Leaving cert 3 UCAS

Your journey into UK higher education

Callie Hawkins

International Relationship Manager, UCAS

www.ucas.com/international

Today’s presentation

At the heart of connecting people to higher education

• UK higher education

• How to apply – general facts

• Finding the right course

• Completing the application

• Personal Statements

• Getting Support

Learn

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UK higher education

19/09/2014At the heart of connecting people to higher education 4

• Central organisation which processes applications to full-time higher education courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including:

• Undergraduate Degree

• Foundation Degree

• HND / HNC

• Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education

UCAS’ remit

What UCAS does:

• Process applications

• Fraud & verification

• Information, advice & training

• Education sector engagement

What UCAS doesn’t do:

• Suggest courses/universities

• Make decisions/offers

• Advise on finance/immigration/visas

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Advice

Applications

Training

UK Higher Education in numbers


2015 entry

325

• Universities / Colleges -336 England22 Scotland19 Wales5 Northern Ireland

• 37,000+ courses

= Choice!

Why study in the UK? - International Applicant Destinations survey

Reasons for study in the UK - Answer Choices – % Responses

Standard of the university or college 78% 1,391

Standard of the course 73% 1,298

Better job prospects in my home country after

studying in UK

43% 764

To improve my English 34% 596

So that I could live away from home or have more

freedom

33% 576

I want to permanently stay in the UK 27% 471

The UK is a safe place to study 27% 484

My friends or family have previously studied in the UK 26% 459

Applicants by domicile


Position at June 30 2013 vs. 2014

Total Applicants 635,910 659,030 +3.6%

UK: 527,670 544,580 +3.2%

EU (excl. UK): 43,290 45,380 +4.8%

Non EU: 64,940 69,060 +6.3%

2013 2014 % change

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How to apply

Applying for undergraduate courses - Key Facts

• Application is entirely online

• Maximum of 5 choices

• Some choice restrictions:• Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4

• Oxford or Cambridge

• Simple application cost:

• 1 Choice - £12

• 2-5 Choices - £23

• Simultaneous consideration

• Choices ‘invisible’ to other institutions


Simple

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When to apply

1 September First day you can submit an application

15 October Medicine, Veterinary and DentistryOxford or Cambridge

15 January Advisory application deadline

24 March Many art & design courses (check each course for deadline)

30 June Applications after this date held for Clearing


Apply

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Finding the right course: Course Search Tool

UCAS website – www.ucas.com


‘How it all works’

Search tool – www.ucas.com/search


http://www.ucas.com/search

Need Help in choosing a course?


Results page – Providers tab


Results page – Map tab


Course search tool – Course details

At the heart of connecting people to higher education 18

• Summary - University Contact details- Start Dates- Why study this course- Location- After the course – careers

• Entry Requirements• Fees and Finance• How to Apply

Irish Leaving Certificate – Tariff Points –www.ucas.com (search for ‘Tariff’)


http://www.ucas.com/

Tuition FeesStudent’s home region

Location of university or college

England Scotland Wales NI

England Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000

Scotland Up to £9,000 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000

Wales Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000

NI Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £3,575

EU Up to £9,000 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £3,575

Other international

Variable Variable Variable Variable


www.ucas.com/studentfinanceFee Status – www.ukcisa.org.uk

http://www.ucas.com/studentfinance

http://www.ukcisa.co.uk/

Important – get more information!


• When you find a course you like, always visit the website of the university or college for more info –www.ucas.com/virtualtours

• If you have questions, contact the university or college directly

• Use other resources, such as:

• unistats.direct.gov.uk - for student satisfaction

• www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk - for general advice

Research

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http://www.ucas.com/virtualtours

http://www.unistats.direct.gov.uk/

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/

Tips on finding the right course

• A subject you enjoy – investing time, money & effort

• Right for your career path – check employers

• A study style that suits you

• Location – city/rural, transport, etc.

• Extra-curricular activities

• Finances – course fees, scholarships, bursaries


Choice

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Completing the application

UCAS website – www.ucas.com


‘How it all works’

Applying for your course


Register and complete your application


Buzzword required – UCAS Registered Centre

Completing you application


Tutor – adds reference

UCAS

Universities/Colleges

6 sections to fill in:

• Personal details

• Choices

• Education

• Employment

• Personal statement

• Referee details

Application form – Personal details


• Simple information including:

• Contact details (address, email, etc.)

• Passport & residency details

• Finance details

• Remember: add ‘Nominated Access’

Application form – Adding choices


Application form - Education


Irish Junior CertificateIrish Junior Certificate-EireIrish Leaving CertificateIrish Leaving Certificate-Eire

Personal Statements


Personal statement

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Personal Statement – Key facts

• The only section you have control over

• Your only chance to sell yourself as an individual

• Restrictions:

• Max. 4,000 characters, 47 lines

• Min. 1,000 characters

• No spelling/grammar check or formatting

• One Personal Statement for all choices


Individual

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Personal Statement –www.ucas.com/personalstatement

http://www.ucas.com/personalstatement

Personal Statement – Why it’s important

• Others may have same grades – helps you stand out

• Shows university/college Admissions Tutor:

• You are suited to the course

• You are motivated & dedicated

• You have relevant knowledge/experience

• You can cope with the demands of the course

• You will fit into the university environment


Motivated

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Writing a reference

References – Key facts

• UCAS Registered centres can begin writing as soon as an applicant registers

• Used by institutions to verify students’ personal statement & ability

• Not seen by applicant prior to submission

• Data Protection Act allows applicant to request a full copy of application from UCAS (including reference)


Verify

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What happens next?Tracking your application

Tracking and applying to offers applications


Applicants use Track to:

• Access their records anytime from anywhere

• Show choices, offers and personal information

• Get information about offers or rejections

• Reply to offers (firm, insurance, decline)

Track – Offers from universities/colleges


Unsuccessful

The university/college cannot offer a place

Conditional Offer

The university/college offers a place dependent meeting conditions

These could be expressed in terms of:

UCAS Tariff points

Qualification grades / results

Could include additional requirements

Unconditional Offer

The University offers a place - if the applicant already has all required grades

http://www.canstockphoto.com/3d-puppet-businessman-with-2010485.html






Applicant replies

• 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


Other Options

• Extra – 24 Feb-4 July• If you have used all 5

choices and have no offers/rejected all offers

• Clearing – from mid-July• If you have no offers after

30 June deadline

• Adjustment – after results• If you did better that your

conditional offer, you can apply for a different course


Getting Support

More info at ucas.com/international


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Getting advice

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate

19/09/2014

http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate

Where to get more information


• Social media

• Facebook - facebook.com/ucasonline

• Twitter - twitter.com/ucas_online

• Videos

• YouTube - youtube.com/UCASonline

• UCAS.tv

• Blogs

• Students / Parents / Advisers /UCAS Staff

• Call the Customer Contact Centre

Directory of Services of international resources –download at www.ucas.com/international


http://www.ucas.com/international

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Getting in Touch

Customer Contact Centre

+44 330 333 0230