www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

A Parents’ Guide

Professor Chris GaneHead of College of Arts & Social Sciences

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

The University at a Glance

• Founded in 1495

• World-class institution, boasting 4 Nobel Prize winners

• In the world’s top 200 universities

• Around 14,000 students

• 120 nationalities

• Over 550 degree programmes

• Research Intensive – around 90% of research activity of international quality

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

The University at a Glance

3 Colleges divided into the following disciplines:

• Arts & Divinity• Social Sciences & Law• Medicine, Dentistry & Medical Sciences• Science & Engineering• Education

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

500 Years of Excellence

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Unique Facilities

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Unique Facilities

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Choice and FlexibilityFirst 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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Study Abroad

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Employment Prospects

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

The city that has it all

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Admissions Process

Carol BaverstockHead of Admissions

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Admissions Process

15 Jan

By End March

Application to UCAS

UNIVERSITIES make offersConditional & Unconditional

UCAS sends statement of decisions letter and reply slip

STUDENT replies to each offerFirm Acceptance (F) Insurance (I) Decline (D)

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Admissions Process

Ways to Accept Offers

• (UF) Unconditional offer, Firmly accepted• (CF) Conditional offer, Firmly accepted • (CF+CI) Conditional offer, Firmly accepted +

Conditional offer as Insurance• (CF+UI) Conditional offer Firmly accepted offer +

Unconditional offer as Insurance

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Admissions Process

When to Reply

Last decision from University

31 March 2009

8 May 2009

12 June 2009

Reply Date

5 May 2009

5 June 2009

6 July 2009

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Admissions Process

Confirmation when results come out

Offer confirmedor alternative offer made

Clearing

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Medicine Admissions Processwww.abdn.ac.uk/medicine/prospective-studentswww.ukcat.ac.uk (for 2007 applicants onwards)

15 Oct 2008

Some offers made from January, bulk by end March2009

Application to UCAS

UNIVERSITIES Make OffersConditional & Unconditional

Based on 3 stage scoring system

(A)Academic Scoring including UKCAT, (B) UCAS Form, (C) Interview

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Education Admissions Process

Application to UCAS

UNIVERSITIES Make OffersConditional & Unconditional

Based on 3 stage scoring systemCriminal record check

(A)Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form, (C) Interview

15 Jan 2009

Interviews Jan-March

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Finance

SAAS - Student Awards Agency for Scotland

www.saas.gov.uk 0845 111 1711

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Fees – Rest of UK

• Variable tuition fees are charged at UK institutions outside of Scotland. Maximum £3225 per year, which nearly every institution charges. Scottish students can take a fee loan out from SAAS to pay for this.

• 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.

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Finance - Student Support

• SAAS pay tuition fees for Scottish domiciled students • Student Loan - max £4,625, min £915 (this level if non income assessed)• You can apply for the amount you are entitled to or less• Additional loan up to £605 if parental income is £21,760 or less a year• Young Students’ Bursary - maximum £2,640. Means tested, nil if parental income above £34,195.

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Finance – Student Funding

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

• Parental Contribution

• Grants/Bursaries• Part-time Work

• Savings

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Student Life

Mr Nicholas EdwardsVP Welfare and Equal Opportunities

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Student Life

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Accommodation - GuaranteedCatered• 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

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Support from a Caring Community• Adviser of Studies

• Centre for Learning & Teaching

• Medical Practice

• Chaplaincy

• Disability Support

• Counselling Service

• Careers Service

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

AUSA – Students’ Association

• Info & Advice Centre• Niteline• The Sabb’s• AUSA Council• Events

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Study & Assessment

• Lectures

• Tutorials

• Private Study

• Library Facilities

• Computers – wireless campus

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Freshers’ Week• Week before term

starts

• Move in and make friends

• Meet Adviser and members of academic staff

• Find out about clubs and societies

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Clubs, Societies & Sport

• Over 100 societies and 50 sports clubs

• Sublime to ridiculous

• Learn new things

• Teams & Competitions

• Meet people from other universities

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Social Life

• Student friendly city

• Charities’ Campaign

• Debater

• Gaudie

• Aberdeen Student Radio

www.abdn.ac.uk/sras

Further Information

For further information contact:

Student Recruitment and Admissions Service

T: 01224 272090 / 91E: sras@abdn.ac.ukW: www.abdn.ac.uk/sras