Your journey into UK higher education
Callie Hawkins
International Relationship Manager, UCAS
www.ucas.com/international
Today’s presentation
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
• UK higher education
• How to apply – general facts
• Finding the right course
• Completing the application
• Personal Statements
• Getting Support
Learn
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UK higher education
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• Central organisation which processes applications to full-time higher education courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including:
• Undergraduate Degree
• Foundation Degree
• HND / HNC
• Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education
UCAS’ remit
What UCAS does:
• Process applications
• Fraud & verification
• Information, advice & training
• Education sector engagement
What UCAS doesn’t do:
• Suggest courses/universities
• Make decisions/offers
• Advise on finance/immigration/visas
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Advice
Applications
Training
UK Higher Education in numbers
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2015 entry
325
• Universities / Colleges -336 England22 Scotland19 Wales5 Northern Ireland
• 37,000+ courses
= Choice!
Why study in the UK? - International Applicant Destinations survey
Reasons for study in the UK - Answer Choices – % Responses
Standard of the university or college 78% 1,391
Standard of the course 73% 1,298
Better job prospects in my home country after
studying in UK
43% 764
To improve my English 34% 596
So that I could live away from home or have more
freedom
33% 576
I want to permanently stay in the UK 27% 471
The UK is a safe place to study 27% 484
My friends or family have previously studied in the UK 26% 459
Applicants by domicile
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Position at June 30 2013 vs. 2014
Total Applicants 635,910 659,030 +3.6%
UK: 527,670 544,580 +3.2%
EU (excl. UK): 43,290 45,380 +4.8%
Non EU: 64,940 69,060 +6.3%
2013 2014 % change
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How to apply
Applying for undergraduate courses - Key Facts
• Application is entirely online
• Maximum of 5 choices
• Some choice restrictions:• Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4
• Oxford or Cambridge
• Simple application cost:
• 1 Choice - £12
• 2-5 Choices - £23
• Simultaneous consideration
• Choices ‘invisible’ to other institutions
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Simple
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When to apply
1 September First day you can submit an application
15 October Medicine, Veterinary and DentistryOxford or Cambridge
15 January Advisory application deadline
24 March Many art & design courses (check each course for deadline)
30 June Applications after this date held for Clearing
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Apply
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Finding the right course: Course Search Tool
UCAS website – www.ucas.com
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‘How it all works’
Search tool – www.ucas.com/search
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Need Help in choosing a course?
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Results page – Providers tab
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Results page – Map tab
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Course search tool – Course details
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• Summary - University Contact details- Start Dates- Why study this course- Location- After the course – careers
• Entry Requirements• Fees and Finance• How to Apply
Irish Leaving Certificate – Tariff Points –www.ucas.com (search for ‘Tariff’)
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Tuition FeesStudent’s home region
Location of university or college
England Scotland Wales NI
England Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000
Scotland Up to £9,000 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000
Wales Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000
NI Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £9,000 Up to £3,575
EU Up to £9,000 No fee Up to £9,000 Up to £3,575
Other international
Variable Variable Variable Variable
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www.ucas.com/studentfinanceFee Status – www.ukcisa.org.uk
Important – get more information!
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
• When you find a course you like, always visit the website of the university or college for more info –www.ucas.com/virtualtours
• If you have questions, contact the university or college directly
• Use other resources, such as:
• unistats.direct.gov.uk - for student satisfaction
• www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk - for general advice
Research
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Tips on finding the right course
• A subject you enjoy – investing time, money & effort
• Right for your career path – check employers
• A study style that suits you
• Location – city/rural, transport, etc.
• Extra-curricular activities
• Finances – course fees, scholarships, bursaries
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Choice
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Completing the application
UCAS website – www.ucas.com
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‘How it all works’
Applying for your course
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Register and complete your application
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Buzzword required – UCAS Registered Centre
Completing you application
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Tutor – adds reference
UCAS
Universities/Colleges
6 sections to fill in:
• Personal details
• Choices
• Education
• Employment
• Personal statement
• Referee details
Application form – Personal details
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• Simple information including:
• Contact details (address, email, etc.)
• Passport & residency details
• Finance details
• Remember: add ‘Nominated Access’
Application form – Adding choices
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Application form - Education
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Irish Junior CertificateIrish Junior Certificate-EireIrish Leaving CertificateIrish Leaving Certificate-Eire
Personal Statements
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Personal statement
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Personal Statement – Key facts
• The only section you have control over
• Your only chance to sell yourself as an individual
• Restrictions:
• Max. 4,000 characters, 47 lines
• Min. 1,000 characters
• No spelling/grammar check or formatting
• One Personal Statement for all choices
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Individual
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Personal Statement –www.ucas.com/personalstatement
Personal Statement – Why it’s important
• Others may have same grades – helps you stand out
• Shows university/college Admissions Tutor:
• You are suited to the course
• You are motivated & dedicated
• You have relevant knowledge/experience
• You can cope with the demands of the course
• You will fit into the university environment
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Motivated
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Writing a reference
References – Key facts
• UCAS Registered centres can begin writing as soon as an applicant registers
• Used by institutions to verify students’ personal statement & ability
• Not seen by applicant prior to submission
• Data Protection Act allows applicant to request a full copy of application from UCAS (including reference)
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Verify
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What happens next?Tracking your application
Tracking and applying to offers applications
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Applicants use Track to:
• Access their records anytime from anywhere
• Show choices, offers and personal information
• Get information about offers or rejections
• Reply to offers (firm, insurance, decline)
Track – Offers from universities/colleges
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Unsuccessful
The university/college cannot offer a place
Conditional Offer
The university/college offers a place dependent meeting conditions
These could be expressed in terms of:
UCAS Tariff points
Qualification grades / results
Could include additional requirements
Unconditional Offer
The University offers a place - if the applicant already has all required grades
Applicant replies
• After receiving decisions from ALL their choices, applicants will be asked to make replies – ACCEPT or DECLINE offers.
• The reply deadline will be shown on Track.
• UCAS sends reminders – but if applicants fail to reply by a reply date, their offers will be declined automatically.
• Applicants can hold a maximum of 2 offers:
• Firm (if all conditions are met, applicants will be placed)
• Insurance (lower conditions in case Firm choice conditions not met)
• Any other offers must be declined
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Other Options
• Extra – 24 Feb-4 July• If you have used all 5
choices and have no offers/rejected all offers
• Clearing – from mid-July• If you have no offers after
30 June deadline
• Adjustment – after results• If you did better that your
conditional offer, you can apply for a different course
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Getting Support
More info at ucas.com/international
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Getting advice
www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate
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Where to get more information
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• Social media
• Facebook - facebook.com/ucasonline
• Twitter - twitter.com/ucas_online
• Videos
• YouTube - youtube.com/UCASonline
• UCAS.tv
• Blogs
• Students / Parents / Advisers /UCAS Staff
• Call the Customer Contact Centre
Directory of Services of international resources –download at www.ucas.com/international
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Getting in Touch
Customer Contact Centre
+44 330 333 0230