1. Higher Education & The UCAS Process

2. Find out predicted grades, then…
Decide on the subject(s)
Centigrade workbook should help here.
Research a “longlist” of universities
Check the entry requirements and the course content.
Use the UCAS website and the university websites
Reduce the “longlist” to a “shortlist”
Visit those being seriously considered – use Saturdays or the summer holidays wherever possible.

3. UCAS is the central application service for:
Undergraduate degree courses
Diploma/Certificate of HE/HND/HNC courses
Foundation degrees at all UK universities and Colleges of HE
CUKAS – courses at specialist music, dance and drama institutes
Nursing and Midwifery courses (now all degree level)
UCAS also
Provides a service for applicants.
Provides admissions information to applicants, advisers and HE institutions .
Funded by HEIs and applicants’ fees, not by Government
Based in Cheltenham
UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. They process more than two million applications for full-time undergraduate courses every year and try to make things run as smoothly as possible by providing innovative online tools which make it easier for students and HEIs to manage applications and offers. Students only have to complete one application form – UCAS then forwards it on to the universities to which the student wishes to apply.
Much simpler than applying to each institution individually (as is the case in most of the rest of the world) BUT only one personal statement so difficult to submit a satisfactory application for very different courses.
They also organise conferences, education fairs and conventions across the UK and produce a wide range of publications. These are all aimed at helping students to make informed decisions about higher education and to guide them, their parents and advisers through the application process
In addition to institutions in UCAS, there are some private providers of Higher Education courses (many drama and acting schools, Norland College for example). Some of these now use UCAS but you can sometimes apply directly so increases your range of choices.

4. The UCAS Process in brief
Applicants may apply for a maximum of 5 courses. They may apply for more than one course at a university.
There is invisibility of choices between institutions.
The usual cost is £24
If only one choice – cost is £13
Applicants may apply to Oxford OR Cambridge.
Applicants may apply for only 4 courses in Medicine, Veterinary Science, or Dentistry plus one course in a related subject e.g. biomedical science.
Medics and Vets etc can include an additional course – such as Biomedical Sciences. The fact that their personal statement will be for a different course does not matter – Universities are well aware of the problems facing such students and they know such students (if they do have to take their second choice option) will be highly academic and motivated.

6. Information for Parents

7. Adding 'Extra' choices
If fewer than 5 choices were on the original form, applicants can add extra courses/universities at a later date.
UCAS Extra enables applicants who have used their 5 choices, but have either received no offers or have declined all their offers, to apply for a course which still has places available.
This is particularly useful for candidates who want to apply for Oxbridge (or Medicine/Vet and Dentistry). They should complete their application form and get it sent off asap for the institutions they are sure about, take some time to research other courses and institutions and then add these on. Note though that there is no facility for changing the personal statement to fit these new courses.
Once extra goes “live” an X appears next to courses which still have availability - on the UCAS website.

8. Gap Years
We recommend that pupils intending to take a gap year apply this September for a place in 2019 (tick the box requesting deferred entry).
Alternatively, they may decide to apply in September once their results are known.
Pupils who apply to go to university in 2018 and later decide that they wish to take a Gap Year, must contact the individual universities they have applied to, to request permission to defer their place. This may not be granted – it is entirely up to the university.
Students should consider their Gap Years carefully – recommend a gap year that will be useful for their chosen area of study – OR
Develop various skills – People skills, organisation, maturity, managing money, etc…
All valuable for life at university or in the work place. Good to have on their CV.
Should contact Mrs Killgren or Miss Tomlinson if they are thinking of taking a Gap Year.

9. Art Design Music Dance Drama
Degrees in
Art Design Music Dance Drama
Art and Design based courses
All will have an interview.
Interview skills and organisation will be crucial.
Portfolio of work will be required at least 10 pieces of artwork including Life Drawing that is from AS/A2 only not GCSE, demonstrating work that is non A level, an essay, sketchbooks
Some universities may request that a particular project is completed and sent to them by a specific date.

10. The UCAS Application Form
Consists of 4 sections
Personal details – including education and work experience (paid) to date
Courses applied for
Personal statement
School’s reference
White areas can be completed by the 6th July 2010 Personal statement rough draft completed
Yellow areas Courses to be completed on return in the Autumn term once students have researched and attended Open Days.
Policy on Open Days – Weekends or during the school holidays
Most universities offer subject specific open days post application.
Prior permission should be sought in writing from: Head of Sixth form (SS) or Mrs Powell (SHS)

11. Registration Students should register before the end of term.
They should complete all personal details over the summer holidays.
GCSE etc will not change and it makes life much easier in September.

