UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School

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UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School
The Parents’ Guide to University
                                      2020 - 2021 ©
2020 - 2021

     THE PARENTS’
     GUIDE TO

       UNIVERSITY   FULL EDITION
UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School
The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                         The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

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                                                                                                       Contents
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                                                                                                                                                                     to go e if you ve!
                                                                                                                                                                            to th
                                                                                                                                                                                  e cha want
                                                                                                                                                                                       pter

   How to get the most out of this guide

   Useful links                                     Summaries

                                                                                                       05                                               46
   If you want to delve deeper and find out         To help save you time, we have provided
   more, we’ve included useful links to other       useful summaries at the end of each
   reliable sources. Simply click on the picture    chapter containing the key points.
   icons to be taken to our recommended
   websites.                                        Interactive                                        Introduction                                     The UCAS process
                                                    To make moving around this guide easier,
   Key terms
                                                    the contents and chapter headings are
   Easy to understand definitions are provided      interactive. Simply click on a heading to be
   throughout this guide in the key terms           taken to the chapter or page you would like
   boxes. Don’t let tricky terminology stop you     to read. Selecting the page number (bottom
   from supporting your child.                      corner of the page) will return you to the
                                                    main contents page.
   Key information boxes

                                                                                                       08                                               66
                                                    This guide does not need to be read
   Information we think is particularly important
                                                    sequentially – browse what interests you
   has been highlighted throughout this guide;
                                                    most.
   pay special attention to these!
                                                                                                       Choosing the right                               Results day 2021
                                                                                                       university

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                                                                                                       22
                                                                                                       Choosing the right
                                                                                                                                                        88
                                                                                                                                                        Next steps
                                                                                                       course

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UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School
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HALF OF ALL UK STUDENTS APPLYING
TO UNIVERSITY HAVE NEVER HAD A PARENT   Introduction
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
                                        The prospect of your child going to              you will want to help them every step of
                                        university is very exciting. Attending           the way. The “right” university means the
                                        university can offer them a great                right university for them: one which offers
                                        foundation for their future success and          courses they’d like to study; where they
                                        happiness; both in obtaining further             will fit in and feel comfortable; one that
                                        qualifications and in providing a                will stretch their abilities without breaking
                                        protected environment to transition from         them; and one where they will feel safe
                                        teenager to adult.                               and happy. The “right” university will
                                                                                         differ from child to child – even within the
                                        It’s an exciting time for you too. Yes, it’s     same family. So how do you decide what
                                        only their hard work that can get them           is right? We’ll guide you.
                                        to university, but you’ve contributed
                                        along the way with love, support and             Of course, whilst going to university is
                                        encouragement. It can be a daunting              first and foremost about getting a higher-
                                        time as well. There is pressure to make          level qualification, it offers much more
                                        the right choices, a myriad of options           than that. It’s about learning to research
                                        available and, especially in the case of         independently, create professional
                                        a first or last child leaving home, the          relationships, develop lasting friendships,
                                        likelihood of a whole different way of life,     living without parental supervision,
                                        not only for them, but for you too.              adopting fun and meaningful hobbies
                                                                                         and interests. It’s learning to be
                                        Selecting the right university will be one       a grown-up: self-reliant, resourceful and
                                        of the most important decisions your             confident.
                                        child faces in shaping their future and

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UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School
The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

         Providing the information you need
         The selection and application process            With so much depending on it, the
         can seem complicated, especially                 thought of applying to university can be
         if you have not been to university               stressful for parents and children alike.
         yourself. If you have, that may have             We believe that once you understand the
         been some time ago and things have               process and timelines, this will eliminate
         probably changed. There’s plenty of              much of the stress for you (and, in turn,
         great information online for students,           your child) ensuring energy is focused in
         but very little designed specifically for        the most constructive way to get the best
         parents, so it can be quite complicated          possible outcomes.
         to track down the exact information
         you need.                                        Our aim is to help you eliminate doubt
                                                          and anxiety, so you can provide calm and
         That’s why we’ve created this                    informed support. This will empower
         straightforward guide covering the               you to offer more helpful guidance to
         application process, starting from what          your child, with the ultimate goal of
         your child should consider in making good        helping them create a future to fulfil their
         choices to what happens on results day           potential and make themselves (and
         once they’ve completed sixth form - and          you!) happy.
         everything in between.
                                                          Researching universities and courses
         This includes step-by-step information on:       should be an enjoyable experience, not a
                                                          headache. Don’t forget: your child has as
         • What to look out for when considering          much choice and influence in selecting
            different universities and courses;           the right university as the university has
         • The UCAS application process;                  in selecting the right students.
         • What to do on results day, whether
            predicted grades have been matched,
            surpassed or missed.

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                               The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021

Choosing the right university
                                                 10
                                                 Types of universities
                                                 What are the different categories and
                                                 do they mean anything?

                                                 12
                                                 Important factors to consider
                                                 How do I know which university is
                                                 the right one for my child?

                                                 16
                                                 Open days
                                                 How to get the best out of open days.

                                                                                                  “
                                                 20                                                           I had a preferred university when I was     “
                                                 Summary                                                         researching potential courses, but I
                                                                                                                  changed my mind after visiting.

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UNIVERSITY THE PARENTS' GUIDE TO - FULL EDITION - Charters School
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Types of universities
Ancient, Russell, Civic or Plate-Glass?          Some other universities established after       Russell Group Universities                       links. They are considered the top
Different terms are used for different           the 1800s are also included in this category,   Some universities belong to the “Russell”        universities in the country, and certainly
types of university and this can be              although some dispute whether they              Group. The name originates from                  benefit from high levels of funding
confusing. Some universities are                 deserve the classification – irrespective       informal meetings held in the Russell            (they receive almost two-thirds of all
members of more than one group                   of the fact that, being built later, their      Hotel of 17 university heads who were            research funds) and, given their strong
whilst others choose not to be                   architectural styles are not in red brick.      keen to ensure their interests were              reputation, entry requirements are likely
members of any. There are over 150                                                               represented to government. The group             to be high. Does obtaining a degree at a
universities vying for applications.             Plate Glass Universities                        was incorporated in 2007 and there are           Russell university make a difference? No
                                                 The “Plate Glass” (or “plateglass”)             currently 24 Russell universities, all of        doubt, there’s a certain kudos attached,
What’s the difference and do the
                                                 universities were established during the        which have an excellent reputation for           but other universities might offer more
names mean anything?                                                                                                                              appropriate opportunities so try not to be
                                                 1960s and, like red brick, take their name      research, teaching and industry sector
                                                 from the construction materials of the                                                           biased.
Broadly speaking, the categories of
university relate to the time at which           buildings – typically plate glass in concrete
they were established. This lends itself         frames. Plate Glass Universities were the       FOR A LIST OF ALL RUSSELL GROUP
to different subject specialisms and             next batch of universities to be given royal
                                                 charter between 1963 and 1992.                  UNIVERSITIES CLICK HERE
teaching styles.

