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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

waiting to hear from Edinburgh?

62 replies

brainwashed · 20/01/2015 17:46

I know it's early yet but I am getting stressed with all this waiting on behalf of my DS. He has other offers but has his heart set on Edinburgh. Wish they'd hurry up!

OP posts:
horsemadmom · 25/02/2015 17:48

RandomFriend-
Another DC waiting for the Mmus here! I wish they'd hurry up so DS can get on with firming.It's not giving a positive impression.

pastaofplenty · 25/02/2015 18:59

Another impatient one here - three in and awaiting Edinburgh and Kings - they would be her preferred two!!

horsemadmom · 25/02/2015 19:06

This is Ds's only outstanding offer. Frustrated!

roisin · 25/02/2015 19:15

ds1 waiting on St Andrews. Very unlikely he will want them as an insurance, but he would like to see what they offer, if they offer; so he doesn't want to dump them now.

Cottonmouth · 25/02/2015 19:50

DS1 applied to Edinburgh and his offer came through just before the April decision day - and it was AAA, compared to UCL's BB.

Molio · 02/03/2015 12:36

DS got an offer on the 24th, for History. Specifically dependent on him still living in England, Wales or NI Hmm.

chemenger · 02/03/2015 13:15

The reason the offer is dependent on living in the UK excluding Scotland is due to there being a fixed quota for home/EU students which doesn't apply to the rest of the UK. Fees are paid for by the funding agency for home/EU students so numbers are restricted. DD got her offer from St Andrews last Wednesday, so things are moving there too.

Molio · 02/03/2015 22:06

Still doesn't send a great vibe chemenger. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that I might be moving up to Scotland in a couple of years, so DS now very unlikely to accept as insurance - would they kick him out?

HocusUcas · 03/03/2015 00:05

So Chemenger, does that mean that (e.g.) Edinburgh have a quota of "fee paying" and "non fee paying candidates" they accept ? Not making a big point , just would like to understand this , because I do appreciate it is probably not that simple. Does it mean it is harder for a home/EU candidate to get a place for example because they are being paid for by the funding agency?. I just say I do not have a DC applying to Edinburgh , but know people for whom, next year, the likes of Glasgow , Edinburgh , St Andrews might be first choice (from England). Whilst I knew about the difference in tuition fees in Scotland I had never heard of an offer phrased as pp's DC's was, nor indeed of the quotas between home/EU or rest of UK applicants.

Please don't feel you have to reply , because as I say , this is of interest to me only , not directly affecting me or DCs , but just something I had not realised.

roisin · 03/03/2015 03:18

What subject was your dd applying for chemenger?

pastaofplenty · 03/03/2015 07:26

HocusUcas - it's an interesting point about EU/Home students.
Not sure if this helps but DD is an EU student (though British national). She is still waiting for Edinburgh (her final offer to come through) but has received an offer from Glasgow with no other conditions (aside from grade) attached.
If Edinburgh are basing it on tuition fees it seems unfair as even though we are eligible to take the free tuition fees offer we won't be as DD needs a maintenance loan and she is only eligible for this if she goes via Student Finance England.

chemenger · 03/03/2015 08:19

At Scottish universities (not just Edinburgh) the fees for home/EU students are paid for by the Scottish government. Obviously they don't have infinite amounts of money to spend on these fees so they set a limit on the number of home/EU students that can be recruited each year. I'm not sure but I think this might also go as far as to set quotas for subject areas at the university as well (I have to admit that I haven't paid complete attention to the detail when we have been briefed on this because its a while since I was very directly involved in admissions). They get fined if they exceed those quotas, if I recall correctly this is a double penalty; they don't get the fee for the extra students and they also pay a fine. I think they also get fined for being under quota, so they can't fill up with overseas students or RUK (rest of the UK) students who are paying full fees directly to the university and under-recruit home students. Once the quota is full the remaining capacity on the course, determined by things like lab and lecture room space and number of staff is available for RUK and overseas students. Its a complicated balancing act. Luckily, the fact that most offers to Scottish students are unconditional slightly reduces the overall uncertainty. Big caveat - I am an academic not a member of admissions staff and even if you know which institution I am at I am very much not representing them, this is my personal understanding of the situation.

