BSc Applied Ecology and Conservation in UK

Description:
The programme offers the opportunity to acquire the varied skills required of applied ecologists and conservation biologists through a combination of taught modules and practical experience. The first year provides a broad introduction to pure and applied ecology. This provides an insight into the full range of pure and applied ecology, and how ecological perspectives can inform real-world problems in conservation and pest management, especially in relation to the agricultural landscape. The second year builds on this introduction, providing deeper insights into the ecological systems and organisms that make up our world, with an emphasis on UK issues. The final year allows for a wide range of choices, so that your degree will reflect your interests. Final year project choice depends on the interests of students and staff. Recent projects include topics as diverse as 'the ecology of parasitic wasps', 'the effects of rainforest destruction on biodiversity', 'bird foraging behaviour' and 'glow-worm conservation'.
Year 1
Compulsory Modules
Ecology: Species and their Interactions
Mammals: Diversity, Behaviour and Conservation
Environment in Practice 1
Exploiters and Exploited
Humans and the Changing World
Genes and Chromosomes
Optional Modules
includingCountryside and the Environment
The Living Cell
Plant Diversity, Structure and Utilisation
Soil: Principles and Management
Intorduction to Enterprise and Marketing
Year 2
Compulsory Modules
Environment in Practice 2
Evolutionary Biology
Habitat Management
Introduction to Entomology
Weed Biology and Control
Statistics for Life Sciences
Science Communication
Biodiversity Field Course OR Tropical Biology Field Course (subject to place availability)

Optional Modules
including
Practical Nature Conservation
Vertebrate Zoology
Invertebrate Zoology
Animal Behaviour
Ecology and Management of Plant Diseases
Birds: Diversity, Behaviour and Conservation
Landscapes for Amenity and Sport
Final Year
Compulsory Modules
Research Project
Conservation Biology
Wildlife in the Farming Environment
Optional Modules
including:
Rural Environmental Sustainability
Rural Policy and Countryside Planning
Environmental & Ecological Weed Management
Principles and Practice in Biological Control
Behavioural Ecology and Life History Theory
Conservation and Biodiversity: The Global and Local Scale
Physiological Ecology
Management of Soil Fertility
Biodiversity Informatics
Plants and Climate

BSc Zoology with Aquatic Biology (C3C1)

BSc Zoology with Aquatic Biology (C3C1)

Zoology with Aquatic Biology focuses on the study of aquatic organisms and the environments in which they live. This course will develop existing strong links with potential employers (including for example, the Environment Agency and consultancies). It will cover fundamental aspects of the ecology of aquatic systems, and spans a wide range of organisms, from the microscopic marine plankton that play a key role in regulating Earth’s climate, to the largest of all animals ever to have existed, the great whales. The programme is almost unique in the UK as it considers elements of both marine and freshwater biology. The School is ideally situated for easy access to a diverse range of UK seashores and important freshwater habitats, including the Thames, the chalk rivers of Dorset and the lakes and Broads of Norfolk, as well as the London Aquarium and various nature reserves in the capital itself (e.g. the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre in West London).
For further information regarding the programme, please refer to our

programme flyer [PDF 171 KB]

Programme structure

Year
Required Modules – Essential skills for biologists, Cell dynamics, Heredity and gene action, The diversity of life, Basic biochemistry, Conservation and the environment, Evolution, Ecological and environmental techniques.
Year 2
Required Modules – Animal physiology, The invertebrates, Aquatic ecosystems:structure and function, Fish biology and fisheries, Populations, communities and ecosystems.
Options – Evolutionary genetics, Global change biology, Statistical methods in biology.

Year 3 -
Required Modules – Integrative studies in biological sciences, Behavioural ecology, Aquatic ecosystems: science, policy and management, Mammals and evolution, Zoology research project/Investigative project/Project skills in the life sciences.
Options – Freshwater biology, Tropical ecology and conservation, Turtles, seals, whales and dolphins.

Entry requirements

Normally 300 points at A2 level.
Biology (or equivalent) A2 is required with at least grade C.
Chemistry A2 or AS is desirable but not essential.
For more information on entry requirements visit the SBCS general entry requirement page.

Practical Skills/Project work

Every student has the option of taking an investigative or research project that may take up to a quarter of the final year's work. For many students, this is the highlight of their time in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, giving them an opportunity to work alongside established researchers in the field, and the Natural History Museum, the London Zoo, Forest Enterprise and London University's Marine Biological Station at Millport in Scotland all provide special opportunities for original work. There is a strong emphasis on fieldwork, with opportunities for residential modules in all three years, located at sites around the coastline of the UK and in the Lake District.

MSc in Hydrogeology in UK

This one year MSc in Hydrogeology, run with the collaboration of the British Geological Survey, Scottish Water and Scottish Environment Protection uk Agency, will prepare students as functional hydrogeologists to meet the needs of uk industry, regulators, government and consultants.

for Sep 2011 entry to full-time MSc hydrogeology (Admission Code : CVMSC3)

Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.

Online applications are welcome for September 2011 entry via the above link. Please also refer to the Entry Requirements section further below.
One year full-time study uk involves attendance at classes in uk (120 credits) over 2 terms, plus uk dissertation (60 credits) during the 3rd term. This is the only option for Overseas students.
Part-time (open to UK/ EU students only) involves classes attendance, completing 60 credits in year 1 and 60 credits plus dissertation in year 2. Depending on timetable, just 2 days work release per week may be needed 24 weeks/year.

for Sep 2011 entry to part-time MSc hydrogeology (Admission Code : CVMSC4)

Postgraduate entry requirements are in our prospectus.

