PARENT AND CARER GUIDE TO UNIVERSITY
3 2 When choosing to move up to university, we understand there may be many questions about how the process works. Help, however, is on hand. Whether you are familiar with the university process or not, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about supporting your child with the move from college to university here at University College Birmingham. As your child comes to the end of their Level 3 vocational course or A-levels, they may be wondering what direction to take next. For some, it may be entering into employment, while for others, it may be taking their studies to the next level by progressing to university. WHY CHOOSE UNIVERSITY? Study what you love. Develop and expand skills and knowledge. Broaden employment opportunities and increase earning potential. Develop essential skills for personal and working life, as well as those necessary for your career. Meet new people, build confidence and expand horizons. TAKING THE NEXT STEP UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
4 5 SEVEN STEPS TO UNIVERSITY FIND YOUR COURSE Search online or contact us to find the course that’s right for your child 01 COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF Come along with your child to explore our campus and facilities at one of our open days APPLY - DIRECT TO US OR THROUGH UCAS Your child can apply directly to us, or through UCAS if they’re applying to other universities CHOOSE YOUR FIRM AND INSURANCE CHOICES If holding offers from several universities, your child needs to make their final choices (if they have applied direct to us, they don’t need to worry about this step) RECEIVE YOUR OFFER From November, your child may start receiving university offers back 02 03 04 05 06 RESULTS If your child gets the results they need, great, you can now relax! But if they’ve not quite achieved what they expected, please give us a call 07 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
6 7 When you and your child start looking into progressing to university, you will come across a lot of new words and abbreviations. To help you understand what these mean, we have listed a few common ones and their meanings below. HIGHER EDUCATION The next level of education after further education. Higher education includes studying on a course from Level 4 to 7, which include undergraduate and postgraduate courses. FOUNDATION DEGREE Typically, a two-year course you can take in undergraduate higher education after you’ve finished further education. Once completed, it may be possible for students to transfer directly onto the final year of a bachelor’s degree such as a BA or BSc (Hons) course, if the transfer criteria is met. (Note: this is not the same as a foundation year, which is a course taken before you can start on the first year of a full bachelor’s degree.) BACHELOR’S DEGREE A three or four-year course you can take in undergraduate higher education after you’ve finished further education. Also known as a first or undergraduate degree, it is usually either a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), depending on what subject you choose. ACCREDITED Many of our degree courses are accredited by the University of Warwick, which means that while we have delivered the course, graduates receive their awards from the University of Warwick. UCAS UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK. They provide a centralised service for applying to university. DIRECT APPLICATIONS An application system you can use to apply for university courses here at University College Birmingham. The good news is there are no lengthy or complicated forms, no need for a personal statement, and no application fee required with this service. CONDITIONAL OFFER This is an offer of a place on a course, subject to conditions set out by the University’s Admissions department. To be accepted on the course, you will need to meet the conditions. JARGON BUSTER UNCONDITIONAL OFFER This means you’ve already met the entry requirements, although there might be a few things to arrange. UNIBUDDY Unibuddy is an online platform designed for you to interact with current students via the University College Birmingham website. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions regarding a course you’re interested in, life on campus or anything else university-related. CLEARING Clearing matches applicants to university places that are yet to be filled. Clearing usually starts in July and runs until October. You can apply through Clearing if: you’re applying to university after the 30th June (clearing opens 5th July) you didn’t receive any offers or don’t want to accept the offers you’ve received you had a conditional offer and didn’t get the grades you needed UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
