APPLYING TO HIGHER EDUCATION

UCAS/CAO IN THE CONTEXT OF AQUINASClare Foster

Head of CEIAG

UCAS• 500000+ Applicants.• 400000+ Places.• 50000 + Degree Courses.• 335+ Institutions.There is something for everyone.

Step 1: Choosing courses.Step 2: Applying.Step 3: Offers.Step 4: Results.Step 5: Next steps.Step 6: Starting university.

The UCAS Process(On-line videos www.ucas.com)

Key Features of the UCAS Scheme• Standard fee - £23 (£12 for single choice)• Maximum of 5 choices• Simultaneous consideration• Invisibility• There are opportunities for other choices

Extra

Clearing

Adjustment

Important deadlines15 October 2014 - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

15 January 2015- application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed above with a 15 October deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline.

25 February 2015 - UCAS Extra opens

24 March 2015 - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for art and design courses except those listed with a 15 January deadline.

30 June 2015 - Last date for the receipt of all other applications for immediate consideration. Those received after this date will be held for Clearing.

13 August 2015 - GCE A Level results are published and decisions are communicated to students via Track. Full clearing information service starts.

Course combinations that you can have

• A maximum of four courses in any one of medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine/veterinary science.

• Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

• You can use your remaining choice(s) for any other subject. For example, if you apply to four medicine courses, you could still make one choice for veterinary medicine. However, be aware that your personal statement will be sent to all universities and colleges you've chosen.

Additional requirements

• Some courses require an admissions test. It's your responsibility to find out whether your course(s) need you to take one, and to register by the relevant deadline.

NB. Aquinas is a centre for Cambridge Assessment tests.

Aptitude Tests• BMAT• UK CAT• LNAT• HPAT-ULSTER• HPAT-IRELAND• ELAT• HAT• PAT• STEP Entrance Examinations.

HPAT at University of Ulster

• Dietetics BSc Hons. • Occupational Therapy BSc Hons.• Physiotherapy BSc Hons. • Podiatry BSc Hons. • Radiography BSc Hons. • Speech and Language Therapy BSc

Hons. http://www.hpat.org.uk

UCAS.com• Ucasapply is a secure, web-based,

online application system requiring no installation.

• Student Area ‘Buzzword ‘

‘uniapplications’

Making Your ApplicationEvery applicant has 7 sections to complete Personal Details Additional Information Student Finance Choices Education Employment Personal StatementForward to coordinator

Reference

Choosing Your Courses• Research• What do others say?

http://unistats.direct.gov.uk

• League tables www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide

www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug

Timetable for Completion• Early September Subject teachers write a Subject Report. • Mid September Subject Reports forwarded to Writing Team.

Students complete a Personal Profile.• October Writing Team compiles references based on Subject

Reports and Personal Profile.• October - December Applications sent to UCAS on-line. (Once

submitted, the form cannot be changed).

Students wishing to apply for Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine,

Dentistry or Veterinary who have not already made

themselves known to me, should do so by tomorrow morning as

their forms must be with UCAS by 15 October 2014.

University and College DecisionsApplicants will receive one of three decisions:• Conditional Offer – we want you provisionally• Unconditional Offer – we definitely want you

NB. There may be some non-academic requirements

Most will receive conditional offers, based on:• Grades• Tariff points• A combination of both• Non-academic conditions

What do universities use to make their decisions?

A combination of any of these sources:• Information on Apply

- Your qualifications

- Your personal statement

- Your reference

- Work experience• Interviews/additional work/portfolios/auditions• Admissions tests

Applicant RepliesWhen applicants have received decisions from ALL of their choices,

they will be asked to make replies and given a date to reply by.

UCAS will send reminders – but if applicants fail to reply by this date, their offers will be declined by UCAS automatically.

Applicants are able to hold 2 of their offers to the end of the cycle (others are declined).

Firm - Applicant’s first choice. Where they really want to go.

