STUDENT GUIDE TO UCAS APPLICATIONS - 2013/14 Name
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STUDENT GUIDE
TO UCAS
APPLICATIONS
2013/14
Name:
1
CONTENTS
Page Topic
3-7 Intro & Choosing Universities and Courses. FAQs
8 Break down of the UCAS Process
9-10 Important Dates
11-12 Student and Tutor Responsibilities
13-14 Resources
15 UNISTATS
16 How to use the Apply System
17 Common Mistakes
18-19 FAQs about Applying – from UCAS.com
20-21 Exam Boards
22 After Applying
23-24 FAQs about after Applying – from UCAS.com
25-28 Student Finance
29-31 How to write a Personal Statement
32-41 Sample Personal Statements
42-49 Other useful resources on Personal Statement writing
50-56 Useful information on Student Finance for parents
2
INTRODUCTION
This guide is designed to help you through the process of applying to universities
through UCAS. The APPLY system that we are now using is simple to follow, but
help is always on hand if you have any difficulties.
Your tutor should always be the first port of call as they not only know how the
system works, but also have the experience and expertise to be able to help with
writing personal statements. They should be involved at every stage of the process
and are more than willing to offer advice on courses and institutions where they
can, or to point you in the right direction if they themselves do not have the
necessary knowledge. It is also important for you to remember that they will be the
ones writing your reference!
Further assistance and advice can be obtained from your teachers, Mrs White and Miss
Cieciora. The onus is on you to make the most of the help that is on offer. If you do, the
chances are you will end up with the strongest application possible. Good luck!
CHOOSING UNIVERSITIES AND COURSES
o Over the course of the year we have used a number of resources to help you decide on
career / course / university. Subject teachers have been doing a good deal of work to
help you fully appreciate the array of choices in their subject area.
o Careers – Naturally course choice may well be governed by career choice and it is
essential to leave options open if you are unsure. Remember, 60% of all graduate jobs
are open to applicants regardless of subject studied.
o You will find a range of useful resources in the library to help you when looking for the
right university and course including some university prospectuses, but they can also
be obtained by ordering them directly from the institution or from the website.
o A list of all the institutions with the courses they offer can be accessed in two ways.
Firstly, there is the „Big Guide‟, which is published by UCAS and can be found in the
library. But, even though we have the latest version, details can change and so the
second way, the UCAS website, is an even better option. It is also much easier to
search using the website than it is using the book. The address is www.ucas.com . Find
the Entry Profiles when you investigate particular courses, these provide a wide range
of information regarding the qualifications and skills needed.
o Books in the library include:
Cut the cost of Uni
Studying abroad, 2014
How to complete your UCAS application, 2014
3
HEAP 2014 University & degree course offers
Getting into Medical School, 2014 entry
Getting into Law
Getting into Business & Economics courses
Getting into Art & Design courses
Careers 2014
The Times good University Guide, 2014
The UCAS guide to getting into university & college
The NGTU guide to not going to University
The gap-year guidebook, 2013
Getting into Oxford & Cambridge, 2014
o Look at the entry requirements for any courses that you‟re interested in and then ask
yourself whether you‟re likely to achieve those grades. Set your sights high, but do not
set yourself unrealistic goals. If in doubt, talk to subject teachers about predicted A‟
level grades.
o UNISTATS is a great website to go onto to help to inform your choices. You can find
out about costs of courses, the way the courses are assessed, the amount of time you
actually spend in lectures, and lots of other really useful information. See page 15.
o The Sixth Form is informed of many open days and pre-application events and they are
all uploaded to the Sixth Form noticeboard area on The Learning Platform as well as
pinned up on the noticeboards in the Sixth Form area – keep looking for updates.
o The best way of finding out whether you‟re going to like a university or not is to visit
it. Arrange to attend an open day and make sure you talk to as many people, especially
students, as you can.
o Three or four open days are enough for anybody, and in fact any more can be counter-
productive.
The following website lists the open days for universities: www.opendays.com
4
CHOOSING COURSES: FAQs from UCAS.com
How can I find out which is the best university or college for my chosen course?
There is no one university or college which is perfect for everyone: different places suit different
people, so it depends upon your preferences. You may be interested in whether a university or
college is in a big city or rural location, whereas another student may be more concerned about the
number of bedrooms in the halls of residence. What is important is what is best for you.
For information and impartial advice check the Times Online (you'll need to subscribe to the site)
or The Complete University Guide, an interactive site which allows you to alter the weightings of
the different criteria to suit your own requirements and so create your own unique table.
I want to study nursing. Should I apply for a degree or diploma course?
FromSeptember 2013, all nursing programmes will be degree-only.
Find out more about degrees and diplomas on the NHS Careers website and in the nursing section
on this site. For advice on the best career path, contact NHS Careers on 0345 60 60 655.
What is a foundation degree?
A foundation degree is the equivalent of the first two years of an Honours degree, may be studied
full- or part-time, and consist of academic study integrated with relevant work-based learning
undertaken with an employer. It may be studied as a stand-alone qualification or upon completion
you may progress to the final year of an Honours degree. There is more information in the
foundation degree section of this website.
Where can I find information about postgraduate courses?
Details of postgraduate courses may be found on the UKPASS (UCAS Postgraduate Service)
website. There are some specialist postgraduate programmes that are available through other
schemes. Please refer to subject areas below:
For social work, apply to UCAS.
For teaching courses, apply to GTTR.
For music performance courses, apply to CUKAS.
You can find more information and details about postgraduate courses on the UCAS postgraduate
advice page or on the UKPASS website.
5
Where can I find out about part-time options?
