Student Update Student Update e-Zine Autumn 2011e-Zine Autumn 2011

““FEES MADE SIMPLEFEES MADE SIMPLE”-All the facts about recent changes to student finance from 2012.

Why study in Why study in Edinburgh?Edinburgh?-Find out more about how -Find out more about how Edinburgh has something for Edinburgh has something for everyone!everyone!

Student supportStudent support-Bursary and tuition fee -Bursary and tuition fee informationinformation..

Invest in Invest in your futureyour futureRead why employers back our Read why employers back our graduates.graduates.

CONTENTS

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1, Welcome

3, Invest in your future

4, Why study with us

Why Study in Edinburgh?

Fees made simple!

Support available

9 Cost of living in Edinburgh?

Accommodation10

Virtual admissionsChat room sessions13

15 Contact us

Welcome,

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Martin Lewis, the Head of the Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Information, explains the changes and implications below:

Watch Martin's video on YouTube

This e-Zine is designed for students who have expressed an interest in the University of Edinburgh, to provide you with further details of the recent changes to student finance from 2012. There has been much confusion regarding fees and the availability of funding, and the content within this publication shall update you and clarify the current situation.

We hope you find these resources helpful whilst you are making up your mind about your higher education choices

Regards,

The University of Edinburgh

In your search for funding you will come across frequently used terms. Please see our Jargon buster link for further information

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Why Study In Edinburgh?Why Study In Edinburgh?Edinburgh has something for everyone. There are great pubs, clubs and restaurants, theatres and cinemas, museums, galleries, parks, gardens, shops and sport centres.

Nightlife and entertainment Explore the city after dark - live music, comedy, theatre or just a night out with friends in a pub.

Culture and heritageFind out more about the lively cultural life of the city from historic buildings to contemporary art.

Festivals Theatre. Jazz. Science. Books. Film. Television. Fashion. Art. You name it. We’ve got a festival for it

Eating Tapas, noodles, curry, sushi, chateaubriand. It’s not all haggis and shortbread you know.

Sport and activities Spectator or adrenalin junkie? Find out more about activities to do (or watch) in the capital

Edinburgh has regularly been voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Our city mixes architectural beauty and history with a lively, fun environment. Our city offers an exciting array of entertainment, history, culture and sport, with the lush Scottish countryside and coastline just a few miles away. It is a safe and prosperous city, with an abundance of parks and green spaces for recreation and reflection. The city centre also plays host to a carnival atmosphere every August, when the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes over the town.

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Invest in your future…..At Edinburgh we understand the financial commitment you are making when considering which universities to apply to. We believe that the University of Edinburgh rewards its students through the quality of our education and the overall student experience. Here’s why:

We are the 20th best university in the World*, 5th in UK, 1st in Scotland .

We are top in graduate employment in the Russell Group of Universities.

Nearly 95% of our graduates go into employment

or further study. 96% of our departments produce world-

leading research. (RAE2008)

80% of our students graduate with either a 1st or 2.1.

You have 600 undergraduate degrees to choose from.

The city of Edinburgh is regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world.

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Why study with us?Why study with us?

We are globally recognised for our We are globally recognised for our research and innovation and we’ve been research and innovation and we’ve been providing our students with world-class providing our students with world-class teaching for more than 425 years. We teaching for more than 425 years. We select students who stand out for their select students who stand out for their intelligence, academic ability and intelligence, academic ability and determination to succeed - not on their determination to succeed - not on their financial circumstances. We create financial circumstances. We create graduates who are among the most graduates who are among the most sought professionals in the worldsought professionals in the world..

Employers back our graduates

•Key international employers rate the University as one of the world’s best for producing quality graduates.

•Edinburgh is ranked 15th for employability in the QS World University Rankings - one of the most widely recognised global comparisons of higher education providers.

•Nearly 95% of our graduates go into employment or further study.

•Every year, we help create some 7,600 future leading scientists, engineers, health practioners, trainers, policymakers, humanities and social science scholars and researchers via our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees*. (2008/09)

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If you are a Scottish domiciled student or a Non-UK European Union student, you do not have to pay the higher £9,000 annual tuition fee. Please see our advice pages on tuition fees and financial support for your status.Tuitions fees, loans and grants for students from ScotlandTuition fees for students from the rest of the European Union

Why are you paying fees?

In 2010, the UK Coalition Government introduced major changes to the way it funded Higher Education in England. One of these changes was to remove the cap on tuition fee. This allowed universities in England to charge anything up to £9,000.Following this change the Scottish Government decided to remove funding it had been previously provided to Scottish universities for offering places to RUK students. This presented us - and other universities in Scotland - with a reduction in revenue. To fill this funding gap and continue providing excellent teaching and research opportunities we need to charge fees.