Ancient Universities
The original seven “ancient” universities
were established before 1600. The earliest
was the University of Oxford in 1096 and
the latest was the University of Dublin in
1592.

Red Brick Universities
“Red Brick” (or “Civic”) universities
were established during the industrial
revolution of the 1800s, usually in cities.
They got their name because of their
iconic red brick - a popular building
material at the time. The original six
members (Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds,
Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield)             New Universities
specialised in much needed vocational            “New” universities generally refer to what
skills such as medicine and engineering          were previously called polytechnics
(rather than the arts, language and              until gaining university status from 1992
theology as studied at earlier universities).    onwards.                                                                                           UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW

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Important factors to consider
                                                                                                Campus or city                                   travelling (sometimes some distance)
Teaching and learning                            University size                                                                                 from one place to another is part and
                                                                                                The big question here is “to campus or
Most universities follow the academic            Like secondary schools, universities                                                            parcel of the package. This provides a
                                                                                                not to campus”. The great advantage of
year of schools, starting in September /         can vary enormously in size and the                                                             closer experience to life in the workplace
                                                                                                campus universities is that everything is
October and finishing in June / July with        advantages and drawbacks should be                                                              for most people and it gives students
                                                                                                in one place – lectures, accommodation,
three terms.                                     considered depending upon your child’s                                                          a chance to become fully immersed
                                                                                                clubs, laundries, shops etc. They are
                                                 learning styles. Large universities offer                                                       in the city itself. Whilst approved
                                                                                                usually situated just outside or on the
Ancient Universities (such as Oxford,            a much wider subject choice, alongside                                                          accommodation may be offered in the
                                                                                                borders of larger towns – “a town within
Cambridge, Edinburgh) have been                  greater social opportunities with an                                                            first year or two, later in their degree
                                                                                                a town”. The impression can be that
established over many centuries and              astonishing array of clubs that could                                                           students are often required to find their
                                                                                                they are safer, offer less distractions and
tend to offer traditional subjects (Maths,       give your child the chance to learn a                                                           own accommodation independently.
                                                                                                provide a stronger sense of community
English, languages) taught in a traditional      wonderful new hobby that lasts a lifetime.                                                      In some cases, universities won’t offer
                                                                                                because, in the main, students tend to
style. By contrast, newer universities           Smaller universities cannot compete with                                                        accommodation in halls if the family
                                                                                                stay campus based.
(such as Loughborough, York and Suffolk)         this (especially specialist establishments);                                                    home is within certain mileage, so it’s
offer more vocational subjects taught            however, they may offer a greater sense                                                         worth checking the university website.
                                                                                                City universities offer the same facilities,
using less traditional methods. Personal         of community and belonging.
                                                                                                but they are split up across the town so
learning styles are important to consider.
If your child excels when given lots of
direction and little autonomy, a more
traditional learning environment might
                                                                                                NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
help them achieve better results and                                                            CAMPUS-BASED
vice-versa if they perform better when left
largely to their own devices.

The university and its industry links
Try to find out about the university and
its industry links. Strong ties with industry
often indicate excellent internship and
placement opportunities which is very
attractive for post degree employment
prospects, especially important if you
do not have these links within your own
families and contacts.

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Proximity to home                                Rural or city based
Flying the nest is more appealing to             Another consideration is whether your
some than others! This is an important           child prefers town or country living. A
consideration. Attending university is,          university’s location could drive many
for most students, the first time they’ve        of the social activities they offer, so if
lived away from home. For some, this             your child is happiest immersed in the
is exciting and appealing, for others it’s       countryside and loves trekking, mountain-
traumatic and challenging.                       climbing and cross-country, they could
                                                 feel short-changed by being plunged into
Of course, there are practical                   an urban setting and vice-versa.
implications too. If the university is
close to home, it may be possible to             If your child has a particular passion, it is
avoid accommodation costs, although              worth checking out whether the university
continuing to live in the family home            already has a group focused around this
can dilute the university experience             hobby or, if not, how easy it would be to
in many ways – although this can be              set up. Don’t consider it trivial to focus on
combatted by signing up to plenty of             pastimes, happiness is a primary driver for
clubs and socials. But as parents it will        success, and a university’s environment
be different for you too! Your lifestyle         can contribute hugely.
will change if your child continues to
live at home but is attending university
rather than school.                                 Try to be neutral
Is it important that your child can easily          The tough challenge here is
pop home at weekends or will they                   putting aside your preferences as
adjust favourably to only returning                 a parent and supporting your child
during holiday periods?                             in the choices that are right for
                                                    them – particularly if they are polar
                                                    opposites to your own. Don’t forget,
                                                    it’s natural to feel protective of your
                                                    brood and want to keep them close
                                                    but university provides a good
                                                    opportunity for them to fly the nest
                                                    in a protected environment.

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Open days
Most universities offer an “open day”            Plan ahead
for prospective students, including              It is vital your child arrives prepared to
lectures and talks, as well as existing          get plenty of answers to whether the
staff and students on hand to answer             university can meet their needs. Ideally,
questions. Websites, literature and              being armed with lots of questions to
videos can all give an excellent sense           ask during a visit gives a good basis for
of the university, but nothing beats a           conversation and interaction on the day,
personal visit.                                  which could help them stand out.

