THE UCAS PROCESS Daniella Miles Student Recruitment Officer - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE UCAS PROCESS

Daniella Miles Student Recruitment Officer

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Choosing a course
• What is UCAS?
• The applicant journey
• Key dates
• The personal statement
• What happens next?

I am happy to take questions afterwards

WHY GO TO UNIVERSITY?

To get a degree Requirement for a career Interest in a subject Transferable skills New experiences Meet new people Better career prospects

OVER 35 000 COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM

Adult Nursing American Studies Animation Architecture Biomedical Science Biochemistry Building Surveying Childhood and Youth Studies Civil Engineering Computer Animation and Visual Effects Computer Games Enterprise Criminology Creative Writing Dental Hygiene and Therapy Drama and Performance Early Childhood Studies Economics Engineering Geology and Geotechnics Fashion and Textile Design Forensic Computing Geological Hazards Hospitality Management Human Resource Management Illustration Innovation Engineering International Relations Journalism Applied Languages Law Marketing Mechanical Engineering Mental Health Nursing Musical Theatre Operating Department Practice Optometry Palaeontology Paramedic Science Psychology Product Design Quantity Surveying Radiotherapy and Oncology Social Work Software Engineering Sport and Exercise Science Sport Psychology Television and Broadcasting

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STUDY?

• Continuing a current subject v something completely new
• What really interests you?
• Do you have a career in mind?
• Combination of subjects – joint honours

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Entry Requirements
• subjects
• grades / UCAS Tariff Points
• work experience
• additional tests
• The competition for places
• What opportunities will you have?
• HE options within FE

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• The facilities
• Teaching and assessment methods
• Core Vs optional units
• Work experience and placements
• Study abroad options
• Student satisfaction
• League tables

UCAS COURSE SEARCH

Can also search for subject

SAME……. BUT DIFFERENT

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

BA (HONS) ENGLISH LITERATURE YEAR ONE UNITS

Unpacking Texts: Introducing Critical Theory Global Identities Body Politics The Short Story: Murder, Madness, and Experimentation Popular Culture: Spies, Dragons, Time Machines Typical entry requirements: 96 - 112 UCAS Points UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA

BA (HONS) ENGLISH LITERATURE YEAR ONE UNITS

Literature in History I Literature in History II Reading and Writing Criticism Reading Texts: Tutorial Class Reading Texts II One optional unit Typical entry requirements: ABB

Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS)

• UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications

to higher education (HE) in the UK

• An unbiased guide for applicants, parents, teachers and advisers

to help make informed choices about their future

• UCAS do not make any decisions about your application and for

most courses you apply via UCAS not directly to the universities

www.ucas.com

WHY USE UCAS.COM ? Over 35,000 courses Over 300 providers

• Which qualification?
• Undergraduate courses – Degrees, HND/C, Foundation Degrees,

Part-time, Distance learning and flexible study

• Which Subject?
• Degree Apprenticeship information

You can only apply for up to 5 courses

UCAS APPLICATIONS- KEY FACTS

• Application is entirely online
• Maximum of five choices
• Some choice restrictions:

→ Medicine, veterinary science/medicine and dentistry only 4 choices max. → You can only apply to one course at either the University of Oxford or the University

• f Cambridge.

Application cost:

• One choice- £20 (2020)
• Two to five choices- £25 (2020)
• Universities CANNOT see where else you have decided which offers to

accept.

Before you Apply……

HAVE YOU….

• Decided why you want to go to university
• Identified and researched the subject you want to study
• Researched the institutions you would like to apply to
• Attended Open Days (if possible)
• Understand ALL entry requirements (not just qualifications and grades) and

think you will achieve these

• Checked the deadlines dates for your applications
• Have an understanding about the costs of Higher Education i.e. tuition fees,

accommodation and living expenses and any additional course costs

If you are unsure about these then you need to do more research before you apply

WHEN TO APPLY

• 4 September – completed applications can be submitted to

UCAS

• 15 October (18:00 UK time) – deadline for any course at the

universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry

• 15 January (18:00 UK time) – deadline for the majority of

undergraduate courses Check what your internal deadline is!

YOUR UCAS APPLICATION

MAKING AN APPLICATION

Applications are made via www.ucas.com/apply The following sections need to be completed:

• Personal details
• Additional information (UK only)
• Education
• Employment
• Choices – make up to five choices
• Personal statement
• Reference

Students will need their GCSE results and to know what qualifications they are currently studying.

WHAT IS THE PERSONAL STATEMENT?

“…your opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the course(s) that you hope to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment, and above all, ensure that you stand out from the crowd.” ucas.com

WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

• Competitive courses
• Interview selection
• Showing suitability for the course
• Borderline applications
• 4000 characters, 47 lines, one side
• f A4

Only one statement per application so must cover all course choices.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

• Motivation for HE and the course
• Academic ability and potential – what do you enjoy in your

current studies that relates to your HE choice?

• Work experience / shadowing / volunteering
• Understanding of what the course entails and knowledge of

current issues

• Hobbies - where relevant
• Aspirations – what will you do with your degree?

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

After receiving the application a university or college will make one of the following decisions:

• Unconditional offer
• Conditional offer
• Unsuccessful

Or they can offer a place on an alternative course Universities and colleges can also:

• Request an interview
• Ask to see your portfolio
• Ask you to take an admissions test

If you haven’t already been to an Open Day then this will be the time to visit to help you decide.

REPLYING TO OFFERS

• On TRACK – ‘track’ the process of your application
• You do not have to make any decisions until all have replied
• Can hold a maximum of two offers:
• 1) FIRM acceptance – your first choice
• 2) INSURANCE acceptance – second choice (if you do not get

into your firm choice)

• If you accept an UNCONDITIONAL offer you do not have an

insurance

OTHER OPTIONS

EXTRA (Feb to July)

• If you have used all five choices and have no offers
• Or have declined all offers you could add ‘extra’ choices for

consideration one at a time CLEARING (Early July to October)

• You do not have any offers
• Have not met the conditions of an offer
• Or have applied after 30 June deadline

ADJUSTMENT (up to five days after results)

• You’ve gained better results than the conditional offer you hold,

you could apply for a different course or university

A LEVEL EXAM RESULTS DAY

Congratulations !!!!!

• Met your FIRM offer (or holding an Unconditional

Offer) - will be confirmed on TRACK and you accept

• If not… have you met your INSURANCE offer – again

will be confirmed on TRACK – accept if you still want to go

You will have access to TRACK from early in the morning on A level results day and even if you contact the universities you will have to wait until it is on TRACK to confirm

NEXT STEPS

Do your research

• www.ucas.com
• Speak to careers staff /

subject teachers

• University websites
• Open days
• Work experience
• Find out about student

finance

OPEN DAYS 2020 ENTRY

Wednesday 3 July Saturday 6 July Saturday 12 October Saturday 9 November Saturday 30 November

www.port.ac.uk/open-days

Thank you for listening