UCAS have a part-time course search on their site from July until September. You can search for
part-time courses at universities and colleges that recruit for their full-time courses through
UCAS and have chosen to provide this information. For part-time courses, you apply direct to
where you'd be studying.
Will I need to take an admissions test?
Some courses require an additional test to be taken before you can be considered. You can find
out more from the admissions tests section of the UCAS website.
Some universities and colleges may have their own admissions tests for certain courses, so it is a
good idea to check their website or prospectus.
How do I find the qualifications needed for a course?
You can use Course Search. Click on the course title then 'entry requirements' to find the
qualifications required for the course. If the information you require is not displayed, please
contact the university or college for advice.
How much are course fees?
Course Search provides financial information for most courses. Click on the course title and select
'Fees, bursaries and financial support' to access this information. If there is no financial
information on Course Search or you require further information, you should contact the
university or college.
Where do I get information about funding my course?
Information on who funds higher education courses is available on the UCAS student finance
pages.
I have heard about having to pay tuition fees. What are they?
Tuition fees are charged by the universities and colleges to cover the cost of your studies. The
fees vary depending on the type of course you will be taking and which university or college you
will be attending. You can find more information on our student finance page.
6
I want to study at a university in another country. How do I start?
UCAS only process applications for universities and colleges within the UK. Each country has its
own way of applying. If you know which country you want, its embassy is often a good source of
information.
Useful leads:
The Fulbright Commission: the United States Educational Advisory Service - tel 0901 488 0162
www.fulbright.co.uk
Ireland - Central Applications Office - tel (from UK) +353 91 509 800 www.cao.ie
Association of Commonwealth Universities - tel 020 7380 6700 www.acu.ac.uk
I have a disability. Where can I get advice before I apply?
All universities and colleges try to offer equal opportunities and will support students with any
disabilities. They are happy to answer any queries you have, so please contact them to find out
more.
The Disability Rights UK website provides useful information and links to other relevant sites.
Other useful websites include the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and the Royal National
Institute for the Deaf.
What is Extra?
Extra is a way of making a further choice after you have applied. You are eligible for Extra if you
have used all five choices on your application and have either been unsuccessful at all of them, or
have declined all offers you have received.
You can apply for another choice on Track, providing that it is available in Extra (you can check
this on Course Search). The Extra service operates from the end of February until the end of
June.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is a service that is available towards the end of the application cycle which helps people
find vacancies on higher education courses. If you have applied this year but have not gained a
place or have declined your offers, you may be eligible for Clearing. Courses with vacancies will be
listed on the UCAS site once Clearing has started.
7THE UCAS PROCESS
Time Student Teacher/Tutor
Summer UCAS APPLY training during HE / CAREERS UCAS / APPLY update and, where applicable,
term days. training given to all staff involved.
Summer Register with UCAS APPLY and start to Tutor / Sixth Form Administrator organises
term complete form. information on student via SIMS.
Must note username / password in UCAS
manual.
Summer Complete sections of UCAS form by the end Teachers begin to write references on SIMS.
term of the end of HE/ Careers days.
September/ Complete rest of the UCAS application form Teachers write references on SIMS.
October with help of tutor. Deadlines: 13th September
Once PERSONAL STATEMENT is (Oxbridge/Medicine/Vet
completed, student proof reads using final Science/Dentistry students). Fast
checklist and prints off a copy for tutor to track students (already identified)
check and use to write reference. 25th October and 15th November (all
other applications)
Tutors will check student progress regularly
online on APPLY using Advisor track.
September/ Receive „OKAY‟ from tutor to send form to Once personal statement has been seen and
October „Administrator‟ online. all subject references are received, tutor
completes reference in Word, adds to the application
form and saves in their tutor folder in the 6th Form
shared area.
Tutor checks completed application form and
gives „OKAY‟ to student.
October/ Make Payment of £23 online and SEND TO Sixth Form Administrator notifies Miss
November REFEREE Cieciora and Mrs White when references are
complete for checking.
October/ Student is informed that form has been sent. Application & reference checked. Any issues
November are taken up with tutor / student. Mrs
White/Miss Cieciora approves UCAS form.
October/ Student receives confirmation from UCAS of Miss Cieciora and Mrs White do final checks of
November received application. UCAS application & reference and once
satisfied SEND TO UCAS
December Wait for decisions from universities.
onwards
8IMPORTANT DATES IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS
September 1st 2013 UCAS will accept applications from this date
September 13th 2013 Farmor‟s subject reference deadline for Oxbridge/Medicine
applications.
September 27th2013 Fast track subject reference deadline.
October 14th 2013 The UCAS deadline for Oxbridge applications and applications for
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science
October 15th 2013 Farmor’s subject reference deadline for all applications.
October 25th 2013 Farmor’s fast track deadline.
November 15th 2013 Farmor‟s deadline for the completion of all applications by students.
January 15th 2014 Last date for applications from UK and EU residents for all other
courses to be received at UCAS and to be guaranteed equal academic
consideration.
The reason for the relatively early Farmor‟s deadline is to give you the best possible chance of
gaining a place at your preferred institutions. It can still be the case of „the earlier, the better‟ as
some universities consider applications as they arrive. It also ensures sufficient time for the form
to be processed, references added etc.
Once you have made your application you will receive an acknowledgement (the AS2 letter).
This letter will include an individual applicant number which allows you to track your application on
the UCAS website.
Interviews
There is a trend towards interviewing students and hopefully the practice interviews that you
have had will help with your technique. Come and ask for any help and advice that you may need
plus more subject specific information
Reply dates
When you have received your last reply (offers / rejections) from universities, UCAS will send you
a card/notification through „Track‟ that details when you have to make a decision with regard to
your firm acceptance and your insurance – YOU MUST REPLY BEFORE THIS DATE
o The decision as to which offers to accept as your „firm‟ and „insurance‟ is difficult. You need to
be realistic but at the same time positive about your potential grades. Seek advice from your
subject teachers.
