Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
Why University?
What comes to your mind?
What jobs are available?- The economy is growing
What will you do?
Real Degrees?
Contemporary Circus
and Physical
Performance
Baking Technology
Management
Ethical Hacking
Why HE?
Employability of graduates
Qualifications give more choice on a career path
Degrees are usually required for higher level positions
Many professional jobs require a university degree
Graduates earn, on average, more over their working
lifetime
Why HE?
Higher Education gives students
High level knowledge in a chosen field
Work experience
Networking opportunities
Transferable skills that employers are looking for
Chance to study a subject you enjoy
• There are over 36,000 higher education courses
• There are over 300 institutions you could study at
• Courses at local universities include:
Film and TV Production
Air Transport with Commercial Pilot
Training
Police Studies with Criminological
Psychology
Sports Management and Football Studies
• You can study almost any subject area you can think of!
Transferable skills
Manage a budget
Practical learning
Studying at university is very different from how you are taught in high
school:
• Less time spent in the classroom
• More independent study
• More projects
• More work experience
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
UCAS.com
The University and Colleges Admissions Service
UCAS can show you:
the variety of courses available
where you can study the course you are interested in
additional information (modules, costs, entry requirements etc)
how to get started with your application
UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to
higher education
UCAS
• Your GCSE grades
• AS grades and predicted A-Level grades (or equivalent course)
• Reference from a teacher
• Personal statement written by you
Most universities will use only this application
to decide if they should make you an offer
Key Facts UCAS 2018
• Application is entirely online
• Maximum of five choices
• Some choice restrictions:
• for medicine, veterinary science/medicine and dentistry there is
a maximum of four choices
• can only apply to either Oxford or Cambridge
• Invisibility – universities cannot see where else applicants have
applied
• Simple application cost:
• one choice – £20
• two to five choices – £25
The UCAS
applicationSix sections to complete:
1. Personal details
2. Choices
3. Education
4. Employment
5. Personal statement
6. Reference
UCAS
Universities and colleges
Universities’ decisionsUniversities and colleges will review:
• personal statement
• reference
• qualifications
• admissions test results
• interview
• portfolio
• audition
Usually, you will get one of three decisions:
• unconditional offer• conditional offer• unsuccessful
Tracking applications
Track allows applicants to:
• follow the progress of their application 24/7
• see their choices and personal information
• view their offers
• reply to offers online
In Track, a student can hold up to two offers:
• firm – their first choice. If they meet the
conditions of the offer they will be placed
• insurance – acts as a back-up choice if they
are not placed with their firm choice.
Key dates
21 May 2019
– UCAS undergraduate 2020 application system open
4 September 2019
- Applicants can pay and send their applications to UCAS. Universities will
start making offers
15 October 2019
– deadline for Oxford or Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, dentistry
or veterinary science/medicine applications
15 January 2020 (18:00 UK time)
– deadline for the majority of undergraduate courses
30 June 2020 (18:00 UK time)
– last date to submit an application before Clearing
UCAS points
UCAS points
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
How can I afford university?
• Fees for undergraduate courses in 2019/2020 are £9,250
(2020/2021 TBC)
• Students can apply for funding to cover 100%of the tuition fees.
• It is a loan given to you by the British Government.
• You must apply for this loan through the Student Loans Company.
• If successful, you don’t need to pay anything up front, and you don’t
have to pay anything back until you have graduated – and are
earning more than £25,725 per year in the UK .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvD91KMU9NE
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
What is a Personal Statement?
What do you think?
What makes a good Personal Statement
• The one opportunity to personalise your application
• Show your interest in a subject area
• Describe yourself: characteristics, achievements
• A chance to show your written English Language ability
An important part of your application
The Admissions Tutor
• When you submit your UCAS application, it will usually
be read by an admissions tutor.
The Admissions Tutor is a gatekeeper between you
and your chosen course
The Admissions Tutor
• Can offer you a place because
-you have the required grades
- you have positive comments on your reference
- you have a great personal statement
BUT they can also
• close the gate by declining to give you an offer
Structure of the Personal Statement
• Beginning, middle and end: it should flow
• Keep sentences short and avoid waffle
• Write a draft version and condense it afterwards
Brainstorm of ideas leads to key paragraphs
How to get started
About
me
Part
time job
School
Play
School
Council/
Prefect
Musical
Instrument
Hobbies
Ambitions
Volunteering
and Work
Experience
Sports
team
Duke of
Edinburgh
Guides/Scouts
Questions to think about
• How can you demonstrate you are hard working?
• What sparked your interest?
• How are the subjects you do at school relevant to the course you are applying for?
• What specific areas are you interested in?
• Have you any work experience?
• How does your choice of course fit in with your career plans?
Use positive language
• I am a dedicated team member of…
• I excelled at…
• I am committed
• I have succeeded at…
• I persuaded…
• I achieved…
• I have experience of…
When personal statements go wrong…
"What is physics? I don’t know; that’s why I want to take it
at university.“
"Ever since I watched 'Shaun the Sheep' on CBBC, i have
been passionate about becoming a farmer. For me, nothing
in life would be as good as a farmer's life."
