Advice for Parents and Carers
Planning and Preparing
As a parent or career you’re likely to have a big impact on your child as a trusted information source and adviser. We summarise some of the key information which is useful for you to know to support your child with planning and preparing to go to university.
Your son or daughter will start to plan their university application and there are various considerations that need to be made. Listed below we have included some answers on key information, and the things they will probably need to bear in mind.
Common questions and answers
There are two main expenses at university, tuition fees and living costs. Depending on your child’s circumstances and their course, a range of financial support is available. The main types of financial support are tuition fee and maintenance loans. You can find out more about financial assistance and course fees here.
Our students come from all over the world with students coming from Malaysia, Norway, Canada, India, South Korea Iceland are just a few. With potentially up to 50% of our students coming from outside the UK in some yearly intakes the AECC University College campus is a place of rich diversity.
Every effort is made to make your child’s transition to university life stress-free, supporting through PAL (peer assisted learning) and personal tutor allocation, encouraging them to feel part of the AECC University College community, making supportive and lasting relationships.
Language support workshops are available on campus if you require extra help.
You can help prepare your child for living independently before the transition to university life.
For example, books about cooking on a budget, working out weekly budgets, and building independence and confidence can be really helpful.
It’s good to remind them that everybody is in the same boat! Naturally, offer any help and guidance along the way as this is a big milestone and let them know we can’t wait to welcome them and that support is available through our student services team.
We’re always here to help your child’s university journey. We offer continuous professional development (CPD) and other postgraduate certificates. More information can be found on our postgraduate page.
UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UCAS process all full-time applications to higher education. Your son or daughter will send their application to UCAS who will then forward it to the chosen institutions. Applications are considered holistically by our admissions team. UCAS and your child will be updated with the outcome. More information about the UCAS application process can be found here.
15 October for Oxford and Cambridge universities and all medicine and dentistry courses elsewhere 15 January for all other applications. Universities may consider applications made after this date, but they are not obliged to. Applications made by this date will have a decision by the beginning of May.
Basic information such as name, address and age, the date they are planning on starting university, grades or predicted grades, course and university choices and a personal statement (up to 4,000 characters or 47 lines). More information can be found on our course specific pages.
There is plenty of student accommodation available with a range of options from student halls to private landlord rentals. Find out more about our student accommodation.
It is possible provided your child manages their time effectively for module study. Many students are employed on a part-time basis through local employers.
Making an application through UCAS
Once your child has chosen the courses that interest them most, it’s time to start their application. First, they’ll need to register to UCAS – it only takes about five minutes to enter their basic details and setup security information. If your child is applying through a school, they will be given a ‘buzzword’ so their application can be linked to their school.
If they’re applying independently, there will be a few additional questions they’ll need to answer. Once they’ve registered, there are seven sections to complete including
- Personal details
- Additional information
- Student Finance
- Choices
- Education
- Personal statement
- Employment
We've included below a short UCAS video, which is helpful for you to watch to discover more, before they get started on their application.
Parents Guide to APPLYING THROUGH UCAS
What to expect from student Life
The transition from school to university and can be a mix of anticipation, excitement and anxiety. Find out more, first hand what it's like to be a student at AECC University College via our interviews with current students.
Open Days and Campus Tours
Join us at one of our open days, either virtual online or face-to-face on campus and talk with current students. Find out more about what it is like to live and study in Bournemouth, find out more about the courses we offer, the mixed methods of learning, and the rewards of academic life at AECC University College
You can register below for our Open Days and Campus tours.
Why choose us?
As a small, specialist institution we're very fortunate that we can get to know our students, and they can get to know us too. Compared to many other higher education institutions, your child won't just be a face in the crowd.
At AECC University College we take pride in giving your child the best experiences, and equipping them to achieve success and reach their potential both in their academic and personal development.
additional reasons to choose AECC University College.
The application process
Your child will need to make a formal application through UCAS website. Make sure you apply by the date provided by UCAS, this year (2023) you will need to apply by the 25th of January, to ensure you meet the UCAS deadline. Your child’s school or college will often help with this task.
For more information about the application process, please visit the links below.
Interview Days
Your child may be invited to attend an interview here at the University College for some of our courses. These usually take place between November through to March.
Group interviews are led by a senior member of our academic staff and last around 35-40 minutes. Your child will get the chance to ask questions and to meet other potential students. We aim to tell you the outcome of the interview within five working days.
Applicant Offer Holder Day
Your child may be invited a campus day here at the University College, which takes place in April.
Campus days allow your child to understand more about the course or courses they have applied for or are interested in. These specially designed days will give your child a taste of what the teaching on the course will be like, and a chance to get to know the academic tutors who teach on the programmes.
Results Day
Once your child has sent their application and has received an unconditional or conditional place on one of our courses.
Unconditional: We look forward to welcoming your child in September.
Conditional: Receiving their results will be an important time. We hope they secure the grades that we have asked for.
If your child’s grades are not what we required, please don’t worry. Encourage them to get in contact with our Admissions team to discuss their options, we will review interview feedback and personal statement to see if there were any circumstances that hindered your child from achieving the grades detailed on their offer letter.
Enrolment
If your child is successful and we have confirmed their place, then congratulations! Their efforts have been well-deserved and, from 11 September, they will join AECC University College to start their university journey.
School Visits and UCAS Days
Our Student Ambassadors and academic tutors regularly attend schools, colleges and UCAS exhibitions, talking about the different courses we offer, a students' experience, the facilities and clinics available to them on campus, and the mixed methods of learning, and multidisciplinary environment we offer here, at AECC University College.
Student Support
We can provide your child with help and advice on any aspect of student life with Student Services, NUS qualified representatives and our own staff members. Details on our academic assistance, pastoral care, counselling, welfare and support are available on our student services page.
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