge of cities, examples include: Aston,
Roehampton, Nottingham, Bath, Sussex, East Anglia, Kent, Essex, Stirling, Royal Holloway and Swansea.
Older universities were founded before 1992. Their names
reflect this, e.g. the University of Leeds, the University of
Bradford, etc. At these older universities students will have
lectures, seminars and tutorials but they will also be given a
lot of private study time. This is because students are
expected to spend time doing their own research and
“reading for a degree”.
New universities have developed from the polytechnics
which came into existence at the end of the 1960s and which
up until 1992 were funded by local government; today, they
have university status, e.g. Brighton, The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), Liverpool John Moores
University (LJM), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), and Sheffield Hallam University (SHU).
Teaching in the new universities is based on a high level of student-teacher contact time.
Institutes and Colleges of Higher Education were set up to teach specific subjects or skills e.g. agricultural
colleges, colleges of art and design, music conservatories, drama academies, horticultural colleges, colleges
of nursing and midwifery, teacher training colleges, veterinary colleges, etc. Institutes and college of higher
education offer fewer courses than the big universities but are specialists in the courses they do teach.
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Russell Group Universities
The Russell Group is an association of leading UK
universities, committed to maintaining the highest standards
of research, education and knowledge transfer. They receive
66% of the UK budget for university research projects.
Places on courses at the Russell Group universities are highly
competitive and they demand the highest entrance grades
from applicants, typically AAA or D*D*D*
The Russell Group include the universities of: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Imperial College London, King's College London, Leeds, Liverpool, the London School of Economics (LSE),
Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen's University Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, University
College London, and Warwick.
What’s the best university?
There is no such thing as “The Best University” or “The Best Course”
The best university is the one that best suites the student’s needs.
University League Tables only tell part of the story. Different students want and need different styles of
higher education. Some students want a university with excellent research facilities; others put a higher
premium on good teaching; whilst others are concerned about job opportunities after graduation.
Remember one reason why a university may be at the top of the league is because it asks for the highest
entry grades, not because it has the best teachers.
So, when looking at the university league tables, it is best to filter the data; look for the subject the student
wants to study; and then at the student satisfaction rate for that course.
http://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=times+university+guide+2014
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Student Finance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Maintenance Grant
Special Support Grant
Student Loan for Maintenance
Tuition Fee Loan
National Scholarship Programme
Leaving Local Authority Care
NHS Bursaries
Bursaries & Scholarships
Sponsorship
James Eden Trust
1. Maintenance Grant
The Maintenance Grant helps higher education students with their general living costs whilst they study at
university. It is particular aimed at students from households with lower incomes. You could get up to
£3,475 per annum through the Maintenance Grant, if your household income is £19,203 or less. If your
household income falls between £19,203 and £41,065 you may be eligible to receive a partial grant,
depending on the level of your household income. If your household income is more than £41,065 you will
not be eligible to receive a Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant.
The Maintenance Grant does not have to be repaid.
Full-time student –
household income
£25,000 or less
£30,000
£35,000
£40,000
£42,620
Over £42,620
Grant for courses from
September 2014
£3,387
£2,441
£1,494
£547
£50
No grant
2. Special Support Grant
The Special Support Grant is available to full-time students. Part-time and EU students cannot apply. A
student may get a Special Support Grant instead of a Maintenance Grant if the student gets or qualifies for
Income Support or Housing Benefit. The amount a student gets is the same as the Maintenance Grant. A
student may get the Special Support Grant if, for example, s/he is a lone parent; a student-parent whose
partner is also a student; or a student who has certain disabilities. Other students may be eligible for the
Special Support Grant. A student does not necessarily have to receive - or even have applied for - benefits.
If a student receives the Special Support Grant, it will not affect how much s/he can get through the Student
Loan for Maintenance - and it will not be counted as income when working out if the student is entitled to
income-related benefits or tax credits. The Special Support Grant does not have to be repaid.
For more information contact Student Finance England (SfE):
https://www.gov.uk/contact-student-finance-england
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3. Student Loan for Maintenance or Living Costs
Applicants must be UK nationals, under 60 years old and studying full-time. The loan is paid directly into the
student’s bank account at the start of each term.