The Programme and its International Context

Throughout the World, the issue of uk water scarcity, water security, uk water economics and health and sanitation all rely on high quality hydrogeology knowledge. Hydrogeology is a key component of water resources management required to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Hydrogeology is a key component of water resources management required to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals and the Decade Water for Life as well as meeting the targets required from the European Water Framework uk Directive (and daughter directive) and as a subset of Geotechnical Engineering. This MSc will prepare students as functional hydrogeologists to meet the needs of industry, regulators, government and consultants throughout the UK, Europe and, through linked uk research and projects, the needs of the Middle East and of the SADC (South African Developing Countries) such as Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
The Department of Civil Engineering at Strathclyde has one of the strongest Geo-Engineering foci of any related department in the UK, and is currently working with the British Geological Survey (BGS) to develop hydrogeology in sub-Saharan Africa.

CURRICULUM

The MSc course involves a curriculum of seven core modules and a wide range of optional modules. Additionally, students undertake a dissertation.

Compulsory Modules

• Hydrogeology
• Aquifer Mechanics
• Groundwater Flow Modelling
• Global Water Resources Policy
• Research Methodology with Environmental Monitoring & Analysis
• Installation Techniques and Risk Assessment
• Treatment Technologies

Optional Modules

(Not all classes may be offered each year)

• Principles of Sustainable Development
• Applied Strategic Environmental Assessment
• International Environmental Policy
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Ecology, Biodiversity and Sustainability
• Pollution and Rehabilitation of Degraded Ecosystems
• UK and EU Environmental Law
• Environmental Modelling
• Water and Environmental Management
• Solid Waste Management
• Spatial Query and Analysis using GIS
• Fundamentals of Environmental Forensics
• Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

Normal course length

MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time.

Entry Requirements

MSc: Normally a First or Upper Second-class Honours degree from a UK University or equivalent Overseas qualification, in Earth Sciences, Environmental Engineering and Civil Engineering or other relevant disciplines. Two supportive academic references and/or appropriate professional experience or achievements.
Open Access Route: A wider range of qualifications will be considered by the course leader.
In all cases, for candidates whose first language is not English, minimum standards of written and spoken English are an IELTS score of 6.5 (or a TOEFL score of 600 or official evidence of previous degree having been instructed in English, where applicable).

Career Prospects

Students who complete an MSc in Hydrogeology are in very high demand as there is an expected shortage of Hydrogeologists in the UK that will continue for the next decade. Additionally, throughout the world the issue of water scarcity, water security, water economics and health and sanitation all rely on high quality hydrogeology knowledge.

Contact

Professor Robert Kalin
Course Leader
David Livingstone Centre for Sustainability
t: +44 (0)141 548 3170
e: dlcs@strath.ac.uk

Open Access Study

UK students can choose study via Open Access - taking a couple of classes per year, adding up eventually to a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or MSc (up to the max of 5 years). More information from Dr Jane Andrews. Additionally, UK/EU students who do not meet the normal MSc entry requirements for this programme, are welcome to apply via the Open Access route instead.

BSc Meteorology and Climate

UCAS Code: F790Course length: 3 years
Accreditation:Approved by the Royal Meteorological Society as an appropriate academic training for meteorologists seeking the qualification Chartered Meteorologist.

Course aims

Our course aims to provide a thorough degree-level education in environmental physical science, with emphasis on the physics of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It also aims to provide graduates with a sufficient degree level knowledge of applied physics and mathematics to enable them to pursue a career outside the specialist areas of meteorology and oceanography.

Course content

The course consists of a mixture of compulsory and optional modules. Full details can be found in the course module table

Transferable skills

You will gain useful, transferable skills and experience while studying this course, including:

• Oral presentations
• Scientific writing
• Information handling
• Numeracy
• Problem solving and scientific experimental methods
• Team working

Use of information technology (word-processing, using spreadsheet and graphical applications programs, scientific programming, internet).

Entry requirements

Entrants to this course are normally required to have obtained:
Grade C or better in English, science and mathematics in GCSE or equivalent

• Either A/AS Level: 300 points overall including at least BB in physics and mathematics (both A2 levels) and 100 points from another A2 level or other AS levels;
• or International Baccalaureat: Pass IB diploma with higher grades 6, 6, 5 including Physics and Mathematics;
• or Scottish Advanced Highers: 300 points with at least BB in physics and mathematics plus the remainder from another Advanced Higher or other Highers;
• or Irish Highers: five grade Bs including physics and mathematics both at grade B

Career prospects

Graduates gaining a good honours degree are suitably qualified for graduate entry into the Meteorological Office, where they may pursue a career in either operational meteorology or research.
The British Antarctic Survey, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Environment Agency and three or four commercial weather forecasting companies are examples of organisations that provide employment to graduates wishing to specialise in the applications of meteorology.
Opportunities also exist in the general area of environmental consultancy, both with local authorities (in the UK) and private companies. However, a graduate is also qualified to follow a career involving more general applications of physical science and mathematics, as in teaching (primary or secondary level), the scientific civil service, and industry.
Graduates also pursue higher degrees mostly in the UK but occasionally in the USA.
Over the past 2 years, 6 months after graduating 81% of our graduates are in graduate level work or futher study (e.g. MSc and PhD degrees).
For a full description of the course please download BSc/MMet Meteorology

Insurance Term of the Week (2)

For our second week, we have chosen - ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT (ADB).

Definition
A supplementary life insurance policy benefit that provides a death benefit in addition to the policy’s basic death benefit if the insured’s death occurs as the result of an accident.
Key Features

• All benefits are paid in addition to any other policy or family income entitlement.
• All cash benefits are free from income tax. (Under current legislation).
• Low monthly premiums.
• No medical examination.
• This type of policy is generally available to anybody aged between 18 and 81 who resides permanently in the United Kingdom.

Student Car Insurance Guide

It’s high time we brought our readers an updated guide to student car insurance. We have scoured the net to bring together all the best resources and latest information on where to find the best value deals.