8 9 WHAT TO STUDY Some people will have had a dream job in their mind from childhood, but most young people (and adults) aren’t sure yet! The variety of courses can seem overwhelming, but selecting the best possible course is a key decision for any student. COURSES If your child has a future career in mind, then encourage them to research the job and what qualifications they’ll need. Some courses offer a clear pathway (nursing, teaching etc.) while others like history, English and psychology are more broad and have several employment options afterwards. NOT SURE WHAT TO STUDY? If your child is unsure about what to study, encourage them to explore what they enjoy, what they’re good at, and then which careers involve a combination of the two. They should also base their decision on what’s important to them. Are they motivated by money and, therefore, want to pursue a career with high earning potential? Consider law, finance or engineering. Are they an adventurer who wants a future career that involves travel and variety? Consider international business management or journalism. Are they passionate about saving the planet or supporting others? Consider environmental science or social work. As well as handling applications, ucas.com has a wealth of information on higher education and the wide range of courses available. icould.com/buzz-quiz could give them ideas about what degree to study. As well as the careers quiz, prospects.ac.uk has hundreds of job profiles. If your child has a career in mind, they can find out what qualifications they’ll need here. You can take a look at whatuni.com to compare courses, read reviews and get advice from students. As well as asking questions about what your child wishes to study, there are also questions that need to be asked about DO THEY WANT A BIG OR SMALL UNIVERSITY? Did you know that University College Birmingham is considered a small university, with just over 5,000 undergraduate students? DO THEY WANT TO LIVE AT UNIVERSITY OR COMMUTE? Did you know that University College Birmingham manages accommodation for more than 800 students in our purpose-built halls of residence in central Birmingham? DOES THE UNIVERSITY OFFER ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT? Have you heard of our Kick-Start scheme? Students can receive up to £800 in each year of study! For more information, go to page 13. WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES ON OFFER LIKE? Having invested more than £200 million in our student facilities and resources over the last 10 years, there is no better time to join University College Birmingham. ARE THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE HOBBIES AND INTERESTS? We have a wide variety of sports and societies available to students when they become a member of our Guild of Students. As well as asking questions about what your child wishes to study, it’s also important to ask questions about where to study. CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUBJECT PLACES TO FIND INSPIRATION AND HELP CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
11 10 WHY APPLY DIRECT? X No application fee No lengthy or complex application forms X The majority of our courses do not require a personal statement X Dedicated admissions team on hand to help WHY CHOOSE HIGHER EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM? We are a diverse and inclusive, specialist vocational institution that has invested £200 million in excellent student facilities and resources over the last 10 years Our student support was voted best in the Midlands at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, as voted for by students Our lecturers have a wealth of industry experience 1,000+ employers work with us to broaden student opportunities Our courses feature an extensive variety of work placements in the UK and overseas - approx 1,500 undergraduate students are currently on work placements Many of our degrees are accredited by the University of Warwick THE NEXT STEPS 01 02 03 04 05 06 APPLY DIRECT If your child has their heart set on joining us for university, why not make the application process a breeze by applying direct to University College Birmingham. To apply direct to University College Birmingham, students must satisfy the following criteria: They must only wish to apply to University College Birmingham (if they would like to apply to more than one institution, they must apply via UCAS) They must not have previously applied via UCAS APPLYING THROUGH UCAS If your child would like to apply for more than one university, they must apply through UCAS. This service is available to Home, EU and Overseas applicants. To apply through UCAS, they must register in the UCAS Hub and complete the registration questions. They will then be taken to the UCAS Hub dashboard, where they’ll see a tile called ‘Your application’. They just have to click ‘Start’ to begin their application. Before they can send their application, they’ll need to pay an application fee, which is £28.50 for 2025 entry, and they can make a maximum of five choices. For the 2025 cycle, if you have been in receipt of free school meals at some point during the last six years (during your secondary education) up until the end of your final year, you will be eligible to have your application fee waived. We offer support workshops for applicants applying for higher education who are not familiar with the UCAS process - email schoolsliaison@ucb.ac.uk to book a slot. Current college or sixth form students at University College Birmingham who want to go onto a degree with us can book an appointment by emailing hired@ucb.ac.uk. ONLY APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM? YOU CAN APPLY DIRECT APPLICATIONS ARE SIMPLE TO COMPLETE AND FREE HELP WITH THEIR APPLICATION If you require any guidance on the application process, please contact the Admissions team CONTACT Tel: 0121 604 1040 Email: admissions@ucb.ac.uk UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
