UCASUCAS

University and Colleges University and Colleges Admissions Service.Admissions Service.

www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com

What is it?What is it?

A central organisation through A central organisation through which applications for entry to full which applications for entry to full time higher education (HE) time higher education (HE) courses in England, Wales, courses in England, Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland are Scotland and N. Ireland are processed.processed.

What is it?What is it?

It operates on behalf of all It operates on behalf of all member institutions to market member institutions to market their HE courses:their HE courses:

Undergraduate degreeUndergraduate degree Foundation degreeFoundation degree HNC/HNDHNC/HND

Some StatisticsSome Statistics

UCAS applications received from UCAS applications received from N Ireland Students :N Ireland Students :

2009 – 15 9392009 – 15 939 2010 – 18 4352010 – 18 435 2011 - ?2011 - ?

% change +15.7%% change +15.7% Source: UCASSource: UCAS

The Applicant JourneyThe Applicant Journey

Research!!! Research!!! Be Thorough! Be Thorough! Course Search on UCAS website.Course Search on UCAS website. UCAS Website – Stamford TestUCAS Website – Stamford Test www.shimnacollege.org.ukwww.shimnacollege.org.uk for for

essential look ups and the sixth essential look ups and the sixth form blog.form blog.

www.direct.gov.uk/unistats.www.direct.gov.uk/unistats.

ResearchResearch

In successmaker you will find:In successmaker you will find: Copies of every UK university prospectus.Copies of every UK university prospectus. Prospectuses for universities in the Prospectuses for universities in the

Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland The Big GuideThe Big Guide Times University GuideTimes University Guide The Virgin University GuideThe Virgin University Guide University Degree Course Offers (Heap)University Degree Course Offers (Heap) Specialist books for medicine, law, Specialist books for medicine, law,

dentistry, veterinary science, UKAT and dentistry, veterinary science, UKAT and LNATLNAT

ApplyingApplying

You apply online for a maximum of five You apply online for a maximum of five courses.courses.

You can apply for more than one course at You can apply for more than one course at the same university.the same university.

It does not matter what order you put them It does not matter what order you put them in on the form.in on the form.

The universities you apply to do not know The universities you apply to do not know where else you have applied. It is a blind where else you have applied. It is a blind system.system.

The fee for 2011/12 is £22.00.The fee for 2011/12 is £22.00. UCAS tariff/grade system.UCAS tariff/grade system.

Applying Applying

There are restrictions on the amount of There are restrictions on the amount of choices for some courses:choices for some courses:

- You may only apply to a maximum of - You may only apply to a maximum of four courses in any one of medicine, four courses in any one of medicine, dentistry or veterinary dentistry or veterinary medicine/science.medicine/science.

- One course at either the University of - One course at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. Oxford or the University of Cambridge. (Oxbridge)(Oxbridge)

Applying Applying

You can use your remaining You can use your remaining choice(s) for any other subject. choice(s) for any other subject.

For example if you have made For example if you have made four choices for medicine you four choices for medicine you could still make one choice for could still make one choice for veterinary science or any other veterinary science or any other subject. subject.

UCAS Application UCAS Application DeadlinesDeadlines 15 October 2011 for dentistry, 15 October 2011 for dentistry,

medicine, veterinary medicine, veterinary science/medicine and for all science/medicine and for all Oxbridge courses.Oxbridge courses.

15 January 2012 for all other 15 January 2012 for all other courses.courses.

Some art and design courses Some art and design courses have a 24 March deadline.have a 24 March deadline.

Shimna DeadlinesShimna Deadlines

8 October 2011 for dentistry, 8 October 2011 for dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, veterinary science/medicine and Oxbridge science/medicine and Oxbridge applicants.applicants.

55thth November 2011 for all other November 2011 for all other applicants.applicants.

We have set these deadlines to give We have set these deadlines to give you a realistic chance of being made you a realistic chance of being made an offer. You must stick to them.an offer. You must stick to them.

