Showing posts with label living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Finance for new full-time students

New full-time students can get loans, grants and bursaries to help with tuition fees and living costs. These help you study first, and pay back when you're earning.

Starting university or college: help with your costs

If you're a new full-time higher education student this year, or you're thinking of applying for next year, the financial help you can get includes loans, grants and bursaries.

If you've taken a gap year in 2005/2006, you'll be entitled to slightly different types of help - follow the link below for further information.

Gap year students and others qualifying under the 2005/2006 rules

Tuition fee loans

How much can you get?

Universities and colleges can charge new full-time higher education students up to £3,000 per year in tuition fees in 2006/2007 (£3,070 in 2007/2008).

Tuition fees and living costs

However, all eligible full-time students can now get a Student Loan for Fees (sometimes known as a ‘tuition fee loan’) to cover the full amount charged, so no one has to find the money for fees either before or during their course.

Student loan factsheet

How much will you have to repay?

If you take out a student loan, you won't have to start making repayments until you've left your course and are earning over a certain amount, currently £15,000 a year.

Your repayments will be nine per cent of your earnings over this set amount. So if, for example, you were earning the average starting salary of a graduate level job of £18,000, your repayments would be £5.19 a week.

The interest rate (currently 2.4 per cent) is linked to the rate of inflation, so the amount you repay is the same in real terms as the amount you borrow.

What if you don't earn enough to afford repayments?

Repayments are linked to how much you earn and not how much you owe. If your earnings were to drop below £15,000 at any time, your repayments would stop until you were earning over this amount again.

Repaying student loans (courses starting from 1998)

Living cost loans

You can also apply for a Student Loan for Maintenance (also known as a 'living cost loan') to cover the cost of living expenses.

How much can you get?

The amount depends on where you study, where you live while you study, and the academic year.

For example, if you live away from home and study in London you could get up to £6,170 in 2006/2007 (£6,315 in 2007/2008).

Or if you live at home you can get a loan of up to £3,415 in 2006/2007 (£3,495 in 2007/2008).
All full-time students can automatically get around 75 per cent of the full loan amount but how much you get will depend on your household income.

Student loan factsheet

What about repayments?

The repayment system is the same as for the tuition fee loan. You don't have to start any repayments until you have left your course and are earning over £15,000. If you take out the tuition fee loan and the living cost loan the amounts are added together so you only make one repayment.

Repaying student loans (courses starting from 1998)




Grants for living costs

Around half of all full-time students are also likely to be eligible for a yearly Maintenance Grant of up to £2,700 for 2006/2007 (£2,765 for 2007/2008). This grant is non-repayable.

How much you get depends on your household income and the year of study. For example:
* you will receive the full grant if your household income is less than £17,500 for 2006/2007 (£17,910 for 2007/2008)
* you will receive a partial grant if your household income is between £17,501 and £37,425 for 2006/2007 (£17,911 and £38,330 for 2007/2008)

If you receive means-tested benefits such as income support, you may receive the Special Support Grant in place of the Maintenance Grant.

Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant factsheet

Bursaries and scholarships

If your tuition fees are over £2,700 in 2006/2007 (£2,765 in 2007/2008) and you receive the full Maintenance Grant, your university or college will give you extra financial help.

For example, if you are charged tuition fees of £3,000 this academic year, you will get a minimum bursary of £300.

Many institutions are offering more than the minimum amount, and some are offering bursaries to all students.

So, it's well worth contacting the universities or colleges that you're interested in attending to find out exactly what they're offering.

Bursaries and scholarships factsheet

Extra financial help

You can apply for extra help may if you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, or if you have children or adult dependants.

If you need extra financial support for your course or to stay in higher education, you may also be able to apply for help from the Access to Learning Fund.

Disabled students - extra financial help

Students with children or other dependants - extra financial help

Access to Learning Fund factsheet

Adding it all up: the student loan and grant calculator

The simplest and most convenient way to work out how much help you could get is to use the 'Student loan and grant calculator'.

