2. Applying – the UCAS process
Dr Gerry Hough
MA Admissions Selector / Lecturer in Philosophy

3. Key Dates – 2019 Entry UCAS Applications Open
Can register with UCAS and start preparing from May 2018, but won’t be allowed to submit until September 2018
UCAS Application Deadlines
Oxbridge, Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry 15th October 2018
Main deadline th January 2019
You can make up to five choices – UCAS charge a fee of £24 (2018 fee). Note: Medicine and Dentistry have a maximum of four choices but can also apply to a BSc programme as fifth choice.
The University aims to respond to applications received as quickly as possible, particularly for degrees that do not require an interview or audition. The bulk of applications arrive at UCAS very close to the application deadline, 15 Jan, and so the volume of applications arriving at Aberdeen for processing reaches its peak at this time until the end of January/early February.
For applications to Medicine, Music and Education, the interview/audition process usually completes towards the end of March to allow decisions to be communicated to UCAS by the 31st March deadline.
With the Offer Holder Days scheduled for 21 March 2018, we aim to issue offers as quickly as possible to allow applicants to receive invitations to these events.
Around mid April, UCAS will send a text message to applicants to remind them of the deadline to reply in early May.
3 May deadline for institutions is the final one for those applying by 15 January and where a decision could not be made by 31 March.
Mention on this slide that it is usually towards the third week in May that we advise applicants how and when they can apply for accommodation. We send this to those who have made Aberdeen their firm choice. So this is unconditional firm and conditional firm. If we are the second choice, that is the Insurance choice, then no information on accommodation sent by us. In such cases the applicant should be contacting their first choice University to find out about accommodation. All new students have an opportunity to apply for accommodation. There is a deadline date and there is guarantee. Full details regarding the accommodation procedure, the deadline date and the detail of the guarantee is provided in the communication issued in May.

4. Completing your application
Applicant -
6 sections to complete:
Personal details
Choices
Education
Employment
Personal statement
Referee details
Tutor/Guidance Teacher
adds reference
Submits to UCAS (School)
Application forwarded to
Universities/Colleges

5. Completing your application
Simple information including:
Contact details (address, , etc.)
Passport & residency details
Finance details
Remember: add ‘Nominated Access’

6. The Personal Statement
“…a brief personal summary…”
An important part of the selection process
An opportunity to “sell yourself”
Universities will not see the other institutions you have applied to, but they will all see the same Personal Statement
Every institution you apply to will see your personal statement

7. The Personal Statement
Can enter up to 4000 characters (or 47 lines), including spaces
Usually essay format
Don’t plagiarise – Similarity Detection
CCC Rule for UCAS form - Correct, Complete and CLEAR
Use word document for trial run
See slide

8. Do we actually read them?
Yes!
What are we looking for?
Interest in the subject
Readiness for university study
History of sticking to the task
Willingness to contribute outside/inside of school
Any factors that might have affected your study

9. When are they important?
2. At confirmation stage
Failed conditions for entry
Special circumstances
1. At offer making stage Strong competition for places, esp. Law & Education
Poor performance in S5 because of special circumstances
Low predicted grades
Other factors that could be considered (widening participation in HE)

10. Wider Achievements
We consider both in-school and out of school achievements
How have these experiences helped your personal development?
What have you learnt about yourself that would help in your University studies?

11. Work Experience
Law and Education: need to show understanding of the profession; relevant work experience is essential
Science and Engineering: not so crucial; relevant work experience difficult to get; applications not rejected due to lack of relevant work experience

12. Final tips No need for a fancy quote; just speak from the heart
Proofread carefully to avoid spelling or grammatical errors
Do not plagiarise
Don’t send additional documents to UCAS; if necessary send to institutions directly
Inform selectors of any problems

13. After Applying

14. UCAS Track Applicants use Track to:
Access their record anytime from anywhere
Shows choices, offers, personal information
Get information about offers or rejections
Used to reply to offers

15. Choose
After receiving decisions from ALL their choices, applicants will be asked to make replies ACCEPT or DECLINE offers.
The reply deadline will be shown on Track.
UCAS sends reminders – but if applicants fail to reply by a reply date, their offers will be declined automatically.
Applicants can hold a maximum of 2 offers:
Firm (if all conditions are met, applicants will be placed)
Insurance (lower conditions in case Firm choice conditions not met)
Any other offers must be declined

16. Medicine and Education
The process is slightly different for those of you who have applied for Medicine and Education. Interviews are held for both until March time and offers will be made once they are all completed.

17. When will we hear back? Last decision from University: Reply date:
31st March th May 2019 (tbc)
5th May 2019 (tbc) 8th June 2019 (tbc)
You can apply for accommodation as soon as you have firmly accepted your offer (the University lets you know when…)
If you applied by the January deadline you should hear back by 31st March if you haven’t already done so. You then have until 4th May to decide if you would like to accept your offer from us. If you applied after this date, then you should hear back by 5th May and have until 8th June to accept your offer.
If you hold a conditional or unconditional offer and make Aberdeen your firm choice, you can apply or register for accommodation from May to August.

18. Confirmation when results come out in August
Admissions Process
Confirmation when results come out in August
6th August 2019 SQA results day 15th August A-level results day
(provisional dates)
If the student has met the conditions of the offer, they will receive confirmation.
If the student has not met the offer conditions they will enter Clearing, if it is available.
If you hold a conditional offer, then results day will be an important day for you! If you meet your conditions then you will receive more information about joining us in September. If you unfortunately miss your conditions then that’s not the last stop, you may be able to apply to other universities through clearing.
You do not have to re-accept the offer if you have met the conditions.