If you can, join your child on visits            However, if your child hasn’t yet gained
without taking control; go with them             the confidence to do this, then they
on open days to give them support                could contact a student representative
and guidance (it can be daunting                 ahead of the visit and get answers by
                                                 email or set up a chat with a student
visiting a new place, much more so
                                                 while they’re there. What’s important is to
when you think it could hold the key
                                                 get a good sense of the comprehensive
to your future happiness) but give               opportunities available and whether they
them some time alone if they need it.            are offered in an environment that suits
                                                 your child’s personality to make the most
Think beyond academics                           of them.
Don’t focus solely on the academic
elements of the university. Check out            Trust your child’s instincts
halls of residence, social centres and           No matter how appealing a course
sports facilities. If the university is town-    might be, if your child hates the feel of
based, spend time in the local area and          the university the minute they step in the
give some thought to how it would feel           door, it’s highly unlikely that they will get
living there for the next few years. It’s not    either the qualifications or experience they
a lifelong commitment, but three-to-five         deserve. What looks good in theory doesn’t
years, especially for a late teenager,           always match up in reality. Pay heed if they
seems a long time.                               take an instant dislike to a place.
From a practical viewpoint, what looks
like a hop, skip and a jump on the map           Make the most of any offers
could prove a deal-breaker when thinking         Remember to check the university
of the practicalities of living in one part of   websites. Some offer vouchers towards
town but learning in another.                    the cost of travel to open days.

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                                                                                                                                               ©

Preparing for an open day
To get the best value out of university          there. It’s a good idea for both of you to
open days, it’s advisable to prepare             speak to current undergraduate students
in advance. Open days often include              if the opportunity arises - ask them
a variety of lectures, walking tours             questions about teaching quality, societies,                            Question ideas for an open day
and presentations, so your child                 accommodation and the local area.
                                                                                                                     • Will an applicant still be considered if they did not meet
should check what’s on offer and
                                                                                                                       their predicted grades?
plan accordingly. In addition, they
should make a list of questions that             Walk and observe                                                    • Will an applicant still be considered if they did not meet
they want to ask each university                 Walk around the campus and university                                 the GCSE entry requirements stated on your website?
so they can compare and contrast                 town or city. Try to encourage your child to                        • What is the university looking for in a student’s application
differences to help with their                   get a good feel for the environment. Can                              / personal statement - is there anything they can do to
decision making. Which questions                 they imagine themselves living there? Do the                          increase their chances of being offered a place?
should they ask staff, which are                 students look happy? Is it a friendly place to
                                                                                                                     • How many hours of timetabled teaching does the
better aimed at students, or should              be?
                                                                                                                       university provide and what is the ratio between lecture
they ask the same questions to both?                                                                                   and seminar teaching?
                                                 The art of seduction                                                • What additional support does the university provide if
Prepare questions in advance                     Universities take the opportunity of open
                                                                                                                       a student finds certain parts of the course particularly
                                                 days to showcase their most impressive
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Open                                                                                challenging?
                                                 facilities. Be mindful, what you are being
days provide the perfect opportunity to                                                                              • Does the university provide any additional support
                                                 shown likely represents the very best they
receive direct answers to questions that                                                                               for students with a particular learning difficulty (e.g.
                                                 have to offer. Don’t let your child be totally
may be difficult to find online. Furthermore,                                                                          dyslexia)?
                                                 seduced by this, they must make their
answers to some questions may be different
                                                 decision based on plenty of other research                          • What does the university offer with regards to career
compared to the previous year, such as
                                                 too.                                                                  support and guidance?
whether they would make exceptions to the
entry requirements stated on their website.                                                                          • What type of careers / jobs do students go on to have
Both you and your child should think of          Don’t stress if you can’t attend                                      after graduating?
some questions in advance rather than                                                                                • Can a student take on part-time employment whilst
thinking on the spot.                            If you and your child are unable to make the
                                                 official open day, then you could arrange a                           studying?
                                                 private viewing. Call the admissions team                           • Does the university provide opportunities to study
Speak with students                              to arrange a suitable date and time to visit.                         abroad / work in industry (or can you tell me more
                                                 Whilst you are likely to miss out on some                             about these opportunities)?
Whilst open days provide an opportunity
to receive information on the degree             of the lectures and presentations that are
course and the university itself, nothing        organised during an open day, you may still
beats hearing from someone with first-           be able to speak with a member of staff from
hand experience of what it is like to study      the relevant faculty.

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Summary                                                                                          Advice from parents

   University is about much                      3. Will distance from home
   more than obtaining further                      affect your child’s success and                                                               Try to encourage your child to join
   qualifications. To succeed, your                 happiness;                                                                                     the student tours on a university
                                                                                                                                                      open day. Prathima found it
   child must feel comfortable.
                                                                                                                                                    much easier to ask students her
                                                 4. Will your child do better in a                                                                questions compared to speaking to
   1. Think abut location, size, and                closed (campus) or townbased                                                                   lecturers or the admissions team.
      atmosphere of the university;                 (non-campus) environment;

   2. Choosing the right course is more          5. Take advantage of open days or
      important than the university                 university visits, and try to ensure
      type;                                         your child prepares in advance.
                                                                                                                                                    Don’t worry if the right university
                                                                                                                                                   for your child is far from home and
                                                                                                                                                  you don’t get to see each other as often
                                                                                                                                                   as you would like. Sara could only
                                                                                                                                                   come home during the holidays, but
                                                                                                                                                  we found lots of ways to keep in touch
                                                                                                                                                    - Facetime and Whatsapp were our
                                                                                                                                                               favourites.

                                                                                                                                                   Make sure the university offers
                                                                                                                                                   facilities for your child to enjoy
                                                                                                                                                   their hobbies. The Olympic sized
                                                                                                                                                   swimming pool at Birmingham
                                                                                                                                                      university enabled Chris to
                                                                                                                                                  continue competing on a national
                                                                                                                                                                  level.

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Choosing the right course

                                                 24
                                                 Types of courses
                                                 What options are there for my child
                                                 wanting to pursue higher education and
                                                 how do we research the right course?