The calculator asks you for details about your financial circumstances, and then gives you an estimate of the help you might receive.

It currently features financial help for the 2006/2007 or 2007/2008 academic years.

Student loan and grant calculator

How to apply

Not everyone is eligible for all the types of financial help outlined above. To find out if you qualify, follow the below link.

Do you qualify for student finance?

Apply online or on paper

To find out more about how and when to apply, see 'Applying for student loans, grants and bursaries'.

Applying for student loans, grants and bursaries

Source

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Job options after getting political science degree

Here is a useful collection of ideas from Yahoo! Answers. Worth reading!

What is a cool/fun political science major or job. I was considering teaching.?
Im a junior in college and i am majoring in political science and international relations. I am interested in human rights and inner city issues. Im taking some philosophy classes right now. I have no idea which path to take, and i feel like im wasting my money and time not knowing what i wanna do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Change your major. I have a poli sci degree and had to get a MPA to get a good job. Good luck.

What's a good job for a political science major besides a lawyer or teacher?
I graduate in December and I'm a double major in history and political science. I hate working in a law firm though, so what else would be cool?

Gov't agencies

Non-Profits

Lots of Businesses will take Poli Sci people

You can dedicate yourself to some voluntay work like the Peace Corps.

I would suggest checking out Assessment.com where you can take the MAPP test. It may give you some ideas of different things you could do.

public administration and other non-profit policy jobs.


I have a B.S. Political Science degree and MPA degree and no JOB!!!?
I have an B.S. Political Science degree and a MPA degree and I cannot find a job. I am currently working for my local police department but I am making pennies. Every job that I apply for turns me down so I am left at a non-progressive department. I am thinking about changing fields but I have no idea what field. I am also thinking about going to law school but I need a break from school. If anyone can help me out and give me some directions it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I'm going to suggest a career path for you that will let you use your skill set. But first, I'll chastise you a little. I don't know you, so this is clearly out of line--I can only go on the single paragraph you wrote above: Your degrees will not get you a job. You wrote that paragraph in a way that implies, "Hey, I've done my schooling, now it is someone else's obligation to hire me." NOT THE CASE. You need to do two very important things: First, work like it is a full-time job in getting a job. That means work at getting a job from 8:AM until 5:PM Monday through Friday. If you can't send out 60 resumes-a-day, you aren't a very good worker! Your degrees only help show that you have some specific qualifications for some specific types of jobs. A degree doesn't make it anyone else's responsibility to hire you. Second, to hire at a Master's Degree level candidate often takes years to get employed. YEARS! My son applied for a job with the Department of Defense, as a civilian, in 2003, right after he got his Bachelor's degree. He was offered a position that started in June of 2007 (just a few days ago) and after he had completed his Masters of Public Policy. The background and security checks, and getting the opening took that long. (He's very happy now, and loves his job.)The last link below shows that the DoD is still hiring, and they love folks with Master's degrees. Apply with them, but make those applications just one in the 60 or so a-day you should be filling out. Nothing is more important than getting out the 60 or so resume's-a-day. THAT IS YOUR FULL TIME JOB!Finally, don't change career paths now. Let your new employer guide you. If your new employer needs you to get a JD, he'll pay for it.Now, the real way to use your Masters of Public Administration is to get a job with the Federal Government. And the best way to do that is to attach yourself to whichever political candidate you really believe will win the Presidential election in 2008. They will reward those who work on their campaign. The problem here is that no one knows who will win even the party election, let alone the general election. Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney have the best chances to win their respective party races. They have active, professionally run campaigns, and will win their nomination. If you choose wrong though, your work for them is essentially lost for four years and you close a door. If you choose right, you open a door. I can't tell you which (if either) will win. I've included both of their web sites. But you need to work for a campaign as a volunteer for six months, and work up to a paid position. This you can do from wherever you now live. They need local people in every State, in every county, and in every town in America if they're going to win. Forget the hype--choose one of these two. This is a LONG road though. Hillary's campaign workers have to raise $150,000.00 to get "noticed." Mitt's have to raise $100,000.00, before the convention. Both campaigns have hundreds of openings though for doing things like "advance" work (getting the area ready for the candidates arrival); "press" work (making sure the all the local media cover every event); and "community" work (getting local elected officials to the events, and committed to the candidate.) These positions start as "volunteer" positions, but become paid (poorly paid) after you've proven your ability to work 80-hours a week as a volunteer. They'll keep you fed, and clothed, but nothing more. But if your candidate is elected--you've got a job in the new administration.My final word of advice is to WORK at getting a job. This can't be a casual thing. Every city in the nation needs a city manager. Your degree says you'll work for the government. That's good--because they are steady jobs that you'll have a great career path in. But you'll move every two or three years from city to city throughout your career. If you don't like the DoD (which is doing a LOT of hiring now--link included) then go into city management. Start with small cities (Ottawa, Kansas; Rantoul, Illinois; LaGrange, Georgia; Idaho Falls, Idaho; any town with 25,000-50,000 people.) Go to their websites, and look for positions that REQUIRE an MPA. Then, after you've worked for a small city for a year or two, look for a city with a population of 100,000 or so. Work up the ladder. No one is going to let you run the city of Chicago now--until you've "mastered" the skill set to handle smaller city budgets.Your job now is to send out sixty resume's-a-day to every city in the US to become a city manager (or similiar) position. There are more than 10,000 cities with populations of less than 100,000 people in it. They should all have a chance to tell you 'no'. Start each morning with a search of which cities qualify. Start locally, and begin spreading out from there. You won't have heard of most of these towns--but that's okay, they still need a city manager. (Cities under 25,000 people usually can't afford a "manager.")Good luck.The final link is to the census bureau. It can provide you a list of cities with pertinent populations. In summary, my career guidance to you is to get a job with a small US city. Accept any reasonable offer, and use it as a stepping stone to your next position.

