Higher Education Applications Guide 1 - CHOICES

Higher Education Applications Guide 1 CHOICES 2026 entry

Contents – Key dates – Post-18 non-uni options – What to consider when choosing your subject – What to consider when choosing universities – Open days – UCAS process – International universities – What you can be doing now – Work experience – Resources

Key dates 2026 entry Spring Term Year 12 Higher Education Programme launch – Key deadlines – UCAS process

14 January

– Gap Year/PQA – Apprenticeships – Is Oxbridge right for me?

– What is Uni Prep/Uni Prep+ Uni Prep+ begins (Oxbridge applicants) – Subject enrichment activities

27 January

– Portfolio/Audition preparation – Personal Statement writing – Oxbridge admissions test preparation – Interview preparation Unifrog launch – Register online – Complete psychometric tests

28 January

– Explore Subject Library – What to consider when shortlisting uni courses – Add Classes and Activities to Unifrog Higher Education Applications Guide 1: CHOICES Uni Prep begins – Subject enrichment activities

3 February

– Portfolio/Audition preparation – Personal Statement writing – Other admissions test and interview preparation

Summer Term Year 12 22 April – 8 May

Year 12 end of year exams.

Personal Statement writing begins

7 May

– Tutor Time sessions – Uni Prep/Uni Prep+ sessions Higher Education Applications Guide 2: PERSONAL STATEMENT

Saturday 10 May

The Medic Portal whole day workshop for Medicine and Dentistry applicants.

Y12 Predicted Grade Parent Information Evening.

20 May

19 June

The evening will outline how predicted grades are determined, how they are used in the university admissions process, and how students and families can best engage with this stage of Year 12. There will also be an opportunity for questions.

UCAS predicted grades sent home.

Higher Education Day – UCAS Apply 2026 account registration – UCAS Apply - complete all sections excluding Personal Statement and Choices

19 June

– Complete supra and extra-curricular activities log on Unifrog – PS research and writing – EPQ research and writing – Talk from the University Guys on US and European applications – University Lunch Higher Education Applications Guide 3: UCAS

19 June

Early and non-early applicants bring the first paragraph of their personal statement to the HE personal statement workshop.

26 June

Early applicants submit the 1st draft of their personal statement.

8 July – 27 September

3 July

UCAT to be taken by Medicine and Dentistry applicants for most UK universities. * August is highly recommended to maximise preparation time whilst avoiding negative impact on start of Y13.

UCAS Apply - all form sections completed (excluding Personal Statement and Choices) - this applies to non-early applicants.

Early applicants should receive feedback on their 1s draft of their personal statment by 3 July.

Summer Break – UCAS form – all answers complete and checked – Shortlisting of final five UCAS university courses – Personal Statement – reading, drafting, polishing – Information about supra curricular activities for UCAS reference complete on Unifrog in Activities section

Tasks to be completed

If appropriate: – EPQ – research, drafting, logbook – Admissions test practice – Work experience – Portfolio/Audition – Interview practice – Written work for submission to selected universities such as Oxford

Autumn Term Year 13 September – December

Fortnightly Uni Prep and Uni Prep+ sessions.

1 September

Testing window for LNAT begins.

12 September

Oxbridge and MDV applicants submit final draft of Personal Statement for checking.

22 September

Early applicants submit UCAS Form including final draft of Personal Statement for checking.

25 September

Non-early applicants submit second draft of their personal statment.

Feedback by the 3 October.

End September

Students should inform the Director of Sixth Form (HST) if they intend to apply to universities outside of the UK or US.

3 October TBC

Non-early applicants submit 3rd and final draft of their personal statement. Feedback by the 16 October.

15 October

UCAS deadline for Oxbridge and MDV applicants.

October Half Term TBC

Pre-interview admissions assessments for courses at Oxford and Cambridge and some other universities sat in school.

November TBC

Oxbridge submitted work deadline.

1 November

Early Decision US applicant deadline.