A great place to start would be the National Union Students (NUS). The Union have long had a partnership with Endsleigh Insurance - the only insurer recommended by NUS. In fact the relationship stretches back for over 40 years, enabling Endsleigh to use their expertise to develop great value motor premiums:

• BEST price from Endsleighs panel of 40 car insurance schemes
• FAST claim turnaround
• 90 day European cover included

Lastly a reminder of the diferent levels of car insurance from which you can choose, why making your No Claims Bonus a priority is a must, and a last but not least reminder of the legal requirement for Road Tax!:
Third Party Only Car Insurance
This is the lowest level of cover available and is therefore often the cheapest. However, it is important to note that it will not provide you with cover for the costs of loss or damage to your car or belongings. By selecting this level of protection you are choosing the minimum level of cover for your vehicle as required by the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Third Party Fire & Theft Car Insurance
Adding fire and theft will provide protection against damage to, or loss of your vehicle due to it being stolen or set on fire.It also possible to include cover for legal fees in case you require a solicitor to represent you.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
If your vehicle is valued at over £5,000 then, by law you must have comprehensive cover, thus the majority of motor policies sold in the UK are of this type. Fully comprehensive motor insurance will cover everything as in a standard Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT) policy with the addition of Accidental Damage.
No Claims Bonus
No Claims Bonus (NCB) is extremely important for reducing your student car insurance premiums. A NCB of five years or more, for example, can entitle drivers to a reduction of up-to 55-75% over the standard policy premium!
Road Tax
If you use or keep a vehicle on a public road, you must display a valid tax disc on it. As the registered keeper of the vehicle you’re responsible for taxing it or making a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) if it’s to be kept off the road.

US Loan Companies

Top notch personal loan providers in US.

The personal loans enable us to meet impromptu and unforeseen expenses .Since we are not prepared for the expense that has suddenly caused smart and prompt lending is what matters in personal loans .The companies that are receptive to the urgency of the customers have topped the list .Take a look at them.This article highlights�

• Top personal loan companies in US
• Prerequisites while applying for a loan:
• Items required when applying for a loan
• Items required during disbursement of the loan
• Best options for personal borrowing

All over the US, there are personal loan companies looking to fund the financial requirements of prospective borrowers. The changing circumstances of today's world make it necessary for more and more persons to approach a personal loan company, to help tide over their financial crises or needs. A personal loan finance company that has a consistent track record of smart lending would qualify as one among the top US companies that will give personal loans. They include:

1. 1st National Bank of Arizona
2. Advantage Home Loans
3. America's Mortgage Banc
4. Bank of America
5. Bank of Blue Valley
6. Bank One/Chase
7. Benchmark Mortgage
8. Bravo Credit Corporation
9. Capital One Auto Finance
10. Capital One Home Loans LLC

Prerequisites While Applying For a Loan

If you are a member of a financial institution like a credit union for instance:

• Loan applications are available for all members of the credit union.
• The reviewing of rates of interest and credit policies is conducted by the Board of Directors.
• Using these credit policies, the Credit Committee reviews, and either approves or denies the credit applications.
• Currently, companies that will give personal loans , have three major prerequisites on which they review and approve loans:
  1. Good credit record
  2. Stable employment record
  3. Debt ratio

The Following Items are Needed when Applying for a Loan

• Proof of income, photocopy of your driving license, and current year's pay stubs.
• It is required that members close the loan personally at the credit union, during the disbursal of funds.
• The loan application should be completely and correctly filled out, and the member's signature affixed to it.
• A$25 application fee is required to be paid while filing the loan application to the personal loan finance company. Out of which, $15 will be refunded, if the personal loan application is approved and funding disbursed. On the other hand should the loan application be rejected by the personal loan company, the $25 will be forfeited.

Items Required During Disbursement of the Loan

• On personal loans secured by vehicles, proof of insurance is a requirement.
• Should the vehicle be purchased from a dealer, then a copy of the purchase agreement is necessary.
• If the vehicle is to be purchased from a private owner, then a copy of the title is necessary.

UK Personal Loans

Your guide to get personal loans in UK

If you are searching for loans in UK, it is not a big task. There is lot of companies offering personal loans at affordable rates in UK.Before choosing one make it a point to do thorough analysis of those companies. The article can be helpful in guiding you to avail the best deal loan in UK. Read on.This article covers

• How do you get Personal Loans in the UK?
• Who provides personal loans in UK?
• What to consider before signing up for your personal loan?
• Who is eligible?
• Points to remember while applying unsecured loan
• What are car loans?

With so many loan firms fighting for their share of your business, there are various personal loans UK and unsecured personal loans UK that come at a much cheaper price than what you have already been quoted. It would be smart to shop around for the best UK personal loans information before making your choice of the personal loan that suits you best these personal loans UK and unsecured personal loans UK are usually provided by:

1. Internet loan providers
2. High Street Stores and high Street Banks
3. Building Societies and
4. Secured Loan providers.

Each of these providers has their individual merits and there is no such concept as a best loan provider. Ideally the best provider for you would be the one who can make you an offer of the best personal loan in the UK, considering your circumstance.

What to Consider Before Signing Up For Your Personal Loan in the UK

1. Never borrow beyond your means, and always borrow responsibly
2. Check if there is a provision for an arrangement fee to set up the loan, a fee for early repayments before your loan term, and for interest accrued for deferments and breaks in your loan term schedule.
3. Lastly, do read the fine print before penning your signature to the dotted line.

Where Can You Get UK Personal Loans and Unsecured Personal Loans UK and Who Is Eligible? Some organizations and firms include:

Sainsbury's Bank Loan

Where the APR typical rate is as low as 6.1%. You could borrow between 1000 and 25000 pounds, get an instantaneous decision, and you could be receiving your cheque within just 24 hours.

