Near or far? – the choice is yours…

• 329 Universities and Colleges

• 50,000+ courses

Two-stage Process

Gaining a place at university or college has two stages:

• Research

• Self-Presentation (i.e. your UCAS application)

Key features of UCAS

• School or college-based applicants apply before they know their final exam results

• Every applicant can make five choices

• £17 registration fee (£7 for a single application)

• Application will be made on a computer

• Main annual closing date – 15th January• Oxbridge/medicine/dentistry/vet science – 15th Oct

Filling in your Application

Every applicant has five sections to complete:

courseseducationemploymentabout youpersonal statement

Listing your courses and institutions

The Importance of the Reference

• Every UCAS application must be accompanied by a reference • Usually written by a member of staff at school or college

My application has been sent to UCAS,what happens next?

• UCAS will send you an individual acknowledgement

• Copies of forms speedily sent to candidates’ choices

• www.ucastrack.service

ucastrack

Allows applicant to view own record 24 hours 7 days per week access Shows choices, offers, personal information Password on Acknowledgement letter Can use it to reply to offers

(over 300,000 students used the service, 2005 scheme)

University and College Decisions

An admissions tutor can, on receipt of an application, make one of three decisions:

Conditional Offer

Unconditional Offer

Unsuccessful

Conditional Offers

Expressed in:

UCAS Tariff points

or

A level grades e.g. BCC

or

a combination of both

UC

AS

Key F

acts

GCEAS

GCEA level

VCEAS

VCEA level

VCEDouble Award

A A A A AA

B B B B AB

C C C C BB

D D D D BC

E E E E CC

60

50

40

30

20

120

100

80

60

40

60

50

40

30

20

120

100

80

60

40

240

220

200

180

160

Confirming your place

• Summer results come out and (it’s good news) you have made your offer

• Your HE place is now guaranteed

Extra

Available for applicants who have used all 5 choices and have no offers

Starts 26th February until 30 June

Allows further choice(s) one at a time

May lead to offer

UCAS tells eligible applicants about it

Clearing

Operates in late August/September

Gives you a final chance if you have not been placed anywhere

Vacancy information in newspapers and on the web

You have to take the initiative to contact an HEI which has vacancies

Contacting UCAS

UCAS Applicant Enquiries: 0870 1122211