Applying to a UK

university
DENISE BAINES, EEB4 UCAS COORDINATOR,
JAN 2015
So you want to go to the UK….

 How the application system works

 Choosing a university and a course
 Entrance requirements
 What must I do to prepare, and where do my
S6 choices fit in?
 Finance
Where do I start?

 There are 300 institutions of higher education (universities, music

and art colleges, post-graduate teacher training …) and 40,000
courses to choose from !!
 You will apply through The Universities and Colleges Application
Service (UCAS). The website UCAS.com has a huge amount of
information on how to apply, with a complete list of all universities
and all courses, and links to the individual university websites.
 Read UCAS and the university websites.
 Visit universities you are interested in – many have virtual tours
 Talk to parents, friends, teachers ….
 There are many (expensive) careers services that will tell you the
same information, but if you take the time to do your research on
line you probably won’t need them
How it works

 The application system is centralised through UCAS.

 You MUST apply on-line through UCAS, unless you are
applying to a private university.
 Start at www.ucas.com
 You will apply with your school’s code, and with the
guidance of a teacher. There is a cost.
 You now have many hours of browsing ahead ….
UCAS.com
UK, EU or International?

 Since you are coming from another country, you are

international students, BUT
 If you hold an EU passport you are considered an EU
student for fees purposes.
 Even if you are British, you are still an EU applicant if
you have not lived in the UK for the 3 years prior to
starting your course.
 http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/international
 How it works

 Use UCAS ‘Apply’ on-line – Apply opens in July for entry September
the following year (July 2016 for entry Sept 2017)
 You can apply for up to 5 courses at up to 5 different universities
(including either Oxford OR Cambridge. Only 4 applications for
medicine or veterinary are allowed)
 You apply through your school with your school code
 UCAS sends your application to each of your universities
 Universities consider your application and may call you for interview.
Eventually they will
 reject you; or
 offer you a place conditional on obtaining certain grades in your Bac; or
 offer you an unconditional place (if you already have sufficient
qualifications)
How it works

 UCAS sends you details of the universities’ responses. You follow

this through ‘Track’, an on-line system to which you have a
personal secure password
 In May you accept the offer you most want. You can also keep
a second offer as a back-up, in case you don’t make your first
choice.
 When your exam results are out, if you have made the offer for
your first choice you have to accept the place at that university
– you cannot then change your mind, unless you withdraw
completely.
 If you don’t make either of your offers you can apply through
‘clearing’ for places that have not been filled.
Choosing a course

 Start by considering your career ambitions.

 Research courses carefully – all are listed on the UCAS website,
with links to the universities
 Combinations: Had you thought of
 Maths with …. French, Sport, Business, Theoretical Physics, Statistics,
Accounting ….
 Law with … European legal studies, criminology, sociology,
management, Italian …
 Subjects you have never thought of … Forensic studies,
construction management, artificial intelligence, mechatronics,
behavioural studies, sport and exercise psychology, creative
writing, social policy ….
 Year in industry
 Year abroad (not only for language courses)
Art and music colleges

 Use UCAS to apply to music conservatories, but beware -

deadline for some conservatories is October 1st! This is to
allow time for auditions
 Check websites for deadlines for performing arts
(theatre, dance …)
 University music courses have the same application
procedure as other courses.
 If you want to study art you usually apply for a
foundation year, and then for your degree programme a
year later after you are sure which direction you want to
go in
Subjects you have studied at
school

 Beware that many subjects are VERY DIFFERENT at university.

 E.g. Maths becomes very abstract, or may have a lot of Physics in
it …

 Courses vary greatly from university to university

 E.g. Music at one university may be preparing musicians
(instrumentalists, conductors ..) whereas another may be mostly
history and knowledge of music; another may major on
composition…

 Look for interesting variations and combinations.

 You like Biology? Why not look at Genetics or Biotechnology or
Biochemistry?
 Economics or Econometrics?
Subjects not studied at school

 It is not usually necessary to have studied subjects such as

 Psychology
 Geology
 Sociology
 Chinese
 Computer Science
 Economics

And many others …..

 If you haven’t studied these at school, but are considering
them at university, read a book, find someone who has
studied them, and inform yourself fully….
 check the course description and entry requirements
Choosing a degree

 Bachelors’ degrees are usually 3 years, unless they include a

foundation year, a year in industry or a year abroad
 Many Russell Group universities offer 4 year degrees straight to
master’s level, but will require higher entry levels, typically 8.5 or
higher
 Medicine (MB ChB) and Vet (DVM) are usually 5 years, and
require high entry levels and experience in the profession
 Scottish degrees are usually one year longer because Scottish
students often start university one year sooner – aged 17. Direct
entry to 2nd year is sometimes possible with high grades.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are Russell Group Universities.
 Choosing a university

 Oxford or Cambridge?
 Not the only good universities in the UK, and not even the best for all
subjects.
 College-based, so lifestyle and some teaching is different from elsewhere.
You have to be the right kind of person, as well as have very high grades.
 You apply to a particular college as well as to the university, and have an
additional application form and usually an interview.
 1 in 5 applicants get in, though the % varies with subject and is lowest in
medicine, economics, politics, maths engineering & architecture
 Russell Group Universities - http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/
 24 leading UK universities which have strong research programmes,
outstanding teaching and learning and strong links with business and the
public sector.
 Many other universities offer excellent programmes, and a lot depends
on what you want to study, how much you like the course and the
place, and your career goals.
 Choosing a university

You should look for ….

