Applying to the UK 2015

1. APPLYING TO THE UK
SEPTEMBER 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