12 13 Many of our degrees are accredited by the University of Warwick. We are also the overall highest ranking university in the Midlands, as voted for by students themselves in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024. Want to find out more about what it might be like for your child to study with us? Why not come to one of our undergraduate open days? Details can be found below. APPLICANT DAY When we have made your child an offer, we will also send them details about our applicant day. This is designed to provide them with a more in-depth picture of their chosen course. Our applicant day is held in March. HEALTH AND WELLBEING We recognise that good health and wellbeing are fundamental for effective study and a positive student experience. That is why we have a free and confidential health and wellbeing service. DISABILITY AND NEURODIVERSITY Support for students who disclose a disability, health condition or mental health condition starts from application. We offer a variety of services and support, which will be tailored to suit your child’s specific needs and additional support requirements. CENTRE FOR ACADEMIC SKILLS AND ENGLISH (CASE) CASE provides tailored support for all students during their time with us. Its mission is to enhance the student experience while helping students achieve their academic goals. COST OF LIVING SUPPORT We understand that it may be difficult to make ends meet at the moment, so we have introduced free breakfast, fruit and soup for all students, and while we can’t help everybody, we do have funding set aside for students who are in need of emergency cash. HIRED HIRED is the University’s one-stop shop for all careers, placements, work experience and employability support. They help students with invaluable advice, tips and support as they plan their future career. UNITEMPS A part-time job at university can not only provide students with extra money, it can also help them develop key employability skills. Unitemps is our in-house recruitment agency. They source part-time and seasonal work for students and often have roles that offer flexible hours of work. KICK-START SCHEME Our Kick-Start scheme helps improve access to the tools and resources students need to support their studies. All eligible students receive £300 credit per year of study that they don’t have to pay back. A further £500 is also available for households with an income below £25,000. This credit does not have to be paid back at the end of their studies. The funds can be used on anything related to your child’s course – some students spend it on their course equipment, others use it on food in our catering outlets. Funds can be spent at a dedicated website to purchase course-related materials, or on selected items on campus, including society membership fees, university branded clothing, optional trips, printing credits and in our cafes. Find out more about student finance on page 16. SILVER UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR WINNER STUDENT SUPPORT WEST MIDLANDS There are so many reasons why your child should choose to study at University College Birmingham. OPEN DAYS During our open days, you and your child will have a chance to meet our students and ask them all about their experience at University College Birmingham. You can also: GAIN INSIGHT ABOUT THE COURSE MEET OUR EXPERT STAFF SPEAK WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFF EXPLORE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION APPLY DIRECT At University College Birmingham, we go above and beyond to support our students. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION AWARD-WINNING SUPPORT OPEN DAYS SCAN FOR 2024/25 DATES AND MORE INFORMATION ucb.ac.uk/open-day APPLICANT DAY SCAN FOR 2025 DATE AND MORE INFORMATION ucb.ac.uk/open-days/applicant-day UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
15 14 Natalie Brown Bakery Level 2 and 3, graduated from Bakery and Patisserie Technology BSc (Hons) and is now a lecturer. Progressing onto university has enabled me to get a job within the industry on a more technical level, which I wouldn’t have been able to do with just my Level 2 and 3 diploma. Having a degree that looks at the science behind baking is also desired by a lot of employers in the industry, so when they see this on your CV or on LinkedIn, it really sets you apart. You get to showcase all the skills you learned in every module throughout your degree. Callum Wara Building Services Engineering HNC I completed my Level 3 at another college and for my Level 4, I had different options, but was really for going to University College Birmingham. The staff are great, friendly, and are genuinely interested in you. It’s also right in the centre of town and I loved the look of the facilities. Maxine and Joel Brown Natalie’s parents We were delighted when Natalie decided to go onto degree level after her college course. We felt it would be an excellent transition into higher education, as her time at college was an amazing and positive experience. We feel Natalie has benefited massively from doing her degree in bakery and patisserie technology, as she has grown in confidence, become more creative and knowledgeable, explored new opportunities and excelled as a student. Shania Sheldon Computer Science BSc (Hons) What I liked the most was the resources. The University had excellent looking computer rooms, and the variety of self-study environments was a huge attraction for me. WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY Shania was seriously contemplating studying maths at degree level when she was introduced to coding and instantly “clicked” with computer science. She decided to pursue her newfound passion and, after doing lots of research, discovered the Computer Science degree at University College Birmingham. Callum, who loved Lego as a child, followed his dream to become an engineer. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
