The document provides information about applying to universities in the UK through UCAS. It outlines the application process and timeline, including choosing courses, writing a personal statement, getting recommendation letters, and meeting application deadlines from September to January. Statistics are given about the number of UK universities and courses available. Tips are provided for students on course selection, requirements and alternative application options if initial choices are not successful.

1. APPLYING TO THE UK
JUKO 2015

2. Presentation Overview
• Studying in the UK
• Course selection
• Application process
• Tracking
• Clearing Extra +
Adjustment
• Timelines
• Finances
• Resources

3. Statistics from the UCAS Website
• 300 plus higher education
institutions
• 35,000 courses available
• 498,000 students
received offers last year
• 57,000 were international
• 12% of the UK student
body is international
(Taken from http://www.ucas.com)

4. Why Study in the UK?
• Long established tradition
of educational excellence
• Respected and widely
recognized qualifications
• A strong reputation with
global employers
• Top teaching and
research
• Multicultural environment
(Taken from http://www.ucas.com)

5. Other Factors
• Three year degree
programs in England and
Wales
• A narrower focus on your
chosen major
• Competitive tuition costs
• Easy and inexpensive
application process
• No need for the SAT or
ACT

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. Application Overview
• 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 4 (+1) applications
are allowed
• UCAS guarantees invisibility of application
• The same application is received by all universities at the
same time
• Almost all offers will be conditional unless the applicant
has final exam results.

8. 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

9. The Course Search Process

10. The UCAS Search Tool

11. Looking for a Specific Course

12. Browsing the Search Results

13. King’s College London

14. Biochemistry Entry Requirements

15. Entry Requirements

16. Helping the Student Decide
• Is the student being realistic? The total on the UCAS
website is the minimum number of points required
• For international schools, the IB diploma is generally
required for direct entry to an undergraduate course. For
IB certificate students, it may be necessary to take a
foundation year
• Other qualifications are accepted. More detailed
information can be found on the UCAS website
• Be strategic. Does the student need a safety school?

17. Discuss Different Options
• City or campus life?
• Study Abroad options
• Specific course
requirements
• Sandwich courses
• Fees and other costs

18. The UCAS Application
• Bio Data
• Personal Statement
• Predicted Grades
• Recommendation Letter

19. 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

20. Predicted Grades
• Stressful for students and
teachers
• Frame what is possible
for the student
• Early and Late:
September and
November
• Optimistic or Realistic?

21. Recommendation Letter
• Subject teacher or
counselor?
• Mostly subject specific
• Input from other teachers
• 4000 characters

22. Tracking Your Application
• UCAS Tracking Number
• Time Scale
• Receiving Conditional
Offers
• Firm and Insurance
Choices
• Final Confirmation

23. UCAS Extra
• For students who have made five choices and are
holding no offers.
• Open from February to July
• Students use the UCAS Search Tool to look for courses
available in Extra
• Students contact the university to see if they will be
considered
• A decision is received quickly

24. UCAS Clearing
• A student becomes eligible for Clearing if they don’t get
the grades they need and are declined by all their
chosen universities
• Clearing opens in early July
• Courses open for Clearing are listed on UCAS
• Students should contact the university directly (by
telephone) before applying and then apply on Track if
encouraged to do so

25. UCAS Adjustment
• Adjustment is for students who have exceeded the conditions
of their conditional offer and want to try and apply elsewhere
• Adjustment is open from 15 – 31 August
• There are no official listings, students just approach the
university they wish to apply to
• Register in Track
• Adjustment students have five days to make the adjustment
or the original offer stands

26. Tuition Fees and Other Costs
• EU / International Status
• Cost of Living
• Accommodation
• Work

27. ISM Application Timeline
Grade 11
• Junior University Kick Off in November
• Meet with the students between
November and February to introduce
UCAS and begin identifying
universities
• Meet with students and parents
between February and April to discuss
options
• Ask teacher / counselor for
Recommendation Letter
• Personal Statement workshop in May
• University visits over the summer
Grade 12
• Early applicants work on a first draft of
their Personal Statement over summer
• Meet with counselor and write first /
second draft of personal statement
• Personal Statement Workshop Part 2
in September
• First round of predicted grades in late
September and second round of
predicted grades in November
• September and October application
deadlines
• January 15 deadline

28. Useful Resources on the UCAS Website
• How To Guides
• Video guides
• UCAS Tariff
• Advice for Students
• Advice for Parents
• Statistics
• Other Resources