                                                 30
                                                 League tables
                                                 What is the difference between
                                                 national and subject league tables
                                                 and are they important?

                                                 36
                                                 University fees and learning
                                                 entitlements
                                                 What loans are available for my child
                                                 and how do we apply?

                                                 44
                                                                                                 “
                                                                                                               After a lot of research, I decided to do
                                                                                                               a degree course in Space Science and
                                                 Summary                                                      Robotics. I may never be an astronaut,
                                                                                                              but I could develop equipment that gets
                                                                                                                                                             “
                                                                                                                            used in space

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Types of Undergraduate courses
Most university courses offer a three-           Foundation years                               Foundation degrees                               Higher National Certificates
year undergraduate programme,                    This is a one-year study period that can       Not to be confused with foundation               (HNCs) or Diploma (HNDs)
but some offer “sandwich” courses                count as the first year towards a degree or    years, foundation degrees last two years         The Certificate takes one year and is
which last four years, one of which              as a standalone course. Foundation years       and offer an alternative if a pupil hasn’t       equivalent to a first year degree course,
is spent in the workplace (which                 are designed to increase knowledge in          reached the grade for a degree course,           whilst the diploma takes two years and
could be overseas). There’s also the             specialised subjects required for a degree     doesn’t want to commit to three or               is equivalent to the first two years of a
opportunity to obtain certificates of            course and are usually taken if students       more years at university, or prefers more        degree course. Both can be topped up to
education, diplomas, higher national             didn’t meet the entry requirements of the      vocational study. They can be “topped            a full degree by extending the course or
diplomas and foundation degrees.                 university either because of poor grades       up” with a final year to equate to a             joining a degree course at a later stage.
                                                 or different subject combinations.             bachelors degree.                                The benefit here is to be able to study for
                                                                                                                                                 a degree in stages.
Bachelors
                                                 Diploma in Foundation Studies                  Degree of bachelor level
Usually three or four years long, these
                                                 (art and design)                               apprenticeship
can be single subject, dual subject (dual
                                                                                                This is a comparatively new university
or joint honours) or several subjects            A route towards art and design courses
                                                                                                offering, allowing students taking an
(combined honours). Typically there’s            allowing specialisation in a student’s
                                                                                                apprenticeship to gain a bachelors (or
a quantity that everyone studies – the           specific area of art or design.
                                                                                                masters) qualification by both working
core – and then options to specialise by
                                                                                                and studying at university part time.
taking different modules. Some bachelors                                                                                                         FINDING THE RIGHT COURSE
offer sandwich courses, which means an
additional year in a work placement as                                                                                                           TO SUIT YOUR CHILD
part of the degree. In some cases there’s                                                                                                        IS A TOP PRIORITY
the option to convert the bachelors to
masters by studying for an additional year.

Bachelor of Arts or Science?
The major difference between a Bachelor
of Arts (BA) and a Bachelors of Science
degree (BS or BSc) lies in the subject
chosen for study (i.e. more science
focused or arts focused). For some
subjects, this classification may differ
between universities, such as economics
and psychology. In this case, a BSc in
economics or psychology is normally more
suitable for students with an aptitude for
maths and scientific study compared to
their BA equivalents.

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Researching the right course                                                                      CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE
                                                                                                  IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
                                                                                                  UNIVERSITY TYPE
With over 30,000 courses available                a certain career path, their choice of degree
the right course is out there – it                may be obvious, which can be helpful. If not,
just might be tricky to find it! There            some thought and reflection on things they
is plenty of information about                    enjoy that might apply to the workplace
university courses available so it’s              can give direction so some research on jobs
worth researching diligently before               might help streamline options by providing
making choices, rather than students              guidance on routes into industry.
relying on “my teacher recommends
it”, “my parents took it”, or “I like the         Too much choice?
university”.
                                                  If they are struggling with a starting point,
                                                  investigating what’s of interest to them is a
When to step back                                 good place to start. You think they spend
This research is something that your child        too much time playing video games? How
should undertake – not you on their behalf.       about a BA in Computer Games Design – it
Avoid the temptation to use this as an            can be a lucrative business post-graduation.
opportunity to investigate options you            Not academic but loves sports? BA in Sports
would have liked to take given the chance. It     Management. A passion for understanding
may be tough with the benefit of hindsight        how things work? How about MEng(Hons) in
and experience, but try not to forget it’s your   Product Design Engineering? Always reading
child’s life and their choices, not yours.        crime thrillers? Perhaps they’d enjoy a BA in
                                                  Criminology.
Finding focus
Thinking of favourite subject choices is a        Predicted grades
good way to narrow focus, but don’t forget        Your child should research courses with
many of the subjects offered at degree            entry requirements that are closely
level aren’t covered in sixth form options,       aligned to their predicted grades,
so don’t let your child restrict themselves       allowing for some aspirational and safe
to only considering topics they’ve already        choices either side.
studied. Of course, if they are already set on

Useful link           I’m i
                     me a nteractiv
                         nd I’
                               ll tak e! Click
    Which?               their        e
                               webs you to
   University                        ite
 course search

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                           The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

