UCAS
Most applications to university are made via UCAS. UCAS allows you to make one application which is sent on to up to five different universities. There are some universities/ courses which require you to make a direct application, so please check this with your chosen university.
UCAS accept applications between September and July each academic year to start the following September, although the main deadline is in January and applications received after this time may not be considered. You’ll need to decide when you’d like to start university to determine when you need to apply. As a general rule, it’s always best to apply as early as you can, but balance this with being able to evidence that you are underway with meeting their entry requirements. For example, it’s worth getting a good portion of your access course completed before you apply to show them that you are committed to succeed.
When it comes to sending off your application, check with your online provider/ college that they can check your form for you and provide an academic reference. This may be provided in your course fees, it’s worth checking!
You will also find other useful resources relating to both UCAS and personal statements on the UCAS website, so make sure to take a look.
Personal Statement
When applying to university it may feel really daunting when writing your personal statement but it’s good to make a start as soon as possible. That way you will have the maximum amount of time to review, revise and perfect it. Your statement is your chance to prove to the admissions teams that you have the right skills, experience and knowledge for the course you are applying for.
To start with, think about WHY you want to do the course you have chosen. What has motivated you to make this massive step to even think about applying? That can be a good place to start your statement to make it clear to the admissions teams why you are passionate and enthusiastic about your chosen course.
Next think about what experience you already have which is relevant to your chosen course and tell the admissions teams about this. Try to avoid just listing responsibilities though, focus instead on telling them what you have learnt and what skills you have developed from this experience.
You can then start to think about wider transferable skills that may come from previous jobs which may not be directly relevant to the course you are applying for, but may have helped you develop key skills in things like communication, teamwork, leadership, time-management. You may have developed these skills outside of employment so don’t be afraid to write about hobbies or leisure activities if they can help you prove you have the right skills for the course.
As well as being about you, your statement needs to show you understand the role you hope to progress into. You’ll need to demonstrate that you recognise both the pros and cons of the profession and show that you are up to date with current practice in your chosen area. In order to do this, you should seek out professional publications in your chosen field.
The UCAS website also has a wealth of information to give you advice and tips on writing your personal statement.
You will find that it might take quite a few drafts before you are 100% happy with your statement and this is absolutely normal. If your online provider supports UCAS applications, your tutor will give advice on your statement. Also consider someone else that you know who might be able to read and give constructive feedback. If you know people who work in the field already, they may be a good source of advice, but even just asking a friend or family to proof-read for you is a good idea.
Key things to remember:
- You may well be asked to elaborate on the information you put in your Personal Statement at an interview so ensure you understand the evidence you give
- You can only submit one personal statement to UCAS so it is important to get it right
- You have 4000 characters including spaces and 47 lines to tell the admission teams about yourself
- Do not be tempted to use/ borrow or buy a personal statement - UCAS have this covered with plagiarism detection software
Key thing to look out for:
- Does the online college provide support for your UCAS application as part of the agreed fee, or do they charge extra?
- Is there evidence that the online college have students that go on to succeed at University and how they achieved their goals?