A Parents Guide Jenny Fernandes Head of International

A Parents’ Guide Jenny Fernandes Head of International Office 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 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 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 Alan Monteith Student Recruitment & Admissions Service www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Admissions Process Application to UCAS UNIVERSITIES make offers Conditional & Unconditional 15 Jan By End March UCAS sends statement of decisions letter and reply slip STUDENT replies to each offer Firm Acceptance (F) Insurance (I) Decline (D) www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Admissions Process Ways to Accept Offers • (UF) • (CF+CI) • (CF+UI) Unconditional offer, Firmly accepted Conditional offer, Firmly accepted + Conditional offer as Insurance Conditional offer Firmly accepted offer + Unconditional offer as Insurance www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Admissions Process When to Reply Last decision from University Reply Date 31 March 2009 8 May 2009 12 June 2009 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 26 th 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 30 th June 2009, then join Clearing www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Admissions Process Confirmation when results come out Offer confirmed or alternative offer made Clearing www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Medicine Admissions Process www. abdn. ac. uk/medicine/prospective-students www. ukcat. ac. uk (for 2007 applicants onwards) Application to UCAS 15 Oct 2008 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 www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Education Admissions Process Application to UCAS 15 Jan 2009 UNIVERSITIES Make Offers Conditional & Unconditional Interviews Jan-March Based on 3 stage scoring system Criminal record check (A)Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form, (C) Interview 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 – 25 th Feb • MA – 4 th March • Engineering – 25 th February and 25 th March • Law – 6 th and 20 th 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. • 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 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 www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Finance – Student Funding • Maintenance Grant – Local Education Authority • Parental Contribution • Grants/Bursaries • Part-time Work • Savings • Travelling Expenses -after 1 st £ 159 can receive between £ 811 -£ 955 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 1 st £ 159 can receive between £ 811 -£ 955 www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

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 www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Student Life Duncan Mc. Kay Student Association President www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

Student Life www. abdn. ac. uk/sras

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 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 / 91 E: sras@abdn. ac. uk W: www. abdn. ac. uk/sras