Suggested starting points
There is plenty of information about univer-       involved is likely to do better on a course
sity courses available, and whilst it's up to      that has plenty of experiential learning rather           Rory’s story:
your child to do the research, as parents you      than one that is largely based around lec-
can help guide them by checking that the           tures and seminars. Here are some sugges-                 By the time I began Year 13, I
courses they shortlist fit their personality.      tions for things to consider when deciding                had narrowed my degree to two
For example, a child that likes to be active       whether a course meets your child's needs:                possible choices - an art related
and enjoys practical studies and getting                                                                     course or biology. Whenever I
                                                                                                             explain this to people, they are
                                                                                                             always surprised. I enjoyed both,
                                                                                                             I was on track for As and I had no
                                                 Do they enjoy being in the classroom?                       idea about a potential career path.
          Is your child academic
                                                 Do they enjoy learning in a studio or outside?
          or practical?                                                                                      Having attended a fairly academic
                                                 Do they enjoy writing essays and
                                                 researching topics or prefer to make and
                                                                                                             school, there was a certain
                                                 produce things?                                             pressure to choose biology.
                                                                                                             However, it was the comments of
                                                                                                             one friend that made me finally
                                                 Is there a particular part of a school subject              choose a degree in illustrations.
                                                 they have enjoyed?                                          He said I should choose an art
          Which school                                                                                       based degree as I was always seen
                                                 Do they have a natural flair for a subject?
          subjects do they                                                                                   doodling in my sketch book. His
          enjoy?                                 If they enjoy more than one subject, are
                                                 there any common themes?
                                                                                                             comments made me realise what I
                                                                                                             actually had a passion for - outside
                                                                                                             of the classroom and during my
                                                                                                             spare time.
                                                 Is your child particularly passionate about
                                                 any music, sport or art related activities?
                                                                                                             I have never regretted this
          What are your                          Think about your child’s personality traits                 decision. Dedicating three years
          child’s hobbies?                                                                                   to a subject I genuinely enjoyed
                                                 Try to think outside the box - do they
                                                 have a particular interest in current
                                                                                                             beyond study led to some of the
                                                 affairs? Gaming? Helping others?                            best years of my life. I am now
                                                                                                             working for a large marketing
                                                                                                             company creating online
                                                 Try to think of subjects that will help                     illustrations for a range of clients -
          Has your child
                                                 them pursue this career without                             a career choice I never considered
          expressed interest in
                                                 narrowing their options too much if                         when I was at school.
          a particular career?                   they change their mind later

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                 The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

                                                                                               SUBJECT-SPECIFIC LEAGUE
League Tables                                                                                  TABLES ARE MORE RELEVANT
                                                                                               THAN NATIONAL LEAGUE
National league tables                           Subject specific league tables                TABLES
National league tables are published             It’s worth reviewing subject league
annually by the Complete University              tables to see how the chosen university
Guide, The Guardian and The Times /              delivers in the specific subject areas of
Sunday Times. They cover a range of              interest. This is different from national
factors including student satisfaction,          league tables, which shows how a
entry standards, facilities and academic         university performs overall. It’s possible
services amongst others and focus                that a university may rank low on overall
on full-time student experience (not             league tables, but be very strong and
part-time).                                      well-respected in a particular area of
                                                 study (and vice versa). Also, check for
Well established universities have had a         professional accreditation by approved
long time to hone their subject offerings        membership bodies if seeking out a
and know how to perform well in league           professional degree – this is a good
tables. By contrast, new universities do         indicator of whether the course is highly
not have this advantage but often excel by       regarded within industry and whether or
offering new, innovative subjects which          not it’s equally valued both within the UK
can prove more relevant to today’s working       and internationally.
environment. A variance of 20-30 places
could indicate as little as a couple of points   The Teaching Excellence and
difference, so bear this in mind when            Student Outcomes Framework (TEF)
considering where a university is ranked. It’s
also worth noting that universities that rank    To assess the quality of teaching within
highly in national tables don’t always rank      a university, consider the TEF rating
well in international tables as the criteria     as decided by an independent expert
applied are different. If you spot a big         panel including students, academics
difference, it’s worth visiting the university   and employer representatives. Ratings
website directly, as they sometimes offer        awarded are gold, silver or bronze.
explanations - or you could call them.

Useful links
      The                       The                 The Times
    Guardian                 Complete                 Good                  The TEF
   University                University             University              Ratings
   Guide 2020                Guide 2020             Guide 2020

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                     The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

University entry requirements
Different universities have different            Customised admissions tests                       UCAS tariff                                      A Level UCAS points
entry requirements, so it’s important            Some universities not only require a              In order to compare students as equitably
to check the university’s website                specified qualification grade at A Level          as possible, UCAS offers a tariff (previously
for details. Entry requirements are                                                                                                                        Grade                     UCAS points
                                                 (or minimum number of UCAS points)                known as the “points system”) whereby
set out by the university to assess              but they also have their own admissions           each sixth form qualification is awarded
whether your child is suitable for a             tests / examinations to help them assess          a certain number of points according to a                   A*                          56
particular course.                               candidates like for like. Interviews may          combination of the time spent studying                      A                           48
                                                 also form a critical part of the application      it and the grade achieved. This tariff is
                                                                                                                                                               B                           40
Universities set their own standards             process, but not for all universities. If         recognised nationally across the UK and
Subject combinations, types of                   applying for performing arts, auditions           universities use it to gauge the standard                   C                           32
qualification and subject grades needed          will also be likely to feature and other art      of achievement for sixth form students.                     D                           24
for entry not only vary from university to       subjects may require the development of           It enables them to make comparisons
                                                 a portfolio.                                      between students who have studied                            E                          16
university, but may also differ within the
same university for different degrees. As                                                          different types of sixth form courses –                     U                           0
a rule, universities are not flexible about      GCSEs could matter                                i.e. National Highers, BTEC, A Levels etc.
their entry requirements (i.e. if they set       Some universities may also specify
minimum grades, your child will have to                                                            Depending on the perceived course
                                                 certain GCSE results. With AS Levels no           difficulty and the type of university,
reach those grades); however, there are          longer contributing to your child’s final                                                          T Level UCAS points
sometimes exceptions to rules (if your child                                                       the minimum entry requirements will
                                                 A Level grade, universities are increasingly      vary both from university to university
can offer something special or if many           looking at GCSE performance as a formal
students have failed to meet the entry                                                             and from course to course within the                    Grade                     UCAS points
                                                 indicator of your child’s academic ability.       same university. Not all post sixth form
requirements that year) so it’s always worth
speaking to admissions to see where they                                                           establishments cite a UCAS tariff, they             Distinction*                       168
might flex requirements.                         It’s worth checking                               might specify grade requirements (i.e. x3 A
                                                                                                                                                       Distinction                        144
                                                 Always check with the university (by              Levels, minimum ABB), but it is the same
Not all sixth form qualifications are            ringing the admissions tutor) if your child’s     thing. However, if they do cite a UCAS tariff            Merit                         120
considered equal by some universities. For       particular qualification is not listed on their   (i.e. minimum 120 points), check out the                  Pass
                                                                                                   tariff tables using the UCAS calculator to        (C or above on the core)
                                                                                                                                                                                           96
example, some do not accept BTEC and             website. Some universities are willing to be
others consider certain A Levels weightier       flexible for the right candidate.                 work out what qualification and grades                    Pass                          72
than others.                                                                                       will be needed to gain university entry.            (D or E on the core)

