A Guide for Parents and Carers

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS www.solent.ac.uk EXPERT TUITION WHY Taught by specialists, ex-professionals and practising experts, our students learn practical SOLENT? professional skills and how to apply them.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE Everything we do at Solent is focused on our Every Solent course includes practical workplace students – their learning, their lives, their experience, placement opportunities or real-world careers. briefs.

We offer all the skills, knowledge and practical THE LATEST TOOLS experience they need – all the things employers TV studios, 3D-printing labs, a professional are looking for. And we’re there to support them newsroom, sport science labs, dedicated every step of the way. performance and design spaces, a UK-leading Dolby Atmos sound studio – whatever the course, students can sharpen their skills in outstanding facilities.

LASTING SUPPORT Life at university can sometimes come as a bit of a shock. That’s why we do everything we can to help our students settle in gently, from accommodation and health to ﬁnance, and offer a range of support services throughout (and after) their time with us. Whatever they need, whatever might be troubling them, we’re here to help.

A GREAT STUDENT EXPERIENCE There’s more to university than learning – from discovering new hobbies to making friends for life, it’s a chance for students to grow and explore. £100 million Solent offers a huge range of societies and sports campus teams – enough for anyone to discover their new investment favourite thing – while Southampton is a diverse (2010–2020) and lively city, packed with things to do.

2 www.solent.ac.ukwwwwwwwwww.s.so.soolelenenent.atatt..a.ac.uc.c.uuk STUDYING AT SOLENT

Our aim is to deliver innovative, inclusive and We also make the most of partnerships with intellectually stimulating teaching in order to locally based, nationally renowned businesses develop self-confident and highly employable and organisations, including Southampton FC, the graduates. annual ABP Southampton Marathon, retailer B&Q, cruise company Carnival and more. Employers expect more from modern graduates than ever. It’s not enough to know your subject AWARDED SILVER IN THE TEACHING – to kickstart a good career, young people need EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK connections, experience and opportunities. The success of our employability-focused approach to teaching has led to Solent being awarded silver Those things can be hard to get. But at Solent in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – and we’ve made it our job to ensure that students we’re undergoing a major curriculum review, with have every chance – that they get the hands-on an eye on TEF gold. skills, professional connections and workplace conﬁdence they’ll need to succeed. SOLENT’S REAL-WORLD CURRICULUM Our teaching aims to be inclusive and accessible, Because employability sits at the heart of and if at any point students feel like they’re everything we do, our courses – created starting to struggle, they’ll be able to access extra in collaboration with industry employers support. and regularly updated to include the latest developments – ensure that our students have But at the heart of it all, we aim to give students the relevant skills and knowledge to excel in the the tools they’ll need to continue developing interview room and the workplace. throughout their careers – becoming enthusiastic learners for life. INDUSTRY-BASED LEARNING But it’s our teaching staff who make Solent Find out more at www.solent.ac.uk/curriculum really special – blending passion and ﬁrst-hand experience to bring the industry to life, and using their professional connections to open up new paths and opportunities for our students.

www.solent.ac.uk 3 MONEY AND SUPPORT

Undergraduate students TUITION FEES have two main types of For the latest information on fees, visit www.solent.ac.uk/fees expenses – tuition fees and living costs. Some courses UK and EU students don’t need to pay tuition fees up-front – also have additional or and they can apply for a student loan to cover this cost. If the optional costs, for example, student is from England, this loan will not be dependent on for field visits or equipment household income, and will be paid directly to the University – you can find details on on the student’s behalf. our course pages at www.solent.ac.uk/courses Students will only need to start repaying the loan once they earn more than £25,000.

4 www.solent.ac.uk MAINTENANCE LOANS Full-time students from England can also apply for a loan to support their studies. This will be paid directly into the student’s bank account in three instalments, one at the beginning of each academic term. THE LISA WILSON The amount available depends on: SCHOLARSHIP • Where the student is living while studying. In memory of their daughter • The student’s assessed (‘means-tested’) family income. Lisa, the Wilson family • The student’s entitlement to state benefits. developed four scholarships with Solent to help Other benefits are available – see www.solent.ac.uk/ young people who have dependants or contact Student Finance England. overcome adversity and can demonstrate why they need extra financial help with Students from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland their studies. who would like to study in England will need to contact their own government to find out what support is available to cover tuition fees and living costs. Channel Island and Isle of Man students are not eligible for funding from the #SOLENTSTORIES UK government. Emma Westmore BSc (Hons) Psychology (Child Details of fees for non-EU students can be Development and Education) found at www.solent.ac.uk/international student, Lisa Wilson scholar

“The Lisa Wilson Scholarship BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS has gone towards my travel If your household income is under £25,000, your child costs between the Isle of can also apply for various bursaries and scholarships Wight and Southampton. which don’t have to be repaid. Examples include the This allows me to live at Solent University bursary, academic merit scholarships home and have support and the Lisa Wilson Scholarship. from my family, as well as going to university to study Visit www.solent.ac.uk/scholarships for more information my course.” and a complete list.

www.solent.ac.uk 5 STUDENT SUPPORT

Going to university is a great experience, but we recognise that sometimes students require a bit more support to get through their studies.

