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Applying to University
Sandra Bloomer
Senior Admissions Officer
Admissions and Access Service
HIGHER EDUCATION
UCAS:
Universities (Traditional and New)
Stranmillis University College
Further & Higher Education Colleges (Foundation Degrees)
DIRECT:
St Mary’s University College
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
CAO: Universities, Institutes of Technology & Private
Colleges
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• Prospectuses
• University websites
• Other Publications
(The Big Guide, Potter’s Guide, etc)
• Open Days
• Former Students
• Informal Visits
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Location
(Ease Of Access)
Academic Reputation
(Quality of Teaching and Research)
Type
(City, Campus, Technological)
Type of Course
(Vocational/Non-Vocational/Sandwich)
Assessment
(Formal Exams, Continuous Assessment, etc)
Size
Accommodation
Other Facilities
CAO (for Republic of Ireland)
 Covers most HE Institutions






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Closing date 1 February
Fee €25 (online) or €40 (paper)
Up to 10 Honours Degree and 10 Ordinary Degree /
Higher Certificate choices
No personal statement or school report
Strictly order of preference
No conditional offers
Change of mind possible up to 1 July
Selection by order of preference and results
in August
UCAS SYSTEM
CLOSING DATES:
Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry,
Veterinary Medicine
15 October
All other courses
15 January (On-time)
30 June (Late)
COSTS:
Normal Cost (up to five choices)
£ 23
One Choice Only
£ 12
UCAS APPLY www.ucas.com/apply
ABRDN
A20
N400
MA/Acc
Accountancy
1
N
N
EDINB
E56
M320
LLB/LAW
Law
1
N
N
QBELF
Q75
N323
BSc/ACT
Actuarial Science and Risk Management
1
N
N
QBELF
Q75
M100
LLB/LAW
Law
1
N
N
ULS
U20
N120
BSc/BusS
Business Studies
1
N
N
J
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Content:

Personal statement is common to all course choices

Motivation, aspirations, commitment to subject / career

Work experience

Extra-curricular activities

Positions of responsibility

Reasons for deferred entry / Gap year

Similarity detection software (UCAS)
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Structure:

Reflective and insightful

What applicant has done

What applicant has learnt

Why this is relevant to chosen
subject / career

Structured, clear, concise, precise

Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate
language

Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING
REFERENCE

Normally provided by teacher / academic who has
experience of candidate’s performance

Academic achievement and potential

Predicted grades

Suitability for course(s)

Career aspirations/motivation

Extenuating circumstances/health

Personal qualities

Interests and activities
HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE
 Made by admissions officers and academic selectors
before final examinations are taken and results known
 All information on UCAS form important especially:
If you are applying for a popular course
If your application is at any stage borderline (offer
criteria)
CRITERIA FOR OFFERS
Factors taken into account:
 GCSE grades and Year 13 performance
 Academic reference – including
predicted grades
 Personal statement
 Interview
 Aptitude Tests
UNIVERSITY DECISIONS

Universities can make one of three decisions:
• Unconditional offer
• Conditional offer
• Unsuccessful

Conditional offers can be expressed in terms of A-level grades, BTEC grades,
or UCAS Tariff points
• Queen’s makes offers in terms of grades


Deadlines for university decisions on applications submitted by 15 January:
•
31 March 2015 (for most applications)
•
Final deadline 7 May 2015
Deadline for university decisions on late applications 16 July 2015
(provided that late applications are being considered)
CANDIDATES REPLIES

Applicants can make one of three replies
 Firm Acceptance
 Insurance Acceptance
 Decline

They are allowed to hold up to two offers
1. Firm acceptance (CF)
2. Insurance acceptance (CI)

Applicants do not have to reply to offers until all decisions are
received.

Approximately three weeks to decide after the final decision is
received. UCAS will decline by default on 6 May if candidates fail to
reply, except where offers were made AFTER 31 March
CONFIRMATION OF OFFERS - AUGUST
 Universities receive A-level and BTEC results directly from
UCAS
 If conditions are exactly met, applicant will be accepted
 Applicants normally go to their Firm choice (CF) institution,
if accepted
 Adjustment
 If Firm choice (CF) is unsuccessful and Insurance (CI)
choice accepts, applicants are automatically placed at
their Insurance choice
 If both Firm and Insurance are unsuccessful – Clearing
CLEARING
 Clearing commences mid-July
 Eligibility:

very late applicants

those who are holding no offers for whatever reason

those unsuccessful by CF and CI institutions in
August
 Clearing vacancies declared mid-August
 Information available from newspapers, UCAS website and
university websites
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UCAS & CAO
UCAS
CAO
5 choices
10 + 10 choices
Alphabetically by Institution
Strict order of preference
Personal Statement
-
School Reference
-
Conditional Offers
All choices can be held –
changes allowed
Ranking/Computer selection in
August – random number
Two offers can be held
Decisions by selectors
Possibility of flexibility
Clearing
2nd and subsequent rounds
Queen’s University Belfast
Admissions & Access Service
Sandra Bloomer – Email: [email protected]