Student guide
What’s it all About?
UCAS Apply is the electronic university application system and all students wishing to attend university must apply via UCAS. We encourage all students to register with UCAS, even those who think they do not want to apply to University - they often change their mind - and if we have all the information already saved we can support them no matter how late you apply. Find Apply 2011 on www.ucas.com
The Form
The UCAS application has 5 main sections
- Personal details
- Educational qualifications
- GCSE results including exam boards
- AS/A2 results - modular results may be included
- Course/university choices - 5 choices
- Personal statement
- Reference - including A level predicted grades
THE MAJORITY OF UNIVERSITIES MAKE OFFERS PURELY ON THIS INFORMATION SOME MAY ASK FOR WORK TO BE SENT, OR INVITE STUDENTS FOR INTERVIEW.
The Personal Statement
This is your chance to sell yourself to a university admissions’ officer so you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd. A great Personal Statement will focus on:
- Why you want to do the course? Engagement and enthusiasm for the subject is vital
- Relevance of your present courses
- Interest in the subject beyond school
- Career Goals
How do you choose the right course?
The first step to knowing what course or university you want to apply to is knowing your A2 PREDICTED GRADES in all subjects.
- Your individual subject teachers will predict your A2 grades in the first week of Year 13.
- Universities make offers based on the grades the school predicts
- A2 predicted grades are always based on AS grades!!!
- A2 predicted grades are unlikely to be higher than the AS grade already achieved as A levels are cumulative subjects, with the A2 portion being significantly more difficult, and students rarely improve on their AS grade
Universities may make offers in two ways:
- specific subject grades, for example BCC, AAB
- Tariff points, for example. 260 points
Tariff points | AS | A2 |
140 |
| A* |
120 |
| A |
100 |
| B |
80 |
| C |
60 | A | D |
50 | B |
|
40 | C | E |
30 | D |
|
20 | E |
|
The New A* Grade
Revised A level specifications were introduced in September 2008, with a new A* grade awarded from 2010 to those students who have achieved both of the following:
- Grade A overall (that is 80 per cent of the maximum uniform marks for the whole A level qualification)
- 90 per cent of the maximum uniform marks on the aggregate of the A2 unit scores.
The A* grade is awarded for the A level qualification only and not for the AS qualification or for individual units.
As yet it is unclear if universities will be making A* offers. However, Cambridge has revised its standard offer to A*AA
Different Types of Course and Things to Consider
- Single/joint/combined honours
- How is the course taught? course content - modularity
- Sandwich course
- International component
- Types of assessment
- Whether specialist subjects are required?
- Is there work experience as part of the course? If so does the university arrange this or do you need to arrange it yourself?
- What career options are there? Universities all publish destination statistics - check them out!
High Demand Courses
Some Universities are very oversubscribed - Bristol report that they receive on average 13 applicants per place. Odds get even worse for high demand courses - Law at Durham is 18:1, Law at Manchester is 21:1. To maximise your chances on these courses you need to maximise your grades and be able to show practical examples of your enthusiasm in your personal statement. You could also consider other strategies. Perhaps for law do a generic degree followed by a law conversion course - but this comes with a health warning - this is a much more expensive option. You could opt for a joint honours course - these often have a lower entry threshold. You could apply for some similar courses at a ‘recruiter’ university.
Help with your Application
Prospectuses
- Two sets in school - one in the 6th form, one in the library
- These give details on courses and information on facilities, but remember - they are marketing tools!
UCAS Convention
This event is held at the University of Herfordshire in June every year and we take all Year 12 students. A huge number of universities and course are represented and you will be able to speak directly to current students about their experience of university
University Open Days
You are also encouraged to visit universities on their Open Days - but up to a maximum of three visits during school time. University Open Days are a great way to find out more detailed information about the course and perhaps to meet the academics who will be making the decisions about to whom to offer a place. If you make a good impression they will be more likely to want you in their faculty.
Websites
Of course all universities have websites as an alternative to looking in the prospectus - but again they are marketing tools! Other useful websites listing university courses include:
What Happens after Application
- You will receive a welcome letter from UCAS confirming your details and the courses applied to and giving your unique application number required for tracking
- Copies of your application are sent to your choices
- Universities will start making you offers!
- Don't consider any offer received from a university or college as official until you have received the UCAS letter.
- Track your application online
- When all 5 universities have replied you should accept offers - 1 firm offer and 1 insurance offer
UCAS Deadlines
15th October 11
- Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine
15th January 12
- All other Applications
