All you need to know when applying for university. UCAS Workshop All you need to know when applying for university.

Step 1 –Choosing your course (s) There are lots of degree options, however, it is important that you narrow down what courses you would be interested to study. When doing so you should consider: Which institutions offer these courses. Entry requirements. What modules you will be studying. Average teaching hours. Does your course require that you complete a placement? Graduate prospects.

Step 2 – Choose your University After you decided what degree you want to study you will probably find that a number of institutions offer the course (s) you are interested in. When deciding what university to pick you should consider: University league table. Entry requirement for your course. Time and money you will spend in travel. Tuition fees. Accommodation (if you are looking to live on campus). Support departments. Campus Environment. University partnerships

Step 3 – Start your application You can start completing your profile at any time, however, it is a good idea to do this as soon as possible to ensure that the university you are applying to still have vacancies for your course. There are five sections that you need to fill out which are: Personal information (e.g. school details, support needs etc.) Qualifications (education history and information of any qualifications you are currently working towards) Work history (if you have any work experience or currently have a part time job you can add it here) Reference (this can be a current or previous employer, work colleague, tutor or training provider in a current or previous role)

Personal statement (gives you a chance to tell the providers a bit about yourself, why you are applying for the course and reasons you want to attend their institution) Contact details (allows you to add your address, mobile number and email address which will help UCAS and the universities keep you up-to-date throughout the application process). You MUST complete all of the sections of your profile before you submit your application

How to write your personal statement

Writing about the course Skills and achievements Why are you applying for your chosen course(s)? Why does this course interest you? Why do you think you are suitable for the course(s)? Do your current studies (e.g., GCSEs) relate to the course(s) you have chosen? If so, how? Skills and achievements Write about anything you have done that might help with your application: Include any awards you have done, such as Duke of Edinburgh; You can add any positions of responsibility you have held, for example, being a class representative or helping with young students at college.

Hobbies and interests Career plans Include details of placements, work experience, voluntary work, or jobs, especially if it is relevant to your chosen course(s). Try to show how this experience gave you new skills or made you think about your future plans, for example, things you really enjoyed or were good at. Career plans Use this section to tell the provider what you might like to do in the future as a career after completing the course. Explain how you would like to use the course(s) you have applied for to help you reach your goal.

Dos and don’ts when writing a personal statement Do check that your spelling and grammar are correct. Do be enthusiastic – showing your interest in the course will help your application. Do ask people that you trust, like your teacher/adviser or parent/carer to read through what you have written and give you feedback. Don’t exaggerate – you might be asked about what you have written if you attend an interview with the course provider. Don’t leave it until the last minute – it's a good idea to give yourself time to think about what you write to make sure you don’t forget anything.

Step 3 – Finishing your application After you complete your profile you will then be able to select the provider you want to apply to and the courses you want to study. You can choose a maximum of five courses on your UCAS application, which means you can apply for five courses at only one university, or a different course at five different universities. Course preference: You have the ability to move the courses up and down so you can show which is your first choice, second choice etc. Click the blue button ‘Confirm course preference order’ when you have finished.

Sending off your application. The UCAS application fee is £18 for a single choice or £24 for multiple courses. For most courses, the deadline to send your application to UCAS is 15th January if you aim to start studying in September.

What happens next? After you've submitted your application the universities will start to process it. They might respond to you through UCAS Progress, so check your application dashboard regularly. They might invite you to an interview, taster day, or meeting. Make sure you keep your email address up-to-date so you can get updates and messages about your application.

University offers If a provider makes you an offer, you will see this on your 'Applications' page. You can receive conditional and unconditional offers through the system. You have then got the option to accept or decline the offer. You can accept as many offers as you would like to. When you have accepted an offer, that application will move into the last column, and be marked as ‘Accepted’ If the university doesn’t want to make you an offer, they will mark your application as 'Unsuccessful'. Alternatively, they may return your application for you to make changes, or to add alternative courses, before they decide to make you an offer.

Top Tips! Do your research! Check the entry requirements of the courses you're applying for. Attend open days! Check the courses you are applying for fit with your career or job aspirations. Check your spelling and grammar on your application. Check you've put the correct contact information on your application. When writing your personal statement, think about what you want to say about yourself and what the college, sixth form, or training provider needs to know about you. Once you've completed your application, get someone to check it for you before you submit it.

Important links U.K. University league tables 2019 https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings? Search for open days https://www.ucas.com/ucas/events/find/type/open-day Start you UCAS application https://www.ucas.com/students How to get ready for your interview https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/undergraduate-interview-invitations Student finance of England https://www.gov.uk/get-undergraduate-student-loan