3. Statistical Overview
• 325 plus higher education
institutions
• 40,000 courses available
• 530,000 students
received offers last year
• 63,000 were international
• 12% of the UK student
body is international
(Taken from http://www.ucas.com)
4. Application Reminders
• The main application window is from September to
January but there are a few exceptions to this
• Applicants can apply for a maximum of five courses with
the exception of Medicine where only four (plus one)
applications are allowed
• The same application is received by all universities at the
same time
• All offers will be conditional unless the applicant has final
exam results.
• UCAS guarantees invisibility of application
5. Alternative Deadlines
• Applicants to Cambridge University who would like to be
interviewed in Asia have a 20 September deadline
• Other Oxbridge applicants and / or applicants for
Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science at all other UK
universities must apply before 15 October
• Some Art and Design courses and Music Conservatoires
have later application deadlines
• Applications can still be made after the 15 January
deadline but are not accepted after 30 June
6. Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
• Search for a course or an
institution
• Search for the relevant
entry requirements
• Complete the online
application
• Track progress
• Accept and reject offers
http://www.ucas.com
7. The UCAS Application
• Bio Data
• Personal Statement
• Predicted Grades
• Recommendation Letter
8. Personal Statement
• 4000 characters with
spaces
• 80% about academics
• Include relevant
additional information
• Be formal and specific
• Show don’t tell
• Supply evidence
• Dos and Don’ts
9. Predicted Grades
• Stressful for students and
teachers
• Frame what is possible
for the student
• Early and Late:
September and
November
• Optimistic or Realistic?
10. Recommendation Letter
• Subject teacher or
counselor?
• Mostly subject specific
• Input from other teachers
• 4000 characters
11. Tracking Your Application
• UCAS Tracking Number
• Time Scale
• Receiving Conditional
Offers
• Firm and Insurance
Choices
• Final Confirmation
12. England & Wales v USA
England
• UCAS
• 3 years
• Apply to a Course
• No Standardized Tests
• Narrow Program of Study
• Campus or City
• Not easy to transfer
• Direct Entry
USA
• Common Application
• 4 years
• Apply to a College
• Standardized Tests
• Wide Programs of Study
• Campus or City
• Easy to transfer
• Graduate Entry
13. Is the UK a Good Fit For You?
• Do you fit that profile?
• Have you been to the UK before?
• Are you sure you know what you want?
• Are you being realistic about grades?
• The IB diploma is generally required for direct entry.
Certificate students may need to take a foundation year.
• Have you thought about strategy?
• Do you know what you will be studying?
14. Discuss Different Options
• City or campus life?
• Study Abroad options
• Specific course
requirements
• Sandwich courses
• Fees and other costs
15. Rankings and Reputations
• UK Tertiary Education: A Recent History
• Which UK universities have the best reputation?
• Oxbridge
• The Russell Group: Is it the UK Ivy League?
• High Profile non-Russell Group Universities
• How Useful are Rankings?
16. Where to Look for Rankings
• Guardian University League Tables
• Times Higher Education University Rankings
• Complete University Guide
• Top Universities (Study UK)
• Shanghai Rankings
• QS World University Rankings
17. Tuition Fees and Other Costs
• EU / International Status
• Cost of Living
• Accommodation
• Work
18. Useful Resources on the UCAS Website
• How To Guides
• Video guides
• UCAS Tariff
• Advice for Students
• Advice for Parents
• Statistics
• Other Resources
