Undergraduate study

General Information

General Information 

If your young person is considering going into Higher Education they may have been discussing how to go about their research, and you may have lots of questions to ask.

At Keele University we understand the important part that you play in helping your son or daughter chose the university and course that is best for them. While it is no doubt an exciting time, the amount of information, documentation and choices that are involved in sending your child to university means it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. 

The introduction of tuition fees, and concern over student debt, has understandably made students and their families ask whether going into higher education is the right option. There is, reassuringly, still evidence that graduates (students who have obtained an undergraduate degree) are in a stronger position than non-graduates when it comes to employment and earning potential, in addition to the social and personal benefits over a lifetime.

As your young person starts researching their Higher Education choices, there are a number of factors to consider. These can be grouped under the following headings and their school/college will support them with where to find the information and how to create a shortlist of institutions.

• Type of institution
• Type of course and subject choice                                                                                    ‌
• Entry requirements
• Reputation/League tables
• Other facilities
• Student finance ‘package’

Students can start researching their course choices through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and this will show the entry requirements for each course: 

Events

Events taking place for parents and guardians

Information evening for Parents and Guardians - Wednesday 6th March 2013

Parents and guardians with a son or daughter considering their next step after school or college are invited to an event at Keele University on Wednesday 6 March from 6.30pm.

The event brings together the two local universities, Keele and Staffordshire, and will provide parents and guardians with an understanding of higher education and opportunity to find out what is available locally. The evening will include talks on how to research higher education choices, the funding available for students and details on the application process. It will provide a useful introduction to the calendar of activities the students will be following and which may include attendance at the Staffordshire Higher Education Convention on Wednesday 27 March. For many this will be the first opportunity for the Year 12 students to start their research into higher education, with over 100 universities and colleges represented. The event, hosted at Staffordshire University, will give the students chance to talk to staff from universities, collect prospectuses and attend a range of subject seminars.

The event on 6 March, at the Sustainability Hub on Keele campus, will give parents an insight into the questions their son or daughter should be asking and the processes involved in applying to university.

Most importantly they will be able to ask questions of Parent Ambassadors, who themselves have recent experience of supporting a child through higher education and are willing to talk about issues around finance, safety and ‘empty nest syndrome’.

The evening will run from 6.30-9.00pm with light refreshments provided, students are welcome to attend and there is no charge for attending the event. Details of the full programme for the evening could be found here: Parents and Guardians Programme 6 March 2013

Parents and guardians interested in finding out more and to book a place are encouraged to contact the Recruitment, Outreach and Access office on 01782 734009/733949 or click here to book your place

Visiting Keele 

There are a number of opportunities to visit the university at a time convenient to you. To see what is available, please click here

How to apply to university

How to apply to university

There are six main steps to applying to higher education and details can be viewed on the UCAS website

Your young person should apply using the online application system, ‘Apply’. The date for completing an application depends on the choice of subject or institution, www.ucas.ac.uk/documents/ucasguides/appflow2013.pdf. Their referee, usually a form tutor or Head of Sixth form, will write a reference and collect payment of the application fee. Once the application is submitted to UCAS each student is issued with their own personal ID – this number should always be quoted when contacting UCAS  and the universities.

The personal statement is your son or daughter's opportunity to tell universities and colleges the skills they have that make them suitable for the course. They need to demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment, and above all, ensure that they stand out from the crowd.  Having work or voluntary experience could make all the difference. The decision to make an offer is not made solely on grades. However, it is important that your child checks that they meet the entry requirements for the courses applied for.

Tip: Have a look at  UCAS TV shows the video entitled ‘How to Apply 2013’.

The university/college will consider an application taking into account all the information provided. Most students are hoping for a conditional offer (based on results from future exams). Other outcomes are: an unconditional offer (all academic requirements already met); withdrawn application (student didn’t attend interview for example); or unsuccessful (i.e. the student is not offered a place on the course).

The university or college will offer a place if your son or daughter meets certain conditions, which are usually based on their future exams. Each offer is specific to the course they have applied for and their qualifications and circumstances.