Be your own boss. Get a franchise or two

Great job on getting your education in place. That's the first step to being successful!
Unfortunately, you're going to find out that the jobs you most likely want are going to also come with an experience requirement. Now, I don't know anything about your situation, so if I'm off base please excuse me. But, it sounds like you've got the education matched with no experience.
What your degrees will do is get you in the door for the interview. Where you go from there is up to you. Are you willing to start in a position which is "beneath" your level of education until you catch up on the experience? Those that do will find that they'll get the valuable experience necessary to take the next step. Those that don't will be complaining about how educated they are without having a job.
As a law school graduate, let me tell you that getting that degree will put you in the same spot you're in now...except you'll have an additional degree. At some point, you're going to have to take that first job, and it's going to pay less than you expect and you're not going to have the prestige you want. However, you'll get more pay and more prestige the longer you work, and that will vault you ahead of the folks without your educational background.

What job will a Political science bachelors degree get me ?
I would love to work for Procter and Gamble , but not sure if my chances are diminished with this degree even though its a business minor

A Political Science bachelors degree probably will not land you a job at Proctor and Gamble. I would change my major to business.

Political Science degrees are very versatile. They teach public relations and communication which are essential when working in a business environment. I think if you highlighted your strengths when applying for the job with P&G, you should have a strong chance of getting hired. It could be in human resources, public relations, advertising, etc.

I heard working the fries and the cash register were two of the most popular options after graduation for kids in your major

What are some good job fields for Political Science majors?

the thing about majoring in political science (or psychology, sociology, etc. etc.) is that you are not prepared to be a specific profession. if you graduate with a bachelors degree in civil engineering.......you qualify to get a job as a civil engineer. with a bachelors in poli sci, you do not get a job as a "politcal scientist." having said that.....evaluate what you want to do with your life. it may take a while. the key for you is to get a good entry level job and take it from there. good luck.