Insurance – Applicant’s back up choice but nevertheless a commitment like the firm and they will be placed here if they do not meet the conditions of the firm.

NB. You cannot swap between the firm and insurance.

Courses Outside UCAS system

Teacher Training at St. Mary’s

University College (QUB)

Medicine/Dentistry/Nursing/ Midwifery/Social Work/Veterinary

Science/Teaching

• Personal statement and relevant work experience is very important for these courses.

• Social Work asks for an additional statement separate to the UCAS personal statement.

• Applicants need to read the entry profiles (including essential and desirable skills) carefully for these courses and highlight how they meet these in both their statement and at interview.

Interviews• Oxbridge• Medicine• Nursing and Midwifery• Dentistry• Veterinary Science• Teaching• Social Work• Music and Drama courses may require auditions

CUKAS This is the official website for the Conservatoires UK

Admissions Service (CUKAS). The service is designed to provide the facilities to

research and apply for practice-based music, dance and drama courses at the following UK conservatoires:

Birmingham ConservatoireLeeds College of MusicRoyal Academy of MusicRoyal College of MusicRoyal Northern College of MusicRoyal Conservatoire of ScotlandRoyal Welsh College of Music and DramaTrinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

CUKAS Important Dates• 1 October 2014 (midnight UK time) Closing date for

music applications, your application is 'on-time' and all your chosen conservatoires will consider you.

• If you are applying for dance, drama or screen production courses you may have a different deadline - check the conservatoires' websites for information.

• 15 October 2014 Auditions start.

NB.Applicants must provide their Music/Drama (specialist reference) teacher and their Careers teacher (academic reference) with the template for the reference for each conservatoire application.

Eunicas• Eunicas is the European Universities Central

Application Support Service.• Through eunicas.co.uk, UK students can apply

for up to eight degree programmes , taught through English, in universities in Europe.

• Eunicas will guide and support you on your application journey, ensuring that you apply in the right way, through the right process, with the right supporting documents before any critical deadlines.

Eunicas Important Dates

01 Oct Applications open for Dutch programmes17 Oct Applications open for programmes in Sweden01 Dec Applications open for programmes in Norway15 Jan Application deadline for most Swedish programmes01 Feb Applications open for Danish programmes01 Feb Application deadline for most Dutch Liberal Arts

programmes

Mid Feb Registrations open for IMAT [exact date to be confirmed]

Mid Mar Registrations close for IMAT [exact date to be confirmed

CAO(Central Applications Office)

Universities in the Republic of Ireland

Apply on-line at

www.cao.ie

Cao.ie• Some courses based on 4 A2s.• No personal statement.• No reference.• Offers and acceptances made when results are

published.• Random selection operates for high demand courses.• Pay by credit/debit card.

Student FinanceDomicile of student

Location of institution

England Scotland Wales NI

England Up to £9k Up to £9k Up to £9k Up to £9k

Scotland Up to £9k No fee Up to £9k Up to £9k

Wales Up to £9k Up to £9k Up to £9k Up to £9k

NI Up to £9k Up to £9k Up to £9kUp to £3,685

*£720 for placement year

OtherInternational

Variable Variable Variable Variable

 

Student Finance•www.studentfinanceni.co.uk•Contact the student finance department of the education and library board you live in

-Maintenance Loan (varies depending on where you study)

-Fee Loan (varies depending on where you study)

-Bursaries and Scholarships (check university websites)

-Means tested grants

Final Tips•Sign up for a UCAS e-card www.ucas.com/ucascard

•Research and shortlist courses www.ucas.com

•Attend university open days www.ucas.com/open-days

•Know your application deadlines•Apply for student finance – March 2015•Regularly check your emails for updates on your application•Understand the conditions of your offers and respond by the given deadlines•Use UCAS Track•Make sure you are not on holiday on results day 13th August

• University of Ulster - Thursday

• Queens University Belfast - Friday

• Higher Education Convention –Thursday/Friday

Thank you