12. 4000 characters or 47 lines (including spaces) maximum
Personal Statement
The applicant’s opportunity to sell him/herself and make their case for being offered a place.
Explain what they want to do and why
Give evidence of intellectual curiosity, motivation and commitment
Indicate relevant experience, work, skills and interests.
Complemented by the reference from the school.
4000 characters or 47 lines (including spaces) maximum
Should include work placements – skills that they can transfer to degree course. Work placements very important for those wanting to become Doctors/ Vets, Architects, Teachers Lawyers, etc…
What they have found particularly interesting to study or have read etc…
What has motivated them and why?
Independence to research, gain experience a genuine enthusiasm for what they would like to read

13. The UCAS process at SES
Pupils complete their section of the form on-line.
Once completed and checked by their tutor they “send” their section of the form via the internet to the staff area of the UCAS apply website.
The form tutor collects information about the student from subject teachers, writes the reference and adds this to the student’s form on-line.
Start UCAS application as of the 24th June
Time available during the final week of term – wise to use this time effectively as in September they will be heavily focusing on A2 work and any AS resits if required.
September to October students to only focus on finalising choices and personal statement.

14. The UCAS process at SES
The form and reference are then checked by a senior member of staff who sends the form to UCAS.
UCAS acknowledges receipt of the form and issues applicants with a number and a password to enable them to access the on-line tracking service.
Students should view UCAS Track regularly as all decisions and acceptances are managed via track.
Students are to ensure that they view their UCAS Track regularly.

15. What happens to completed applications?
UCAS scans each form for evidence of plagiarism.
An individualised copy of the form is sent to each of the institutions being applied to.
Admissions tutors decide whether or not to offer the applicant a place or invite them for interview.
The university notifies UCAS of the decision and usually s the candidate directly
UCAS passes the official decision on to the applicant via “Track”.
Plagiarism has become an increasing concern with the growth of websites offering personal statements (for free, or a fee). UCAS now uses software designed to detect personal statements which are identical or show strong similarities to those found elsewhere on the net.
UCAS removes references to other institutions being applied to before sending the form on.
Admissions tutors have a fine balancing act to fulfil. They only have a certain number of places available on each course. If they admit too many or two few students they are penalised financially. Many popular courses have 15+ applicants to each place. DO NOT ASSUME that because your son/daughter’s predicted grades match the course requirements that they will be offered a place. If a course proves very popular it is quite usual for the minimum grade requirements to be increased during the application cycle. It is also worth potential medics noting, that Bristol had an unusually high number of applicants this year who have since decided to defer their place until This will mean even greater competition than usual for place sat Bristol for 2009 entry.
Once UCAS has sent the form off to the institutions, any changes that the candidate wishes to make have to be agreed between the university and the applicant. The university will then let UCAS know if it is happy to accept the change.

16. Key Dates in the UCAS Timetable
Mid June Apply for 2018 entry is now live
(schools can send applications from mid-Sept)
15th Oct UCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Medics, Vets and Dentists.
(School deadline end of September 2017)
15th Jan 2018 Main closing date for on-time applications (forms marked LATE after this date) Many courses full.
(School deadline October Half Term 2017)
Forms may be sent off from mid September.

17. UCAS Timetable Continued
25th February: UCAS Extra available for those who have no offers or who have rejected all their offers.
End of April: Applicants who applied on time should have received offers or rejections from all the institutions to which they applied.
May 4th: Applicants decide which offers to accept and reply to UCAS. Some will have a later date.
30th June: Applications received after this date will go directly into Clearing.

18. UCAS Timetable continued
16th August 2018 A level results – UCAS sends results directly to Universities, and applicants are either confirmed or enter clearing.
5 day adjustment period – applicants who have achieved better results than expected have the opportunity to look for an alternative course whilst retaining their original offer.
31st August All offer conditions must be met by this date.

19. Recommended deadline
We recommend that applications be completed and sent as early as possible. We strongly advise all students to complete their UCAS application by October half term 2017.
The internal deadline for Oxbridge, Medics, Vets and Dentists is 30th Sept.

20. Further Information
Once the application has been sent off, pupils can monitor its progress using the on-line tracking service.
Pupils will be guided and supported through all aspects of the application process.
Staff will be available in school on Results day 2018 and during the Clearing process to help.