1. Higher Education and UCAS: A Guide

2. What is UCAS? UCAS stands for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service If you want to go to University or a College of Higher Education full time then you can apply through UCAS UCAS can help you find the right course and University for you and has lots of other useful information about H.E

3. Research, Research, Research!!!! What to study? – What are my interests? Talents? Career Aspirations? Where to study? – Close to home Away from home In a city Campus based Facilities/Nightlife Requirements for course entry?- Grades Qualifications Experience Admission tests or interviews What Qualification do I want to study for?- Degree HND/HNC Foundation degree

4. Types of Higher Education Degree Full Time Part Time Sandwich Degree Foundation Degree HNC/HND

5. Where Can I get Answers? Take the Stamford Test at www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com Research jobs and careers at http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/ http://www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/ Use the Course Search application at www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com Request University and H.E Colleges prospectuses www.ucas.com www.ucas.com Attend an Open Day, details can be found at www.opendays.com www.opendays.com General advice and opinions from existing HE and university students at www.thestudentroom.comwww.thestudentroom.com

6. What Else? Check out the Entry profiles of each course at www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com Entry Profiles can be found via the Course Search application Entry Profiles provide details about courses, the University or College offering the course and information you need concerning their entry qualifications, selection criteria, admissions policy and how the course is taught

7. Applying through UCAS Check to see what the 3 application deadline dates are! Check the start date of your course…not all courses start in Sept/Oct If you want to take a Gap year you may* be able to defer entry until the next academic year *Check with the institution and other conditions may apply

8. The Application System Registration Personal Details Additional Information- Equal opps. etc Choices: Courses/Institutes Education Employment Personal Statement Reference Declaration Pay and Send (If you are at a school or college when you apply they will deal with the payment to UCAS)

9. What happens next? Your application is processed Youll receive a Welcome letter and a Personal ID number Your application is accessed by the Universities and Colleges Your application is considered against the Institutions admissions criteria and decisions are sent back to UCAS You can view decisions on the UCAS Track application

10. What happens next? When you have received your offers you must reply in one of the following ways: Firm acceptance (F) Insurance acceptance (I) Decline (D) Make sure that both the course and institution are right for you because once you accept an offer you are committed to that course! Check the deadlines for accepting offers!

11. Offers Unconditional Offers are offers made to you with no additional requirements attached Conditional Offers are offers made to you with attached conditions e.g you may have to get certain grades in your exams or attend an interview If you accept a Conditional Offer you may also accept a second offer (Insurance offer) in case you dont make the grade for your first choice Once you have decided which offer to accept and any insurance offer you must decline all other offers If you do not want to accept any of the offers you have received you can decline them all and become eligible for Extra or Clearing

12. UCAS Extra UCAS Extra allows you to add one more choice at institution's where vacancies are still available To use Extra you must: have already made 5 choices have received decisions from all these choices had either no offers or declined all the offers you received

13. UCAS Clearing Clearing is used by applicants who have not managed to secure a place at University or College for the current year You can use Clearing if: You have not withdrawn your application You hold no offers Your offers have not been confirmed because you didnt meet the conditions You have declined your offers or have not responded on time

14. UCAS Adjustment Adjustment allows applicants who have met and exceeded the conditions of their firm choice the opportunity to look for an alternative place while holding their original confirmed place. This means that if you do better than you think in your exams you have the possibility changing to a university with higher entry requirements.

15. Further Information Check out www.UCAS.comwww.UCAS.com For information about student finance www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance Have a look at the websites of the institutions you are interested in