10 November

Non-early applicant deadline for submitting UCAS Form and final draft of Personal statement for checking.

November – December

Further practice interviews in school and online, including MMIs for MDV applicants.

25 November

Final deadline for submission of Art Foundation applications.

Saturday or Sunday in November TBC

Oxbridge and MDV interview practice day.

Early December

Oxford and Cambridge interviews.

Spring Term Year 13 January

Oxford and Cambridge applicants receive decisions.

1 January

Deadline for most Regular Decision applications to be received by US institutions.

31 January TBC

UCAS deadline for all other applicants.

May - June

UCAS applicants submit decisions about Firm and Insurance choices.

June TBC

STEP II and STEP III tests.

August TBC

Release of AL results/confirmation of university places.

Post-18 non-uni options Gap Year

You can apply for university this application cycle for deferred entry or you can wait to apply next autumn after you have received your A Level results.

Gap year advice

School Leaver Programmes School Leaver Programmes

Traineeships And School Leaver Programmes

Art Foundation

Approved gap year providers

There are separate application forms for each art school and deadlines vary. The internal school deadline is 25 November to ensure adequate time for checking and early application is advantageous. You will need to submit a portfolio shortly after submitting your application and the criteria can be different so check art school websites for deadlines and guidance.

Apprenticeships

Art & Design Foundation Diplomas

Find Information & Ideas to Inspire Your Gap Year Program Should I take a gap year?

Learn About Apprenticeships Find Apprenticeships Starting work as an apprentice

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher and degree apprenticeships Degree apprenticeships What is a degree apprenticeship and is it right for me?

What to consider when choosing your subject What am I genuinely interested in?

You’ll be studying your subject for at least three years in great depth with some very enthusiastic people.

Intellectual curiosity is important; do not confuse competence for interest. Which subjects do you enjoy reading around in your spare time? Consider the aspects you like most of your current subjects and seek those out during your research into course content.

What skills do I want to graduate with?

It is perfectly acceptable to choose a degree course with no fixed ideas about a particular career at the end. Many companies are now ‘degree-agnostic’ meaning they do not select their employees based on the degree subject but instead, they focus on the skills presented in the candidates. These include critical reasoning, numeracy, adaptability, time management, problem solving, teamwork and so on.

Alternatively, you may be aiming for a particular career area that requires specific skills or qualifications such as engineering or healthcare. If this is the case, look for accreditation and make sure it is what you need to pursue your goals on graduation. Architecture, Dentistry, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology and Veterinary Science are some examples where it is necessary to study a particular degree course.

It is possible (and sometimes encouraged) to study Law on a conversion course after an undergraduate degree if you are not 100% certain it is for you. This is commonly called the Graduate Diploma of Law (GDL).

It can follow any subject at first degree level.

Another aspect to consider for some of you might be the distinction between a drama school and studying Drama as a subject at a traditional university, with the same consideration for those interested in Music. The outcome and skills development will be very different.

Would a ‘new’ subject or a combination of subjects suit me?

Joint Honours courses allow students to study two subjects in roughly equal proportions. In the course title, ‘and’ implies a 50/50 split and ‘with’ implies a less balanced timetable between the two subjects.

Combined courses or Liberal Arts and Sciences allow for unusual combinations of subjects and studying more than two is common. In Scotland, most degrees are four years because the first year encourages an exploration of more than one subject area before narrowing down, if desired.

Explore subject areas and careers: UniFrog UCAS A key point to note at this time is that there is only one Personal Statement and one Teacher Reference for all five of your UCAS choices, so your degree courses need to be the same or very closely related.

What to consider when choosing universities Course content

Most key points are noted above regarding subject choice but the most important factor of choosing your uni is whether their course actually offers you what you want to study. You may also want to consider a year abroad, a year in industry, specialisms, whether you have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate research project with real impact, and what optional modules are available.

Teaching methods and number of contact hours

Not all universities will teach you in the same way.

