UCAS

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the UK coordinates and supports the process of applying for undergraduate degree courses. Each year over 75% of our students apply to University through UCAS. Time is spent in school developing both students’ and parents’ understanding of the process. This begins with a UCAS Launch Evening at the end of April and continues through the Summer Term and into the Autumn Term of Year 13.

Each student will be provided with their own log in to the UCAS website that links their application with the School. More information about UCAS is available on their website www.ucas.com

There are many websites that offer good advice on applying to University, including Russell Group and other universities. A good example of this is www.russellgroup.org/InformedChoices-latest.pdf.   It details subject combinations that are needed or useful for particular areas of study. This site will also advise students on what ‘other tests’ may need to be taken to support an application, for example the UKCAT (UK Clinical Attitude Test) for medical biosciences, the LNAT (law), the MAT (maths), the CAT (Classics) and the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment).  

If interested in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science – pay particular attention to the individual requirements of the universities – tests that may be needed to have been completed, and note the application deadline dates. 

Part of the research when applying to any university should be to read the league tables - as well as looking at the position overall, also look at the position of the subject that is being applied for. Look at teacher/student ratio, employment rates, student satisfaction rates etc. A useful website for this is www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/universities/choosing-the-right-university/