Provident Personal Credit

where there is no problem regarding previous adverse credit history, and where you could apply online for a fast decision and quick cash. There is no requirement for any security, and the typical APR is 177%

Loan line

Loan line that offers Debt Consolidation Loans where you would not be paying anything for about 6 months on secured loans of 10,000 to 75000 pounds, regardless of your credit history. While applications from tenants would not be allowed, those UK homeowners who have poor credit can visit Loan line.

Alliance and Leicester Unsecured Personal Loan

Where the APR typical is 6.1% for loans between 1000 and 5000 pounds. You can repay up to a loan term of 5 years, with a schedule of fixed monthly payments. The decision to grant a loan is swift, and easy to get.

UK Finance Online Limited

Where loans ranging from 3000 to 250000 pounds can be arranged with repayments up to 25 years. You can use the money to buy a vehicle or for home improvement, or for consolidating debt. There are loan types to suit all applicants regardless of mortgage, arrears, poor credit history. Loans can be arranged with 125% loan to value. That is, should you possess a 100,000 pounds house with a 100,000 pounds mortgage; a loan amount of up to 25,000 pounds can be arranged. Tenants can also avail of these personal loans in the UK, as they have a vast range of loan products on offer.

Personal Loans

What are personal Loans and how are they different from other types of loans?

Many times you would have experienced financial crisis. During such events you would have borrowed money from your neighbour or acquaintance. These kinds of loans which are available in banks and other financial institution are known as personal loans .A personal loan can be a secured or unsecured one depending upon the company's practices, your credit history etc Have a look at more on personal loans from this article.This article covers

• What are personal loans?
• What are its uses?
• What are the types in it?
• Benefits of secured and unsecured loans
• Who will provide personal loans?
• How one can avail personal loans?

A personal loan is a sum of money that an adult person borrows to meet his financial needs and requirements. An individual can take an easy personal loan or a guaranteed personal loan for a variety of reasons. Loans for personal debt help provide funds to purchase that dream boat or car, pay for your mortgage arrears or home improvement requirements- in fact personal loans help meet most of the financial emergencies that an individual can think of.

Personal loans are often the most preferred type of loan on account of their flexibility. The two most common types of personal loans are:

• Secured Loans and
• Unsecured Loans

Both these options are linked to the choice that one can use any fixed asset to serve as collateral to secure an easy personal loan.

A Secured Personal Loan Is Distinguished By the Following Characteristics

• The loan that is secured against some sort of fixed or immovable/movable asset is known as secured loan.
• This sort of guaranteed personal loans is easily available on account of the collateral that is provided alongside; thereby making the lending institutions more comfortable in forwarding the loan.
• Secured personal loans involve rates of interest that are much lower and easy options for repayment.
• Due to the collateral that is provided, banks and financial institutions usually are unperturbed by defaults in payments or by debts that are pending.
• Secured personal loans are made available to the individual within a period of thirty days after submitting an application.

How Does A Secured Personal Loan Benefit the Borrower And the Lender?

1. Secured Personal Loans can be repaid over a longer period of time, with a lower monthly payment.
2. They are cost effective on account of the low rates of interest charged on the loan.
3. Since the loan has been secured by pledging the assets of the borrower, the risk to the lender's investment is greatly reduced.
4. Their easy availability is another factor. Very few loan applications for secured loans are turned down; since the loan would be secured on the strength of the borrower's assets

Is An Unsecured Personal Loan A Viable Alternative To The Secured Loan?

• In such a loan, the sum of money given by the bank or by the financial institution is not secured by any collateral.
• The financial institution gives the loan solely based on the credit worthiness of the individual concerned.
• As this loan is unsecured, the lender's risk in the investment is high, and therefore the borrower is charged a higher rate of interest than those applying for a secured loan.
• Apart from this, the lender also conducts a thorough check on the financial worth of the individual applying for the loan.
• While the loan amounts can extend anywhere between 500 and 25, 0000 pounds, the rates of interest are higher on account of the risks involved.
• These sorts of loans are usually reserved for tenants, for those persons who do not own homes, and for those who are not in any position to offer any collateral.
• Because there is no collateral to secure these loans, lenders are usually wary of giving large sums of money.
• In case of default on the part of the borrower, then the lender would have no option but to resort to the clauses of the credit agreement, and approach legal aid to help recover the money.

The Benefits behind an Unsecured Personal Loan

• There is no requirement of collateral, and the borrower need not pledge his assets to procure the loan.
• There is no necessity for documents regarding the borrower's tax returns, or for financial statements. The information on the borrower's financial background need not be verified by supporting documents.
• Quick approvals, and an easy application process, are other attractive benefits of this loan.

More Than Launch Green Wheels Insurance

More Than Car Insurance have recently launched their new Green Wheels Insurance policy. It is a new product which allows you to view and monitor reports on your driving style and compare it with other drivers - to see how green your driving really is.
Green Wheels aims to help UK motorists drive their vehicles in an eco friendly manner, thus saving fuel and leaving less carbon footprint.
The technology for this car insurance scheme uses Formula 1 technology in a Green box which simply plugs into the car’s management system and then records all of the driving habit data such as acceleration, breaking and number of short distance car trips. The data gathered is then transmitted to Morethan’s Green Wheels website where existing car insurance customers can access an array of reports on their driving through secure methods.
Bridget McIntyre, CEO at Royal & Sun Alliance commented ”We have created MORE TH>N Green Wheels Insurance to give our customers the opportunity to take responsibility for their carbon ‘tyre-print’. It helps people to understand how their driving style affects the environment by giving them access to information such as their rate of acceleration and braking, the number of short journeys they take and how long they leave their car idling.

This exciting new product is part of our commitment to the Together campaign which believes that, by offering customers positive environmental choices, large companies can make a real difference in the fight against climate change - you can find out more at together.com.

