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:
- Provide evidence of your interests, experience and strengths
- What you have gained from the subjects you studied
- Work/volunteer experience
- Motivation and personal skills e.g. music, sport
- Your future goals – where you want to be in 5 years’ time
Re-draft, re-draft, re-draft
How do universities respond?
Responses:
- Conditional offer
- Unconditional offer
- 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