9Important dates in the Oxbridge Application calendar
Candidates must check to see if there is a written test for their subject, and ensure that they
have registered, where required.
1 September 2013
First day for submitting UCAS applications.
1 October 2013
Standard deadline for registering for the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).
15 October 2013
Final deadline for registering for the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), the English Literature
Admissions Test (ELAT), the History Aptitude Test (HAT), the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) and
the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
15 October 2013
Closing date for all UCAS applications.
Closing date for receipt of application forms for the accelerated medical course.
1 September–20 October 2013
Law National Admissions Test (LNAT)
6 November 2013
BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)
History Aptitude Test (HAT)
Physics Aptitude Test (PAT)
Aptitude Test for Mathematics and Computer Science
Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)
Tests for all Modern Languages courses
Tests for all Classics courses
10 November 2013
Closing date for submissions of written work, if required by your subject.
10 November 2013
Portfolios for Fine Art must be delivered to the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art by noon.
December 2013
Interviews take place in Oxford. Written tests, for those subjects which require them during the
Oxford interview period in December.
By mid January 2014
You will be notified of the outcome of your application.
August 2014
If you have been made a conditional offer and you meet the conditions of the offer, your college
will confirm your place after the publication of examination results.
10STUDENT AND TUTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are responsible for…
Seeking advice about institutions and courses they are interested in
Attending open days at institutions as part of your research, but not
attending more than four.
Completing the „Course‟ part of the UCAS form before requesting
references to be sent out
Requesting Subject References to be sent out – this is done once they
have chosen the courses for which they are applying (see flow diagram) &
talking to their tutor about other information to be included in the
reference.
Writing their personal statements with assistance from their tutor
Thoroughly checking their completed form before showing to tutor for
checking
Only sending their UCAS form to the referee AFTER being given the go
ahead by their tutor
Making payment of £23 on-line
Make decision, with help, of firm acceptance and insurance by date given
by UCAS
11Tutors are responsible for…
Giving impartial advice on institutions and courses where they can or
pointing their tutees in the right direction for advice e.g. subject
teachers, library resources, Mrs White, Miss Cieciora etc
Assisting tutees with their personal statements and their UCAS forms
Checking that the details are correct on their tutees‟ application forms
Checking progress of the students on the APPLY system
Encouraging students to start / complete their UCAS forms
Writing the school reference for their tutees and adding it to the
application form
Monitoring the offers received by their tutees
12RESOURCES
There is a huge selection of information to help you decide on your next step. The library
has an ever expanding bank of resources and there is information on the Sixth Form
Website. Staff are here to help you and your parents also may be able to give you
invaluable advice. Each department has been doing a good deal of research and should be
well equipped to give you advice.
WEBSITES
Higher Education
www.ucas.com – info on HE www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees
courses www.studentuk.com - UCAS student site
www.tqi.ac.uk – information on www.opendays.com – Open days
the quality of higher education www.push.co.uk – finding the right university
institutions in the UK. www.universityoptions.co.uk – making the move
www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/ukinfo - Maps www.unistats.com – student ratings & degree results
all Universities and progression
www.qaa.ac.uk – Quality www.thestudentroom.co.uk – useful advice from actual
Assurance Agency for HE students.
www.qca.org.uk – all about http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/series/university-
qualifications guide-2014-subject-tables - gives useful tips on
www.niss.ac.uk/sites - info choosing a university as well as league tables
about UK HE institutions
www.educationguardian.co.uk –
League Tables
www.thetimes.co.uk – League
Tables
Oxbridge: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/ - tips on
how to apply to Oxbridge and the process with key dates.
Finance
www.nusonline.co.uk – National Union of www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport - financial
Students support
www.studentzone.org.uk – student life www.slc.co.uk –student loan company
www.studentunion.co.uk – financial support
13Employment / Careers
www.careers-portal.com – www.prospects.csu.ac.uk – graduate careers
courses/jobs/cvs www.realworkrealpay.info – modern
www.monster.co.uk – vacancies apprenticeships
www.gti.co.uk – graduate jobs / work www.careersoft.co.uk
experience www.movingupgloucestershire.com – Job
www.doctorjob.com opportunities in Gloucestershire
www.notgoingtouni.co.uk www.whatnowglos.co.uk
www.apprenticeship.org.uk
http://www.theswac.org.uk/ -
apprenticeships
Gap Year
www.bunac.org.uk – gap year with BUNAC www.gapyear.com – year out ideas
(USA) www.gap.org.uk – planning a gap year
www.yini.org.uk – Year in Industry www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk –
www.csv.org.uk – volunteering volunteering opportunities
opportunities
Student Accommodation
www.bunk.com www.unilodge.com
www.thestudentvillage.co.uk www.anythingstudent.com
LIBRARY
o A full range of resources can be found. Ask Judith Richardson for help.
We also have guides in the Sixth form Office including Medical and Oxbridge guides on
applications and interview techniques.
14Unistats.direct.gov.uk
Select a subject area and refine your search
Tick the box and then ‘show courses’ You then shortlist the ones you want
Then click compare courses
15HOW TO USE THE APPLY SYSTEM
The APPLY system is available for use wherever there is internet access. The following guide
should take you through all the necessary steps to make a successful application. There is help on
writing personal statements after the APPLY guide.
INITIAL PROCESS
1. Go to http://www.ucas.com/students/apply/
2. Click on Apply or track your application.
3. Click on Register or log in
4. Choose the types of course you want to apply for Undergraduate/Performing Arts/Teacher
Training (most of you will be applying for an undergraduate course-ask if you are unsure).