Full-time student
Loan for courses from September 2014
Living at home
Up to £4,418
Living away from home, outside London
Up to £5,555
Living away from home, in London
Up to £7,751
You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad
Up to £6,600
4. Tuition Fees Loan
UK or EU students studying on full-time or part-time degree course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan.
The loan is paid directly to the university or Higher Education College.
Type of undergraduate
Tuition Fee Loan Available
Full-time Student
Up to £9,000 per annum
Full-time Student at a private university of college
Up to £6,000 per annum
Part-time student
Up to £6,750 per annum
Part-time students at a private university or college
Up to £4,500 per annum
Paying Back Student Loans:
Many parents dislike the idea of their child getting into debt; however, it is worth considering the following:
• Graduates do not begin to repay their student loans until they earn more than £21,000 p.a.
• Graduates earning less than £21,000 p.a. pay nothing!
• Student Loans can be repaid over a considerable number of years.
• Unemployment amongst graduates is lower than in other sections of society.
• On the whole, graduates earn higher salaries than non-graduates.
• If a graduate's income is less than 85% of average earnings s/he can defer repayment for 12 months.
Graduate’s Annual Income
Monthly Repayment of Student Loan at 9% for every £ above £21,000
£21,000 or less
0
£25,000
£30
£30,000
£67
£40,000
£142
£50,000
£217
£60,000
£292
For more information contact Student Finance England (SfE):
https://www.gov.uk/contact-student-finance-england
Telephone: 0845 300 5090 Textphone: 0845 604 4434
5. The National Scholarship Programme
A student can apply for a bursary from the National Scholarship Programme if their residual household
income is £25,000 a year or less. The bursary can be one or more of the following:
• A cash bursary of up to £1,000
• Help with tuition fees and accommodation
• A free foundation year prior to a degree course
Contact the universities to find out how and when to apply for a National Scholarship bursary.
For more information go to: http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk/
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6. Leaving Local Authority Care
If a student has been in local authority care, s/he can apply for a one-off bursary of £2,000 from the local
authority and a bursary from his/her university or college of higher education.
7. NHS Bursaries
NHS bursaries are available for pre-registration courses in: Nursing and Midwifery, Chiropody and Podiatry,
Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy,
Prosthetics, Radiography and Speech Therapy. To be eligible for an NHS bursary a student must be
accepted for an NHS funded course. If a student is eligible, the NHS will pay his/her tuition fees in full. No
contribution will be required from parents or family. Those applying for a place on a NHS related degree
course may also be eligible for an NHS Maintenance Grant. NHS Bursaries are also available to medical and
dental students in their fifth and later years of study.
For further details go to: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/816.aspx
Telephone: 0300-330-1345 or 0191-279-0570
8. Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards
Each university has its own rules about bursaries, scholarships and awards. For example: who qualifies, how
much you can get, and how to apply. Bursaries, scholarships and awards do not
have to be repaid. Talk to the student support service at each university to find
out what is available. For more information go to: http://www.scholarshipsearch.org.uk/
9. Sponsorship
Many employers sponsor students through higher education. Sponsorship takes
the form of an annual grant, training and paid work, and often carries the promise
of employment after graduation.
Accenture Careers UK: accenture.com/ukschemes
Level 4 Apprenticeships: https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Ministry of Defence: http://www.da.mod.uk/dtoees
Novus: www.novus.uk.com
PWC: www.pwc.com/uk/flying-start
Rolls-Royce: www.rolls-royce.com/earlycareers
10. James Eden Trust
Students entering full-time education at universities or colleges, aged under 25, who are bona fide residents
of the metropolitan borough of Bolton, with a BL postcode, can apply for financial support from the James
Eden Trust. Preference is given to students who are looked after children, have lost either or both parents,
or whose parents are separated or divorced. Cash grants of between £400 and £1,500 are given to assist
undergraduates with fees, books, equipment, instruments, maintenance and living expenses, educational
outings in the UK and study or travel overseas. Parental income is taken into account in awarding grants.
Application forms will be available in college in spring 2015 and senior tutors will help students to write a
supporting statement for their application. (Other funding can be obtained from the Rideout Trust and
Dixon Green Foundation).
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