Once your son or daughter has heard from all their universities, they choose their conditional firm (CF) or first choice, and their conditional insurance (CI) or second choice.

If your young person is unsuccessful at any stage, the school/college will advise them what options are still available to them, and this may include looking for courses which still have vacancies.  For most students, confirmation of whether they have been accepted takes place in August when A level results are published. Details of whether they have been accepted onto their ‘first’ choice will be confirmed on the UCAS website.

UCAS's 'Six steps to applying' is always a good reference point.

Finance

Finance

From 2012 universities can charge up to £9000 per year for an undergraduate degree course. It is important to know that these courses are free at the point of entry – you do not have to pay upfront. Most students will be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan, which is not means tested. There are other grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships available, which may be means tested, to help with living costs. Your child won’t have to pay back any of the amount borrowed until they are earning a minimum of £21,000. Further information can be found on the Student Finance website 

Extra help is available for students with children or adult dependants, a disability, long-term health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty.

There are different arrangements for students for England wishing to study in Scotland or Wales, and for those students considering health programmes such as nursing, which are funded through the Department of Health.

Information about the National Scholarship Programme can be found on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) website and at the Government website

Details of Keele’s support package through scholarships and bursaries can be viewed here or by contacting the University directly at bursaries@keele.ac.uk

The timetable of activities

Timetable of Activities

(Not all students will do all activities but these are the types of activities suggested).

All universities will provide opportunities for prospective students and their families to visit –whether informally or on organised Open Days when academic schools and other facilities are open to view.

Keele holds a number of Open Days each year when prospective students and their families can visit the campus, find out about the courses on offer and see the accommodation and study facilities. 

Action plan

Parents/guardians can help with the following during the research process:

• Encourage son/daughter to be realistic – make informed decisions using all the information available, and taking into consideration their predicted grades
• Encourage them in their research
• Check the course is what they think it is
• Support to find work/voluntary experience
• Attend Open/Visit days
• Encourage your son/daughter to ring the university with any queries
• And with the application process:
• Read through the personal statement and check for sense, spelling and grammar
• Check the personal statement is fit for purpose
• Remind of UCAS/school deadlines
• Remember to advise of any change of address or circumstance
• Keep a note of their Personal ID provided by UCAS on submission of their application

Parent Ambassadors

Get involved with Keele!

If you are enthusiastic and happy to share your previous experience of a child going into Higher Education or just would like a chance to get involved with Keele University – why not become a Parent Ambassador!

Who are Parent Ambassadors?

Our Parent Ambassadors have recent experience of supporting a child or children through higher education, despite having had little or no experience of HE beforehand. They encourage parents to share their ideas, opinions and views about their child/children studying post-16 and help dispel myths and fears by discussing the impact HE has had on them and their children and the ‘real’ benefits of higher education, as they have experienced them.

What do Parent Ambassadors Do?

Parent Ambassadors have given talks in schools, colleges, and at Higher Education Institutions. They have attended school/college parents’ evenings, options evenings and HE information evenings, where they have been on hand to answer any questions a parent may have. Not only do they have their own experience to draw upon, they also disseminate literature and resources, empowering parents to help their children.

Why become a Parent Ambassador?

Parents have really appreciated the opportunity to hear the Ambassadors’ stories and especially how they have overcome issues such as finance, accommodation and adjusting to their children leaving home to study.

To apply, please click here

If you have any questions for our current Parent Ambassadors, please e-mail parents@keele.ac.uk This e-mail is monitored by the Parent Ambassadors themselves as well as staff. You are welcome to e-mail them with any queries you have and they will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Why choose Keele?

Why choose Keele?

 Keele is an example of a campus based university, with everything students need easy access to on one site and a strong sense of community, with traditional educational values at its heart. We believe that Higher Education benefits society as a whole not just the individual. Our graduates are confident and well educated with a broad experience that makes them highly employable.‌‌

Contact us

Useful contact details

*The parent and guardian e-mail is monitored by parent ambassadors as well as staff. You are welcome to e-mail them with any queries you have and the parent ambassadors will be happy to answer, sharing their own experience when appropriate.