What is UCAS?
• Universities and Colleges Admissions
Service (also CUKAS for Conservatoires)
• Centralised application processing service
• On-line system and application form
• Secure site, can be worked on anywhere
• Not just used for applying to university:
 Course profiles (Course Specific
Requirements)
 Advice on choosing courses, interviews,
student life, etc
 Useful links
UCAS key dates 2014/2015
• Early September – applications can
be processed by UCAS
• 1 October – HCC advisory deadline
for applications for Oxbridge,
medicine, dentistry and veterinary
science
• 15 October – UCAS closing date for
Oxbridge, medicine, veterinary
science
• 31 October – HCC advisory
deadline for applications
• 15 January - MAIN UCAS
CLOSING DATE (except some Art
and Design Courses which have 24th
March as deadline)
• 25 February - UCAS Extra begins
(for late applicants, those that have
changed their mind or those who
have no offers)
• 31 March - majority of decisions
made by institutions
• 6 May – applicants need to reply to
any offers by this date
• 30 June - last day for late
applications
• 13 August - results day
Making an application
• Over 50,000 courses to choose from
• Up to five choices available on the form
(4 for Medicine, Veterinary Science or
Dentistry)
• Lots of competition – it is important to
have a strong application form
Making informed choices
• Research the 4 C’s (course, career, campus and city)
• Unistats.direct.gov.uk – very useful for quick reference for specific courses at
specific universities
• Check your predicted grades – these are based partly on AS result, partly on
current performance and partly on teacher’s expectation of what you can achieve.
UCAS expects predicted grades to be honest. Over-predicting final grades could
result in you receiving unachievable offers from universities.
• Be realistic about choices, for example:
-
x2 ambitious entry requirements to aim for
-
x1 match to your predicted grades
-
x2 lower entry requirements to fall back on.
• Apply for similar courses across institutions. If you can’t decide between
courses try and select similar subjects e.g. Business and Accounting. This will
make the personal statement more focused.
Applying online
• Seven key sections to complete
• Can be completed in any order
• Can return to a section to make changes if necessary
• Students need to write down username and password and keep them safe
•
can be found on key sections of the UCAS form and provides answers to
FAQ’s
The Personal Statement
• Will need to be drafted several times. Ask your
parent/carer to read it through and feed back as
well as your coach/teacher.
• Should be tailored to your chosen subject, where
possible, and focused on:




Why you want to study that course
Evidence to support your choice of course
Evidence of your academic ability
Other qualities/skills/interests you can bring.
• See UCAS.com for detailed guidance.
• Must not be plagiarised – this is checked.
What happens next?
• UCAS acknowledges receipt of the form
• Students must track their application process online (using UCAS track facility)
• University Admissions Tutors assess each application
• Possible invitation to an interview (not required for all courses)
• Decisions/offers made via UCAS track
• Some universities send offer letters or emails as well
Additional Selection Processes
• Some courses, such as Medicine or
Teaching, require students to
complete additional tests in advance
of application.
• Several institutions require students
to complete entrance tests or
assignments for specific courses,
e.g. Law.
• Universities requiring completion
of such tests will declare this in
the Entry Requirements section
for the course on UCAS.
Interviews and Selection Days
• A minority of universities require
candidates to attend interviews
or selection days for specific
courses.
• These can take the form of
group activities, informal chats,
structured panel interviews,
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs or
stations)….
• Students are informed about the
process ahead of the day.
• Remember that interviews are a
two-way process.
You shouldn’t be put off applying
to a course which requires an
interview – the benefits include a
better understanding of the
course/department, as well as
the opportunity to talk and make
a connection with tutors.
Types of offer
• Conditional offer
• Unconditional offer
• Alternative course offer
• Unsuccessful
• Offers may be expressed in either
grades or UCAS points, for example,
BBB or 300 UCAS points
UCAS points system A Levels
Grade
A2
AS
A*
140
-
A
120
60
B
100
50
C
80
40
D
60
30
E
40
20
UCAS points system
BTEC Nationals
National
Grade
Certificate
Distinction 240 (DD)
National
Award
120
Merit
200 (DM)
80
Pass
160 (MM)
40
120 (MP)
80 (PP)
After the offer
• Students need to select two choices – firm and insurance. Use the
insurance choice wisely!