Insurance Word of The Week

Insurance Word of The Week 

Our Eighth insurance word of the week is: Authorised Person

A person (usually a firm) that has been approved by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to carry on one or more FSA regulated activities.

The Financial Services & Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)
FSMA is concerned with the regulation of financial services and markets in the UK . Under Section 19 of FSMA, any person who carries on a regulated activity in the UK must be authorised by the FSA or exempt (an appointed representative or some other exemption). Breach of section 19 may be a criminal offence and punishable on indictment by a maximum term of two years imprisonment and/or a fine.

A copy of FSMA, as well as secondary and related legislation, can be found on the Treasury’s website. Bear in mind that this version of FSMA does not include amendments made to it by subsequent legislation.

Life and Car Insurance

How much of New Jersey’s car insurance coverage should you buy? According to state law in New Jersey has a state minimum auto insurance rate of 15/30/5. Sure sounds like a foreign language, it simply means that you must have:

• $ 15.000 per person for injuries
• $ 30.000 per accident for injuries
• $ 5,000 property damage

Moreover, since New Jersey is a no-fault state, you must have:

• Personal Injury Protection
• The uninsured motorist coverage

These limits are among the lowest in the nation, but that’s about what the state requires that people have. Of course, always going to be a better idea to get more coverage to protect them. How much coverage should reach? The coverage is always better, but it will be with you at the end.

Enter your zip code above to start comparing NJ car insurance quotes from many different companies!

How much is enough?

Think about it. If you have $ 5,000 of coverage for property damage, and cited in an accident in which a car hit $ 15,000 and you are responsible for the replacement of 3,000 dollars worth of public or private property was involved in the accident (such as street signs, houses, etc), the minimum coverage does not pay the bill. You are $ 13,000 in debt and in most cases you will get sued for that money. People will not just wait until you can afford.

That’s why it’s always better to have more insurance. A reasonable level of coverage would be 100/300/25. That is $ 100,000 per person per injury or $ 300,000 per accident for injuries, and $ 25,000 for property damage. In most states, this is more than full coverage, but it will not cost much more for their monthly premiums. Would you rather pay an extra $ 50 a month for car insurance or thousands if not millions in damages to a person because he was under insured?

Sourcing NJ Auto Insurance

There are many different insurance providers to get your car insurance from New Jersey. Leading companies including Progressive, Allstate, Farmers Insurance Group, Selective Insurance Group, and travelers. The best way to choose your provider to get quotes from each company to decide to visit. Get quotes for different levels of coverage, so you can compare the spectrum of options completely.

You also need to check the reputation and customer service of each company. Although the companies listed here are the main brands, which still have to take care of your complaint handling regulations, speed of response to their needs, and so forth. What good is a New Jersey car insurance company, even if they are the cheapest, if not are there when you need them?

New Jersey Car Insurance Summary

You should always be safer, not less. You want to make sure you choose the right provider, and take your decision seriously. NJ to get a car insurance policy is no laughing matter and I will not be one of the people who do not realize how serious it is until it’s too late. Enter your ZIP code to compare auto insurance NJ quotes now!

Home insurance

Home insurance

As you know, people in the U.S. often face hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. Furthermore, in the U.S. the number of home fires is very great. According to official statistics, in 2006 412500 houses have suffered fires. In the fires were lost over 2500 people, real fire damages in the amount of $ 7 million.

For most Americans owned their own house is a sign of prosperity. Now try to present the owner if it is damaged by a natural disaster or house fire not feels assured. Home insurance is common in the obligatory condition that it is a home purchase loan. Many variants of homeowners insurance also cover these cases, such as thefts, accidents, damages due to problems with electricity and a water pipe.

Life insurance

Life insurance

If you have unexpectedly died today, could be your family without your salary? Your children can finish college? They could pay all your debts? Could pay funeral? The purpose of life insurance – to justify the implementation of these requirements in the event of your death.

There are two main views of life insurance. The most popular is called a safe run. The insurance company sets the fixed annual payment may be brought monthly or quarterly. The size of contributions depends on your age, health status, desirable area of insurance cover and other factors. The insurance is paid in the event of his death on the validity of what is normal is 20 and 30 years. Your beneficiaries receive the amount specified in the agreement.

The second type of life insurance is called INT. In this case at every stage of your monthly or annual pay rate. It is very similar to an accumulation account in the bank. In addition, the possible sum of insurance payments gradually increases. But this type of insurance is more expensive than regular term costs.

Car Insurance

Statistics show that in everyday life occupation is dangerous driving. According to the Ministry of Transport of the USA in 2006 in traffic accidents in the country had lost more than 42,000 people. This does not include a lot of people who suffered trauma and maiming one and does not reflect the loss amounts-strong property damage.

Auto insurance is good it is absolutely necessary, both for their protection, and protection of the other participants of traffic. In many states the availability of automobile insurance is mandatory. “Complete” (full coverage) insurance policy covers damage not only your vehicle, but also a loss to another machine or other property remains after the accident. “The full” insurance also covers the costs related to accidents in treatment, and even the payments in case of destruction.

In the absence of insurance runs the risk of being obliged to repay the cost of repair of a car and expenses in treating the victim. So try to find car insurance in good company with good reputation. While the insurance option will give you additional benefits, for example, can tow without the defective car.

Popular Types of Insurance in the United States

Insurance is a good guarantee of financial security in the U.S. The states partially compatible with people who have health problems or job loss, however, do not wait for the government’s attention at once if the aid is required. Independent insurance for health, life, machinery and real estate is the best way to take care of itself.

Health Insurance

Now in the U.S. No government programs on universal health insurance. People are older than 65 years and some of those disabled children can receive medical care within the Medicare program. Most Americans secure health at the expense of employers.

Most Americans secure health at the expense of employers. Full-time workers are more favorable position to receive full insurance at the expense of the employer. Thus, it is customary insurance covers not only the worker but also to members of his family. Conditions of such insurance rather favorable usual.