5. Go through process for registering
POINTS TO NOTE
Registering: ‘a School or College’
Buzzword: Farmors2014
Which Group: Select your tutor group from list eg. 13JS
Username: Password: Question: Answer:
REMEMBER –
Don‟t worry; it is impossible to accidentally send the form to UCAS!
You can word process your personal statement offline and then paste it in to your application.
Make sure you print off a copy to give to your tutor / parents for checking before
sending to the administrator.
Payment is to be made by credit / debit card on-line.
Only when you are completely satisfied that the form is complete and accurate should you click
on the ‘declaration/send to administrator’ circle. At this point, your form goes to your tutor
who can send it back if there are any problems.
16COMMON MISTAKES
Use the following guide for help with your application and use the grid on the next
page to get the exam board correct. The on-line help facility is extremely useful.
Personal Details
o E-mail address – no stupid e-mail addresses; e.g. love2party@bt.com
o Fee Code – nearly always ‘02 LA’ (LA = Local Authority)
o Student support arrangements – make sure you have the right LA (Gloucestershire /
Swindon / Wiltshire or Oxfordshire)
o Name and Age – often entered incorrectly
o Occupational Background – this is the occupation of one of your parents
Choices
o Check you have applied for appropriate courses – talk to tutors / teachers about grades
required and whether you are likely to get some achievable offers.
o Check you have / have not deferred entry
Education
o Qualifications are often inputted wrongly. Double check your certificates or see
Rachel Mehtar for a summary of this information.
o Input the grade for the AS that you have dropped. You can put in module information
if you wish. Use August as the date for cashing in/exam results etc.
o Check you have put down your AS subjects and grade awarded (Advanced Subsidiary)
o Your A Level exams should be listed again and mark grade as „pending‟.
o For the A levels you are continuing, you do not have to input all the units taken/about to
take. You may wish to if you have high grades in your AS modules. It is best, however,
to be consistent – all your units for all your subjects or no units for all your subjects.
o You an also gain UCAS points for some extra curricular Qualifications like some music
grades etc. You can find this out on the UCAS website.
Employment
o Check you have listed all employment. If you have only done babysitting, this is valid
employment and should be listed. Obviously if the list is long you may need to be more
selective.
Personal Statement
The personal statement is supposed to be just that – personal. Spelling and Grammar are
important, as is layout and structure.
o Leave a space between paragraphs – easier for the reader.
o Make sure you have sold yourself and focused on the skills and attributes you have
gained rather than just listing experiences
o Don‟t start with, „My name is …
o You have 4000 characters or 47 lines of text – whichever comes first
o You cannot use bold, italics or underline.
17APPLYING: FAQs from UCAS.com
I've heard it's getting harder to gain a place at university. What should I be doing to have
the best chance of being accepted?
The first thing to do is make sure your application is the best it can be - start writing your
personal statement as early as you can, and spend time getting it right.
Select your choices carefully, matching your skills and achievements to the typical entry
requirements. Use Course Search to see the entry requirements and skills or experience required
for each course.
When you're replying to your offers, think carefully about your insurance choice - it's really
important that you choose a choice that you want to go to if you're not accepted at your firm
choice. You don't have to have one - if you're not sure about any of your other choices once you
have accepted a firm choice, you're not obliged to accept one as an insurance option. But if you do,
make sure you're accepting it for the right reasons.
Can I apply to both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge?
2013 entry: you can only apply to one course at either the University of Oxford or the University
of Cambridge. The exception to this has changed: if you will be a graduate at the start of the
course and you're applying for graduate medicine (course code A101) at the University of
Cambridge, you can also apply to medicine (course code A100) at Cambridge, in addition to being
able to apply to graduate medicine (course code A101) at the University of Oxford. No other
combinations are permitted.
Don't forget that the deadline to apply to either university is 14 October and you may be
required to complete an additional application form from the university. Further information is
available on the choices page.
How do universities and colleges view deferred entry applications?
The value of gap year activities is widely documented and most universities and colleges will allow
you to apply for deferred entry, but check with them before applying. When you apply, include
details of your proposed gap year in your personal statement to support your application. Some
Medicine/Maths courses may frown upon this.
Can I apply to the same university or college for more than one course?
Yes, apart from the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.
18How many course choices can I make?
You can apply for a maximum of five choices on your application, but there are restrictions on
the amount of choices for some courses.
You can apply to a maximum of:
four courses in any one of medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine/veterinary science
one course at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. For the
exception to this rule, please refer to the choices section.
You can use your remaining choice(s) for any other subject. For example, if you have made four
choices for medicine, you could still make one choice for veterinary medicine.
The date I am completing my qualification is not listed in the drop-down menu. I have left
school but will be going back for a resit - how do I enter it?
The system only shows the dates that are selected for attendance at the school. If you're
returning to sit an exam, you need to enter details of the school again with the finish date as the
date that you will complete the qualification. You can then enter the qualification as pending and
select the correct month and year.
What happens when my application is sent to UCAS?
Once your application is completed and sent to us, UCAS process it. If they have to query
anything, they'll contact you for more information. Your application will then be sent to your
universities and colleges to consider and UCAS will send you a welcome letter.
What should I do if I don't receive my welcome letter?
If your postal address is in the UK, allow 14 days for your letter to arrive. If your postal address
is outside of the UK please allow 21 days. If you still haven't received the letter, please contact
UCAS Customer Service Unit.
UCAS PHONE NUMBER: 0871 468 048
19GCSE EXAM BOARDS: Will help when filling out the Qualifications section.
