HIGHER EDUCATION & THE UCAS PROCESS

Find out predicted grades then…  Decide on the subject(s) Centigrade workbook should help here Research a “longlist” of universities University League tables can be a useful starting point  Check the entry requirements and the course content. Use the UCAS website and the University websites  Reduce the “longlist” to a “shortlist”  Visit those being seriously considered – use Saturdays or the summer holidays wherever possible

SharePoint Access the Careers and Higher Education area for information about:  Studying in the UK  Studying Overseas  Finance  Careers with/without a degree  Gap years  The UCAS process

UCAS is the central application service for:  Undergraduate degree courses  Diploma/Certificate of HE/HND/HNC courses  Foundation degrees at all UK universities and Colleges of HE  CUKAS – courses at specialist music, dance and drama institutes  Nursing and Midwifery courses (now all degree level) UCAS also  Provides a service for applicants.  Provides admissions information to applicants, advisers and HE institutions.  Funded by HEIs and applicants’ fees, not by Government  Based in Cheltenham

THE UCAS WEBSITE

The UCAS Process in brief  Applicants may apply for a maximum of 5 courses. They may apply for more than one course at a University.  There is invisibility of choices between institutions.  The usual cost is £23  Applicants may apply to Oxford OR Cambridge.  Applicants may apply for only 4 courses in Medicine, Veterinary Science/Medicine, or Dentistry  If only one choice – cost is £12

Adding extra choices  If fewer than 5 choices were on the original form, applicants can add extra courses/universities at a later date.  UCAS extra enables applicants who have used their 5 choices, but have either received no offers or have declined all their offers, to apply for a course which still has places available.

Gap Years  We recommend that Pupils intending to take a gap year apply this September for a place in 2017 (tick the box requesting deferred entry).  New tariffs makes more difficult and more likely to be accepted if just miss the offer.  Alternatively, they may decide to apply in September 2016 once their results are known.  Pupils who apply to go to University in 2016 and later decide that they wish to take a Gap year, must contact the individual universities they have applied to, to request permission to defer their place.

Degrees in Art Design, Music Dance Drama

The UCAS Application Form Consists of 4 sections  Personal details – including education and work experience (paid) to date.  Courses applied for.  Personal statement  School’s reference

Personal Statement  The applicant’s opportunity to sell him/herself and make their case for being offered a place.  Explain what they want to do and why  Give evidence of intellectual curiosity, motivation and commitment  Indicate relevant experience, work, skills and interests.  Complemented by the reference from the school characters or 47 lines (including spaces) maximum

What happens to completed applications?  UCAS scans each form for evidence of plagiarism  An individualised copy of the form is sent to each of the institutions being applied to.  Admissions tutors decide whether or not to offer the applicant a place or invite them for interview.  The university notifies UCAS of the decision  UCAS passes the decision on to the applicant via “Track”

The UCAS process at SES  Pupils complete their section of the form on-line.  Once completed and checked by their tutor they “send” their section of the form via the internet to the staff area of the UCAS apply website.  The form tutor collects information about the student from subject teachers, writes the reference and adds this to the student’s form on-line.

The UCAS process at SES  The reference is checked by a senior member of staff.  The Principal then checks the form and “sends” it to UCAS.  UCAS acknowledges receipt of the form and issues applicants with a number and a password to enable them to access the on-line tracking service.  UCAS receives the form and sends a copy to each individual institution.

Key Dates in the UCAS Timetable  Mid June Apply for 2016 entry is now live (schools can send applications from mid-Sept)  15 th OctUCAS deadline for Oxbridge, Medics, Vets and Dentists. (School deadline end of September 2016)  15 th Jan 2016 Main closing date for on-time applications (forms marked LATE after this date) (School deadline October Half Term 2016)

UCAS Timetable Continued  Beginning of March: UCAS Extra available.  End of April: Applicants who applied on time should have received offers or rejections from all the institutions to which they applied.  End of April / start of May: Applicants decide which offers to accept and reply to UCAS.  30 th June: Applications received after this date will go directly into Clearing.

UCAS Timetable continued  18 th August 2016 A level results – UCAS sends results directly to Universities, and applicants are either confirmed or enter clearing.  5 day adjustment period – applicants who have achieved better results than expected have the opportunity to look for an alternative course whilst retaining their original offer.  Sept 20 th Last date for Clearing applications.  Mid-October 2016 file closed

Recommended deadline  We recommend that applications be completed and sent as early as possible. We strongly advise all students to complete their UCAS application by October half term 2015  The internal deadline for Oxbridge, Medics, Vets and Dentists is 30 th Sept.

Further Information  Once the application has been sent off, pupils can monitor its progress using the on-line tracking service.  Pupils will be guided and supported through all aspects of the application process.  Staff will be available in school on results day 2016 and during the Clearing process to help.