A Parents’ Guide
Professor Dominic Houlihan
Vice-Principal (Research & Commercialisation)
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Making the Right Choices
• Range of opportunities in Higher Education is enormous
and exciting
• 40% of young people now progress from school to
university
• 50,000 degree and diploma courses on offer in the UK
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
First Step to a Rewarding Career
• Provides skills, knowledge and understanding for
progression to a variety of careers
• Helps develop transferable skills for a dynamic job market
• Increases earning potential
• Increases maturity and confidence
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
The University at a Glance
• Founded in 1495
• World-class institution, boasting four Nobel Prize winners
• Around 14,000 students
• 120 nationalities
• Over 550 degree programmes
• Research Intensive
• Ranked 137th in the World
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
The University at a Glance
3 Colleges divided into the following disciplines:
• Arts & Divinity
• Social Sciences & Law
• Medicine & Medical Sciences
• Science & Engineering
• Education
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
500 Years of Excellence
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Investing in your Future
• Planned
investment of £230
million over the next
10 years
• The Hub
• Sports Centre
• Matthew Hay
Centre
• Library
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Unique Facilities
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Unique Facilities
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Unique Facilities
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Choice and Flexibility
First and Second Year
• MA & BSc students study their chosen degree subject e.g.
Psychology, and up to four other subjects in each of their first
two years
• Try out new subjects and tailor their degree to suit their needs
and interests
• Flexible system allows students to change degree intention up
to the end of second year, in consultation with their Adviser of
Studies
• Professional qualifications e.g. Law, Teaching, do not offer the
same flexibility
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Study Abroad
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Employment Prospects
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
The city that has it all
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
Alison Clark
Marketing Officer
Student Recruitment and Admissions Service
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
Application to UCAS
UNIVERSITIES make offers
Conditional & Unconditional
15 Jan
By End March
UCAS sends statement of decisions letter and
reply slip
STUDENT replies to each offer
Firm Acceptance (F) Insurance (I) Decline (D)
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
Ways to Accept Offers
• (UF) Firmly accepted Unconditional offer (no insurance)
• (CF) Firmly accepted Conditional offer
• (CF+CI) Firmly accepted Conditional offer + a Conditional
offer as Insurance
• (CF+UI) Firmly accepted Conditional offer + an
Unconditional Insurance offer
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
When to Reply
Last decision from University
Reply Date
31 March 2008
9 May 2008
13 June 2008
6 May 2008
6 June 2008
7 July 2008
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
UCAS EXTRA
• Applications to all degrees except BEd (Hons) Primary
Education and Medicine
• If all 5 choices used and no offers received
• From 26th February 2008, will receive a letter if eligible
• Application locked for 10 working days
• Possible to make sequential applications
• Can accept or decline, if decline can apply to next choice
• Live up to and including 30th June 2008, then join
Clearing
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Admissions Process
Confirmation when results come out
Offer confirmed
or alternative
offer made
Clearing
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Medicine Admissions Process
www.abdn.ac.uk/medicine/prospective-students
www.ukcat.ac.uk (for 2008 applicants onwards)
Application to UCAS
15 Oct 2007
UNIVERSITIES Make Offers
Conditional & Unconditional
Some offers
made from
January, bulk by
end March
2008
Based on 4 stage scoring system
(A) Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form,
(C) UK CAT Score (D) Interview
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Education Admissions Process
Application to UCAS
15 Jan 2008
UNIVERSITIES Make Offers
Conditional & Unconditional
Interviews
Jan-March
Based on 3 stage scoring system
Criminal record check
(A)Academic Scoring, (B) UCAS Form,
(C) Interview
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Applicant Portal
• Unique online applicant portal that allows your son or
daughter to check the status of their application and receive
important information quickly
• Offer letters, applicant guides, accommodation guides will all
be sent out electronically through the portal
• Secure – password protected
• Check regularly
• Developed directly in response to requests from applicants
to receive information electronically
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Applicant Days & Visits
• BSc – 27th Feb
• MA – 5th March
• Engineering –
• 27th February 08 and
19th March 08
• Law – 29th February
and 7th March 08
• Open Door policy –
tour campus and visit
departments. Normally
require 2 weeks notice
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Apply on line at
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Contact your Education Library Board for
more information
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Fees – Rest of UK
•Variable tuition fees are charged at UK institutions outside of
Scotland. Maximum £3145 per year, which nearly every institution
charges. A fee loan can be taken out from the Student Loans
Company to pay for this.
• Standard tuition fees for other UK students studying in Scotland is
£1,775 per year for all degree courses, with the exception of
Medicine where the fee is £2,825 per year.
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Student Support
Maintenance Loans up to £4,625 per year
A Maintenance Grant up to £2,835 per year
Full grant available for household income of
£25,000 or less.
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Student Loans / Grants
Household
Income
Maintenance
Grant
Student Loan
for
Maintenance
Total for
2008 / 2009
£25,000
£2,835
£3,365
£6,200
£30,000
£2,002
£3,365
£5,367
£40,000
£998
£3,627
£4,625
£50,000
£524
£4,101
£4,625
£60,000
£50
£4,575
£4,625
£70,000
No grant
£3,685
£3,685
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Additional Support
• Hardship Funds
•Supplementary Grants:
•Special Support Grant – means tested
•Disabled Student Allowance
•Additional Support Grants (e.g. childcare)
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Student Funding
• Student Loan – Repayments taken from source (9% of
income over £15,000)
• Parental Contribution
• Grants/Bursaries
• Part-time Work
• Savings
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
University Accommodation
• From £103.00 per week, catered
• Additional food - £15 per week
• Total £4,484 - 38 weeks
• From £60.50 per week, self-catering
• Additional food - £30 per week
• Total £3,439 - 38 weeks
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Finance
Private Accommodation
• From £250 per month
• Heating, lighting - say, £40 per month
• Food - say, £100 per month
• Total £4,680 - 12 months
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Accommodation
• Guaranteed
Accommodation
• Brand new facilities
for 2008 entry
• Catered/ Self Catered
• Wardens
• Accommodation
Office
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Support from a Caring Community
• Adviser of Studies
• Centre for Learning
& Teaching
• Medical Practice
• Chaplaincy
• Disability Support
• Counselling
Service
• Careers Service
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Social Life
• Student friendly city
• Charities’ Campaign
•Gaudie
• Student Radio
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Further Information
For further information contact
Student Recruitment and Admissions Service
T: 01224 272090 / 91
E: sras@abdn.ac.uk
W: www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
www.abdn.ac.uk/sras