How to Apply

You may have already come across UCAS (Universities Central Admissions Service) when looking at applying to university. UCAS process the applications for all full-time higher education courses around the country. They will also keep you informed of offers and responses from each institution.

The UCAS website lists the entry requirements for every full-time higher education course, so you can see what you may need to achieve before you apply.

The site walks you through the process of applying, but you should consult your teacher and parents or carers if you need further advice before making your decision.

Apply Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist of things you short consider before making your application:

The Course

Have you looked at all the course options available?

The Unistats website lets you research and compare subjects and universities before deciding where to apply. You can also see how satisfied other students are with the course and see what percentage of students get a graduate job after completing the course(s) you are interested in.

Make sure you read the course prospectus carefully to ensure that the course you are applying for is the right one for you.

The University

After you’ve looked on Unistats, you may want to see which universities offer the best social life, cheapest cost of living and the most interesting clubs and societies.

There are several guides published each year, most include the views of students who have been to the university, so you get first hand accounts of the social life.

The Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities is probably the most well known, so see if you school or college has a copy. Alternatively, your local library may have one in stock.

The Time newspaper also produces a yearly guide: The Times university guide

Admissions tests

Some courses, particularly the most popular ones at Oxford and Cambridge, may have a separate admissions test that needs to be passed before you are offered a place.

The UCAS website has information on all the university admissions tests for this year.

Open days

Make sure you attend an open day. Nothing beats actually being on campus, talking to the staff who will teach you or the students already there.

UCAS publish an open day guide for every university in the country.

UCAS university information guide