Applying to University
In the Summer Term of Year 12, we offer a UCAS Information Evening for parents and students to find out how the university application process works. At this evening, we will discuss the UCAS process, Student Finance, and a representative from a local University will talk about how to make an application stand out. We also invite parents and students who have been through the process to share their experience.
Click here for the latest talk: UCAS Information Evening June 2022
The UCAS website provides some excellent links for parental information including the Parent Guide.
UCAS Information
With over 50000 courses in 300 different institutions, the decision of which university course you choose is not one to be taken lightly. Along with the support you will receive from the tutoring team, the following information will provide advice to help you on your way.
Researching Subjects
There are may more subjects on offer at university than the pure academic subjects on offer at school. Try to find out all the variations of subjects that might be linked to your Level 3 subjects.
Places
Consider where you would like to live - are you a person who likes cities or do you prefer the countryside? Would you like to be as far away from home as possible, or as close to home as possible? (Consider the cost of travelling to and from home). Some universities are based on a campus away from the city centre, with faculty buildings, library, shop, cafe and student accommodation all on site. Others are spread out in the city centre with shops, eateries and nightlife on the doorstep.
Get Talking
Talk to:-
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Friends doing the same subject
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Parents
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Teachers of the subject
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Yr13 students who have already made applications
Look at University prospectuses
There is a selection of University prospectuses for you to browse in the Careers Zone at the top of the stairs in 6th Form. You can also research courses on University websites and on ucas.com which has a wealth of extremely useful information.
Go on Visits
Many Universities and Colleges run Open Days during the summer. You don’t need to go to lots but choose those that you are most likely to apply to and check them out in person. It is surprising how strongly you may feel when you see a place. If you visit, record some comments for other Sixth Formers to read - share your knowledge.
You don’t need to have made decisions about where you want to study before you write your personal statement but you do need to be reasonably clear about what you want to study so that your personal statement reflects your interest in the subject. You also need to be aware of the differences in the ways a subject is taught at different institutions.
Useful websites:
Unipod and Unifrog
Guides to completing your UCAS application:
Guide to applying for Student Finance
www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/1970/sfe_understanding_student_loans_overview_feb2023.pdf
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?reload= 9&v=DhNtd2p-kwY