Subject (GCSE) Farmor‟s Kingshill
Art OCR AQA
Art & Design (Photography- AQA
Short course)
Business Studies EDEXCEL
Catering WJEC WJEC
Textiles AQA AQA
Drama AQA EDEXCEL
English Language OCR AQA
English Literature OCR AQA
French EDEXCEL AQA
Geography AQA AQA
German AQA
Graphics AQA OCR
History EDEXCEL AQA
Health & Social Care AQA
Latin & Roman Civilisation (Level 1 WJEC
or 2 Certificate)
Maths EDEXCEL EDEXCEL
Media AQA
Music EDEXCEL AQA
PE EDEXCEL AQA
RE EDEXCEL/AQA OCR
Resistant Materials AQA AQA
Science AQA AQA
Sociology AQA
Spanish EDEXCEL AQA
20A level Subjects
A level Exam board A level Subject Exam
Subject board
English Lit AQA Drama & AQA
Theatre Studies
ELL AQA Economics Edexcel
Maths Edexcel Music OCR
Fine Art OCR Music Edexcel
Technology
Chemistry AQA History Edexcel
Sociology AQA Geography AQA
Photography AQA Media WJEC
Physics AQA Psychology AQA
Physical AQA Product Design WJEC
Education - DT
French AQA Further Maths Edexcel
Spanish AQA Graphic OCR
Communication
Religious AQA Textiles AQA
Studies
Biology OCR Business Studies OCR
ICT AQA Critical Thinking OCR
Further Edexcel
Maths
21AFTER APPLYING.
o After you‟ve sent the application form to the referee, your tutor will write their
reference about you based on the references from your subject teachers. Tutors will
add this to your application form. Mrs White and Miss Cieciora will check the
reference at least twice.
o Mrs White/Miss Cieciora cannot process the application until payment has been made.
o UCAS will then notify you by post and through „Track‟ to confirm receipt of your
application. This letter will also include your personal UCAS number.
o You can check on the progress of your application at any time by visiting the UCAS
website (www.ucas.com) and using your Personal ID number.
o Once you have received a reply from all of the institutions you have to decide on a
first (firm) choice and an insurance choice.
o You will be expected to make an application for any student finance normally by the
end of May even if you haven‟t decided on your firm choice of university.
22OFFERS:FAQs:from UCAS.com
Some of the information on my welcome letter is wrong. What shall I do?
If your university or college is wrong, contact UCAS Customer Service Unit. If the course details
are incorrect, contact the university or college concerned and quote your Personal ID. If they are
happy to change the course details, they will tell UCAS and they will inform you.
How can I check the progress of my application?
You can check the progress of your application on Track. You will need your Personal ID, and your
username and password which you used to apply. UCAS also sends you a letter or email when they
receive decisions from your chosen universities and colleges.
I want to change the year of entry I put on my application. What do I do?
You need to contact your universities and colleges direct. If they agree to change it, they will tell
UCAS and UCAS will display your new year of entry on Track.
Can I change my choice of university or college?
You can change your choice of university or college within seven days from the date on your
welcome letter, depending upon the time of year. After that, you can only make choice changes if
your chosen course is no longer running or you have exceptional circumstances. To change a choice
due to exceptional circumstances, we will need a letter of support from your referee, detailing the
change you want and your reasons for requesting the change.
If you wish to change the course details at your chosen university or college, you should contact
the university or college direct. In this situation, you do not need to contact UCAS. If they are
happy to change your course, they will inform UCAS who will display the change on Track.
I did not use all my five choices. Can I use the others now?
You can add further choices to your application using Track up to 30 June as long as you have not
replied to any offers that you have received. If you are unable to use Track, you can add choices
by phoning UCAS Customer Service Unit.
If you only had a single choice and paid the single application fee, you will also have to pay a
further £11, which can be done in Track.
An offer I received direct from a university or college is not displayed in Track. What shall
I do?
This means your university or college has not told UCAS about your offer. As soon as they receive
it, you will be able to see it in Track. If two or three weeks have passed since you were given the
offer, you should contact the university or college to discuss it.
23When will my universities and colleges make a decision about my application?
Universities and colleges can take different lengths of time to make a decision. UCAS gives them
a deadline by which to send them their decision. Often universities and colleges are much quicker
than this, but if UCAS received your application:
on or before 15 January, we ask universities and colleges to send us their decision by the end
of March. Some of them do not always achieve this, especially on popular courses, so the latest
you could receive their decision is early May
after 15 January, your universities or colleges could take as long as July to make their
decisions.
My course has been discontinued. What can I do?
The university or college should offer you another course. If nothing is available that you want,
you can apply to another university or college in its place. Your university or college should have
sent you a form offering these options. If this has not happened, contact them immediately for
further advice.
How do I reply to my offers?
You reply to your offers in Track. You do not need to reply to your offers until you have received
decisions from all your universities or colleges. Miss Cieciora normally does an assembly in March
to advise on when to make final choices. When the universities have all sent their decisions to
UCAS, UCAS automatically ask you to reply to offers.
If you are waiting for decisions but you are no longer interested in these choices, you can cancel
them in Track and then reply to the offers you have already received. It may sound obvious, but
check you have received the offers you wish to accept from UCAS before doing this.
I want to reply to my offers but there is no reply button in Track. What can I do?
The reply button only appears in Track when you have received decisions from all the universities
and colleges to which you have applied.
If you have not received decisions from all your choices, but wish to accept an offer, you can
cancel any outstanding choices in Track. The option to reply will then be available. Please check
that you have received the offers you wish to accept before cancelling any choices.
If Track shows decisions from all your choices, but there is no reply button, please call UCAS
Customer Service Unit.
