Application preparation
Key dates
- Mid June - release of UCAS Apply
- Mid September - applications can be sent to UCAS
- Mid January - 'on-time' application deadline
We are able to offer talks to Year 12 and Year 13 students (Sixth Form/FE college Year 1 and 2) on the following topics:
- choosing a Higher Education course
- UCAS application overview
- how to apply through UCAS
- making a good application
- preparing a personal statement.
These talks are normally delivered in school/college but can be offered as part of a visit to our campus.
We are also able to offer a talk to the parents/carers of your students about how best to support their child or ward through the application process.
Top tips for making a good application
There are lots of ways you can help your student to improve their application to university, we've put together a list of some of our top tips for applicants:
- Check the entry requirements and make sure they match with your predicted grades - and you meet any GCSE requirements and subject combinations.
- Are there any additional tests that you need to sit, or will you need to provide a portfolio?
- Start putting your personal statement together as early as you can - this will give you lots of time to review and improve.
- Include any relevant work experience in your Personal Statement, this is helpful for many applications but essential for some like social work or medicine.
- Writing about an extended project qualification, essay or project that shows you've had experience of independent study can really help. This is highly valued by many universities who may even include it as part of an offer.
- Research the content of the course you are applying for, and the approach to teaching. Find out if team work or assessment will be involved and demonstrate any experience you have had of this.
- Information about music grades, Duke of Edinburgh award or other qualifications may be useful but it will depend on the programme of study.
- Check the relevant UCAS deadlines as they vary for some courses.
- Check your school or college deadlines as tutors and support staff will need to check the UCAS form and provide a reference. Give them time to do this!
- The application may not be over when the form is submitted, there may also be an interview, check your email and UCAS track regularly.
- Getting the required grades in the right subjects will help the most - so keep working hard to achieve them!
After students have been made an offer
Offers are normally conditional on achieving specific grades. Students should check the full terms of the offer as occassionally there may be extra requirements.
When students have all the responses from their initial choices they will have to decide which two offers they want to hold as firm choice (first) and insurance choice (second).
Students should think carefully how they make their firm and insurance choices. Ideally, if they don't meet the requirements for their firm choice they should still meet the offer terms of their insurance choice.
If students what to defer their place (take a gap year) they will need to check this with the university.
