1. APPLY 2012 www.ucas.com/students/apply

2. UCAS APPLY 2012 Students considering applying to University or College for entry in 2012 will be required to complete an online application through UCAS. UCAS is the organisation which processes the application system called ‘Apply’. The website has lots of information to help students completing the application. www.UCAS.com/students/apply

3. UCAS APPLICATON REGISTRATION PERSONAL DETAILS/ADDITIONAL DETAILS EDUCATION (QUALIFICATIONS) EMPLOYMENTCHOICESPERSONAL STATEMENT The online application consists of the following sections:

4. ‘APPLY’ REGISTRATION Registration begins during the Summer term of Year 12 www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/

5. CHOICES SECTION A maximum of 5 choices can be entered on the application. 4 for Dentistry/Medicine/Veterinary and 1 choice of either Oxford or Cambridge. Students should research their choices carefully and consider what they want to study and which university offers the courses they are interested in. www.ucas.com/students/choosingcourses

6. In course search students can search by: Region Subject University and should check the following: UCAS COURSE SEARCH www.ucas.com/student/coursesearch Course entry requirements Course structure/modules Professional assessment tests /accreditations University location University facilities

7. Other useful ways to research University Courses University Prospectuses Individual University websites,. Books & Guides ( The Guardian University guide, Heap guide, Times Good University guide) available in the LRC Attending Open Days /Taster Days/Higher Education Events League tables ( www.timesonline.co.uk, www.education.guardian.co.uk, www.tqi.ac.uk. or www.unistats.co.uk.

8. PERSONAL STATEMENTS The personal statement is a very important part of a students application. A well written statement can make the difference between being offered a place or an interview or not. It must be grammatically correct, no spelling mistakes and reflect the students personality, ambitions, goals. UCAS do test for plagarism. Drafts should be prepared in ‘word’ and only final copies pasted into ‘Apply’ – there is a 4,000 character limit (including spaces). www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/personalstatement

9. EDUCATION SECTION All certified exam results must be entered in the education section of the application. This includes GCSE’s AS/A levels/Btecs and any retakes or resits. Students will need to add qualifications that they are awaiting results for (A levels) and tutors will add a predicted grade for these to the reference. www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/education

10. PAYING AND SENDING APPLICATIONS The cost of applying to university in 2012 is : £22 for 2- 5 choices £11 for one choice payment is online by credit or debit card. Before sending students should ensure they have: Completed all sections of the application. Made sure there are no warning or error messages *All applications must be completed and paid for by : 21 ST OCTOBER 2011. * Medicine/dentistry/veterinary/Oxbridge students should see Mr Hull for earlier completion date.

11. SENDING APPLICATIONS TO UCAS Once students have paid and sent their applications, they are forwarded to tutors to add references. It is important that students complete their applications by 21 st October in order for this to happen. Students who miss this deadline will seriously delay their application, which will jeopardise their chances of receiving offers from their chosen universities.

12. Replying to Offers - UCAS ‘TRACK’ Once UCAS have received the applications they will email students and advise them how to log onto ‘Track’ which is accessed through the UCAS.com website. In ‘Track’ students can choose a ‘firm’ choice and an ‘insurance’ choice any other offers must be declined. Each offer will have a reply deadline date. Students must reply before this date otherwise the university will withdraw their offer. www.ucas.com/students/track

13. UCAS EXTRA ‘ Extra’ is the process which allows students who are holding no offers or who have declined all their offers the opportunity to apply for other courses that still have vacancies. This process becomes available at the end of February 2012 to end June 2012. Students can only choose one course at a time and applications should be made through ‘track’. www.ucas.com/students

14. CLEARING & ADJUSTMENT Students’ who receive no offers either through their 5 choices or extra will become eligible for clearing after exam results in August. Adjustment is the opportunity for students who exceed their exam results to choose another course whilst retaining their firm choice. www.ucas.com/student

15. STUDENT FINANCE Loans and grants are available to students applying to university through Student Finance England. Further information is available on: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

16. Resources/Websites www.ucas.com School R:Drive/UCAS folder LRC –University Prospectuses & Guides, Degree course guides, handouts, tariffs, career guides etc Other useful sites are: www.unistats.com www.opendays.com www.suttontrust.com www.lon.ac.uk/taster Information on opendays and taster day opportunities are displayed on the noticeboards leading to Post 16 LRC.