Help your child through the UCAS process Welcome to our UCAS Information Evening Help your child through the UCAS process

Higher Education provision in the UK 300 plus UCAS institutions 4 Northern Irish HEIs 20 Scottish HEIs 280 English/Welsh HEIs

Why go to University? Better career prospects Increase potential earnings Better career prospects Chosen career requires you to Develop Key Skills Social and cultural reasons More independence, self-confidence and responsibility… and fun! Personal challenge Broadens interests and knowledge Make friends for life

Research – it’s free and important to do Start at www.ucas.com Research – career options, universities, courses and minimum entry requirements. Attend a UCAS event – even if your son or daughter doesn’t know what they want to do, speaking to those in the know will help. Learn from others – www.ucas.com/connect/videos

Entry requirements Entry requirements vary from course to course and between universities More qualifications may be required at second sitting (after S6 rather than S5) Prospective students must check entry requirements by looking at course specifications or by speaking to the admissions office for individual faculties at their chosen establishments.

Other things to consider Work experience – professional bodies, charities or at events Finance – course fees, grants, travel and living costs Travel – to and from home Accommodation – university halls or private residences?

How we support the UCAS process Registration- June 2017 UCAS Booklet SDS Support (Group and Individual) Personal statement advice-Pupil support UCAS Lanarkshire Fair Open Days (dates) SAAS Information

How you can support the research process Download the 2018 UCAS Parent Guide from the UCAS website. Offer to attend open days with them (you may have a different perspective!) Try to remain impartial

How you can support the application process Engage with the school – deadlines for personal statements Support your son or daughter’s management of their application. Make sure they read everything they are sent carefully! Prepare them for living away from home: Cost of living – paying bills Independent living skills – cooking and washing.

Key features of the UCAS scheme Your son or daughter can make up to five choices in one application. * Restrictions The 2018 applicant fee is: £13 for one choice £24 for up to five choices. Applications received by the key deadlines are given equal consideration. ‘Invisibility’ – universities cannot see where else students have applied.

Key dates and deadlines Mid-June Applicants can start to register and complete their application 7th Sept Schools can start to submit completed applications 2nd Oct Closing date for UCAS Conservatories 15th Oct Medicine,  Veterinary Med/Sci, Dentistry, Oxford, Cambridge 15th Jan UCAS deadline for most courses 24th Mar Many Art & Design Courses 30th June Applications after this date are held for clearing

Tracking applications Track will allow your son or daughter to: follow the progress of their application 24/7 see their choices and personal information display their offers reply to offers online.

Replying to offers When your child receives decisions from all of their choices they will need to make their replies by a set date. They can now hold a maximum of two offers: Firm - their first choice. If they meet the conditions of the offer they will be placed. Insurance – acts as a back-up choice and only comes into play if they are not placed with their firm choice. If your child fails to reply to their offers by the deadline date, all offers will be automatically declined.

Useful websites UCAS website www.ucas.com UCAS Apply and Track Facebook – www.facebook.com/ucasonline Twitter – www.twitter.com/ucas_online UCAStv – www.ucas.tv/ - video guides - channels for different audiences e.g. advisers YouTube - www.youtube.com/ucasonline Careers Database - www.planitplus.net/ www.myworldofwork.co.uk Skills Development Scotland-www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/ SAAS - www.saas.gov.uk Prospects - www.prospects.co.uk

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ucas-undergraduate-parents-and-guardians

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The Personal Statement You will write a 500 word personal statement

The personal statement The only section your son or daughter has control over. Their only chance to market themselves individually. One personal statement for all choices. Max. 4,000 characters, 47 lines. Min. 1,000 characters. No spelling/grammar check. No formatting.