1. Applying to University
Sandra Bloomer
Senior Admissions Officer
Admissions and Access Service

2. HIGHER EDUCATION UCAS: DIRECT: St Mary’s University College
Universities (Traditional and New)
Stranmillis University College
Further & Higher Education Colleges (Foundation Degrees)
DIRECT:
St Mary’s University College
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
CAO: Universities, Institutes of Technology & Private Colleges

3. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Prospectuses
University websites
Other Publications (The Big Guide, Potter’s Guide, etc)
Open Days
Former Students
Informal Visits

4. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Location (Ease Of Access)
Academic Reputation (Quality of Teaching and Research)
Type (City, Campus, Technological)
Type of Course (Vocational/Non-Vocational/Sandwich)
Assessment (Formal Exams, Continuous Assessment, etc)
Size
Accommodation
Other Facilities

5. CAO (for Republic of Ireland)
Covers most HE Institutions
Closing date 1 February
Fee €25 (online) or €40 (paper)
Up to 10 Honours Degree and 10 Ordinary Degree / Higher Certificate choices
No personal statement or school report
Strictly order of preference
No conditional offers
Change of mind possible up to 1 July
Selection by order of preference and results
in August

6. UCAS SYSTEM CLOSING DATES:
Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine 15 October
All other courses January (On-time)
30 June (Late)
COSTS:
Normal Cost (up to five choices) £ 23
One Choice Only £ 12

7. UCAS APPLY www.ucas.com/apply

9. ABRDN
A20
N400
MA/Acc
Accountancy 1 N
EDINB
E56
M320
LLB/LAW
Law
QBELF
Q75
N323
BSc/ACT
Actuarial Science and Risk Management
M100
ULS
U20
N120 J
BSc/BusS
Business Studies

12. PERSONAL STATEMENT Content:
Personal statement is common to all course choices
Motivation, aspirations, commitment to subject / career
Work experience
Extra-curricular activities
Positions of responsibility
Reasons for deferred entry / Gap year
Similarity detection software (UCAS)

13. PERSONAL STATEMENT Structure: Reflective and insightful
What applicant has done
What applicant has learnt
Why this is relevant to chosen subject / career
Structured, clear, concise, precise
Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate language
Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING

15. REFERENCE
Normally provided by teacher / academic who has experience of candidate’s performance
Academic achievement and potential
Predicted grades
Suitability for course(s)
Career aspirations/motivation
Extenuating circumstances/health
Personal qualities
Interests and activities

16. HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE
Made by admissions officers and academic selectors before final examinations are taken and results known
All information on UCAS form important especially:
If you are applying for a popular course
If your application is at any stage borderline (offer criteria)

17. CRITERIA FOR OFFERS Factors taken into account:
GCSE grades and Year 13 performance
Academic reference – including predicted grades
Personal statement
Interview
Aptitude Tests

18. UNIVERSITY DECISIONS Universities can make one of three decisions:
Unconditional offer
Conditional offer
Unsuccessful 
Conditional offers can be expressed in terms of A-level grades, BTEC grades, or UCAS Tariff points
Queen’s makes offers in terms of grades
Deadlines for university decisions on applications submitted by 15 January:
31 March 2015 (for most applications)
Final deadline 7 May 2015
Deadline for university decisions on late applications 16 July (provided that late applications are being considered)

19. CANDIDATES REPLIES Applicants can make one of three replies
Firm Acceptance
Insurance Acceptance
Decline
They are allowed to hold up to two offers
1. Firm acceptance (CF)
2. Insurance acceptance (CI)
Applicants do not have to reply to offers until all decisions are received.
Approximately three weeks to decide after the final decision is received. UCAS will decline by default on 6 May if candidates fail to reply, except where offers were made AFTER 31 March

20. CONFIRMATION OF OFFERS - AUGUST
Universities receive A-level and BTEC results directly from UCAS
If conditions are exactly met, applicant will be accepted
Applicants normally go to their Firm choice (CF) institution, if accepted
Adjustment
If Firm choice (CF) is unsuccessful and Insurance (CI) choice accepts, applicants are automatically placed at their Insurance choice
If both Firm and Insurance are unsuccessful – Clearing

21. CLEARING Clearing commences mid-July Eligibility: very late applicants
those who are holding no offers for whatever reason
those unsuccessful by CF and CI institutions in August
Clearing vacancies declared mid-August
Information available from newspapers, UCAS website and university websites

22. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UCAS & CAO
5 choices
choices
Alphabetically by Institution
Strict order of preference
Personal Statement -
School Reference
Conditional Offers
Two offers can be held
All choices can be held – changes allowed
Decisions by selectors
Possibility of flexibility
Ranking/Computer selection in August – random number
Clearing
2nd and subsequent rounds

23. Queen’s University Belfast Admissions & Access Service
Sandra Bloomer –