Prospective students, parents and teachers worried about the rising cost of higher education are invited to an information evening at the University of Essex next week.

The University’s Outreach Office is hosting the student finance event on 14 November. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of Essex’s admissions and student support teams, as well as current students, the event will offer reassurance and information about how to make university affordable.

The event, which starts at 7pm at the Colchester Campus, will offer specific sessions for prospective students, parents and teachers to address the issues relevant to them.

Claudia Carey, Education Outreach Officer at the University, said: “Student finance has undergone significant changes over the past year and there is a risk that some people will be put off applying to university. However, higher education remains affordable and our aim is to demystify the situation and provide people with clear, up-to-date facts to help them make informed choices.”

Parents attending the event will benefit from the personal and professional experience of Joanne Tallentire, Deputy Director (Admissions) who will explain the admissions process from both a university perspective and as a parent who understands the concerns parents have. The Student Support team will also provide information about the kind of assistance and financial support can expect once they have enrolled at university.

The evening will equip year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students with information about living on a tight budget. They will benefit from an interactive budgeting workshop run by current students who will draw on their own experiences of living away from home.

Teachers too will benefit from clear and current information about admissions processes, student finance and student support.

The event marks Student Finance Day, a national awareness-raising event organised by the Independent Taskforce on Student Finance.

To attend the event, please telephone: 01206 873424 or e-mail: outreach@essex.ac.uk. For further information see: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance/event.

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Notes to editors

For further information please contact Claudia Carey via the University of Essex Communications Office, telephone: 01206 873529 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk.

Further information is also available online at: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance/event and www.studentfinance2012.com.