Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar Co. Westmeath Guidance Counselling Dept Applying to UCAS 2017/18 Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar Co. Westmeath Guidance Counselling Dept

Points to consider Fees £6,000-£9,000 PER YEAR Some health courses are subsidised by NHS however it is imperative you check with each individual university to check your fee status Student Loans – Pay back when you earn £21,000+ If you qualify for a SUSI grant here in Ireland you may be entitled to carry that across to UK with you Maturity Necessity

BREXIT BREXIT may impact on students studying in the UK. Please check on current situation at time of application.

Why choose to study in UK/NI Vast choice of courses: Over 50,000 Some courses may be easier to get into Finance New Experience Family reasons

How to apply to UCAS Leaving Cert predicted grades Work experience Apply on-line: www.ucas.com 5 choices (4 if medicine) Personal details Educational record: Junior Certificate Leaving Cert predicted grades Work experience Personal statement School reference

Popular courses Nursing Physiotherapy Occupational Therapy Medicine Dentistry Psychology

Which university should I choose? Location- Where is it? Is it close to an airport/ferry port? Cost How big is the university? What is the accommodation like? How good is the level of student support? Are there many Irish students studying there? Are there opportunities for part time work?

Offers College Admissions consider application Make one of 3 decisions: Unconditional offer Conditional offer Rejection Deferral

Reference Your referee should refer to your academic ability and suitability to third level (this should be a teacher that knows you and has thought you preferably over the last 5 years in school) The reference is a very important aspect of your application (please give your referee plenty of time to complete the reference) You need to provide UCAS with their email and school phone number

Completing the reference Complete in MS Word first Limited Number of Characters Do not mention individual universities that the candidate has applied to Reference should allude to: Existing achievement; motivation and commitment towards the chosen course; any relevant skills, achievement accredited or not; powers of analysis and independent thought, relevant curriculum enrichment and other activities, relevant work experience, proposed career plan etc.

Tariff points Grade Tariff Points H1 36 H2 30 H3 24 H4 18 H5 12 H6 Ordinary Level O1 O2 10 O3 8 04 6

Personal Statement This is an opportunity to show the university how much you want this course and how well suited you will be to the course. It is imperative you get across how committed and enthusiastic you are Paragraphs to include: Show knowledge of course you are applying for Skills and achievements Work experience Hobbies and interests

Tips for writing your personal statement Explain why you want to apply for the course Show knowledge of course you are applying for by referring to aspects/modules of the particular course Ensure your spelling, grammar and punctuation is correct Link interests/hobbies work experience to the course you are applying for

Personal statement – useful sites www.studential.com www.thestudentroom.co.uk/personalstatements

How do Universities make their decisions? Each university has different entry requirements. You should check you meet the course and university entry requirements before you apply. However, there are other factors university admissions teams consider when making their decisions. What academic and non-academic achievements do you have? Have you met the required grades for the course, and what is the likelihood of you achieving the course entry requirements for any qualifications you haven't yet sat exams for? Do you have the experience and skills to succeed at university? Do you have a passion for the subject area, and does this enthusiasm come across in your application? Who are your references and what have they said about you? Is the course and university you've applied for the right course and university for you? Ultimately, it's the job of the university admissions team to determine whether you can succeed on the course you have applied for.

Useful websites Guidance Dept. Coláiste Mhuire www.studential.com www.unistats.direct.gov.uk www.ucas.tv http://hpat-ulster.acer.edu.au/ www.ukcat.ac.uk/ www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/bmat Guidance Dept. Coláiste Mhuire