The problem arises in case of job loss. For the current position with the name of “COBRA”, the dismissals can book safe working conditions. However, they must pay in full, including the part previously paid by the employer. It often happens that it is too expensive for the person who just lost the job.

One of the most typical insurance arises in a case if you already have health problems. Generally, insurance companies try to reduce risks at the expense of insurance except existing diseases. As a result, the person will be secured against potential health problems in the future, but are required to pay for treatment before disease development.
If you work in you or do not work, in general, you should try to acquire personal insurance. There are many companies offering various conditions of insurance. Do not be too lazy to waste time on in-depth examination of tenders and arrange appropriate insurance company with a reputation for reliability.

Insurance and Sunken Boats

If a person invests in a jet ski, there is a significant amount of money going into the car, which can lead that person to obtain a basic insurance policy for your vehicle. The resulting policy can protect the boat in case of catastrophic damage, which may be the result of another rider or due to inclement weather. When a ship sinks or suffers irreparable damage to the land, the boat insurance policy that can allow an owner to receive compensation funds to the loss of your vehicle.

The first step in applying for compensation catastrophic damage to the ship is record all damage to the boat. This can include photo, video, or written detailed accounts of the events that contributed to the damage and the damage itself. Records made in this way not only help insurers, but it can help defend a boat owner, if the insurance company suspects fraudulent activity. Naturally, the visual evidence, hard is much more useful compared to eyewitness accounts the damage.

Fire Insurance Policy

A fire insurance policy means an insurance company agrees to pay a certain amount equal to the estimated loss from the fire caused by the insured, within the time specified in the contract. Compensation is subject to change depending on the policy. Should be confirmed with the insurance company about the types of risks covered, and you can not insure the property against all risks of fire.

What is the scope of coverage of a fire insurance policy?

Fire insurance provides protection for the estimated value of the physical house. However, there are a number of exclusions to it, for example, medical bills, loss of life and domestic animals, loss of personal property, structures outside the property (including garages and pergolas), damage to landscape and accommodation costs of the time. These things can be covered with a package of extended property insurance.

Types of Loans

Types of Loans

Doing away with federally guaranteed private loans whittled the three basic types of loans undergraduate students should know about down to two: federal loans made by the government directly, and private or alternative loans from banks or other private lenders that carry no federal government guarantee. (Sometimes a college itself may make loans, too, usually in partnership with a financial institution.)
Every student should first look to federal loans because the interest on these loans is capped at a fixed rate set by Congress. Every financial aid administrator at every college in the country should tell students this. And students should be wary of any lender that tries to steer them away from federal student loans.
Federal loans remain the gold standard for borrowers. Unlike private loans, they allow more latitude when it comes to repayment, something that is relevant to these economically troubled times. Repayment based on income can offer relief; it can be calculated using the percentage of discretionary income, not the amount owed.
The most popular federal loans are the Stafford loans, available to students regardless of financial need.
There are two types of Stafford loans available to students. For those who demonstrate sufficient financial need, the government will pay the interest on "subsidized" Stafford loans for students while they are enrolled in college. Otherwise, loans accumulate interest while a student is in school, and the student may either pay that interest as it comes due or let it be added to the principal balance.
Perkins loans are available to students who have the greatest financial need; priority is given to students receiving federal Pell grants, which are awarded to low-income students. Parents of students can also take out federal loans, known as Parent PLUS loans (Parental Loans for Undergraduate Students).
Families taking out PLUS loans can borrow enough to cover their full "cost of attendance" less any other financial aid, like scholarships or grants, that they receive. The cost of attendance is defined by law and is made up of more than just tuition and fees, and includes room and board, an allowance for books and supplies, transportation and other personal expenses. Every college should provide incoming students with its cost of attendance.
The federal Education Department has information on Stafford, Perkins and PLUS loans on its Web site, which can be hard to navigate.
The simplest way to borrow may be directly from the federal government, through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. But this option exists only for students attending a college that participates in the direct loan program. For students attending institutions that do not participate, shopping around is a good idea.

Going to College

If you are a high school junior or senior, the most important thing on your mind is probably getting accepted into the school(s) of your choice. As you select and apply to colleges, you should also be educating yourself about college financial aid and the cost of the colleges you wish to attend.
There are plenty of ways to pay for college, so don’t let the price tag of a school scare you off. Just be sure you understand that paying for college today is no small task; the average cost of one year at a 4-year public school is $15,213 and $35,636 for a 4-year private school¹. Once you receive your financial aid award packages from the colleges to which you applied and were accepted, make sure you compare college costs carefully. Check to see what the total cost of each college is, compared to the amount of scholarships and grants you were given at each school. If you need help, use our Comparing Colleges Calculator.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start thinking about how you are going to pay for college. You and your family should start making a college budget, learning about college financial aid and applying for college scholarships now. Free money, like scholarships and grants, is always the best way to pay for college. Once you’ve exhausted free money, and any money your family is willing to contribute towards your education costs, you’ll want to start researching college student loans.

Loans for College

Loans for College

College student loans are a necessity for many college students, given the cost of college today. Before taking out loans for college, you should work hard to get college scholarships. Some students also work part-time to save money before going to college. Once your efforts have been exhausted, you’ll probably need to use loans for college.
There are two types of college student loans, federal and private. A federal student loan, such as the Direct Stafford Loan, is an inexpensive way to borrow money for college. Payments are not due until 6 months after you graduate, or drop below half-time enrollment. The trouble with federal loans for college is that they have low borrowing limits, that are based on your grade level and school status. You may not be able to borrow enough to cover your entire college costs. For more information on federal loans for college, check out our Student Loan Guide.
If a federal college loan doesn’t provide all the money you need to pay for your college expenses, consider private loans for college. A private student loan can help you get the money you need to pay for school expenses such as tuition, room & board, books, travel, food and more. Many undergraduate students find that they need to use a private student loan in order to pay for today’s 4-year public and private school costs. You can generally apply for a private student loan once you have accepted a college offer and are enrolled in school, usually the summer before your freshman year.