6 www.solent.ac.uk We offer a range of study, health and wellbeing • Assistive technology available in main IT resource support, and our friendly and experienced centres and assistive technology centres. student advisors are on hand to talk in confidence. • Guidance in the use of assistive software and No problem is too big or too small – and the team short-term loan of equipment. is trained to offer practical support, as well as • Screening and assessment, for example dyslexia. access to self-help materials and referrals to our specialist advice and support services. THERAPY AND MENTAL HEALTH TEAM Our therapy and mental health team offers a DISABILITY SUPPORT variety of support, including talking therapy Access Solent provides disability support (counselling and CBT), hypnotherapy and mental throughout the student life cycle. Support health advice. may include: • Information and advice to prospective and STUDENT WELLBEES current students with disabilities, and to staff Wellbees is a group of student volunteers who who are supporting students. signpost where support can be found and promote • Advice with accessing the Disabled Students’ healthy living and positive wellbeing messages. Allowance and other financial support. Ideal for any students who are feeling homesick, • Screening and assessment for some conditions. lonely or anxious, or who would just like to make • Support in setting up specialist provision and new friends, wellbees aim to create a supportive, exam arrangements. connected community for students. • Access to assistive technology and guidance with specialist software. STUDENT FUNDING • Short-term loans of equipment. The student funding team provides support with all matters relating to student funding, including: LEARNING SUPPORT • Student funding entitlement and application Access Solent also offers a range of learning processes. support depending on needs, including: • Help with more complex funding matters, • Provision for individual academic-related needs, for example, if students leave/change or suspend for example, exam arrangements, dyslexia tutor, their course. mentor, note-taker. • Assistance if funding is delayed. • Individual assistance in the library. • Liaising with Student Finance England. • Confidential advice and guidance regarding study problems. For further information on support available at • Liaison with other departments, organisations Solent, visit www.solent.ac.uk/student-support and local education authorities.

www.solent.ac.uk 7 ACCOMMODATION

At Solent we offer a range of accommodation options depending on students’ circumstances, including four student residences, private renting options, lodging or sharing a house/flat with friends.

Solent also has a dedicated student housing team to offer advice and support, whatever option they decide to go for.

8 www.solent.ac.uk N M O X O V I D A -suite D ms | En 7 roo 11 o campus walk t inute SUPPORT 8-m R Solent has made a significant investment E i tete B su s n- pu in facilities for disabled students. We have I M E m s | ca K m o o k t purpose-built rooms on the ground floor of ro alkl w 74 e our residences for those requiring accessible 2 ut in accommodation. For those with unseen -m 8 disabilities, rooms can be reserved with fridges for medical purposes, and visible or audible alarms can s e t u be fitted. We can also offer larger C i p u I s m - a rooms for students who may n c WHAT’SWHAT’S W E o | t M need extra space for essential s k INCLUDEDINCLUDED IN lkl A m a o w equipment. o OUOURR STSTUDENTUDENT H r e t 8 u RESIDENCES’RESIDENCES’ RENTRENT?? 2 n 2 i SECURITY m - All of our student residences 8 UpUp to 60 Mb WiFi access have on-site management iinn each study-bedroomstudy-bedroom and security, and each PPersonalersonal contentscontents insuranceinsurance s residence, study-bedroom s m

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www.solent.ac.uk 9 Is your child unsure what to do with their future? Or confused about the university application process? Our easy-to-follow ‘52 Things To Do’ guide is designed to help every step of the way.

From thinking about the right degree for them, to writing a personal statement, we’ve got it all 52 covered – with handy advice and tasks designed THINGS to take no more than an hour each week. TO DO Visit www.solent.ac.uk/52-things

10 www.solent.ac.uk HOW TO APPLY

Applying to university can be a daunting process – check out the diagram below which gives the key dates to be aware of when making an application.

REPLY TO_ OFFERS At this stage applicants must select a firm choice and an insurance choice. RESEARCH APPLY ONLINE The insurance choice is a back-up choice in case UNIVERSITIES VIA UCAS _ _ the conditions aren’t met for the firm choice. March–September By 15 January Other offers must also be declined at this stage.

WORK ON UCAS CHECK UCAS_ TRACK FIND OUT IF A APPLICATION PLACE IS SECURED _ This is where an applicant can _ September–January see if they have an unconditional UCAS TRACK will display offer (the place is theirs) or a if a place is confirmed. BTEC conditional offer (based on exam results are published from July results or other evidence), or if their onwards and A-level results application has been unsuccessful. are published in mid-August.

Solent University code name: SOLNT Solent University UCAS code: S30

www.solent.ac.uk 11 Solent University East Park Terrace Southampton SO14 0YN

T. +44 (0)23 8201 3039 E. [email protected]

www.solent.ac.uk

12 www.solent.ac.uk