Tony Charlton and Alan Jones The UCAS

Outline of morning  Warm up quiz  Understanding the application system  Pre-application research tools

University challenge First, a test of your geography…..

ANSWERS

Oxford University

University of Exeter

The University of Manchester

Queen’s University Belfast

University of St Andrews

Aberystwyth University

Setting the scene – UK higher education  Largest sector in Europe  universities & colleges  38,000+ courses

Understanding the application process

The applicant journey - summary ▪Researches where to study ▪Registers online with UCAS Apply ▪Completes all sections of form ▪Reference added by centre ▪Centre sends form electronically to UCAS ▪UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen HEIs ▪HEIs submit decisions ▪Applicant views decisions on Track ▪Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm / Insurance) ▪HEIs confirm places when results are released

Completing the form

Key facts  Number of choices (5 max.)  2012 applicant fee - £22.00 (£11.00 – single choice)  Simultaneous consideration  ‘Invisibility’  Conditional offers

Key dates 15 October 15 January 24 March 30 June Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry Oxford or Cambridge ‘On time’ applications Various Art & Design Courses Applications after this date held for Clearing

Registration only takes 10 minutes Use the school ‘buzzword’ No need to pay at registration stage 2012 apply – went live on 8 June

What information will UCAS require? Your students are asked to complete the following sections: Personal Details Student Finance - new Additional Information Choices Education Employment Personal Statement Having checked the above, you will then add: A Reference

Personal (contact) details....

New section - student finance

Adding choices, one at a time...

Adding qualifications...

Common applicant errors  Failure to check entry requirements  Qualifications (eg. GCSEs) missing, or incorrectly named, on form  Wrong student support fee code  address not verified  Forgotten to register for admissions test

 Work the UCAS reference into the existing school schedule. For example at the end of year 12  Students fill in activity / information sheets  Subject tutors complete subject reference on students the same time they complete end of year reports  Head of sixth (or assigned co-ordinator) gathers all information and edits reference  Keep files of previous students references Reference writing

Example format for a reference Information on school /college Suitability for chosen course Subject by subject report Personal qualities Endorsement

University and college decisions

 Admissions tutors can make one of three decisions:  Conditional Offer  Unconditional Offer  Unsuccessful

Conditional offers Can be expressed in:  UCAS Tariff points  200 points  Grades  BCC in A levels, or MPP in BTEC ND  a combination of both  260 points, including a B in Maths

Tariff tables

29 July 2010

Results time

Confirmation  Exam results are issued (e.g. A levels on 16 August 2012, IB & BTEC in July 2012)  Admissions staff check if applicant has matched the conditions of the offer  If yes, the student will be sent an official confirmation of their place

Confirmation (2)  Adjustment period  What is it? Five day window of opportunity to seek place at another university or college  Eligibility Results must have exceeded CF offer and subsequently been made UF

Celebration time!!

If an applicant has no offers… Two further stages to gain a place:  UCAS Extra (24 February – 4 July 2012)  Clearing (16 August 2012 onwards)

Top Tips

Hints for managing A level results day  Definitely no benefit in staying up late the night before (Track is not unfrozen at midnight!)  Students need to bring their Track log in details into centre  Tell students that not all decisions from CF/CI institutions will be made by the end of the day – need for patience  Stress the importance of reading carefully all correspondence from UCAS  Clearing choices can be entered on Track from 18.00pm  Encourage students to have contingency plans (e.g. part-time or distance learning HE, Foundation Degree, Apprenticeship, re-apply in 2012 Scheme)

Questions Tony Charlton Professional Development Officer