The most important element of the UCAS application is to get acquainted with the application system through which you will submit your documents to your dream university.
In addition to being familiar with the system, it is also worth thoroughly examining what documents will be required from you in terms of formal requirements, but also in terms of materials to be prepared. Don’t postpone your application until the last minute!
How to get into university in the UK
The key purpose of applying to a university in the UK is for you to receive a conditional offer from the university. You then have to complete it by passing the required level of the end-of-school exam.
You apply to the UK through the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) system, where you can apply for up to 5 courses. They must be thematically consistent (i.e. that you do not choose engineering and law).
UCAS Application Dates
You need to remember two terms in the context of your UCAS application to university in the UK:
- October 15 (at the beginning of the final exams),
- January 26
These are two key application deadlines.
The first one, on October 15, concerns applications for medical studies and two of the best universities in England, i.e. the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
The earlier deadline is due to a much more competitive application than those for other UK universities.
Universities require you not only to have excellent documents, but also to pass an additional exam like BMAT, or write additional work.
At a later stage of the recruitment process, around December, the best candidates are invited for interviews. Replies with the recruitment results, i.e. with a conditional offer, are sent from January.
The second deadline, January 26, is the deadline if you want to be treated on an equal footing with other applicants. Submitting your UCAS application at a later date may result in the university not even looking at your application. Also, remember! Send your application no later than January 26th.
Responses from universities come on different dates. Ultimately, out of all the offers you get, you have to pick two. Your choices are chosen, the college you care about the most and your insurance choice, should you fail to meet the first offer. You reject the remaining offers received.
UCAS System
It is an application system valid throughout Great Britain, so it covers universities in the UK.
At UCAS, you provide all the necessary personal data and documents needed in the application. You also provide the data of your teacher who agreed to issue a reference for you, encouraging the university to accept your candidacy.
In one round of application to the UK, you can apply to a maximum of 5 different universities.
These directions must be consistent because you send one personal statement for all of them.
Choose your courses wisely, also taking into account the university’s requirements, so that you will be able to meet their requirements at the very beginning. If your teacher reference gives lower projected scores (see below) than required by the university, the university will reject your application, regardless of your experience.
UCAS Personal Statement
A UCAS personal statement for studies in the UK is one of the most important documents. It has to be catchy, interesting, real and to the point. You have little space to invite the Selection Committee to your candidacy, as it is only 4,000 characters (including spaces). In this limit, you must:
Present your interest in the subject of studies: why is this course the perfect one for you? What made you want to develop in this direction?
Show what activities you were involved in at school. What have you been doing for the sake of the school and the sake of the class? Maybe you were the chairman or participated in charity events? Tell about contests and achievements in which you have been successful. Don’t be modest!
Present your experience in the subject of the direction. These can be internships, apprenticeships, or extracurricular activities with colleagues. It is best if they are related to the field of study you are applying for.
Show your substantive interest in the topic. Do not list the books you have read, but choose the ones that were of special importance to you and write down how they influenced you.
Show off what you do in your spare time. What is your hobby? The university wants to meet you.