24Student Finance
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
The main student finance package includes a:
Tuition Fee Loan
Maintenance Loan - full-time students only
Maintenance Grant - full-time students only
Tuition Fee Loans pay for your course. Maintenance Loans and Grants help with living costs
(eg accommodation, books, bills). You have to pay back loans but not grants.
You might get extra help on top of this.
o You apply for student finance every year. You don’t need a confirmed place at
university or college to apply.
o The deadline to apply for student finance tends to be May so even if students have
not decided where they are going to (this information can be given later on) they
must still get finance applications sent off.
Loans and grants
Use the student finance calculator on https://www.gov.uk/student-finance to see what
finance and extra financial help you can get.
Tuition Fee Loan
English or EU full-time or part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan.
The loan is paid directly to your university or college. You have to pay it back.
Full-time student Tuition Fee Loan
Full-time Up to £9,000
Full-time at a private university or college Up to £6,000
Part-time student Tuition Fee Loan
Part-time Up to £6,750
Part-time at a private university or college Up to £4,500
25Maintenance Loan for living costs
You must be a full-time English student. Part-time and EU students can‟t apply.
You may have to give details of your household income.
The loan is paid directly into your bank account at the start of term. You have to pay the
loan back.
Full-time student Maintenance Loan
Living at home Up to £4,375
Living away from home, outside London Up to £5,500
Living away from home, in London Up to £7,675
You spend a year of a UK course studying abroad Up to £6,535
Use the student finance calculator mentioned earlier to estimate your Maintenance Loan.
Maintenance Grant for living costs
You must be a full-time English student. Part-time and EU students can‟t apply.
You have to give details about your household income and your course start date.
The grant is paid into your bank account at the start of term. You don‟t have to pay the
grant back, but any grant you get will reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get.
Full-time student – Grant for courses from Grant for courses from
household income September 2012 September 2013
£25,000 or less £3,250 £3,354
£30,000 £2,341 £2,416
£35,000 £1,432 £1,478
£40,000 £523 £540
£42,600 (2012) or £42,611
Up to £50 £50
(2013)
Over £42,600 / £42,611 No grant No grant
Use the student finance calculator mentioned earlier to estimate your Maintenance Grant.
26Special Support Grant
You must be a full-time student. Part-time and EU students can‟t apply.
You may get a Special Support Grant instead of a Maintenance Grant if you get or qualify
for Income Support or Housing Benefit. The amount you get is the same as the
Maintenance Grant, but it won‟t reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get.
You may get the Special Support Grant if, for example, you‟re a lone parent or have
certain disabilities.
Paying loans back
Your repayments are linked to your income. You only make repayments when your income is
over £21,000 a year. If your income drops below this amount repayments stop.
Part-time students sometimes start repayments while they‟re still studying.
Each month you pay back 9% of any income over £21,000.
Your income per year Monthly repayments
£21,000 and under No repayments
£25,000 £30
£30,000 £67
£40,000 £142
£50,000 £217
£60,000 £292
Use the repayments calculator on https://www.gov.uk/student-finance to check how
much you pay back.
Once you‟re registered with Student Finance England you can check your balance online.
If you leave the UK, repayments are based on the earnings threshold for the country
where you live.
27Interest on your student loans
For courses that started on or after 1 September 2012 the following interest rates apply:
Income Interest rate
While you‟re studying Rate of inflation (Retail Price Index) plus 3%
£21,000 or less Rate of inflation
£21,000 to £41,000 Rate of inflation plus up to 3%
£41,000 and over Rate of inflation plus 3%
Making repayments
You can pay some or all of your loan at any time without an extra charge.
If you‟re an employee your employer will work out your repayments and take them out of
your salary with your tax.
If you‟re self employed you must make repayments as part of your Self Assessment tax
return.
If you leave your course early, you still have to repay your student loan.
If you go abroad for more than 3 months you need to fill in an overseas income
assessment form. Student Finance England will then work out your repayments.
28WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
What is it?
The personal statement is an opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for university and the
course for which you are applying. You need to highlight what makes you a thoughtful,
conscientious student who has a real flair / passion for your chosen course. It is an opportunity to
„sell yourself‟ and make you stand out from other applicants.
Use the information you have collected about yourself from the Careers sessions and the plan
overleaf to guide you in terms of structure and content.
Make sure you word-process your personal statement. This makes it easier to edit and means
that you can just copy and paste it into the application form when it‟s finished.
Remember to ask your tutor for help. Keep showing them drafts so that they can make
suggestions for improvement.
Look up what skills and characteristics your course / university is looking for by using the Entry
Profiles on the UCAS website
Remember that the Personal Statement is for you to show / prove that you have the character,
skills and academic ability to be successful on your chosen course. Essentially it should be an
essay entitled „Why I should be allowed to study my chosen subject@...‟
Application scoring sheets are available on some university websites - students can view how their
application will be scored and assessed. Essentially these are mark schemes that will be valuable to
the student.
Students shouldn‟t just say what they‟ve done or read but how it changed their lives.
Don‟t
Try to be whacky
Use bullet points
Lie or give misleading information.
SIMILARITY DETECTION TESTS
“We will subject applications to similarity detection tests designed to identify work copied from
another source. Do not be tempted to copy another person‟s application materials, or download
your personal statement off the web. There could be serious consequences to using other people‟s
work. If we have cause to question your application, we will inform all the universities and colleges
to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider to be appropriate. We will
also contact you by e-mail. Click on the detection similarity link to find out more.”
UCAS, 2013
29A Plan for your Personal Statement
Introduce yourself – where and what you are studying.