In general, your timetable will be a mix of lectures, seminars, and practical work, if relevant, but some may offer a different ratio of these elements or offer more contact time with teaching staff.

Types of assessment

You may be an ace at exams but shy away from class presentations or you may thrive with coursework and practical projects. The way universities measure your success will vary. Do your research carefully to find courses that suit your strengths to maximise your results (and happiness).

City or campus location

A campus is convenient as everything is catered to the student experience and most things will be within walking distance, but it may feel insular. City-based universities may include some commuting to lectures and you’re rubbing shoulders daily with locals from all walks of life which could be good or bad depending on your perspective.

Distance to airport/train station/home

Trust me when I tell you that you are unlikely to be going home every weekend! However, it might be important for you to know how long it will take you to get to certain places from uni.

Facilities and clubs

Some unis may have just had an injection of funds into a new building housing state of the art technology relevant to your learning or you might fall in love with the theatre where they hold student productions. Do they cater for your religion and ensure that you will feel comfortable and at home whilst on campus? Most unis will have every club under the sun (Quidditch Society anyone?) so you should be able to find what you’re looking for.

Accommodation

Accommodation is guaranteed to first-year students at most universities but you must apply for it. Styles, prices and facilities vary so stay open minded – you may not get the self-catered, en suite double room with the park view but likewise socialising in the halls canteen is lots of fun. Visiting accommodation is a must when attending an Open Day.

Careers and employability

A key selling point of any uni is how well their graduates get on when they leave so check out their employability statistics for your course and also research what their Careers Department offer – it should be robust.

Pastoral support

Unis are getting better at offering pastoral support to help students be happy and successful; this may be very important to you. Most offer an academic tutor as well as a pastoral one. The uni websites will give some information about how they help students who may be struggling with personal issues or general ones such as finding housing or finances. On an Open Day, ask student ambassadors about their real experience of using these services.

Open days opendays.com All universities are now back to offering on-campus Open Days which is fantastic to see. There is no real substitute for being able to visit a university in person to get a real sense of whether you will be happy studying there.

Most Open Days tend to take place in June, with a small handful in May and July. You are allowed to attend three week day Open Days during term time with written permission. Many are on Saturdays. We recommend not leaving it to September or October to visit a uni for the first time. You’ll be extremely busy then!

When you have an idea of where you would like to apply, start planning your travel and register your interest as soon as possible, even if the Open Day date isn’t available. Unis start advertising their visit dates from February onwards and you must book a place, or you run the risk of missing out on lectures and tours.

If you are unable to get to campus for any reason, many unis are still offering lots of virtual content to help you make your decision. You can also speak to the Futures Team; between us we have visited over 50 universities and we can put you in touch with alumnae as well.

Whether you decide to attend online or in person, here are some top tips to make the most of an Open Day: – Understand the format. Open Days include a variety of information sessions including welcome talks, subject talks, campus tours, accommodation tours, departmental tours and talks with existing students or lecturers. Take a look at the programme before the day so you know what you want to see/hear/do.

– Which departments do you want to check out? To help, some universities have divided their Open Days by subject, so you can choose which day suits you best.

– Keep a list of questions you want to ask and make notes as you go around the uni - it’s easy for them to blur into one so you want something to refer back to!

– Build your own agenda for the event. Do you want to speak to people first? Or have a look at the facilities? Refer back to the programme and plan your day accordingly.

– Visit a variety of buildings and any other areas relevant to your course. This will give you an indication of the size of the campus and where your department would be. For virtual events, some universities have interactive maps so you can get a great idea of how things fit together or even an online campus tour.

– To get the most out of an Open Day, you’ll want to talk to as many people as you can, from academics to current students – those doing the same course and even those studying other subjects.

UCAS process Basics: – One online form with several sections including Personal Details, Choices, Education and Statement – Teacher’s reference and predicted grades added by the school before submission – Reference will be read with you before it is sent – You can choose 5 universities to make in this one application and you can only make one application per cycle (academic year) More information will come in June when you register with UCAS.