 A course you will love!
 A style of teaching you will be comfortable with – E.g. lecture-driven,
mostly independent or group study (Problem-based learning)
 A large or small university
 A place where you will want to live for 3-4 years – a city university, a
campus university, London…
 Accommodation possibilities and cost – living in catered hall, student
flats (you will have to shop, cook and share kitchens!), private homes
…. Cost depends on location with London far higher than elsewhere
 Reputation and opportunities for employment on graduation – are
there partnerships with employers, job fairs…
Choosing a university

 Be realistic – can you match the grades asked for? Do you

have what it takes to do well in the course?
 Have a back-up – choose one or more universities likely to
give you a lower offer than your first choice
 Reviews of universities such as The Times World University
Rankings are sometimes useful, but can be misleading …
 Their information is often based on a small sample
 They are comparing different courses even within the same
subject
 Student satisfaction often appears low amongst the best
universities because they don’t bother to insist the students
complete the surveys!
Interviews and visits

 Sometimes a university will call you for interview

 Interviews are usually subject-specific and can be
gruelling, especially for competitive and vocational
courses like medicine.
 Interviews are two-way – you get a chance to see the
university, meet a member of staff, check out the
accommodation and get a ‘feel’ for the place.
 If you are not called for interview, make sure you go to an
open day or arrange a personal visit before you accept a
place
What goes on your application
form

 Personal information
 The codes and names of the 5 courses you are applying
for
 Qualifications you have so far
 Qualifications you are going to obtain
 A personal statement (motivation letter) – equivalent to
about one A4 side (maximum) saying why you want the
course and why the university needs you!
 A reference written by your teachers and UCAS advisor
The European Baccalaureate

The EB is recognised as a valid qualification for entry to UK

universities, BUT entry is not automatic
 Entry to most courses is competitive
 There are specific subject requirements for most courses
 Different universities will ask for different grades – often an
overall grade and specific subject grades
How to make your application
stand out
Your personal statement must show how YOU are special, as well as why
you want to study the course.

 Academic excellence
 Evidence of genuine interest in the subject, with efforts to go beyond the school
syllabus (E.g. Science club ….)
 Leadership, initiative, teamwork, problem solving
 Voluntary work, service
 Talents in music, drama, dance …
 Sporting successes
 Competitions … literature, science …

Give evidence – specific examples, exams passed, positions of leadership,

competitions won etc.
Should be extra-curricular – not a family holiday or a school trip, or part of your
school course!
What not to put on your
personal statement

 The same statement goes to all 5 universities, so it must be general

enough to fit all 5. Don’t name any university.
 Only name the course if all 5 applications are for the same course
(except medicine – 5th choice has to be different)
 Don’t describe the subject (‘The world needs more engineers
because…) – the admissions tutor already knows that – he wants
to get to know YOU
 Don’t exaggerate: (I read ‘The Economist’ regularly. (you read it
once)) Interviewers know how to catch you out ….
 Don’t put anything you can’t back up at interview
 Write it on Word, spell check it, grammar check it and ask
someone to read it before you copy it into your application
 Sometimes shorter is better …. Don’t waffle!
Additional qualifications

 UK students have already taken GCSE qualifications in S5

in 8-12 subjects. You have no equivalent qualifications, so
you will sometimes be asked to submit your S6 report and
exam results
 Other qualifications that ‘count’ are
 Music grade exams (E.g. Royal Schools of Music, Belgian
music academy)
 Drama and speaking exams (E.g. LAMDA)
 Dance exams
 Language qualifications (E.g. Cambridge English exams)
 Lifeguard or other leadership qualifications
L2 English students

In principle students with a good L2 (at least a 7) are

accepted for most courses in the UK, BUT

 Some universities will ask you to take a standardised

English test, especially for literary courses
 If you already have a certificate in English (Cambridge
Advanced, Cambridge Proficiency or equivalent) you
will not need to take another test.
 These certificates are recognised by employers and
universities world-wide, and it is always an advantage
to show that you are good at something!
How to take Cambridge English
tests

 You do not need to take a course, other than the courses you
are following at school, but you should use the Cambridge
website to learn about the structure of the exam

 You can find out about the exams and take practice tests at
www.cambridgeenglish.org/

 You can enrol and take the tests at the British Council in
Brussels. www.britishcouncil.be/exam/cambridge
Other exams and tests

Some universities require tests for some subjects:

 The BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) is necessary for

medicine and vet at some universities
 The UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) is required by most
universities for medicine if the BMAT is not taken
There are others …..
Other valid experience