Application Sent To Application Sent To UCASUCAS UCAS will distribute your choices to the UCAS will distribute your choices to the

universities you have chosen.universities you have chosen. The decision process begins and the The decision process begins and the

information will come to you via the information will come to you via the UCAS track system. UCAS track system. www.ucas.com/trackwww.ucas.com/track

Log on to track using your personal ID, Log on to track using your personal ID, user name and password at least twice user name and password at least twice a week.a week.

Once the form is Once the form is submitted you may have submitted you may have to….to…. Attend an interview.Attend an interview. Sit an admissions test.Sit an admissions test. Submit a piece of workSubmit a piece of work Submit a portfolio of workSubmit a portfolio of work Attend an auditionAttend an audition

This information will be relayed to This information will be relayed to you via UCAS track.you via UCAS track.

Admissions TestsAdmissions TestsMedicine and DentistryMedicine and Dentistry Medicine and dentistry applicants Medicine and dentistry applicants

need to register for the UKCAT before need to register for the UKCAT before 23rd September 2011 and sit the test 23rd September 2011 and sit the test between 5 July and 7 October 2011.between 5 July and 7 October 2011.

Registration is now open. Registration is now open. www.ukcat.ac.ukwww.ukcat.ac.uk

These tests are designed to test These tests are designed to test aptitude rather than academic ability.aptitude rather than academic ability.

Admission Test.Admission Test.LawLaw The following universities require you to The following universities require you to

sit the LNAT for admission to study law:sit the LNAT for admission to study law: Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow,

Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, Kings College Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, Kings College London and University College London.London and University College London.

Registration is now open. Registration is now open. www.lnat.ac.ukwww.lnat.ac.uk For Oxford you must sit the test by 15 For Oxford you must sit the test by 15

October 2011 or before. October 2011 or before. For all other universities in the list, by 15For all other universities in the list, by 15thth

January 2012 or before.January 2012 or before.

InterviewsInterviews

Admission to competitive courses Admission to competitive courses is decided by an excellent is decided by an excellent application and an interview.application and an interview.

If you apply to Oxbridge and/or If you apply to Oxbridge and/or medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, teaching, drama, science, nursing, teaching, drama, music and art and design courses music and art and design courses you will have an interview.you will have an interview.

University and College University and College DecisionsDecisions

Admissions tutors can make one of Admissions tutors can make one of three decisions:three decisions:

Conditional offerConditional offer Unconditional offerUnconditional offer UnsuccessfulUnsuccessful Applicants then keep a maximum of Applicants then keep a maximum of

two offers:two offers: Firm = first choiceFirm = first choice Insurance = second choice.Insurance = second choice.

What happens next?What happens next?

Refer to page 67 – 73 of “The Little Guide” Refer to page 67 – 73 of “The Little Guide” Here you will find all the information you Here you will find all the information you

need in terms of offers and replying to need in terms of offers and replying to them. Look at the FAQ section. There are them. Look at the FAQ section. There are also useful websites listed at the back of also useful websites listed at the back of the little guide. You can ask me too.the little guide. You can ask me too.

Log onto Log onto www.ucas.com/trackwww.ucas.com/track on a twice on a twice weekly basis during the application cycle weekly basis during the application cycle for the most up to date information for the most up to date information regarding your application. You will need regarding your application. You will need your personal id, user name and password.your personal id, user name and password.

Benefits of an early Benefits of an early applicationapplication Applications to university by Applications to university by

January deadline.January deadline.

By January 2010 UCAS applications By January 2010 UCAS applications were up by 22.9% from January 2009.were up by 22.9% from January 2009.

A very competitive market with 6000 A very competitive market with 6000 fewer places for 2010/11 application fewer places for 2010/11 application cycle being predicated.cycle being predicated.

NI applications up by 15.7% in 2010.NI applications up by 15.7% in 2010. So, the earlier you get your application So, the earlier you get your application

in the better your chance is of getting in the better your chance is of getting an offer.an offer.

And Finally…And Finally…

Any Questions?Any Questions?