Extra

UCAS Extra is a free service that allows you to continue applying for higher education courses through UCAS on the basis that you’ve used all five of your choices and have either not been offered a place or declined all offers. It can be used as long as you are no longer waiting for a decision on any of your initial five applications.

Clearing

UCAS Clearing is a second chance for students to get a place at university, by matching those that want a university place to universities with unfilled places.

You can use Clearing if you: – Didn’t get into your firm (CF) or insurance (CI) choice universities – Didn’t get any offers when you first applied – Are applying after 30 June – Don’t want the places you’ve been offered and use self-release to enter Clearing – Were unsure about university during the first round of applications and didn’t apply Alternatively, if you got better grades than predicted, you may be able to find a place on a different course at a university with higher entry requirements. Clearing can also be useful if you’ve changed your mind about the course you originally applied for and want to go for a different one.

PQA

This is the term for anyone applying after leaving St Helen’s. Post Qualification Applications will receive the same support as any other with the school happy to offer a reference.

International universities Application procedures outside of the UK vary both within and between countries. Check the details for the specific university you are applying to: What are the academic requirements? Is a personal statement necessary? What documents, such as transcripts and references, do they need from the school? What are the deadlines?

Some popular countries include English-speaking ones: US, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Not everywhere will teach in English but there are a few options around the world such as: NYU Abu Dhabi, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Sciences Po in France and Utrecht University in The Netherlands. It is possible to study Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Science and Law abroad but be careful of accreditation.

If you have any intention of applying to a university outside of the UK, please contact the Futures Team.

Study in Australia or New Zealand Study in Canada Study in Europe Study in the Netherlands Study in Europe, Australia, Asia, USA

What you can be doing now (Y12 spring term) Admissions tutors like to see applications from students who are passionate and enthusiastic about their subject. Uni Prep will start you off with your extension work but there is plenty you can be getting on with independently to set you apart from everyone else.

– Consider leading a club or society or giving a talk – even better if related to your subject.

– Complete an online course (MOOC) such as those offered by Coursera, EdX, FutureLearn or Unifrog.

– Read around interesting topics related to your subject – this includes listening to podcasts, watching lectures and documentaries, as well as reading books, news articles and academic papers.

– If applying for a practical subject, complete your own project such as coding a game for Computer Science or building a prototype for Engineering.

– Your Uni Prep Mentor is the ideal person to be discussing areas for engaging with your subject area and are a great source of knowledge. They would be happy to advise on other areas of enrichment and activities to boost your application.

Whatever your chosen subject is, a strong applicant to university will have explored their subject above and beyond what they have learnt in the classroom.

By putting in this extra effort, you are showing your interest in the subject, your motivation and your commitment to studying this subject at a higher level.

This is what academics really want to see.

Work experience

Links to resources

For some courses, this is vital (Medicine, Veterinary Science, Physiotherapy, Architecture) and for others it is very useful (Finance, Business, Law, Journalism and Media). Work experience can help confirm whether a career area is right for you or make you realise it isn’t suitable. Here are some tips on sourcing a placement:

Main source of all university research information is Unifrog

– Create a LinkedIn profile and CV to share with businesses – Use social media to build professional relationships – think back to the PIP sessions on how to network – Research who is best to contact about work experience – there may be a coordinator within the HR department

Search for university courses Virtual summer schools, online courses, essay competitions Taster days at universities Virtual work experience Explore career areas Explore university course subjects

– Visit local offices and shops with your CV to ask about opportunities

Work experience

– Ask friends and family for contacts

Careers talks

– And if this has proved a challenge, there are also virtual work experience options via platforms such as Springpod and InvestIn. Springpod InvestIN Education

NHS work experience Work experience and career exploration Apprenticeships Apprenticeships, work experience, university exploration HSBC work experience

St Helen’s School Eastbury Road Northwood Middlesex HA6 3AS enquiries@sthelens.london 01923 843210

@sthelensnorthwood

www.sthelens.london

@sthelensnorthwood