                                                                                                   Useful link

                                                                                                        Tariff
                                                                                                      calculator

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                   The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

Understanding university websites
University websites may look                     Course content                                  Teaching and learning                            Entry requirements
different when comparing side                    Degree courses vary between universities        Not all students learn in the same way           Each university sets its own entry
by side, but the information they                and each degree may provide a very              so it is important to research how each          requirements so make sure your child
relay is similar and will definitely             different experience for your child.            degree is delivered and assessed. If             is accessing courses based on their
cover course content, information                Thoroughly research the modules that            your child is particularly anxious when it       ability and potential. Entry requirements
about the teaching style and entry               each degree provides by comparing core          comes to examinations, then choosing a           provide a good indication of the difficulty
requirements.                                    modules (mandatory modules of study)            degree which is mainly assessed through          of each degree course and so it is
                                                 and optional modules between each               coursework or presentations may                  important to be realistic in what your
It’s important to be aware that degree           university degree.                              increase your child’s chances of success.        child can access when moving into higher
courses vary significantly between                                                                                                                education.
universities:- even when the degree title is     Furthermore, some universities may              Moreover, think carefully about your
the same! So make sure your child pays           provide additional options, such as a the       child’s learning needs. Will they thrive         Remember, your child can only apply to
close attention to understanding the             possibility or studying abroad (usually in      in small classroom based environments            a maximum of five universities through
differences in course modules,                   a partner university) or a year long work       (seminars), lectures or more practical           UCAS, so carefully note all the entry
assessment methods, teaching styles              placement. These may be important               learning environments?                           requirements for each university before
and entry requirements between                   considerations in giving your child a                                                            applying to check whether your child is
universities.                                    particular advantage when entering their                                                         likely to meet these.
                                                 chosen career.
These differences could be deciding
factors in which course (and university) is
your child’s preferred option. For
example, if there are two universities of           Things to consider:                              Things to consider:                             Things to consider:
similar rankings and style that they like
almost equally, where one offers a course           • What are the core modules that                 • Does teaching mainly consist of               • What are the minimum entry
with a teaching style better suited to their          must be studied in years 1, 2 and 3?             large lectures or seminars?                     requirements?
personal learning preferences, or course            • Which optional modules are on                  • Is the course largely exam based              • Does the course require a grade in
content more closely matching their                   offer?                                           or coursework based?                            a particular subject?
areas of interest - perhaps they are really         • Is there an option to study                    • What are the facilities like?                 • Will the course accept BTECs or
keen to have overseas experience - this               abroad?                                        • Is a dissertation in year 3                     alternative qualifications to A
would be a significant contributor to their         • Is there an option to spend one                  required?                                       Level?
final decision.                                       year in industry?                              • For practical subjects such as                • Do they require a minimum Level of
                                                    • Is there an option to combine                    Media Studies, how much of the                  Maths or English?
                                                      this subject with another                        course is theoretical and how                 • Does the course require a portfolio
                                                      subject?                                         much is practical?                              or an interview prior to making an
                                                                                                                                                       offer?

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                                                                                               The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

Understanding university fees                                                                  LOAN APPLICATIONS MUST BE
                                                                                               MADE AT LEAST EIGHT WEEKS
                                                                                               BEFORE THE COURSE BEGINS
With university fees at almost                   Timing
£10,000 per year plus living costs               Applications for student finance can
on top, the prospect of committing               be made prior to receiving results and
to three or four years studying can              confirming a university offer. So, once
seem as if the financial burden                  application to UCAS has been completed,
outweighs the benefits. But                      your child can make a provisional
graduates earn more than school                  application for student finance whilst
leavers and payback terms are linked             waiting on results. Loan applications
to earnings (as explained later) so it           must be made at least eight weeks
can be a worthwhile investment.                  before the course commences, otherwise
                                                 payment may be delayed: don’t forget
Loan applications                                this covers both types of loan - tuition
Loan applications are made to the                fees and maintenance loans. We
country of home residence, not the               recommend encouraging your child to
destination university through Student           apply early to ensure loans are processed
Finance. So, if your child lives in Scotland     on time.
and is going to university in England,
applications are made to Scotland.               Tuition fees
Student Finance is the organisation              The tuition fees (up to £9,250 per annum)
responsible for providing Tuition Fee            are paid via Student Finance direct to
Loans and Maintenance Loans to                   the university (once the place has been
students at university. Applications must        accepted) and parental earnings do not
be made separately.                              impact this.

                                                 Maintenance loans
    Key terms:
                                                 The maintenance loan is influenced
    Tuition fee loan: the loan                   by parental earnings. Simply put, the
    to cover the annual cost of the              higher the family income, the less money
    university degree                            granted:- parents will be expected to
                                                 cover any shortfall. However, assessment
    Maintenance loan: the loan                   is made on “residual” income – i.e. the
    to cover cost of living such as              money left over after debts and expenses
    accommodation, food, course                  have been paid (so not pre-tax earnings
    materials.                                   or even net income). This money is paid
                                                 termly directly to the student, so make
                                                 sure they know how to budget.

