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CONTENTS

1. UCAS application form

2. Course choices

3. Finishing your application

4. Tips for success

5. What happens after you submit your application?

UCAS application form

You may find the university application process intimidating, so we've compiled some advice to help you on your way.

It's important to read through each section of this UCAS guidance slowly and carefully. Bear in mind when completing your university application that what you say may be all the university uses to make a decision.

Address 

If any of your contact details change, you must tell UCAS immediately.

If you don’t keep your phone, home, and email addresses up to date, you could miss receiving valuable information. This might even include offers or confirmation of a place at university. UCAS will automatically notify your university choices of any changes to your contact details.

Universities tend to correspond by email, so make sure you don’t miss out on anything important by ensuring your inbox can receive bulk emails. Check your inbox isn't full, especially during results time in July–August and into September. Also, check that your school/college email address still works if you're using this for your UCAS application.

Exam results 

Make sure you get the correct details of the subjects you're currently taking. Any mistakes could mean difficulty for UCAS when matching your application with your results straight away. This could lead to an unnecessary delay in universities making their decisions.

List your subjects with their full titles. For example, if you're taking English Language and Literature, put the full title and not just English. List full module details of any BTEC awards and make sure you list the right BTEC – i.e. the exact one you're taking.

Don't try to give a UK equivalent for results awarded in another country. State exactly what you’re doing and let the university decide the equivalence to avoid any confusion. If the column headings on the form are inappropriate, ignore them.

Be honest. UCAS has sophisticated fraud-busting techniques and experienced admissions tutors who can spot rogue applications.

If UCAS discovers false or incomplete information, it could reject your application. You would lose any chance of a place at university that year. Or if a prospective university finds out your exam certificates don't match the grades on your application, it could ask you to leave. You may also be investigated by the exam board.

Personal statement 

This is your chance to show off all you've learned and all the relevant experiences you’ve had.

Here are some key things to remember before you start: 

• Give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
• UCAS Apply will let you paste in your personal statement from another source.
• It’s a good idea to prepare in advance and check thoroughly before entering your UCAS application.
• Brainstorm, re-read and edit to produce a well-written piece of work that shows your full potential.
• Try to keep within the word count. You only have around 450 words (about 47 lines, or 4,000 characters), so keep your statement clear and concise.

Everyone has positive attributes and motivations – tease them out and express them on your statement.

What to include in your UCAS application:

• Why do you want to study your chosen subject?
• What particular qualities and experience can you bring to the course?
• Details of any work experience or voluntary activity, especially if it's relevant to your course.
• Any other evidence of extracurricular achievements.
• Details of any sponsorship or placements you've secured or applied for.
• Your career aspirations.
• Any aspects of life that make you an interesting and well-rounded student.
• If your first language isn't English, describe any opportunities you've had to use English. This could include attending an English-speaking school or working where English is the main language.
• If you plan to take a gap year, mention how the experience may help you in your personal development for your chosen subject.

What not to include in your UCAS application:

• Don't under any circumstances be tempted to copy your personal statement from somewhere else. UCAS uses detection software on all applications. If there's evidence that your application isn't your own work, any offers can be withdrawn. Universities will also be informed of the level of plagiarism.
• Try to avoid being too wacky – not all admissions tutors will share your sense of humour.
• Don't send extra papers to UCAS. If necessary they can be sent directly to the universities you've applied to, with your UCAS application number clearly shown.
• Only mention your interest in a topic if you can talk about it well in an interview. If not, you’ll risk looking immature and jeopardising your chance of an offer.

You can read further advice from admissions tutors in our guide on what to include in a personal statement.

Advice and tips on how to make your personal statement stand out

There's no set way to structure a personal statement. It's a good idea to use paragraphs or sub-headings to make the presentation clear and easy for an admissions tutor to read. It’s always best to be honest and be yourself.

• If there's anything about your application that is even slightly unusual, then explain why.
• If you're a mature student, explain why you want to enter or return to higher education.
• If you are applying for a vocational course, emphasise your commitment to the profession and any relevant experience.
• If you are applying for an academic course, you need to show a real passion for the subject and explain why you want to study it for the next few years.
• Be specific in what you write â€“ don't just say you're interested in reading, describe what you like to read and why.
• If you want to defer your entry to the following year, say why and what you intend to do with your year out.
• If you are reapplying, revise your previous statement instead of submitting the same one. For example, include the reason why you took a year off and what skills you've learnt.

Our guide on making your personal statement stand out goes into further detail about how to get noticed. It includes expert advice from current admissions tutors.

Course choices

Advice about your course choices

You should have your choice of courses ready by the time you fill in your application.

You're allowed up to five choices, unless you’re applying for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science/Medicine. In that case, you’re only allowed to choose four but can add a different course as a fifth choice.

You can only write one personal statement. If you opt for radically different courses it will be difficult to construct a personal statement that works well for all of them.

If you do have wide-ranging choices, it may be better to wait a year so you have a clearer plan of your future and what you want to achieve.

Varied applications 

Students who apply through UCAS Extra can email a revised personal statement to their chosen university. 

Clearing applicants are advised to submit a revised personal statement.

Any correspondence should include your UCAS applicant number for easy cross-referencing.

Finishing your application

Do the following before you submit your final application:

• Check you've included the right courses on your application.
• Make sure all grammar and punctuation are correct.
• Get someone else to check it for you as you may not spot some subtle errors and typos.
• Print out a copy and arrange for your referee to add their reference.
• Follow the instructions on how to pay (international applicants need to pay by credit card).

Should I apply early? 

Universities are required by UCAS to treat all applications received by the appropriate deadline on an equal basis. But applying early never does any harm and in some circumstances, there can be an advantage (before Christmas is advised). The UCAS Hub will accept applications from 3 September.

• You must submit any application to Oxford, Cambridge, or a Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary course by 15 October.
• For most undergraduate courses, the cut-off date for 'equal consideration' is 29 January.
• International applicants can apply after the 29 January deadline, until 30 June. After the January deadline, UK students are unlikely to be rejected for most courses, but popular courses will fill up fast. It’s best to stick to the deadlines. 

Applying after the deadline 

UCAS will still process your application if you apply after the deadline, but universities do not have to consider it. They can reject you because they’ve received enough applications already, or there is a high demand for the subject you've chosen. The university may also tighten its criteria for oversubscribed courses. This means late applications have a higher risk of rejection.

If you’re applying for a less popular subject, this may not happen, even if your application arrives well after the deadline. But all round, applying late is an ill-advised and risky strategy.

An exception to this may be made for mature applicants who are engaged on one-year Access Diploma.

Going to university is a big decision, and you need to make your application as good as it can be. Below are some of our tips for success. 

Have you picked the right courses?

With more than 37,000 courses on offer, choosing the right one for you isn’t always easy. The following should help you on your way:

• Research courses well.
• Look at what modules you’ll be taking and future career paths. This will give you something to refer to in your personal statement and show admissions tutors you’re truly interested.
• Be realistic. Have you got grades for the courses you want, and are you going to be able to achieve the results they’re asking for?