Applying to Third Level in the UK
Thursday 11th October, 2012
What is UCAS?
 UCAS stands for Universities & Colleges Admissions
Service in the UK.
 It is the UK's version of the Irish CAO system.
 Irish Students can apply to courses in Northern Ireland,
England, Scotland and Wales through the UCAS system.
 Places will be offered to students based on their Leaving
Certificate Results or PLC Course or as a Mature Student.
Why do Irish Students go to the UK?
 There are many colleges in the UK where it is much easier to get into
a desired course than in Ireland. (i.e. lower points/grades than Ireland)
 Financial incentives (i.e. Scotland and to a lesser extent than Wales)
The Scottish Executive decided from the start that there would be no
undergraduate fees for non-UK students. (currently under review)
 Ease of Access (i.e. travel distance, flights, ferries etc.)
 Cost of living may be cheaper than Ireland
 College Reputation (i.e. word of mouth, friends, siblings, past pupils,
university league tables etc.)
Most Popular Degrees
 Actuarial Sciences
 Architecture
 Children’s Nursing
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Dentistry
Diagnostic Radiography
Dietetics
Medicine
 Midwifery
 Occupational Therapy
 Optometry
 PE Teaching
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Physiotherapy
Primary Teaching
Psychology
Speech & Language
Therapy
 Therapeutic Radiography
 Veterinary Science
UCAS – Universities and Colleges
Admissions System
 Covers over 50,000 or more applications to full time courses in over
300 colleges and universities in England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland.
Application Fee
 Application Fee Entry for 2011: £11 for 1 course and £21 for more
than one 1 course. (5 courses max)
 Application Fee Entry for 2012: – small increase to £12 for 1 course
and £22 for more than 1 course. (5 courses max)
Applicants to UK from ROI (Acceptances) - 2010
Scotland 3840 (665)
NI 2241 (517)
England 5235 (1597)
Wales 1239 (236)
Important Dates to Remember
 Closing Date: 15th October 2012 - Courses in Oxford,
Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine,
Veterinary Science. (Including non UK/EU applicant).
 15th January 2013: Deadline for receipt at UCAS of all
applications, including the reference, for all courses except
those with a 15 October deadline.
 25th February 2013 - UCAS Extra opens. If you are
eligible to use Extra, you can refer yourself to another
choice.
Important Dates to Remember
 24th Mar 2013: Application deadline for the receipt of applications
for Art & Design courses except those listed with a 15th January
deadline.
 31st March 2013 - Date universities will usually have made a
decision about your application if you sent it before the 15th January
deadline (although this may take longer in some cases.)
 8th May 2013 - The date you need to make a decision on your firm
and insurance choice if all your universities responded by the 31st
March deadline. If UCAS do not receive your responses, they will
decline offers on your behalf.
Important Dates to Remember
 9th May 2013 - If you applied by 15th January, universities and
colleges need to send their decisions by this date. If they don't, UCAS
will make any outstanding choices unsuccessful on their behalf.
 6th June 2013 - The date you need to make a decision on your firm
and insurance choice if all your decisions are received by 7th May
2012.
 27th June 2013 - If UCAS receive all decisions from your universities
or colleges by 7th June, you need to reply to any offers by this date.
 18th July 2013 - If you applied by 30 June and are waiting for
decisions, universities and colleges need to send UCAS their decisions
by this date. If they don't, UCAS will make any outstanding choices
unsuccessful on their behalf.
Important Dates to Remember
 25th July 2013 - If UCAS receive all decisions from your
universities/colleges by 19 July, you need to reply to any
offers by this date.
Application Process
 Students must register with UCAS before they can send in an
application for college using the website: www.ucas.com
 Students must click on ‘Apply’ button
- Register/ log in to use Apply 2013
- Registration
- Takes approximately 15 minutes
- Enter your personal details
- You must enter school buzzword: (ask Guidance Counsellor)
- You receive a UCAS username
- You create your own password
- Keep a record of these!
Application Process
 Applications are completed online using the ‘Apply’ system at
www.ucas.com
 You may have to complete an extra assessment depending on the
course or courses your are applying to e.g. Interview or Aptitude Test
(UKCAT/BMAT)
 No order of preference when filling out course choices as they are
stored alphabetically on the system.
Types of Offers by UCAS
 Conditional Offer:
- Place is offered on the basis that you meet certain
requirements, i.e. exam results.
 Unconditional Offer:
- You have met all the academic requirements and the university or
college is happy to accept you.
 Withdrawn Offer:
- A choice can be withdrawn by you or the university or college
 Unsuccessful Offer:
- This means that the university or college has decided not to offer
you a place on the course.
UCAS Application Overview:
 Personal Details: Self explanatory
 Choices: A maximum of 5 courses can be applied for
Choice Restrictions
- Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary
Science.
- Maximum of 4 courses for Oxford OR Cambridge
 Education: Schools & qualification you’re taking/have
taken.
 Employment: Work history – part-time jobs, work
experience, voluntary work. (up to 5 listings can be
completed)
UCAS Application Overview:
 Personal Statement: Why you are applying for the course
you’ve chosen and why they should want you as a student.
(4000 characters/600words)
 Reference: PLC Coordinator
Entry Requirements
 Each university/college has different requirements e.g. exam grades,
tariff points (like points in Irish Leaving Cert) or health checks
depending on the course.
 Entry requirements are available on UCAS website.
- www.ucas.ie (Course search).
 Check Entry Profiles (EP) as they help applicants decide which
college/course to apply to.
 N.B. Always check college requirements for every course you are
applying to.
Entry Requirements
 The Entry Profiles give the following information:
- Give details on courses/university/college
- Entry qualifications
- Selection criteria
- Admissions policy
- Indicate personal qualities/interests/experiences that
would be useful for the applicant to have for the particular course.
Personal Details
Some parts are not mandatory
Personal Details
Adding Choices
Course Choices
Education
Education
Education
Employment
Personal Statement
UCAS-Tariff Points versus L.C. Grades
 Some universities use UCAS Tariff Points when making
offers to Irish students, some use specific grades and some
use a combination of two.
 In general, whenever there is more demand for a course,
the entry requirements will specify actual grades rather
than UCAS Tariff Points.
UCAS-Tariff Points versus L.C. Grades
Useful Websites:
 http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/gug/gooduniversityguide.php
Find out which is the best university in the UK for the course you
want to do.
 http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008
An extremely useful site which rates the best universities in the UK
according to subject areas.
 www.educationuk.org
This site is run by the British Council and gives information on
studying in the UK for non-nationals.
 www.qaa.ac.uk
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Useful Websites:
 www.push.co.uk
PUSH University Chooser
 www.realuni.com
RealUni – Choosing a University.
 www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students
Nursing
 www.studential.com
Excellent website to give you information about how to
apply to UCAS and list of accommodation etc.
Questions