THE UCAS
APPLICATION PROCESS
June 2014
For entry in 2015
Available 19th June (tbc)
 You
would like to access jobs
with a higher earnings potential
 You enjoy studying - although
the nature of the tuition and the
style of learning varies widely
 You are able to study
independently and enjoy this
challenge
WHY GO TO UNI?
CHANGES IN HIGHER
EDUCATION…
The number of places available will increase as
the government increases quotas
 Number of applications is still going up
 So still lots of competition for places. Some
suitably qualified applicants (15-20%) are
unplaced. About 50% of these students reapply
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Even with the rise in tuition fees, the
demand for places will still exceed the
number of places available
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The offer tariffs for courses are going up
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Last year the entry requirements were
sometimes higher than it says on
prospectus – check institutions websites !
AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF
THAT...
TARIFFS
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LOOK AT THE TARIFF TABLES ON THE UCAS
WEBSITE
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A*
A
C
E
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AS points are half the A2 tariff
Other qualifications carry UCAS points
Eg, music grade 8, distinction = 75 points
Dance grade 8, distinction = 65 points
COPE , pass = 70 points
at A2 is 140 points
at A2 is 120
at A2 is 80
at A2 is 40
Btec single D*
Btec single D
Btec single M
Btec single P
Entry requirements:
Chemistry at UCL
3.5 A levels ABBe – BBBe A level chemistry plus another science or
mathematics General studies and critical thinking not accepted
IB 32-36 points Chemistry and at least one other science or mathematics
required at higher level
Chemistry at Birmingham
3 A levels BBB – BBC A level chemistry plus one (or more) from biology,
physics, mathematics, geography, geology or psychology is regarded as
advantageous but not essential
IB 30-32 points Chemistry required at higher level plus one (or more) from
biology, physics, mathematics, geography, geology or psychology is
regarded as advantageous but not essential
Chemistry at Huddersfield
2 A levels 160 – 280 points A level chemistry required
26 IB points Chemistry at higher level required
Check entry requirements carefully – may
include GCSE, eg B in GCSE science for
psychology, geography or nursing
 Email the University if you need help
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YOU NEED TO BE REALISTIC – generally,
the A level grade is the same as the AS
unless you re-take.
CHECK ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Macro factors:
 Popularity of the course
 Popularity of the institution
 Reputation (Russell Group more popular)
 Entry requirements
Micro factors:
 Applicant’s qualifications predicted grades)
 Results of entry tests – LNAT, UKCAT etc
 Personal statement
 School Reference
 Interview performance
Factors affecting an application
Applicants
Accepted
applicants
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
588,689
639,860
697,351
700,161
653,637
677,375
456,627
481,854
487,329
492,030
464,910
495,595
Instituti
Institution Name
Applications
Share of all
Accepted
Share of all
on Code
2013 cycle
(Choices)
applications
Applicants
acceptances
20,720
0.8%
1,760
0.4%
A20
The University of
Aberdeen
A40
Aberystwyth University
9,795
0.4%
2,510
0.5%
B16
University of Bath
22,655
0.8%
3,080
0.6%
B20
Bath Spa University
12,315
0.5%
1,945
0.4%
21,755
0.8%
4,270
0.9%
34,170
1.3%
6,075
1.2%
9,185
0.3%
2,875
0.6%
33,815
1.2%
5,505
1.1%
55,845
2.1%
8,605
1.7%
23,705
0.9%
5,360
1.1%
36,690
1.4%
5,480
1.1%
B50
C15
C20
E84
M20
P60
S27
Bournemouth
University
Cardiff University
Cardiff Metropolitan
University (UWIC)
University of Exeter
The University of
Manchester
Plymouth University
University of
Southampton
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Clarendon students are successful :
In 2013 :
79% of the 6th Form applied to University
Only 5 students either failed to achieve
grades or declined places. 4 have retaken
exams and reapplied.
