ucas evening 2016 what to expect…1tc389kf65k3w2q3o2n0ty61-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp... · 2017....

UCAS evening 2016 – What to expect…

The Application Process

Richard Peel - Head of Sixth Form/Assistant Principal

Unifrog and the Personal Statement

Richard Graham – Year Leader

Competitive Admissions and receiving offers

Sarah Bromley – UCAS and Student Progression

Coordinator

Student Finance

Danielle Sample from Nottingham Trent University

What do I need to do?

July – September/October

The role of UCAS

UCAS operate on behalf of all full-time

higher education (HE) courses at member

institutions

Undergraduate Degree

Foundation Degree

HND / HNC

Certificate/Diploma of Higher Education

The provision of higher education in the UK

▪ Number of institutions

▪ Number of courses

▪ Applicants in 2014

▪ Acceptances in 2014

372

37,000+

677, 400

495,600

Do you enjoy reading and analysing novels,

stories and poetry?

Have you ever wondered how

language works?

Are you interested in knowing more

about the cultural contexts of your

favourite literary texts?

Unistats website

UCAS Connect

Research – Additional sources

▪ Publications

▪ Institution Open Days

▪ Taster Courses

▪ Subject specific events

▪ Career fairs

Key features of the UCAS scheme

Application is online

1 Choice - £13 2-5 Choices - £24

Maximum of 5 choices

Some choice restrictions:

Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4

Simultaneous consideration

‘Invisibility’

5 Choices

1 x aspirational choice, 1 or at most 2 grades above your

predicted grades

3 x courses at your predicted grades

1 x course below your predicted grades. An ‘insurance’

choice in case things don’t go to plan.

Entry requirements

2 different ways of asking for grades

1. Points eg 120 UCAS points. This may in some cases

include points gained form AS qualifications.

2. Straight grades eg BBB. Some may additionally request

grades from particular subjects.

Extended

Project

Qualification

GCE & VCE AS

levels

GCE & VCE A

levels

Tariff BTEC (QCF)

Extended

Diploma

BTEC (QCF)

Diploma

BTEC (QCF)

Subsidiary

Diploma

BTEC (QCF)

Certificate

168 D*D*D*

160 D*D*D

152 D*DD

144 DDD

128 DDM

112 DMM D*D*

104 D*D

96 MMM DD

80 MMP DM

64 MPP MM

A* 56 D*

A 48 PPP MP D

B 40

C 32 PP M

A* 28 D*

A D 24 D

B A 20

C B E 16 P M

D C 12

D 10

E 8 P

E 6

New UCAS points tariff

UNIFROG - https://www.unifrog.org/teacher

5 choices - things to consider

What grades / UCAS points are needed?

What are your predicted grades?

Are you going to live at home or move away?

The cost of tuition fees

Is there a bursary available?

Where do you want to live?

Do you want a campus based or city University?

Making a UCAS application

Every applicant has five sections to complete:

Personal details

Choices

Education

Employment

Personal statement

Forward to tutor:

Reference

UCAS

Universities / colleges

Personal Statement - the section that has

applicants tearing their hair out!

Key to writing personal statements

It is a process - likely to require several rewrites

Takes time – start early

Short (47 lines or 4000 characters)

– Clarity, concision, precision

– Well written

– Structured

– No errors in punctuation, spelling and grammar

– Strong opening and closing

Write in a word processor then paste into Apply

– Spell check, grammar check

Get others to read and advise

Polish – it needs to be close to flawless

Help for applicants

What to include

Why have you chosen the course?

What is it about the subject you like?

Reading on the subject outside of set texts

Experience relevant to chosen course

What other transferable skills / personal qualities

have been obtained

Extra curricular interests, hobbies and activities

(especially as relevant to course)

Personal achievements

Career plans

Be selective! Ask yourself what value is added by

including something?

Similarity Detection Service

Personal statements are checked against a library of

those already in the system, and from a variety of

websites and paper publications.

Each new statement is added to the library after

processing.

Key dates and deadlines

• Mid June-July – start completing

applications online

• Early September –applications can be

submitted to UCAS

• 15 October – Oxford, Cambridge,

Veterinary, Medicine and Dentistry

courses deadline.

• 9 December- Internal deadline

• 15 January - main UCAS deadline

• 24 March – additional Art and Design

deadline

• 30 June – last date to submit

applications before clearing

01/12

/2016

23

How do Universities make their decisions?

Qualifications

Past, present and future

Predicted grades for ‘pending’ qualifications

Personal statement

Reference

Interview

Piece of written work

Portfolio

Audition

Admissions tests

Decision making by institutions

An admissions tutor may initially make one of three

decisions:

Unconditional offer

Conditional offer

Unsuccessful

Or recommend:

A place on an alternative course

Applicant replies to offers

Once the final decision has been received, a maximum of

two offers may be held

Applicants have a choice of three reply options:

Firm acceptance

Insurance acceptance

Decline the offer

Track

Enables you to follow the progress

of your application (24/7, access

via password)

Quickest way to find out about

new offers

You can reply to offers online

UCAS Extra

Now operates from mid February to the end of June

Course vacancies listed on UCAS website

Allows additional single choices, entered and considered

once at a time via Track

Applicants eligible for Extra:

Used all 5 choices

All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined

Clearing Operates from mid July to mid September

Course vacancies listed on UCAS website

and with the Telegraph

Allows additional single choices, entered and considered once at a time via Track

You must contact the university to discuss directly

Applicants eligible for Clearing:

Paid full fee (£24)

All choices unsuccessful, cancelled or offers declined

Applied after 30 June (no choices)

Adjustment

For applicants whose place has been confirmed at their FIRM choice, and who have

• MET all conditions of offer and

• EXCEEDED at least one condition

• Paid full fee (£24)

Student Finance -NTU

Any Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to

speak to a member of the team.