16 17 Why not have some fun with your child and have a go at our quiz. Approximately how many undergraduate students does University College Birmingham have? a: 7,000 b: 5,000 c: 1,000 For answers, see back page. STUDENT FINANCE FEES AND LOANS Student Finance is the organisation set up by the UK Government to provide students with financial support to pay for their course and assist with living costs while studying. There are two main types of support students can apply for: Tuition fee loan English students studying their first full-time undergraduate qualification have the opportunity to get a loan to cover the full amount of tuition fees without making any upfront payments. Maintenance loan This is available to students to help with general living costs while studying. SOME STUDENTS MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR: Childcare Grant Parents’ Learning Allowance Disabled Students’ Allowance Adult Dependants’ Grant NHS Bursaries STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS You do not need to pay anything upfront! Not only do students not have to pay anything upfront, but after graduation, they pay less than £10 a month back when on a salary of £25,000 a year. Students will only start to repay tuition fees or maintenance loans from the April after they leave their course, and only if they are earning over the repayment threshold. Repayment will be at 9% of income above the threshold. If their salary falls below the repayment threshold, their payments will be suspended. Repayments are based on earning as opposed to the amount borrowed. If a student loan has not been repaid after 40 years, the outstanding balance will be written off. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR CHILD IS ENTITLED TO, VISIT gov.uk/student-finance START REPAYING A STUDENT LOAN WHEN YOUR INCOME EXCEEDS £25,000 A YEAR QUIZ 01 How many universities are there in Birmingham? a: 5 b: 3 c: 8 02 How much has University College Birmingham invested in student resources and facilities over the past 10 years? a: £200 million b: £110 million c: £90 million 03 After how many years is the outstanding balance of a student loan written off? a: Never b: 50 years c: 40 years 04 How many campus buildings does University College Birmingham have? a: 4 b: 9 c: 8 05 How much credit per course year do all eligible students receive as part of University College Birmingham’s Kick-Start scheme? a: £100 b: £200 c: £300 06 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
18 19 STUDENT FINANCE DEADLINE To ensure funds are received in time for the start of the course in September. MID-MAY APPLICATIONS FOR ACCOMMODATION OPEN Applications open for accommodation at The Maltings. Find out more on the accommodation page of our website. MAY APPLICATIONS FOR STUDENT FINANCE OPEN For details on funding your studies, please visit page 16. For further information on our Kick-Start scheme, see page 13. FEB - MAY UCAS APPLICATION DEADLINE If your child would like to apply for more than one university, then you must apply through UCAS. This service is available to Home, EU and Overseas applicants. In addition, University College Birmingham offers support workshops for applicants applying for higher education who are not familiar with the UCAS process. Further details on the UCAS application process can be found on the UCAS website. JAN UNIVERSITY ENROLMENT AND INDUCTION SEP LEVEL 3 AND A-LEVEL RESULTS RELEASED JUL-AUG JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP IMPORTANT DATES UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
KEY CONTACTS ADMISSIONS Email: admissions@ucb.ac.uk Phone: 0121 604 1040 University College Birmingham Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JB 0121 232 4300 / 0121 604 1000 ucb.ac.uk marketing@ucb.ac.uk Quiz answers: 1:b, 2:a, 3:a, 4:c, 5:b, 6:c (with an additional £500 if your household income is below £25,000, plus don’t forget this doesn’t have to be paid back!) University College Birmingham Snow Hill New Street Bullring & Grand Central Moor Street Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Library of Birmingham Broad Street A38 Birmingham City Centre Library of Birmingham Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Snow Hill Station 2 5 1 6 Summer Row The Link Camden House James Cond Centre for Sustainable Construction McIntyre House Moss House Sixth Form Centre Baskerville House The Maltings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. New Street Station 3 4 The Maltings (Accomodation) 10/15 minute walk away 7 Summer Row Great Charles St Queensway Paradise Circus Newhall St Lionel St Fleet St Charlotte St Holland St George St Sand Pits Birmingham and Fazeley Canal 9 Granville St Cambridge St 8
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