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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
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]