UCAS UIDE
UCAS PROCESS
JUNE-SEPTEMBER
RESEARCH
With thousands of courses available across hundreds of universities, narrowing these down to a maximum of five can be hard work.
It’s important to start early. The best way to research universities is to attend Open Days. You can find our Open Day dates and book your place online at: www.southwales.ac.uk/opendays
SEPTEMBER-JANUARY
APPLY
Applications are normally made to UCAS between September and January, with most of this process completed at your school or college.
The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the application. University tutors rely on this information when making a decision about whether to accept potential students, so it needs to be the best reflection of you. You'll find more guidance on writing your personal statement on page 4 of this booklet.
JANUARY-MAY
OFFERS
Once you have applied, you'll start to receive offers. The types of offers are below:
• Unconditional offer is an offer of a place on a university course where you have already met all of the entry criteria.
• Conditional offer is dependent on you meeting certain criteria, such as particular grades or UCAS tariff points. Most applicants receive this type of offer. Depending on the course, some universities may invite you to attend an interview or audition before they make their decision.
• Unsuccessful means that you have not been offered a place on the university course.
• Change of course means that you have been offered a place on a different course you applied for, usually because your predicted grades/subjects aren’t in line with those for your original choice.
ACCEPTANCE
Once you have received your offers, you will need to decide on your firm acceptance, which is the offer you accept as your first choice. In addition, you can make an insurance acceptance (your second choice), in case you don’t get the grades needed for your first choice. It is important that the entry requirements for your insurance course are lower than those of your firm acceptance course. You have until the beginning of May to reply to all offers.
Applying to university can seem a daunting process, so to make sure you know what happens when, here is a handy overview to help you keep on top of it all.
FEBRUARY-JUNE
APPLY FOR STUDENT FINANCE
Students from Wales can make a student finance application at: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Students from England can make a student finance application at: www.gov.uk/student-finance.
UCAS EXTRA
If you have chosen five universities but have received no offers, or you decide to decline all the offers you are made, you will have the chance to enter UCAS Extra. This is a second chance for some applicants who were not successful with their initial applications or for those who changed their mind. You will only be able to apply for courses at institutions that still have vacancies. For more information, please visit: www.ucas.com
AUGUST RESULTS DAY AND CLEARING
If you don't meet the entry requirements for your firm and insurance choice, and they've rejected you, or you are offered an alternative course that you don’t want, you can enter a system called Clearing. This allows unplaced applicants to apply and be considered for a place at a university which still has a vacancy on the course of their choice.
SEPTEMBER
UCAS DEADLINES
2 OCTOBER
Conservatoire deadline.
15 OCTOBER
The deadline for courses such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and for applications to Oxford or Cambridge.
14 JANUARY
The deadline for equal consideration for courses starting in September 2026.
UCAS offers a fee waiver for students who received UK government-funded free school meals within the past six years, allowing them to apply without payment by declaring their eligibility in the 'More about you' section and selecting 'Apply with Waiver' at submission.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
3 You can only write one personal statement, so remember to make a list of all the things you want to include in it.
3 Remember that the same statement will be sent to all the universities you apply to so you should avoid naming universities and other courses in your statement.
3 Start drafting your personal statement early to ensure you have enough time to read through and edit.
3 Research! Research! Research! Look at different university websites and see what skills and qualities they’re looking for.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course or subject?
What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
3 Evidence that you're passionate and knowledgeable about the subject area.
3 You have the relevant transferable skills and experiences.
3 Grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
3 Don’t copy! UCAS software systems detect if a statement has been copied and UCAS will inform the universities, which could hinder your chances of being accepted.
3 For the Dos and Don'ts of using AI for your personal statement, visit the UCAS website.
3 There is a minimum character count of 350 characters per answer. There is a 4,000 overall character limit (including spaces).
RESEARCH: WHAT TO CONSIDER
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Students often find the personal statement the most challenging part of their UCAS application.
Eg, Launched a lunch time homework club with peers.