What kind of a job should a political science grad seek?

a job in the GOP, where the brains, ammbition and leadership lay, its not perfect, BUT nothin is, at least they move foward and arent stuck in nuetral like another party

a teaching position

I got my BS in Poli Sci. I'm going on to get my Masters in Public Administration. If more school isn't in the cards, you could work on a campaign, write books, teach, or do something with the media and political commentary.
If your strengths include international relations, you could try to work somewhere overseas in any public policy area. If you like Environmental policy, work for a company with those interests in mind.
If you want to be in the thick of things, become a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for your favorite interest group. Really, the possibilities are endless.

What is a good job for a political science major?
I graduated last year, with a not so hot gpa. But I am very good with MS Office.

I was a poli sci major myself. Luckily I had a double major with communications to compliment it. Its really tough finding a job with just the poli sci major. Definately go towards lobby groups or firms, or public action or interest groups. Try local offices around your hometown too. Try public affairs offices, or for now try getting an admin job to get your foot in the door. More than likely you will at first probably get a very very low paying job, (I am talking mayb $8-$10 an hour) until you work your way up. Unless you are one of the lucky ones. Also consider getting a masters. Don't forget to try your local chamber and see if they are hiring, or your local county, city or village offices. Try law offices, or temp-agnecies to try your hand at being a paralegal. Insurance offices also might have something you can dab into. Also maybe take a stab at event planning or something different. There is a huge array you can try. You may or may not get a job at a hot-shot office right off the bat, but remember, we all work our way up!

Lobbyist.Send your resume to Political Action Committes (PAC).Major industries all have those.I worked as exec. secretary for one in Arizona. It was formed by members of the mining support industry (heavy equipment manufacturers, utilities and the like).

Look for a job with a politician. Normally they have a section of available jobs on their websites. It could be just for the campaign but that looks very good on a resume, particularly if they win. You would definitely be an asset as well because of your proficiency with MS Office.

get a masters in public administration they make big bucks

You normally have to go on and get a master's in something specific. It's a nice generic undergrad degree for going into law or medicine or criminal justice or education.

How can you find job for a political science student?

Speaking as a poli sci major, there are LOTS of things you could do:
* I joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and as a college graduate, was able to become an officer. It was the most important job I've ever had. (And, of course, the U.S.M.C. is the best of the military services!)
* Political campaigns are ramping up for 2008, so you could get a job in a political campaign, perhaps even a paid one. Just track down the Website of the candidate of your choice, and apply.
* Go to work for the U.S. Federal Government in a civilian role. Check out these sites: - USAJOBS, the main Federal Government job site (lots of jobs on other government job sites, though) -
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ - USA.gov, connects you to lots of information about the Federal Government plus jobs - http://www.usa.gov/
* For jobs in state or local government, Job-Hunt.org's state and local government page will connect you with literally hundreds and hundreds of local government job sites, by state.

American Politics Canadian Politics Comparative Politics International Relations Methodology Political Psychology Political Science (Field Open) Political Theory Public Administration Public Law Public Policy Other Environmental Politics Rational Choice Theory Research Positions Postdoctoral Fellowships Faculty Exchanges and Other Opportunities

Can you get a good job with a Political Science degree?

Oh sure, look at www.princetonreview.com it will let you know what you can do with the degree.

Maybe as a teacher.

i have a double majot in poli-sci and psych. used the poli-sci to get my jobs, especially in dc (private, not govt) the psych just helped me in those jobs. got my ba in 68.

Usually most people who major in political science go to law school.

You can get a good job period as long as you want one. And if you have a degree regardless of the kind of degree you can get an even better one...just getting one is a good job.

More to follow!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Political science jobs

I compiled a small list of useful catalogues which may help you find some politics-related jobs:

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/browse/politics/
http://www.academicjobseu.com/content/categories/SocialScience-polit.asp
http://www.execsearches.com/exec/
http://www.apsanet.org/
http://www.aspanet.org/scriptcontent/index.cfm
http://www.cato.org/
http://www.heritage.com/
http://www.gopjob.com/
http://www.jobsinnonprofit.com/
http://www.opportunitynocs.org/
http://www.movingideas.org/
http://www.naspaa.org/
http://www.apsanet.org/jobplc/onlinejobs.cfm
http://www.brubach.com/opawebversion3/opa.htm
http://pss.la.psu.edu/
http://www.rollcall.com/
http://www.hillnews.com/
http://www.sector1.net/jobsearch/default.asp
http://www.delaware.gov/agencies/egovernment/agencyindex
http://www.rileyguide.com/
http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/polisci/jobs.html

This list is far from full - I will try to revise and append it in future.