Ex-students have taken degrees at Oxford,
Cambridge, Imperial, Cardiff, Swansea, St
Andrews, Reading, Warwick, Exeter etc
An ex Clarendon student achieved a double
first in Modern Languages at Oxford in 2010
So ………Why bother ?
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CHOOSING COURSES – June to Oct
APPLYING – Personal Details in June
Personal Statement completed by Oct/Nov
Qualifications and courses from September
to November
Applications sent to UCAS by Nov/Dec
OFFERS from end of October
Choose FIRM and INSURANCE offer by May 15
RESULTS – August 2015
STARTING UNIVERSITY
APPLYING – The Process
Process is one of selection rather than
recruitment
 Earlier applications are more likely to be
successful
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TIMING
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Vocational/non-vocational degree
Type of career
Subjects you know and love or new ones
Joint degrees, Foundation degrees etc
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The Stamford Test – UCAS free
Centigrade Online – small fee
Browse course search on UCAS
Sacu selection tool sacu-student.com
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Take advice
Step 1 : CHOOSING COURSES –
covered at the Next Step
Conference
From
the sacu
site
Campus – location, facilities, number of
sites
 Accommodation – cost, facilities,
proximity, Hall of Residence guaranteed?
 Work experience opportunities – work
placements, exchange programmes,
students’ union and extra curricular
activity
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CHOOSING UNIVERSITIES
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You need to think about several things, in
addition to fees …
Living costs - Maintenance loans and grants
Local work available (university jobs ?)
Bursaries and scholarships, etc
Repayment process
The place to look is
http://studentfinance.direct.gov.uk
FINANCE AND TUITION FEES
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The Big Map
Institution websites
UCAS site –look at Entry requirements
-look at course content
Unistats website – allows comparisons
The Student Room
The Complete University Guide
Times / Telegraph Online (subscription)
Visits and Open days * Email list of open
days
All information in AG careers area
CHOOSING COURSES –RESEARCH!
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www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
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http://coursefinder.telegraph.co.uk/
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www.thestudentroom.co.uk
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http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
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http://icould.com/
(new site)
sacu-student.com
On-line Resources to help with
University Choices
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There must be “clear blue water” between
your firm choice and your insurance
choice. The Insurance choice should be
based on achievable grades, not “hope”
Choose your insurance offer carefully, if
you accept you are committed to going
there if you do not get your FIRM choice
 Although you could decline, you may have
to pay a deposit for accommodation
upfront and may lose this.
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Choosing Universities and OFFERS
 Personal
statement
 References
Other priorities this term
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Start by using the pages in the Student guide to
list achievements. Match against requirements of
the course
Your tutors will give you examples to discuss in
tutor periods
Show drafts to relevant subject teachers
Ask friends and family to read it out aloud. How
does it sound ?
BIGGEST PROBLEMS :
 poor grammar
 being over sentimental (ever since I was a child)
 Too much irrelevant extra-curricular content (swimming
badges in Yr 6!)
 repetition and not enough about the subject / degree choice
Personal Statement
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These will be written by your ACME tutor
based on references from subject staff.
Current tutors will pass information to your
new ACME tutors
You need to request a reference by emailing
an electronic form to staff. On the VLE –
instructions in the student guide
Most requests for references are made in
September, apart from those needed from
staff who are leaving : NLC, DGC, …….
References
By Fri 27th June : e-mail a reference request to
any member of staff who is leaving
 By July 11th July – register and complete
personal details (Buzzword = adriangreen)
 End of Term : draft of personal statement
 By late October – complete personal statement
and pass to tutor (following 4/5 drafts)
 Fri 5th December – final deadline for
sending application to school
 Oxford and Cambridge and Medicine/ Dentistry/
veterinary science have much earlier deadlines,
15th October 2014
 Please let me or Mr Witham know if this is you.
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CLARENDON DATES
QUESTIONS ?
and remember……..
WORK HARD – GRADES MATTER
 REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS
 KEEP TALKING TO US (particularly if
things are not going to plan)
 AIM TO COMPLETE THINGS WELL AHEAD
OF THE DEADLINES
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FINAL THOUGHTS