The Need for Graduate Student Loans

Whether you have just graduated from college, or you are a seasoned work-place professional, the cost of graduate school can be daunting. Most college graduates already have student loan debt from their undergraduate education, and have not yet had time to save up to pay for graduate school. Even if you are a working professional, graduate school can be extremely time consuming, and you may have to cut back on your current job while you are taking classes. If you have chosen a graduate school in another state or location, you might have to quit your job altogether to attend school.
You may also find that there is less scholarship and federal grant money available to help graduate students with financial aid, compared with undergraduates. If you are unable to secure a graduate fellowship or scholarship money to pay for graduate school, you may have to take out graduate student loans.
Keep in mind that taking out graduate student loans will add to your overall student loan debt. You don’t want to get into graduate school debt lightly; make sure you have weighed all of your professional options and that graduate school is the right choice for you.
Don’t forget to ask your current employer about tuition reimbursement programs offered at your workplace. If you are planning to attend graduate school in the future, you might want to consider looking at companies who offer tuition reimbursement programs as an employee benefit.

Types of graduate student loans?

What are the types of graduate student loans?

There are basically 2 types of graduate student loans:

1. Direct Stafford graduate loans
   The Direct Stafford Loan has increased borrowing limits for graduates, a fixed interest rate of 6.8% for the 10/11 school year, and some great deferment benefits in case you ever run into financial hardship. Graduate Stafford Loans should always be used before considering private graduate loans. Direct Stafford Loans have an origination fee of 1%.
   Graduate students can now also access the Direct Grad PLUS Loan, which can cover up to the total cost of attendance minus any other aid you have received. The Grad PLUS Loan was designed to be used once you have maximized your Direct Stafford Loan funds. The Grad PLUS Loan has a fixed interest rate of 7.9% and an origination fee of 4%.
2. Private graduate loans
   Private graduate loans can cover your school and living expenses after you have maximized free money (scholarships, grants, tuition reimbursement) and Direct graduate Stafford and Grad PLUS loans. Private graduate loans were built with you in mind – there are little or no payments until you are finished with school or drop below half-time status. In addition, private graduate loans are often less expensive than credit cards or personal loans.

Important Information

Private graduate loans are credit based. Depending on your income and credit history, you may qualify for the loan on your own. In today’s financial environment, don’t be surprised if you are asked to obtain a credit-worthy co-signer. The interest rate on private graduate loans is generally variable. If you currently have a good income and credit history, you can apply for a private graduate loan to see if your rate and fees will be better than the Grad PLUS Loan (7.9% fixed interest rate, origination fee of 4%). If you are not working, or do not have a strong credit history, the Grad PLUS Loan is probably your best option. Direct Stafford, Grad PLUS graduate loans and private graduate loans can be tax deductible.

5 Tips to Secure a College Internship in 2011

5 Tips to Secure a College Internship in 2011

1. Be Flexible with Internship Dates Most college students are looking for a traditional summer internship program where they can work full-time while school is out. If you want to increase your chances of landing an internship, try to be more flexible. Some companies have internship programs that run during the school year, where you might work 1 or 2 days per week. If you are able to fit part-time work in your school schedule, you should consider these types of opportunities as well.
   
2. Attend School Internship Fairs Your school has probably already created relationships with local companies that offer college internships to their students. Make sure you attend all of the job and interview fairs provided by your school, even if you aren’t ready to start an internship in the near future. The goal is to hand out your resume to potential employers, receive feedback, increase contacts and give you additional interview experience. If you need help with your resume, seek advice from your school’s career center, a professor, or check out our section on Entry Level Resumes & Cover Letters.
   
3. Always Dress Professionally We know that money is tight for most college students, so you need to make each impression count. The first visual impression you make should be positive and is often manifested in being well groomed and appropriately dressed for the profession you are seeking. We suggest you invest in at least one professional suit for job fairs and interviews, and some business casual attire for networking events, business club meetings and for when you land that internship! With fewer interview opportunities available and competition steep these days, every factor counts so you want to ensure that the company interviewing you is not distracted by your appearance.
   
4. Improve Your Odds While you may be excited about a particular internship program, be realistic about the number of spots available and the level of competition you may face. If you are going for a national internship program that accepts 12 students across the country, improve your odds of landing an internship by applying to other programs. It’s never a bad thing to have more than one internship offer to choose from!
   
It doesn’t hurt to ask your personal network (family, friends, professors, school administrators) if they are aware of any college internship opportunities. Some small or local companies may accept interns without having a formal program, just to help with their workload. A personal reference from a relative or professor may be able to get you in the door. You need to work as many angles as possible to find a college internship opportunity that is not only available, but that you can gain valuable experience from.
5. Search Online There are plenty of job sites on the internet that post college internship opportunities. You can also check your school’s website and the websites of your favorite companies. Just remember to treat each internship submission with care. You’ll want to research the company and submit a well-crafted cover letter and resume with each internship submission.
   