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                                                                                                                                                            info@theparentsguideto.co.uk
                                                                                                                                                                                    2020-2021©
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A different type of loan
Divorced / separated Parents                     Other financing options
Where parents are separated or divorced,         It’s worth reviewing scholarships, grants           Repayment terms are:
income is assessed on the parent with            and bursaries to see whether you child
whom the child resides and (if applicable)       might qualify for additional income,                1. No payments are made until the            3. Repayments are docked directly
their current partner (irrespective of           particularly if they are studying for                  student is earning £25,000 in the            at source and they cease if salary
whether or not that partner is responsible       specialist degrees such as medical, social             April after graduation;                      drops below the threshold;
for the child). Income for the other             work or teaching.
biological parent is not assessed.                                                                   2. Once they qualify for payment,            4. Interest rates apply from when
                                                                                                        they repay only 9% on any amount             the loan is given (i.e. start of the
                                                 Prepayments                                                                                         degree);
                                                                                                        earned over the threshold (so if
Repayments                                       Be careful with making pre-payments.                   they earned £25,100 in April after
Repayments are collected via Student             Many students never repay the full                     graduating, they would pay £9 a           5. Any outstanding debt is wiped
Loans Company, who work alongside                amount of their loans before the amount                month);                                      clear after 30 years.
HMRC to collect repayments in line               is wiped clear. Trying to save on interest
with earnings after the degree is                fees can prove a false economy. However,
complete.                                        if they are likely to have continued
                                                 employment at a high salary, then it might
Repayment terms are very generous, so            be worth making a prepayment. There are
avoid thinking that student loans are            online calculators to help work this out.
like conventional bank loans or even
a mortgage. Importantly, no money                Be aware!
is taken until earnings reach a certain
threshold, they are paused if earnings           Even with the maximum maintenance
drop below that threshold (maternity             allowance, it may be necessary to
or redundancy), they are not evaluated           supplement living costs, either through you
on partner earnings and they are wiped           contributing directly or your child getting
clean after 30 years.                            work whilst studying:- or a combination of
                                                 both!

Useful links

    GOV. UK                The Student                 Student
    Student                  Loans                     Finance
     loans                  Company                   Calculator

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Learning difficulties and entitlements
For students with a learning need,               necessary to undergo a “study needs
mental health issue or disability,               assessment” at an approved DSA centre
there’s the option to apply for                  (they will send you a link identifying
dedicated funding to help with extra             local assessors). However, if a student
costs associated with their condition.           is applying for both financial support
It’s called Disabled Students’                   and DSAs, they must complete their
Allowances (DSAs).                               student loan application through Student
                                                 Finance England first (as explained in
This is in addition to student finance           Understanding Fees section) else they
and there is no need to repay the                will not be able to make the online
money awarded. It may cover specialist           application.
equipment (i.e. a computer, voice
recognition software, dictaphone),               Don’t forget , if your child has an
non-medical helpers (i.e. proof reader,          education and healthcare plan (“EHCP”)
note taker, sign interpreter), extra             this will lapse on higher education, but
travel (i.e. the cost of taxis if you child      support will be available through the
can’t take public transport) and / or            DSA.
accommodation contribution (i.e. if the
bathroom needs to be adapted to meet             Whilst notification of eligibility can take
your child’s needs). It is applied to costs      place relatively quickly, it can take a long
incurred directly because of undertaking         time to process and complete all stages
the course (rather than costs that would         of the application (up to fourteen weeks),
be accumulated anyway) and costs                 so do apply early. To qualify for DSAs, a
incurred over and above that of those            student must be an undergraduate and
made by any student without a similar            studying for at least one year (this can
disadvantage.                                    be part time, depending on the “course
                                                 intensity”) and have written evidence
The allowance is assessed not by                 from a qualified specialist about their
household income but individual needs            condition.
and, upon eligible application, it will be

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The maximum allowances can be found              It’s not necessary to inform the college
online, however, very few students are           or university if your child receives DSAs;
entitled to the full benefit and most receive    however, it might be helpful for them to              Antoine’s story:
much less. Money is usually paid to the          know to ensure your child gets all the
organisation providing the service although      support available. In addition, colleges and          At school, I was always given the
in some cases it may be paid to the student’s    universities will have a disability adviser           help and support I needed to do
bank account. Refunds and reimbursements         who will be able to give you help and                 well. I was given a scribe, extra time
will not be given for any costs incurred prior   advice about your child’s entitlements.               and learning support to help me
to the appropriate application and approval                                                            with my dyslexia. I was surprised to
systems. If awarded the cost of a new                                                                  discover that this type of help also
computer, it will be necessary to contribute                                                           extended to higher education.
£200 towards this.
                                                                                                       Applying for DSA enabled me
                                                                                                       to purchase a range of learning
   Conditions that might qualify for DSA include:                                                      software that converted my
                                                                                                       speech into text. This helped
                                                                                                       me to write essays quicker than
   • social, emotional and mental health         • Under the Equality Act 2010, some long-             I usually would under normal
     difficulties (such as ADD, ADHD);		           term health conditions are classified as            conditions. The university itself
     sighted or needing crutches);                 disabilities (such as HIV, cancer, chronic          also supported me - so I am glad I
                                                   heart disease).                                     told them. I thought I would be the
   • sensory and / or physical needs (such
     as visual impairment or equipment to        • cognition and learning difficulties 		              only one going to university with
     support a physical difficulty);               (such as dyslexia or dyspraxia);                    a learning difficulty, but that was
                                                                                                       definitely not the case.
   • communication and interaction
                                                 Keep Student Finance England updated
     needs (such as difficulties with speech
                                                 about any changes in condition because
     / language, Asperger’s Syndrome,
                                                 it may mean an entitlement to more
     autisim);
                                                 allowance.

Useful links

    GOV. UK                 The Student
    Student                   Loans
     loans                   Company

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The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©                                                  The Parents’ Guide to University 2020 - 2021 ©

Summary                                                                                         Advice from parents

    Choosing the right course at the             3. Be guided by league tables, but                                                              Encourage your child to find part-time
    right university takes research.                don’t obsess over them;                                                                       work over the holidays as this will help
                                                                                                                                                 cover living expenses during term-time.
    1. Understand how courses differ from        4. Check university entry requirements                                                              We couldn’t cover 100% of Alfie’s
       one another to steer the decision            carefully;                                                                                   living expenses, but the money he earnt
       making process;                                                                                                                             as a support assistant in a summer
                                                 5. Investigate financing options for                                                             camp helped make up the difference.
    2. How long does your child want to             both tuition fees and maintenance
       commit to further education (at              loans and apply with plenty of time.
       this stage) and do they want to go
       abroad?