MIND MAP
Before you start working on your personal statement, you need to consider what you want to include and what you want your chosen universities to know about you. Map out your ideas, achievements and experiences below.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO STUDY THIS COURSE OR SUBJECT?
Your reasons for choosing this subject(s). Think about what first sparked your interest in this subject, was it a particular person, experience, or something you’ve enjoyed learning about and want to explore further? Universities want to see your enthusiasm and commitment, so highlight any books, inspiring experts, or specific topics that have captured your attention. Showcasing your exploration beyond the classroom through supercurricular activities will demonstrate your passion and readiness to succeed.
Your future goals and why this subject suits you.
If you have a specific career path in mind, explain how this subject will help you get there. If you're still exploring your options, consider what matters most to you in the long term and how studying this subject can support your ambitions and open up opportunities for the future.
HOW HAVE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND STUDIES HELPED YOU TO PREPARE FOR THIS COURSE OR SUBJECT?
Your relevant studies and skills.
Highlight your most recent and relevant studies, whether from school, college, or online courses, that relate to your chosen subject. Focus on the key skills and knowledge you’ve gained, showing how they have prepared you for further study and align with your interests and strengths.
Highlighting your educational achievements.
Rather than repeating your grades, use this section to showcase notable accomplishments such as winning competitions, taking on leadership roles like student ambassador or team captain, or excelling in extracurricular activities like securing a lead role in a production.
WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU DONE TO PREPARE OUTSIDE OF EDUCATION, AND WHY ARE THESE EXPERIENCES USEFUL?
Relevant experiences and responsibilities. Your experiences, whether through work, volunteering, or personal responsibilities, offer valuable skills that align with your chosen course. Whether you've gained insights from formal work placements, contributed to your community, or managed personal challenges such as caring responsibilities, it's important to highlight how these experiences have shaped your skills, resilience, and motivation.
Extracurricular activities, achievements, and post-education experiences. Whether it's sports, community work, or personal achievements like winning a competition or gaining a qualification, highlight any activities that demonstrate your abilities outside the classroom. If you're no longer in education, showcase how your experiences since then have helped develop the skills and qualities that make you a strong candidate for your chosen course.
REMEMBER YOUR PEEL
POINT
Start with a clear statement.
EVIDENCE
Provide specific examples to support your point.
POINT:
EXPLANATION
How the experiences have prepared you (use transferable skills).
POINT:
EVIDENCE:
Tie your experience back to future goals.
EXPLANATION:
LINK:
EVIDENCE:
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EXPLANATION:
EVIDENCE:
LINK:
EXPLANATION:
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EVIDENCE:
EXPLANATION:
EVIDENCE:
EXPLANATION:
LINK:
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EVIDENCE:
EXPLANATION:
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EXPLANATION:
TEACHER AND ADVISER FEEDBACK
If you’d like some help and guidance with your personal statement or UCAS application, get in touch with us. E-mail schoolsandcolleges@southwales.ac.uk or find us on Unibuddy – visit www.southwales.ac.uk/chat
EXTRA NOTES
GETTING TO KNOW USW
We’re looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you to USW! You can find a list of upcoming Open Days on our website: www.southwales.ac.uk/opendays
There are lots of ways to get in touch with us and find out more. Through our website, you can chat to students and tutors, take virtual tours and ask any questions you have about studying at USW.
You can talk to USW students and academic staff online at any time. Just search 'Chat to our Students' at www.southwales.ac.uk/chat
Note some questions you’d like to ask at university Open Days, such as questions about the course structure or assessment methods, accreditations, and what careers graduates have embarked on, or the work experience on offer as part of the course.
STUDENT LIFE
At USW you'll make friends for life, try out lots of new things and become more independent than ever before. You'll be part of a supportive environment for studying and living, where new students quickly feel at home.
Even though we’re one of the largest universities in the UK, you'll find that lecturers know each of their students by name. We have a diverse and welcoming community, so you'll find people just like you, who share your interests, values, and motivations.
Follow us on social to keep up with what’s happening at USW.
