Applying Through UCAS

What is UCAS?

The United Kingdom is widely recognized to have the best education system in the world with universities that have produced global leaders for centuries. If you are an ambitious student desiring to benefit from the educational value and cultural experience offered by these institutions, you are bound to come across UCAS. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is the central application system that facilitates application to universities in the United Kingdom.

What is the application deadline for admissions in 2020?

The application process is based on two deadlines. Applications for medical programs, and for the Oxbridge duo have a deadline of 15 October 2019, due to their competitive nature. Applications for all undergraduate courses except the ones in the former categories, should be received by a maximum of 15 January 2020. Universities do not have to process applications received after the mentioned deadlines, but they still may if spaces are still available in their programs. Your application will only be processed if you pay an £20 fee for one course, or £25 for a maximum of five choices, or for late applications.

What is UCAS clearing?

Clearing is a process that links applicants to universities, in cases in which they have applied late, have not gotten offers from the universities they aimed for, or their final results have not met the conditional offer. In any of the above cases, it is advised to first communicate with the university which will be willing to accept you, and then apply to it by adding a Clearing choice to your UCAS application. The official UCAS website reports than last year alone, this process allowed 64300 applicants to get placed into a university. If you feel your chances of getting accepted to your firm choices are weak, we would strongly suggest you to adopt a proactive approach by planning out your Clearing choices well in advance of hearing whether your primary universities are interested in accepting you.

What happens if I get accepted to a university?

Your confirmation letter, along with further instructions from the university, will be displayed in UCAS Track. You can now begin planning for living in the country, from your finances to accommodation to student visa. If you feel your grades were better than you expected, you should the UCAS Adjustment tool to check out other universities and contact them individually to inquire about additionally spaces in their more competitive programs.

What requirements do universities look for in general?

Ideally, the applicant is expected to have completed his O and A Level degrees, or an equivalent program. The grade requirements for these programs differ for all universities and you are expected to conduct research and communicate with your desired universities individually. The personal statement is an essential component of the application process, as it reflects your mindset and your compatibility for the program. You also need to provide a reference, preferably from a previous tutor who can vouch for your suitability for the area of study. It is common for universities to provide a conditional offer to students, requiring them to achieve a minimum grade in their A Level examinations in order to get accepted.

How can I improve my likelihood of getting accepted into my desired university?

Universities generally look for students who have a passion and inclination towards the chosen subject. Extracurriculars, prior work experience and past achievements can all be used to demonstrate this and that is why it is important to pay attention to these sections of the UCAS applications. The personal statement can also be used intelligently to convey your aptitude for the chosen subject so that the university knows that you are most deserving of its resources, and have the potential to build something great from them.