Newcastle University is holding an open day for parents and students this month to explain the facts and destroy the myths surrounding university funding and tuition fees.

Student Finance Day, on September 18, aims spell out the facts and outline the range of support available at Newcastle University.

Students, parents and carers can come along to take part in discussions, workshops and question and answer sessions with experts. This will include information about the £50m over five years of bursaries, fee waivers and Scholarships available at Newcastle. Last year Newcastle University launched its Promise Scholarships, which provides full fee scholarships to 20 young people who show the most academic potential but are least likely to attend a top UK university such as Newcastle.

There will also be a separate session for students thinking about applying to university in years 11, 12 and 13 or at college, run by the University’s team of graduate ambassadors.

It is part of a national campaign led by consumer campaigner Martin Lewis, as part of the Student Finance Taskforce. Newcastle University will host its event in the Herschel Building on the main University campus.

Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at Newcastle University said: “With the introduction of the new fees regime, it is not surprising that there is still some confusion surrounding this important issue. Student finance day will help clarify the issues and highlight the financial support available at Newcastle University.  There are now a lot of good sources of information and help out there for students and these will be explained as well.

“It is vital that students have every opportunity to realise their full potential and for many that will mean going to university and getting a degree.

“Students, their parents, teachers and other advisers need to be properly informed about what the new fee arrangements will mean and this event will do just that.”

The latest Government statistics show that six months after graduating 93% of Newcastle University graduates are either in employment or further study.

Daniel Ashall, from Sheffield, is in the final year of his combined honours degree at Newcastle. He said that coming to university had opened doors and given him opportunities that he otherwise would not have had.

Daniel said: “If people are worried about the financial aspect of university and can’t decide, I would just say it has given me the freedom to decide what I want to do in life and the confidence and skills to get there. The support that you get as part of your course is amazing, and having a degree, and making good use of my time at university e.g. volunteering, will make me more employable. The other support from places like the Careers Service really helps you too. They’ve helped with CV writing and organising internships. These are the kind of opportunities you won’t get if you don’t go to university. It has definitely helped me to decide what I want to do with my life.”

Martin Lewis, head of the Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Information, said: “The myths and misunderstandings of wider society about the new system are still out there. So we need to continue to shout loudly ‘you can go to university’ for the 2013 student intake. Our aim is to repeat the huge success of Student Finance Day last year, in getting a more explanatory message out there. Schools, colleges, universities and money advisors all are working together to help make this happen.”

Anyone wanting to attend should sign up as places are limited. To sign up for the event which runs from 6pm-7pm on Tuesday September 18, go to the website.

For more information on the financial support options available see the website

published on: 11 September 2012