"I am well-respected by my classmates. At school, I hold
the position of head bog and it is a post I am performing
well.“
Personal statement task
Repetition
"Economics is a diverse and useful subject, as economics
can be related to anything, especially during economic
crisis, which forces to think economically, whereas maths
has been long one of my favourite subjects, as
mathematics can be applied everywhere, moreover,
mathematics is useful in everyday life and this is why it’s
my favourite subject."
Providing examples that have not happened recently
Provide us with examples that have not happened recently
"Helena, would you like a diagram of the human heart?"
This is something my sister asked me when I was six years
old. Then she taught me CPR and using initiative I made a
drip using sandwich bags and string.
Oversimplifying the degree / petty responsibilities
'Eighty per cent of success is showing up.' I feel this
attitude correctly demonstrates my passion for Literature
where, indeed, you only have to 'turn up' and read the
books and to fully understand the topic. I was form captain
in Year 7, indicating my sense of responsibility. I enjoyed
the challenge of my duties, which included fetching the
register and making people sign up for sports days. Also,
this year I was voted head girl because I made the most
hilarious speech ever. This demonstrates my skill at
creative and persuasive writing.
Boasting / too full of themselves
"I believe I will be a great man in future. Why? I enjoy
reading. I’ve read nearly 50 percent of books in the library. I
like writing too. There are more than 15 pieces of writings
from me in newspapers. I have found that it’s a good way
to earn some extra pocket money.... I don’t think that one
can be a genius without any efforts so I am always making
efforts to improve myself. Because of this, I think I will be a
great man in future."
Insufficient reading
My fascination with the past began when I was introduced
to dinosaurs at the age of one. Within months, I knew the
names of all the commonly known dinosaurs and their
basic behaviours.
Proof reading
• Ask teachers, family or friends to proof read your
application
• UCAS cannot check spelling or grammar
• Be prepared to write several versions
• Take the time to get it right
Example: Computer Science
How much space do I have?
• UCAS set a limit on the space available
• Minimum 1,000 characters
• Maximum 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text
• Anything over this limit does not have to be read
• Be concise and summarise key points
Find the right balance
• Its really important that you sell yourself correctly
You won’t always get a second chance
• Don’t stretch the truth
You may have to back it up in an interview
• UCAS have a fraud unit that check for plagiarised application forms
• Remember to make EVERYTHING relevant
• Use evidence to back you up
• Demonstrate your transferable skills
• Show your enthusiasm and commitment
• Don’t be afraid to really make the most of your skills and
achievements – be positive
How it should read
What are the positives?
• Clearly written
• Dealt with choice of course (though not
enough)
• Used short sentences helping it to remain
grammatically correct
• No spelling errors
Fill out personal statement worksheet
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
Using the UCAS search tool to find the right course
for you
Ucas homepage
“Search for courses” tile
https://www.ucas.com/
Psychology example
TASK: All: find a course & shortlist it (press heart) and
register
How to compare courses
The Complete University
Guide
(thecompleteuniversityguide
.co.uk)
-different universities are
stronger
in some subjects than
others
- Find the top 3 universities
for the subject you’d most
like to study
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable
STARTING YOUR UCAS APPLICATION
1. www.ucas.com/apply
2. Select “undergraduate”
Add some personal details, get a username and password
(take a photo of this and write is down), set your security
questions.
2. Add the buzzword goingtouni – this links you to
Highcrest so we can monitor your progress, add predicted
grades and give you a reference.
3. Sign in and fill out the rest of your details
Printing UCAS trip tickets
1. Go to:
https://eventbookings.ucas.com/sr/event.aspx?e=91 (link is
in student common folder/sixth form/UCAS – UCAS trip 21st
June)
2. “Join group booking”
3. “I am a student”
4. Booking reference:UCASBKN355140
5. Confirm
6. Fill out details
7. PRINT YOUR TICKET AND KEEP – YOU NEED THIS
TO ACCESS THE SITE ON FRIDAY
Degree Apprenticeships
• Degree apprenticeships are a new type of programme
offered by some universities. Students can achieve a full
degree as part of their apprenticeship.
• Degree apprenticeships combine working with studying
part-time at a university. Apprentices are employed
throughout the programme, and spend part of their time
at university and the rest with their employer.
• They can take between three to six years to complete,
depending on the course level.
• PAY + WORK EXPERIENCE + DEGREE + NO FEES
Degree Apprenticeships
Notgoingtouni
• https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-
223/filter/subcats/degree-apprenticeships-4457
• Research one degree apprenticeship and make notes
- What is the role?
- What is the salary/
benefits?
Year 12 UCAS introduction day
Today:
Introduction to the UCAS process of applying to university
- What are the benefits of university?
- What is UCAS?
- How can I afford university?
- What makes a good personal statement?
- How to find the right course?
- We will start filling out our individual UCAS forms online
- Those going on the UCAS trip will print tickets
- Degree apprenticeshipsTomorrow:
UCAS trip
Meet in Sixth Form common room at 10am
If not on the trip you will be following your normal timetable