• Students have now entered into an agreement with these universities, if they
change their mind they will need to by released by the institutions
• UCAS Extra – for late applicants, those who change their mind or students
who receive no offers
• Results day – 13th August
• Clearing from 13th August
Student Finance
The Headlines
• Students do not need cash up front to go to university
• They only repay when earning over £21,000 and the debt is wiped after 30
years
• Monthly repayments are lower than under the previous system
• They will owe money for longer and pay a lot more
• Many will never pay it all back
What support could students get?
Tuition Fee
Loan
Living cost
loan/grant
Additional
Support
Tuition Fee Loan
• They don’t need to find the money for fees up-front, they can take a loan
which does not depend on income
• The amount they get depends on the cost of their fees – up to max
£9,000 in 2015
• Before applying for a full-time course , they should check with their
university or college how much their tuition is likely to cost
• They pay back once they have graduated, when they are earning.
• Student Finance pay the university or college the fees,
Loan Repayment
Comparison
Income each year
before tax
Approximate monthly repayment
Old System
2013/14
£15,000
£0
£0
£16,000
£8
£0
£18,000
£23
£0
£22,000
£45
£7
£25,000
£68
£30
£30,000
£113
£67
£35,000
£158
£105
£40,000
£188
£142
Living Cost Support
Maintenance Loan
• Some of the amount students receive depends on their
parental/household income, but not all of it – everyone can get some
sort of loan support
• A loan of up to £5,555 will be available for students who live away
from home and study at a university outside of London
• A larger loan of up to £7,751 will be available for students who live
away from home and study at a university in London
• A loan of up to £4,418 will be available for students who
stay living at home whilst at university
• Loans have to be repaid!
Living Cost Support
Maintenance Grant
• Extra help with living costs for some students
• How much students could get depends totally on their
parental/household income
• Maximum grant in 2014 will be £3,387
• Households with income below £25k will receive full support,
households with income up to £42,620 will get less depending on
income
• Grants don’t have to be paid back.
Living Cost Support
Maintenance Loan & Grant – away from home outside London
Household income
Non repayable grant
Living cost loan
Total
£25,000 or less
£3,387
£3,862
£7,249
£30,000
£2,441
£4,335
£6,776
£35,000
£1,494
£4,808
£6,302
£40,000
£547
£5,282
£5,829
£42,875
£0
£5,555
£5,555
£45,000
£0
£5,341
£5,341
£55,000
£0
£4,331
£4,331
Over £65,000
£0
£3,610
£3,610
Additional Support
• There is a National Scholarship Programme to help students from lower
income families.
• Extra support is available if they have are disabled or have a learning
difficulty
• Extra support is available if they have adults or children who are
dependent on them
• Trusts, funds, charities or employer sponsorship, Mum, Dad, other
family!
Scholarships and bursaries
• University of Sussex – family income
below £42,620 will benefit from a £1,000
cash bursary in the first year, plus a choice
of £2,000 rent reduction to help them live
on campus or a £2,000 fee waiver.
• First Generation Scholars – up to £3000
plus other benefits
Additional Information
• A student loan is very unlikely to affect a students ability
to get a mortgage (The Council for Mortgage Lenders )
• Mortgage lenders are most interested in monthly income
(‘ability to repay’)
How to apply for Student Finance
• Online
It’s the quickest and easiest way to apply :
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
• Register and provide personal and course information
• In most cases students can just provide their UK
passport number and parent’s/partner’s National
Insurance Numbers – they can then automatically
check the identity and household income
• Opens early in 2015.
Getting things right
• You can estimate how much support you can get online:
– www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator
• Start research early – students should know when to apply, how
much they might get and what information they might need.
• Do not wait until they have a confirmed place – students can
always amend their finance application later on via ‘My Account’
• Send in any evidence they request straight away
Support for Students
www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
twitter.com/sf_england
facebook.com/SFEngland
Universities Abroad
• America
• Ireland
• Spain
• Italy
• Holland
• Australia
• New Zealand
UCAS support available
• Through UCAS website www.ucas.com
• Subject staff
• HCC presentations and resources
from college website
• Coaches
• PSHE lessons and tutors
•Websites:
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk
• Mr Howard, Ms White and Mrs
Thoburn
• Careers/University Resource
Room – esp. Degree Course
Offers 2015
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
http://university.which.co.uk/
• University admissions tutors
How can I help my young
person with their application?
• Discuss their choices – students need to
research courses thoroughly
• Visit university open days. Often parents
events alongside student events
• Proof read applications and personal
statements
• Note key dates
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – contact us
or UCAS directly with queries.