Statement with Edinburgh University Students’ Association on fees

Why don’t we charge Scottish and European students?In Scotland education is a devolved matter. This means the Scottish Government sets policy on Higher Education funding, rather than Westminster. We don’t charge Scottish or European Union students because the Scottish Government ‘pays’ for them to study at Scottish universities.

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Who pays and how much?From September 2012 If your normal home address is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you will have to pay to study at Edinburgh. This is what it means when you are referred to as a RUK - Rest of UK - student.

The fine printThe tuition fee is applicable for all full-time undergraduate degree programmes except for graduate entry to the BVM&S Veterinary Medicine and graduate entry to the LLB Law programmes.The tuition fee applies only to RUK domiciled students. If you are unsure of your 'domicile status', please check our information on definitions.Tell me more about tuition fees Definition of RUK students Definition of Scottish and EU students

So what now?You DO NOT pay tuition fees upfront.

Financial support is available to help you fund your education.

Fees are set at £9,000 per year (subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament).

Our annual fees are the same as other top universities.

You only start paying back your fees after you graduate and earn more than £21,000 - unless

you are from Northern Ireland where the figure is £15,795.

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Financial support availableIf you are a RUK student - if your normal home address is in England, Wales or Northern Ireland - there is money available to help fund your education.

For further information on funding available please click here tovisit our web pages

•Our bursaries are the best in the UK for students from the lowest household incomes.

•You can use the bursary for either tuition fees or living costs.

•You do not need to apply for this bursary.

•You will also be eligible for the usual government student loans and grants.

•You do not have to pay back a bursary or a grant

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There is no change to the way you apply for government funding!Government loans and grants will still come from the funding bodies in your own country, for example Student Finance England. These loans and grants can be used to study anywhere in the UK. Applications can be made online through your relevant funding body. What you will receive is dependent on your household income. Tuition fee loans are available to help pay the cost of your tuition fees. There are also grants and loans to help you pay your living costs. Maintenance grants are non-repayable - you do not need to pay them back.

University of Edinburgh fundingFrom 2012-2013, we have introduced a new bursary scheme - the Edinburgh RUK Bursary - which many of you will be eligible to receive.You will be able to use your bursary to either contribute towards your tuition fees or towards your general living costs while at Edinburgh. If you come from a low income background this could result in you receiving an Edinburgh RUK Bursary of up to £28,000 for a four year degree. You do not need to apply for the RUK bursary, but will be automatically considered by information you provide about household income to your funding body.You will also be eligible to apply for our existing Access Bursary and/or our Accommodation Bursary. You can apply for both of these online on our website.University bursaries RUK Rest of UK (RUK) domiciled students refers to students who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

How much could I receive?The funding that is available is, in part, means-tested. When you apply to your funding body, they will assess your ‘Residual Household Income’ to determine what level of funding you are eligible for. ‘Residual Household Income’ is your household income before tax, minus allowances. As a general guide, the allowances are: £1,130 for each financially dependent child. Any pension schemes and superannuation payments eligible for tax relief. This is only a short summary of Residual Household Income, there are other facts that may be taken into account.Tell me more about Residual Household Income 8

Cost of Living in Edinburgh How much will it cost?How much will it cost?

Your main costs at University will be:tuition fees (if applicable) •accommodation •food •books •clothes •Entertainment

When planning your budget you should also take into consideration costs such as travel and domestic bills. It is estimated that it will cost you approximately £7,000 to study as an undergraduate at Edinburgh each year. It may be higher, depending on your lifestyle, and whether you choose to live in catered or self-catered halls of residence or a flat.

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Accommodation

The University understands accommodation is very important for students and seeks to provide the best range and standard possible. There are around 4,200 University bed spaces normally available for Freshers. These are in convenient locations in Edinburgh and cover a range of styles and services to suit most budgets.

Full-time first-year undergraduates living outside the City of Edinburgh are normally guaranteed a place in University accommodation for their first year, provided that they accept their offer of admission and submit their accommodation application to Accommodation Services by the required deadlines. By way of example, the cost in 2011-2012 of renting a single study bedroom in catered accommodation ranges from £155 to £227 per week with a room in self-catered accommodation costing between £82 and £104 per week.

There are a number of lower cost options involving shared rooms. Our accommodation prices include all utilities, data and telephone facilities, regular cleaning and personal contents insurance. Further details can be found in the University of Edinburgh Accommodation Services website.University of Edinburgh Accommodation Services

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Contact Details

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitateTo contact us at:

Student Recruitment and Admissions The University of Edinburgh 57 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JU Work: +44 (0)131 650 4360Fax: +44 (0)131 651 1236

Email: sra.enquiries@ed.ac.ukWeb: www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment

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