Do NOT start with ‘My name is ..’. Use information you collected from the ‘Who am I’
careers sessions.
Describe/name the degree courses you are applying for and try to add a sentence at this
point to connect your choices with your keen interest in that area and/or possible plans for
the future.
Be careful if you are applying for different subjects, the same statement has to cover all
courses applied for.
You may want to include any career intention you may have
Write a couple of sentences on each of your AS/A2s, your interest in it and any interesting
details, special subjects, personal study themes, titles of books, blogs, field research,
experiences abroad, your strengths such as ability to research independently, coursework,
hitting of deadlines.(A GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT WILL BE 75-80% BASED ON YOUR
ACADEMIC STUDIES)
Do this for each subject and write a bit more if one or two of them are particularly
relevant to your choice of degree course. This will probably be the case.
Do not over write this section at the expense of subsequent sections
Remember you are trying to show evidence that you can cope and benefit from the course
for which you are applying
Write about other achievements and interests in school – D of E, Sports, Peer Counselling
and other enrichment activities, Heads of House, Music, Charity Committee etc. Make sure
to emphasise relevant transferable skills – commitment, organisation, ability to work
independently, leadership skills, project management, ability to communicate, maturity etc.
Write about experiences / interests / hobbies out of school. Mention any work experience or
work if you exercise responsibility and can make it relevant. Remember that even mundane
work can show you have a range of skills – commitment, communication, dealing with the
public etc. If you are planning to take a gap year give your reasons why / what you are going
to do
Try to finish off by re-emphasising the mature choice you have made in making this
application and be confident enough to describe yourself as a good applicant.
Aim at about 47 lines of size 12 font – there is a limit of 47 lines (4000 characters) on the
form.
See other useful resources for Personal Statement writing towards the end of this guide.
30Introduction
In-school evidence of your interest in the subject and discussion of transferable
skills from your Sixth Form study.
Outside-school evidence of your passion for the subject (wider academic reading,
blogs, voluntary work etc
Wider skills you have developed
Summary of why they should pick you
31EXAMPLE OF PERSONAL STATEMENT
(Economics and Maths)
Given the current economic climate, this combined course holds tremendous interest for me. We
live in a time when we should be able to predict crises such as the recent subprime mortgage
problem and the run on the banks; we were even given decades notice by Kondratieff and Ralph
Elliot whose models predicted the boom and bust cycles that we have seen. I believe there is
no better time for us to learn from these mistakes, how these were caused and how they can be
prevented in the future. I have an over riding interest in Mathematics and feel the
combination of my current knowledge of this subject and learning more about Economics would be
of great value to me and my future aspirations.
I have seen Mathematics touch all aspects of my education and knowledge, providing logical
foundations and proof of everything I have needed to investigate. Throughout my A level study
I have found Mathematics a key element in all my subjects. It plays a major role in Physics,
from its use in calculations of forces to sine curves in waves, which has helped me to apply
mathematical skills to real life situations. In Biology, Statistical Mathematics plays a vital
role in Ecology but more amazingly it can be found within nature itself. The Fibonacci
sequence provides the backbone of spirals found in such things as shells, through which we can
see the beauty that lies in this subject. Surprisingly, even in History Mathematics raises its
head with Game Theory, originally designed for Economics, it grew rapidly and was put to use
during the Cold War. History has provided additional and complementary skills. It too uses a
logical process to apply evidence to support theory. Although it is not as pure a thought
process as Mathematics, it has helped me gain skills needed to develop an argument, improve my
essay writing ability, and has set a foundation for producing descriptive answers which should
apply well to Economics. While gaining vital skills in other areas I have also broadened the
scope of my mathematical understanding discovering new methods and ideas well outside the
curriculum. It is this all-encompassing nature that intrigues me about Mathematics and drives
me to want to apply this to understanding the economy. As part of my work experience I spent a
week shadowing the Head of IT at Bank of America Meryll Lynch, which gave me further insight
into the economic climate and the use of relevant mathematical and business skills.
Throughout my academic career I have demonstrated a keen willingness to further my knowledge.
Under my own initiative I undertook an AS Level Further Mathematics course from home, starting
in January and completing the 3 modules in half the normal time. Demonstrating an independence
and ability to study on my own, much like the kind of study I will do at university. I also
finished my GCSE Maths course within the first year and for the second undertook an Additional
Mathematics exam as a precursor to AS Level Maths. Throughout my secondary school education I
have been in a gifted class for Mathematics and as a result I have attended many 'Gifted and
Talented' workshops and was chosen to represent the school in Maths competitions. I have also
taken part in many school clubs and played for the 1st team in rugby, football, cricket and
athletics. I feel I am able to apply this competitive trait to many of the tasks set out
before me, striving to accomplish them as best as I possibly can. I spent five weeks with Far
Frontiers providing community service for several Ecuadorian villages during summer 2010. This
expedition helped me develop as a person and increased my awareness of cultural diversity.
I believe that I am a well-rounded person and thoroughly enjoy competition. I am driven by any
challenge and have already demonstrated my ability to study independently. The prospect of
applying Mathematics to such a diverse and unpredictable economic climate is an exciting
thought and one I strongly wish to pursue.
32EXAMPLE OF PERSONAL STATEMENT
(Physiotherapy)
My decision to apply to study physiotherapy was inspired by what I feel was a key
realisation: that by harnessing vital skills a wide variety of conditions can be treated, not
only muscle injuries, but also severe mental and neurological diseases. I regard
communication, a methodical approach to learning, and intuition as qualities essential to
working within physiotherapy, which I believe is one of the most dynamic health professions.
They allow relationships with patients to be formed to an appropriate level, so that with the
application of training and insight suitable treatments can be undertaken.