                                                                                                                                                  Don’t worry if your child doesn’t
                                                                                                                                                   have a career in mind - it’s OK
                                                                                                                                                 not to know at this point. Philippa
                                                                                                                                                   has always loved reading and
                                                                                                                                                 chose to study English Literature;
                                                                                                                                                  she’s really enjoying her time at
                                                                                                                                                              university.

                                                                                                                                                     Don’t let the most famous
                                                                                                                                                   university names drive your
                                                                                                                                                          child’s decision.
                                                                                                                                                 After looking into it, Leon found
                                                                                                                                                  the best media studies course to
                                                                                                                                                   suit him was at Southampton
                                                                                                                                                  University, which has excellent
                                                                                                                                                          industry links.

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The UCAS process
                                                 48
                                                 Understanding UCAS
                                                 What is UCAS and what are the main
                                                 stages of the application process?

                                                 56
                                                 Tracking the application
                                                 What happens once my child applies
                                                 to their chosen universities?

                                                 62
                                                 UCAS key dates
                                                 A timeline of the most important
                                                 deadlines and key dates.

                                                                                                “
                                                 65                                                           My school provided a lot of help about
                                                                                                            how to fill in the UCAS application, but I
                                                                                                                                                          “
                                                 Summary                                                     still needed to do some research myself.

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Understanding UCAS
                                                                                                    focus and count against the applicant.
All university applications are made             Nominated access
through the University and Colleges                                                                 In some cases, universities automatically        UCAS parent newsletter
                                                 Whilst your child needs to complete the            offer similar alternatives if an applicant
Admissions Service (“UCAS”). There               application themselves, in the personal                                                             For regular parental updates
is a strict process and application                                                                 doesn’t make their preferred choice, so using    regarding the UCAS application
                                                 information section, there’s the option for        applications for multiple variations of a
procedure so it’s vital to know what             them to add your name as “nominated                                                                 process it is worth signing up to the
information needs to be provided, in                                                                similar degree is a wasted opportunity.          UCAS parents newsletter.
                                                 access” which means that, with a few of
what format and when it needs to be
submitted. Unlike schools that can
                                                 their personal details, you will be able to        A scattergun approach may backfire
                                                 track progress with their application directly                                                                 Sign up here
sometimes flex deadlines for academic            either with UCAS or the universities they’ve
                                                                                                    Applying for courses that are completely
work, the UCAS deadlines are fixed               applied to. This is very handy if they are
                                                                                                    different – irrespective of university
and late applications may not be                 travelling and out of contact, or not very
                                                                                                    location – could be interpreted that your
considered at all so it’s important to           good at keeping you updated on progress.
                                                                                                    child doesn’t know where their interest
respect the timetable outlined.                                                                     lies and is unlikely to be looked upon
                                                                                                    favourably. If this happens, it might be
                                                 Facilitating information sharing                   better for them to go back to the drawing
   Seven sections for completion:                UCAS doesn’t make applications for                 board and reconsider their course choices.
                                                 finance, but giving permission for them
   1.     Personal details                       to share details on the application could
   2.     Additional information                 speed up fund applications for either
   3.     Student finance                        tuition or maintenance fees.
   4.     Choices
   5.     Education details                      Choose wisely
   6.     Personal statement
                                                 Applications can be made for five choices
   7.     Employment
                                                 • this can be five versions of the same
                                                   course at five different universities, or
                                                   five different courses all at the same
Plan ahead                                         university
The process itself is reasonably                 • or any combination thereof.
straightforward but much of the content
requires considerable preparation before         Usually, it doesn’t make much sense to
submission so this is absolutely not             only apply to one university, as entry
something to leave until the last minute.        requirements are likely to be similar whatever
Applications that have been rushed and           the course and this could prevent your
insufficiently thought-through are obvious       child going to university at all if they fail to
and a slap-dash approach could jeopardise        make the minimum grades. In fact, some
opportunities so ensure your child invests       universities prefer applicants to be focused
plenty of time in making the application.        on one course, so multiple applications to
                                                 the same university could indicate a lack of

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Maintain relevance                               Education details                               Employment experience
As only one application can be made              Full education details must be included,        Any paid employment experience should            Keep UCAS informed
across multiple courses it’s important           and this includes results of any                also be included. All the better if there’s      Email is the first choice of
to ensure that the overall application is        examinations taken, including:                  a direct link to the course application,         communications for most
relevant to each course tutor reading it.        •   Examinations taken and what grades          but any experience is worthwhile and             universities, so your child should
                                                     were awarded;                               being able to distil and articulate why          ensure their email accounts are set
For example, if applying for economics           •   Examinations taken but ungraded;            the experience was beneficial (in the            to receive bulk and / or large emails.
and politics at one university, but              •   Examinations taken but where results        personal statement) can make the
economics and philosophy at another, it              are yet to be released;                     difference between a typical application         Don’t forget to ensure that UCAS is
might be wise to focus subject (course)          •   Courses undertaken, even if they were       and a standout one.                              notified straight away if personal
related discussion on economics (the                 not completed (an explanation of why                                                         details (address, email, telephone
common denominator in both cases) and                they weren’t completed should also          Students applying directly will need             numbers) change during the
use references in the personal statement             be provided).                               to include details of references, but            application process. Failing to
to indicate suitability to study politics and                                                    if applications are made via school or           do this could mean important
philosophy. If all of the text in the course     Concealing information here could prove         college, the educational institution will do     communications are missed.
section relates to economics and politics,       costly later down the line if it’s discovered   this for them.
a tutor offering a place for economics and       the application was not wholly truthful:
philosophy might interpret that this is not      it could, in fact, result in offers being
their preferred option and dismiss their         withdrawn.
application accordingly.

    Spreading risk
    Try to encourage your child to apply
    for a range of courses with different
    entry requirements in case academic
    expectations are surpassed or not met.

    It is usually advised to apply for a
    mix of aspirational, realistic and
    safe university options. Applying to
    a range of universities with similar
    entry requirements may prove to be a
    costly error in receiving offers or not on
    results day.

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