I haven't heard of an offer phrased as Molio's ds and I would get back to the admissions staff to clarify the detail, judging from dd's correspondence from Edinburgh there is a central admissions office who would be the experts, rather than the teaching department. I have known students here who have had parents move abroad or out of Scotland and have never heard of any problems with remaining on course. My guess is that fee status might be fixed at the beginning of the programme for the duration, no matter what happens, so you may need to remain resident in the RUK until day one of the course in October (or whenever they start).

chemenger · 03/03/2015 08:20

roisin she has applied for Biology at St Andrews.

Molio · 03/03/2015 09:00

Thanks chemenger. This is the exact phrasing:

'Conditions of Offer:

This offer is subject to you obtaining AAA at A-Level in three subjects (excluding general studies) in 2014/15.

This offer is made on the basis that we consider your fee status on the relevant date to be England/Wales/N Ireland fee rate. If our assessment of your fee status subsequently changes, then your application may be reassessed and your offer may be withdrawn.'

chemenger · 03/03/2015 09:27

Molio, that sounds like they are concerned about changes between the offer being made and the student taking up their place rather than changes once he is on programme. I would give them a ring to make sure though.

chemenger · 03/03/2015 09:29

The other thing is that fee status is not the same as place of residence, you can live in Scotland and still have an RUK or overseas status if you don't meet the residency requirements (3 years residency not for the purpose of education, if I recall correctly).

HocusUcas · 03/03/2015 14:36

Pasta - really, she can't just apply for the maintenance loan. I have learned a great deal from this thread.

Thanks for that Chemenger. I have to say I am absolutely astounded at what a complex balancing act Universities manage to pull off. (Not just the Scottish fee / free one but offers in general).

Anyway, given I am a self-professed DM of a DS not waiting for Edinburgh I'd better get off and stop derailing this thread Smile

pastaofplenty · 03/03/2015 16:26

Hocus - sadly yes, you have to make the choice (if you are EU or non-resident student) as it's Students Award Agency for Scotland who pay Scottish Gov the tuition fees but they won't then let you apply for maintenance loan. It would be great if we have means to support DD for four years and she could leave with no debt but that's not possible. Hence applying to Student Finance England who give loan for both (fees and maintenance). It is a steep learning curve :)

Original poster
brainwashed · 06/03/2015 11:39

The quota for Scottish/EU students is set by the government and is apparently one of the reasons why offers from highly sought after Scottish unis like Edinburgh are later than others. That's what we've been told anyway...they want a chance to look at all EU( non rUK) applicants before allocating places. At least if/ when my DS gets an offer it is likely to be unconditional

OP posts:
Original poster
brainwashed · 09/03/2015 12:20

DS got an unconditional for Edinburgh this morning Grin Grin Grin

OP posts:
shockthemonkey · 09/03/2015 12:31

Congratulations! This must be Edinburgh day as my charge also just got his offer this morning

Molio · 09/03/2015 19:24

I think DS will just decline because the 'we'll have you as long as you pay' isn't hugely welcoming.

RandomFriend · 10/03/2015 23:19

pastaofplenty, my understanding is that if you have "home" status for fees at a Scottish university because of being resident in the EU, then there are no fees to pay, hence no loan.

There is no separate maintenance loan for available if you are at a Scottish university. We have the same dilemma (except that we don't yet, as DD is still waiting to hear from Edinburgh).

2rebecca · 11/03/2015 11:11

I think if she declines a university just because they are clarifying where her funding is coming from she can't be that bothered anyway. Surely she knew she'd be in the nonScottish/EU funding stream when she applied? Similarly international non-EU students will have that clarified on their acceptance letters.
Well done to those who got in.

Molio · 11/03/2015 14:22

No he's not that bothered 2rebecca, it was his fifth choice. Even so, to say they'll withdraw an offer because he moves to Scotland is a bit meh.