At A Level I study Biology, Sports Studies and History. History has been a subject that I
have enjoyed since I was young, (at ten I was reading 'Henry VIII's Wives') yet I feel this
has become a subject that I would prefer to pursue as more of a hobby. My fascination with
the way in which organisms operate lead to my interest in Biology, through which I have
learnt to evaluate and apply knowledge logically to new theories, a skill that I find useful
in other subjects, and one that I feel would aid me were I to become a physiotherapist.
Sports Studies is a surprisingly diverse subject covering an assortment of biology, history
and psychology. Physiotherapy attracts me for similar reasons - it provides treatment for all
ages, and in all places, from patient's homes, to hospitals and private practices.
Away from academic work, sport is a major social interest that I find both relaxing and
motivating. I have been a member of the netball, rounders, basketball and hockey teams, and
captain of the tennis team, (in the latter two I advanced to county level) since the
beginning of secondary school. This has taught me the value of teamwork and of learning to
follow instructions as well as give them. I also play in a badminton league, and have helped
coach tennis for young children. In studying English Literature at AS Level, I have grown to
admire many novelists (from Jane Austen to Helen Fielding) and playwrights. I have taken part
in various amateur Shakespeare productions which has given me the confidence to perform in
front of an audience. For the past few years, I have held jobs within Waitrose and various
restaurants, and during holidays have worked on a farm. My busy schedule has taught me to
balance my commitments, and through my extra-curricular activities, I have developed a wide
range of interests, social skills, and organisational abilities. I can also drive a tractor!
By recently spending a day at Cirencester hospital's physiotherapy department, I was able to
obtain a further understanding of the profession and reinforce my opinion that it is the
career which best suits my ambition and personality. In accompanying a physiotherapist around
wards, I interacted with patients and observed a range of treatment mostly for the elderly.
It was evident from feedback from the physiotherapists that the progress patients achieve is
the most rewarding aspect of the job. In the 'No Falls' class, there was real satisfaction in
helping the elderly to feel secure and make a positive difference, and I felt it tested my
ability to communicate with people of all ages. I was greatly interested by the fact that
physiotherapy is used to alleviate diseases and conditions in conjunction with other
treatments, for example dialysis. I observed that physiotherapy requires continual adaptation
of treatment to accommodate the lifestyle, and individual, as well as a total dedication to
achieve rehabilitation. I have booked further work experience at Cheltenham General Hospital.
As an active and versatile individual, I am eager to begin a new chapter of my life, in which
I can exercise my drive and personality to full advantage. I believe I can do this in
physiotherapy, and look forward to becoming a member of a developing and dynamic profession.
33EXAMPLE OF PERSONAL STATEMENT
(English)
Enthral or repulse me. Either way, books never end with the last page - even the dreary give
some space for reflection. Reading has always been satisfying; it is why studying English
Literature at university seems inevitable for me - it already consumes much of my life.
Studying English at A Level has never seemed like a chore - although the course has been
challenging, I have never felt out of my depth, achieving full marks at AS. Covering a variety
of texts from different genres and periods has allowed my individual tastes to develop, as
well as helping me to build a bigger picture of English Literature. Last year, I was surprised
to find how much I liked studying Thomas Hardy's poetry; at first a few of his poems seemed
rather intimidating and perhaps too sentimental, but I discovered that analysing his poetry in
depth brought out darker and more cynical meanings, which I could relate to. Although I
thoroughly enjoy English lessons, I also find inspiration and learn about literature
elsewhere. I relish the chance to go to the theatre; last year I saw The Children's Hour and
an adapted version of Dahl's Matilda - both different but equally inspiring performances. I
found it interesting to compare the book and recent theatre production of Dorian Gray;
although the theatre adaptation did not live up to the book's standards, it was still useful
to see how texts can be interpreted in a variety of ways. I also take pleasure in reading
books that are not necessarily linked to my lessons. I have been absorbed by Maggie
O'Farrell's novels, in particular The Vanishing Case of Esme Lennox, a book which challenges
stereotypical views on mental illness. I found this book particularly illuminating after
listening to Maggie O'Farrell at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Studying English Literature, French, History at A and Art at AS Levels has worked well as all
subjects have complemented each other, enabling me to gain As in all four subjects at AS.
Although acquiring the skills to speak French has been difficult, I find writing and reading
French relatively easy. For example, we are studying Les Petits Enfants du Siecle, which has
highlighted similarities in English and French literature. In History, we are concentrating on
the history of Russia. The political and cultural differences between Russia and England have
really fascinated me, encouraging me to read Sashenka, a novel about the Russian Revolution.
Although I reluctantly dropped Fine Art after AS Level in order to focus on my other subjects,
I liked being able to express my thoughts creatively - last year I produced a personal study
based on Surrealism. This movement really appealed to me, not only visually, but also because
the meanings behind each work of art were incredibly thought-provoking. My contributions in
all my lessons have proved me as a reliable, intelligent and eager student.
Whilst my education has really sculpted the person I have become, I feel who I am outside of
school is equally important in reaching my desired goals. I love socialising as it enables me
to share and discuss ideas about everything, from social issues to music and fashion. In the
last few years, I have matured into an individual who is both self-aware and sensitive to
others: qualities which, I hope will make me a valuable friend, student and future employee. I
am extremely imaginative and take delight in painting, playing piano, cooking and running a
fashion and art blog. During my work experience in Year 11, I worked at a local PR company
which I found exceptionally rewarding, helping me to realise that after university I want to
work with and around other people.
As a determined and driven individual, I am keenly anticipating both the academic and social
aspects of university life. Although at times I can be shy and unsure of myself, I hope that
university will allow me to flourish.
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