 Leadership in a scout group or equivalent

 Membership of a competitive sports team, sporting
awards outside school (e.g. tournament wins …)
 Membership of a theatre group or music society
 Work experience- especially if relevant to the
course. This is very important for medicine and
veterinary applications!
What S6 options should I take, and
what grades do I need to get in?
Click on the
course you
are interested
in, and then
use the Entry
requirements
tab
Many universities will not
commit to EB grades …
So click instead on A levels to
get an idea

Estimated
equivalence

A* 9
A 8.5
B 8
C 7.5
D 7
E 6
Minimum requirements do not
guarantee you a place

 When you read the ‘minimum requirements’ or ‘typical

offer’ on a university website, beware. You are in
competition for places!
 Things that help give you the edge …
 Higher grades,
 supporting subjects, important because you don’t have
GCSE’s. (For example, Maths for Biology …)
 work experience – essential for medicine and veterinary
medicine courses. You must be able to show you understand
the profession.
Considerations for S6-7 options

 Keep your options open – make sure you have the

options that will allow you entry to courses that interest
you
 Assess yourself: What grade am I getting now? Could I
do better? What does my teacher think?
 Remember that universities will look at your overall
grade. So choose courses you have a reasonable
chance of doing well in.
 You will not take written exams in all subjects at the
Bac, and later you will need to choose exam subjects
carefully
A few specifics….

 Your big advantage coming from the European School is your languages
and multi-cultural exposure.
 Your disadvantage is the fact you have no GCSE’s, so you need to ensure
your Bac includes supporting subjects that UK students might only take to
GCSE.
 Examples:
 Most arts subjects (languages, humanities..): Any combination which includes
principal subject(s) you want to study; maths 3
 Medicine: 3 sciences, Lab Chemistry or Biology, Maths 5 + work experience
 Law: Any combination, depending on the type of law that interests you.
(More languages, history or philosophy, science if forensics seems interesting)
 Engineering: Maths 5, Physics, Lab Physics; Computing is a good idea
Chemistry for Chemical Engineering….
 Architecture: Art (you will need a portfolio), Maths 5, Physics an advantage
 Economics: Maths 5. Economics is not essential, but an advantage
 Biology: Chemistry, Biology, Biology lab, Maths 5
 Computer Science: Maths 5 or 8, Physics an advantage
Deferred entry (‘Gap’ Years)

 Many students take a ‘gap’ year between school and

university.
 Apply at the same time as everyone else, but check the
‘deferred entry’ box and set the starting date one year later
(September 2018)
 Plan your year carefully. It can be disappointing if you don’t.
 You must justify your gap year in your personal statement –
what will you do? How will it enrich you and prepare you
better for your studies?
 Why take a gap year?

 You get a break from study, a chance to work or travel, broaden your
experience, think through your career choice, develop maturity
 When you start university you will be away from home for the first time,
you have to manage your time, money, washing, cooking, getting up
in the morning…. That is a BIG change, and many students experience
homesickness
 If you are only 17 we strongly recommend waiting a year. Some
courses such as Medicine and Nursing will not allow you to start until
you are 18 (Except Scotland – Scottish students often start at 17).
Waiting will give you more readiness for higher education and the best
chance of social integration
 You will experience culture shock (unless you have lived in the UK
recently) which worsens the homesickness. There are also some serious
social issues to handle such as heavy drinking and drug use in student
circles
 A gap year can ease the transition from home and thus improve your
university experience
Timeline

 July 2016: Apply is open

 October 1st : Deadline for some performing arts courses
 October 15th 2016: Deadline for applications which include Oxford,
Cambridge and all medical and veterinary courses. We need your
personal statement and completed form by October 1st
 January 15th 2017: Deadline for all applications, BUT
 December 1st: School’s internal deadline. This is essential to give us
time to prepare your reference and finalise your application.
 The earlier the better …. Although you are guaranteed equal
consideration if you submit by Jan 15th, universities start giving away
places as early as November!
Finance – What will it cost?

Tuition fees:
 For EU applicants maximum tuition fees vary by country – some
course providers charge less than the full amount:
 up to £9,000 per year in England and Wales
 up to £3,575 per year in Northern Ireland
 free in Scotland
 International students (non-EU) pay higher
Other costs – accommodation, food, transport, books,
pocket money…
 I budget 10,000 euros per year per student (Manchester
and Bristol) London is significantly higher.
Help with finance

Student finance includes:

 Tuition Fee Loan – available to EU nationals for a first
degree, but you have to pay it back. It covers your
fees entirely.
 Maintenance Loan – UK resident students only
 Maintenance Grant – UK residents only; does not
have to be paid back.
Common misconceptions

 The universities will reject me if I don’t make them my first

choice
 False: No preference is indicated in your application
 If I apply to Oxford or Cambridge the other universities
won’t like me
 False: Universities cannot see what other universities you
have applied to. They might suspect it if your application
arrives just before the Oxbridge deadline, but there is still no
need to fear discrimination.
 I cannot afford to go to university in the UK
 If you are an EU national you can get help with your tuition
fees, and you pay them back when you are working