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Applying Through UCAS

UCAS application Once you have decided what university degrees or courses you want to apply to, you will have to do this through UCAS, which is now a completely on-line system (go to http://www.ucas.com/students/apply/).

Quick links:

Registration

Course Choices
Personal Statement
Reference
Application Costs

If you do not have access to the internet via school, college or home, you can access it via libraries and careers centres. A useful on-line source of on-line centres (if that doesn’t sound impossible!) is http://www.ukonlinecentres.com/consumer/

There are several stages to the UCAS application process, and it is easier to create a check-list that you can tick off. Remember we are not UCAS and our advice is just that, advice. But we will try and guide you through the system and help you get on to the course you want.

Registration

You first task is to register with UCAS so that you can get your own log-on user name and password. You will be asked to fill in personal details (name, address, contact information etc), as well as supply additional information such as your education so far, any past employment, any work experience related to your choice of degree; and a range of personal details about nationality, ethnic group and other matters designed to help universities understand how effective they are in relation to widening opportunities for you and others. http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/apply09/overview

Remember to ensure that you have completed each section, the on-screen registration will prompt you to do this. You will also be given your own personal ID Number (a long ten-digit number that is unique to you). Keep this safe as if you have any problems or enquiries, you will need to quote this to UCAS.

Your Course Choices

You can choose up to five courses to apply to and the UCAS system will store these in alphabetical order. You are not required to indicate a preference at this stage. (If applying to Medicine, Dentistry Veterinary courses, you will be allowed a maximum of four choices and if applying to and Art and/or Design course through Route B, three). Some courses and universities will ask you to take a specific admissions test over and above you’re a’ levels/Highers, see ‘Entry Requirements’.

Make sure that you have listed the year of entry correctly. If you are taking a Gap Year (known as deferring), enter the year you want to start.

Do not worry about who you are applying to in terms of ‘will university A reject me if I have applied to university B?’ They are not informed who else you have applied to until you have received offers (which hopefully you will).

Personal Statement

Part of your application will include your chance to say something about yourself. This is the part of your application that course tutors at universities and colleges really read with some care. So, it would be to your advantage to indicate why you want to study your chosen subject, what enthuses you and what you have done so far in relation to this. Be yourself and write this yourself, but do have someone that you can check this with. Parents and friends can help, but try and get someone like a trusted teacher to help you ensure that you have described and presented yourself in the best light.

Try and include any relevant experiences (including any work or non-school activities) and tell the truth, as you may get questioned in any interview. Also, don’t be too shy in describing you personal traits such as your ambitions, what you are good at and what you really enjoy. Course tutors are also trying to judge whether your personality is right for their course and institution, not just whether you have the academic requirements. Try and relax, because courses often choose those who have real passion over supposedly cleverer applicants who they judge do not have a passion for the subject.

Make sure your personal statement is relevant to all the courses and universities that you have applied to (particularly if applying to joint subject degrees). Avoid saying ‘exclusive’ things like “I have always wanted to study in London” if some of the courses you have applied to are not in London! Use your common sense, you have far more than you think.

Reference

You will need a ‘referee’, someone who knows and understands you and is familiar with your academic performance. If you are applying through school or college, they will normally arrange this for you, but it is worth asking your head of year/class who your referee is. Schools normally choose your referee as someone who knows and understands you (they want you to succeed so that they look good as well). If you are applying independently, you need to find a referee who will be able to supply information about your academic and personal details.

Your reference will tell course tutors at any university course you have applied to, what your academic performance is likely to achieve (forecast grades), their opinion of your enthusiasm for your chosen subject or profession, and any relevant details that may affect your performance. It is important that your school, college or independent referee also knows about any other relevant details such as any illnesses, bereavements, parental separation or divorce. Obviously if you have a permanent or temporary disability, your referee should be familiar with your circumstances.

The whole of the UCAS process may appear intrusive, but course tutors need to understand and know about you as much as possible in order to be fair. Also, your details will be fully confidential, so do not withhold information that might affect your chances of success.

Ensure that you tell the truth and do not knowingly include false or misleading information. You will be asked to complete a declaration that includes accepting that untrue statements and information will mean that your application can be withdrawn.

Costs and Payments

The UCAS application process is unfortunately not free. The normal (up to five) multiple choices application fee costs £17. If you are applying to just one university, college or course, then the fee is £7 (for 2009 entry).

If you are applying through school or college, they will normally arrange payment (you may then have to reimburse them). If you are applying independently you will have to make an on-line payment via credit or debit card.

On this site you can find information on:

Student Finance
All you need to know on how to finance yourself with student loans and grants.

Bursary Searcher
Get the links to the specific pages at university websites that offer scholarships, burasries and financial awards.

Open Days
How to use an Open Day to the max, and where and when they are happening.

Gap Years
Travel, earning before you learn, personal development. Whatever your reason for taking a year out before uni, make it work for you.

University List
The list of all the institutions that you can apply to through the UCAS system.

CourseAdvice

Applying Through UCAS

Quick links:

Registration

Your Course Choices

Personal Statement

Reference

Costs and Payments

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