Living in the United Kingdom - costs

When you are planning your budget for living in the UK, it is not just your course fees that you need to take into account. You also need to calculate your everyday living expenses including your food, accommodation (rent and other bills), books and equipment, and clothes - making sure that you have enough left over for leisure activities and socialising. The cost of living varies between different regions of the UK; London, for example, is more expensive than average and costs may also be high in other major UK cities such as Edinburgh and Manchester. A lot is also down to you, of course - the cost of a pair of jeans can vary hugely, depending on how important fashion and designer labels are to you. Just as if you were at home, you need to be sensible about what you really need and what you can actually afford.

Budgeting for the year

At boarding schools and some international study centres, accommodation and meals are included in your fees, but if you are on a course at a further education college, higher education college or university, you will probably need to budget for rent and also for buying and cooking your own food. Even if your institution has a canteen, you will usually need to pay for the meals you eat there separately from your rent. You should always plan your living expenses over 12 months, even if the academic year is shorter, as you may have to pay accommodation and other costs over the holidays. It's also worth checking what bills you are expected to pay and which are included in your rent, as this can have a big effect on your budget. Student accommodation in halls of residence can often look more expensive than a room in a shared house, but all bills and internet access are usually included in the cost of your room, whereas in private accommodation you will be expected to pay these separately. Before you arrive, your institution should be able to give you clear guidance on exact prices of its accommodation, meals in its canteen, bills you will be expected to pay and the cost of living in the local region.
Online budget planners such as the one you will find at http://www.educationuk.org/ can help you to work out how much money you will need throughout the year. You will find it helpful to look at this before you arrive in the UK. You may also find it useful to check out the websites of UK chain shops and supermarkets that sell a range of products, such as http://www.tesco.com/ and http://www.debenhams.com/, as this can give you a basic idea of UK prices for food, clothing and other essentials you will need throughout your time here.

Leisure and socialising

How much you spend on your leisure time and social activities can also vary hugely depending on what you choose to do. If you go to the cinema once or twice a week, dine in expensive restaurants every evening and make regular trips to the theatre or the ballet, you will spend much more than if you take advantage only of the entertainment arranged by student societies. Most on-campus activities with friends will cost you next to nothing. Of course, the actual amount you spend is likely to be somewhere between the two. Most universities have a student cinema, nightclub, theatre and other entertainment available that you can enjoy for much less than similar entertainment will cost you off-campus.

Cheaper options

If you're going to be living on a budget, there are several tips for value buying. Outdoor markets are good for fresh food and cheap clothing and you will often find these close to areas where there are large numbers of students. Larger supermarkets where you can buy in bulk are generally cheaper than smaller local shops and stores and many sell good quality clothing, household goods and electrical equipment as well as food and other provisions. Some supermarket chains will deliver, and while there is likely to be a small charge for this it may be no more than the bus or taxi fare and much easier than struggling home with bags of heavy shopping.

Student discounts

Many shops, theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries offer special reductions for students and special student fares are often available on buses and trains. To take advantage of these, you will usually need to prove membership of the National Union of Students (NUS), an organisation that represents the interests of all students in the UK. Recent discounts listed on the NUS website include 10 per cent off purchases of selected items at HMV (a music and DVD retail chain), Topshop/Topman (a chain of fashionable clothing shops), ShoeZone (shoe shops), Peacocks (a chain of family clothing stores) and Argos (homeware and hardware). Ask at your Students' Union for details of the latest student discounts or check online at http://www.nusonline.co.uk/. Student discounts are also available on most UK travel.

Health care

All international students on full-time UK courses that last more than six months can take advantage of the UK's National Health Service, including free consultation with doctors and free hospital care for you and your family.