Introductions

Speaker: James Harding – University Advisor

  • Given talks at over 250 schools in UK and overseas
  • Assisted with hundreds of university applications
  • Visited over 100 UK universities

James Harding
University Advisor
UK

Ben Hughes
Managing Director
Malvern, UK

A successful application

  • Choose a course you are passionate about
  • Demonstrate critical engagement
  • Write a strong personal statement - in your own voice

Choosing a university

Rankings are important, but they are not everything

  • Location
  • Cost of living
  • Percentage of international students
  • Graduate prospects
  • Student staff ratio

The UCAS Application

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

  • Single online application
  • Choose up to 5 UK universities
  • Only seen by your chosen universities
  • Offers made directly from universities
  • Offers based on predicted grades

Personal Statement

A short essay about your academic and personal experiences – 4,000 characters (including spaces)

Structure your statement:

  1. Provide evidence of your interests, experience and strengths
  2. What you have gained from the subjects you studied
  3. Work/volunteer experience
  4. Motivation and personal skills e.g. music, sport
  5. Your future goals – where you want to be in 5 years’ time

Re-draft, re-draft, re-draft


How do universities respond?

Responses:
  1. Conditional offer
  2. Unconditional offer
  3. Unsuccessful

University Advice Service

  • UK University admission overview seminar
  • Regular one to one sessions over 12-18 month cycle
  • Advice on university choices
  • Advice and support with personal statement
  • Interview advice, preparation and practice for Oxbridge
  • Support and advice if required grades are not achieved

Questions?