HOWTOAPPLY FORUNIVERSITY

Applying to university can seem confusing, daunting and even overwhelming. But it doesn’tneedto be. Youmay be worried about how to get started but the process has been designed to make it as easy as possible for you.

All applications to universities in the UK aremade through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admission Service. Although it might seem confusing at first, the system has been designed to be straight-forwardand ensureyou can keep track of your application, choices and offers.

How to begin

Firstly,register for your Apply account at www.ucas.com/apply whereyou will need to enter your personal details, get ausername, create apassword, and set your security questions. Your school or college will also give you abuzzword which you will also be asked to enter

Next, you will be able to choose your courses –you select up to five but they won’tbeable to see whereelse you’ve applied and there’snopreference order.For medicine, dentistry,veterinary medicine, or veterinary science, you can only apply to amaximum of four courses in any one of these subjects. Youcan only apply to one course at either the universities of OxfordorCambridge.

The next step is entering all your qualifications, whether you have the result or arestill awaiting them. Youthen need to add in details of any paid jobs and include company names, addresses, job descriptions, and start and finish dates. Next, you will have to write apersonal statement –this is your chance to show universities or colleges why you want to study the course and why you would makea great student.

Make suretocheck your application carefully beforemarking it as complete.

Get areference –this is awritten recommendation normally from ateacher, advisor or professional who knows you academically

After you’ve sent your application to UCAS –itwillbeprocessed and you will be sent awelcome email containing your Personal ID, which will enable you to track its progress.

Key terms

Extra is afreeservice and allows students to apply to one course at atime. To be eligible, you need to havehad no offers.

If you’ve done better than expected in your A-levels, Adjustment allows you to see what other courses areavailable.

If you’ve had no offers or your exams don’tgotoplan, there’salways Clearing It’s how universities and colleges fill any places they still have. Youwillneed to contact the course providers directly if you see acoursethatinterests you.