The Unsecured Student Loan

The Unsecured Student Loan
In this, you loan does not have any form of security since the interest rates is higher compared to secured education loan. There are many people avail this type of loan since no security bond needed.
As students or parents, you need to plan what education loan you need for your children or for the college student. You need to do some researching either online or do some shopping by roaming around. Bear in mind that taking an education or student loan is not an instant since the lenders have some requirements to ask.
Spend time reading policies and think twice which loan that suits you and your financial budget. If you are a college student and want to avail an education loan repayment, then you need to plan what type of course you need or to take such as for example, Computer Science, Education, BSN and other course of your desire.
The student loan repayment covers the costs of tuition fees, examination fees, hostel fees, etc. although some will finance the books as well and equipments or instruments required by the student for their course.
Remember that education loan repayment must be eventually being paid back and interest accumulates by the time you get your degree and you will be paying back much more than you owed or borrowed. So be sure you know how to calculate or figure it out what are the total costs of borrowing before you sign on the application or contract.
Think and honestly evaluate the repayment schedule and try to determine whether you will be able to comply with the schedule and the amount after graduation. If you live within your means and not spending unnecessary things or wants, for sure you can pay on the scheduled time and the amount you borrowed as well. In this kind of situation, you need to buckle up tightly your belt in order to pursue your goal, to be a professional someday.

Getting Advice

Getting Advice

In the wake of all the negative attention to financial aid offices in 2007, students might well be nervous about relying on advice they get from their colleges or about borrowing from a company on a college's list of "preferred" or "recommended" lenders.
While it is certainly the case that in 2007 investigators for Congress and various state attorneys general uncovered questionable relationships between lenders and both colleges and individual financial aid administrators, students should still start with their financial aid offices. More coverage of the tangled arrangements some colleges had with lenders is available here, here and here. Many of these arrangements have since ended.
But students should learn from the financial aid scandals and should ask, for example, how recommended lenders were selected and what are the terms of the loans those lenders offer? Under the terms of an agreement with the New York attorney general's office, more and more lenders are required to tell colleges exactly how much students are paying in interest.
For more information, there are plenty of Web sites out there aimed at future college students. Some sites even can help compare loan terms from different lenders to help students choose the best deal, like SimpleTuition and Graduate Leverage. For a comparison of the sites, you can check Finaid's Web page. But some sites are in fact owned by lenders or other companies, or – like SimpleTuition - they are paid referral fees by lenders, so students should not rely on any one source of information.
Some helpful sites are maintained by both nonprofits and for-profit organizations not directly in the student loan business. Those seeking to learn more may want to check out The Institute for College Access and Success (www.ticas.org). The nonprofit's Project on Student Debt provides tips on shopping for and comparing different student loans.
Most of the information provided discussed above is included in the Education Department's Guide to Federal Student Aid [PDF].
After reading this far, you might feel like as much work is involved in paying for school as getting through it. But remember: a little effort now could pay off in savings for years and years after graduation.

Private Loans

Private Loans: The Wild West

For those students who need to borrow more money than is available through a federal loan program, there are "private" or "alternative" loans. These are basically just like any other consumer loan from a bank or student loan company. The interest rates charged on private loans are almost always higher than those on federal loans, and the interest rates can change over time.
The interest rates on these loans also vary from lender to lender and from borrower to borrower, leading some to describe the private loan market as the "wild west" of the student loan industry. Because there is so much variability in loan terms, students must apply for a loan merely to find out what rate they might have to pay. This can be time consuming, but it is better to shop around than to accept a rate that is going to make repayment difficult. The rates charged can vary dramatically.
Because private loan interest rates change over time, it is more difficult for borrowers to predict their monthly payments in the future. In general, students should borrow as little as they can in the form of private loans, no matter how much easier the application process is than the FAFSA.
Private loans also do not enjoy some of the protections that federal loans provide, such as the possibility of temporary deferment or forbearance –- meaning that a borrower does not have to make payments on a loan under certain circumstances. There is more information about how to cope with repayment difficulties for federal loan borrowers.

Interest on Federal Loans

Interest on Federal Loans

Congress sets the interest that a lender can charge on federal loans, and most lenders do charge the maximum. Currently the maximum interest rate on new Perkins loans is 5 percent. On unsubsidized Stafford loans, the rate is 6.8 percent. For subsidized Stafford loans, the rate is 5.6 percent — the government pays the interest (dropping to 4.5 percent for 2010-11 and 3.4 percent for 2011-12). The lower rate is only for undergraduate students; graduate and professional students still pay 6.8 percent on both types of Stafford loans. On PLUS loans, borrowers pay 7.9 percent if they borrow through the direct loan program. Students should check these rates because they do change. The Education Department currently posts the maximum rates.
The government also imposes limits on how much money students may borrow under each type of loan program. As of July 1, 2008, the typical dependent Stafford borrower can take out $5,500 in the first year of college, $6,500 the second year and $7,500 in later years. The maximum amount an undergraduate can borrow through the Stafford loan program is $31,000. These loan limits are specified here.

Student Loans

Overview

A college education may be the most important investment in a child's life and has become one of the most costly, too. The publicly reported tuition charged by private colleges and universities for can reach $50,000 or more a year. The trends are alarming, too. And while tuition at public universities is generally lower, costs there have been growing even more steeply in recent years as government support has lagged.

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So it is no wonder that more students and their families are borrowing ever larger amounts to pay for college. In the 2008-2009 academic year, they took out more than $95 billion in loans, both federally guaranteed and private.

But understanding how student loans work is not easy, and the unwary borrower can end up paying a high interest rate for years after graduation. For the millions of students who will need to borrow to pay for college, it makes sense to learn about the financial aid system even before applying.

The landscape for loans is about to change. Included in the legislation that completed the health care reform package were provisions to force commercial banks out of the federal student loan market, cutting off billions of dollars in profits in a sweeping restructuring of financial-aid programs and redirecting most of the money to new education initiatives.

Since the bank-based loan program began in 1965, commercial banks like Sallie Mae and Nelnet have received guaranteed federal subsidies to lend money to students, with the government assuming nearly all the risk. Democrats have long denounced the program, saying it fattened the bottom line for banks at the expense of students and taxpayers. The legislation, proposed by President Obama in 2009 and fiercely opposed by banks, substitutes an expanded direct-lending program by the government for the bank-based program, directing $36 billion over 10 years to Pell grants, for students from low-income families.