All About UCAS
The United Kingdom offers some of the world’s oldest universities, the greatest educational system, and hundreds of research possibilities, among other things, making it one of the most sought-after destinations for higher education. Want to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom? Then you should familiarise yourself with the University and College Admission Service (UCAS).
So, What is UCAS and what services does it provide?
UCAS is a UK-based organization whose primary goal is to manage university application processes in the United Kingdom. It is an independent charity supported entirely by the fees charged by applicants and universities. Applicants from the UK, EU and other countries apply through UCAS. Basically, it connects applicants and universities to help them find the best fit for them. This is the simplest way of applying to more than one university in one go. UCAS has assisted over 500 000 students in gaining admission to UK universities and colleges.
UCAS Entry Requirements
Your UCAS eligibility depends on the course and the university’s requirements. Each course entry requirement is set up by the university to ensure you have the necessary skills to complete the course.
- Exams grades, subjects and qualifications.
- Proof of health and financial status
- Reference Letter
- Statement of purpose
- An admission test: it is not very common, but some courses require an applicant to sit one.
- An interview: you will be contacted through Track if you are invited for an interview.
UCAS Application Process
When working on your application, you have to be very attentive and vigilant as it requires a lot of detail. You don’t have to do it all at a time, you can save your application and do it later. However, remember to finish and submit it before the deadline. Here is detailed step-by-step information to help you go through your UCAS application.
- Go to the UCAS website and register yourself as a student, and fill in the required details after you have verified your account.
- The first step is to enter basic personal information and Buzzword. If you are applying independently then you don’t have to enter it. Make sure to enter all the basic details correctly as you can only create a profile once in one admission cycle.
- On your HUB, one the left you will see the APPLICATION option click on it.
- Enter all your educational qualifications along with your school and college information.
- UCAS allows you to choose 5 courses/universities in one admission cycle.
- The next step is to enter the details about your full time, part-time or internship. Remember to add only your paid jobs as internships, as free internships and volunteer work will be included in your statement of purpose.
- A statement of purpose is an essay written to explain to the university why you are an excellent addition to the university and course. Make sure to write about extracurricular activities, leadership skills and internships if you have done one.
- Proofread it! It is very important to proofread your application. Proofread it thoroughly, again and again, to look for mistakes and correct them. As you can only register once in one admission cycle so make sure there aren’t any mistakes that could become a hurdle for you.
- Attach the letter of recommendation from your school or college.
- Application fees that you need to pay.
For one course £20
For more than one courses £26
List of Documentation you will need
Copy of valid passport
All academic transcripts in English
Proof of English Proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, etc)
Statement of Purpose
Resume
Letters of Recommendation
UCAS important date 2022
What happens after you have sent in your application?
Once you have sent in your application, UCAS forward it to your chosen university or college. The university or college will review it and consider you as a possible candidate. They may invite you for an interview or an audition, and then if you pass that stage, they will make you an offer.
If you don’t hear back from your university and college choices don’t worry, they all have different times of contacting the candidates and it could take a while. So, stay back and relax! They will need to have decided by these dates.
If you are applying to study in 2022
*19 May if you have applied by 26 January 2022.
*14 July 2022 if you have applied by 30 June 2022.
There are different offers that universities and colleges will make you
A conditional offer – a conditional offer means the applicant is awaiting exams results, the university will confirm the applicant’s offer if the applicant’s exams results meet the condition the university has made.
An unconditional offer – an unconditional offer means that the applicant has already received the results and met the entry requirements, so the place is yours if you want it. However, there are still things that you need to check such as if you might still need to get a DBS or a PVD=G check, or need to provide proof of your results, or if you need to meet some financial/medical requirement.
Unsuccessful Application – it means that the university has decided to not make an offer to the applicant, they will tell the reason right away or will send it later, or the applicant can contact them regarding it and they will discuss the reasons in detail.
Don’t worry if you haven’t received any offers, now the applicant might be able to add more choices and look for course availability later. You can apply by clearing for the available spots universities and colleges are offering.
What is UCAS Clearing?
Clearing is how universities and colleges fill in the remaining spots they still have for their courses. Applicants can apply through clearing if they haven’t received any offers or the offer they received is simply not what they are looking for.
According to the UCAS website applicant can use Clearing if:
- If an applicant is applying after 30 June
- applicant didn’t receive any offers (or none you wanted to accept)
- applicant didn’t meet the conditions of your offers
- applicant paid the multiple-choice application fee of £26.50
- applicant has declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application
What is UCAS Track & How to use it?
After you have sent in your application and received your welcome email, you can sign in to your Hub by the personal Id given to you in the email and check your application anytime. UCAS track service will send the results of all applications on your profile.
What are UCAS points?
UCAS tariff points are that turn your grades and qualifications in numbers. The UCAS points are used by the educational institution in the UK, but this is not compulsory as you can still apply regardless of not having these points. These points are used to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for the courses you have chosen or not. Click here to calculate your Tariff Points
UCAS Mobile Application
UCAS Mobile Application or referred to as Myriad by UCAS is made to simplify the application process for UK universities, it creates a multi-language platform where students from diverse countries could access it and be updated about the programs offered on UCAS and their deadlines. The aim of Myriad by UCAS is to help over 15,000 students to pursue their postgraduate studies in the UK.
Myriad was launched by MO, got acquired and further developed by UCAS, the scholarship search platform 3 years ago but succeeded in providing the main procedure and instructions in 15 languages. The Application helps students get personalized support, information about several postgraduate programs, applications and guidelines and much more. Click here to download Myriad by UCAS
Other services offered by UCAS
In addition to being an undergraduate admission portal, it also provides a number of additional services. Let’s explore what else you can do via UCAS.
Conservatories
Conservatories are different from a university or college because courses are based on individual tuition, practical training and frequent opportunities to perform through UCAS Conservatories you can apply for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses which are performance-based in the UK.
The conservatoires in the UCAS Conservatoires are:
- Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- Leeds Conservatoire
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal College of Music
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Northern College of Music
- Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Other conservatories in the UK may operate outside the platform of UCAS. If you want to apply to any of these conservatories then you may have to apply directly or through UCAS.
Can international students apply for conservatories?
Yes, students from all over the world can get higher education and training in drama, music, drama or musical theatre through UCAS Conservatories.
UCAS Teacher Training
Graduate students considering a career in teaching can apply for the teacher training program, either full time or part-time in England or Wales through UCAS’s Teacher Training Application Services.
Course Choices
You can choose up to five courses from any university whose requirements you can meet. So check that you have the qualification and experience for the university you are applying to as every university and each course has varying entry requirements.
Requirements for Teacher Training Course Choices
- Education history
- Enter all the educational detail even if you are waiting for exams or results
- Enter all your qualification history as well, if you are an international student you may need to provide proof of your results.
- Employment history
- If you have had any paid job, you add up to 5 of them.
- Personal Statement
- References
Postgraduate
Over 45% of students from all over the world come to the UK to complete a postgraduate degree. By using the UCAS postgraduate application service, you can apply to various postgraduate courses from some of the selected universities in the UK. Only 15 universities are currently offering postgraduate courses through the UCAS platform.
Media
UCAS Media is an enterprise owned by UCAS that offers several marketing and candidate recruitment services including digital display, branded content, events, emails and direct mails.
Apprenticeship in the UK
If you have a clear understanding of the career you are going to pursue in the future and you are committed to working and studying then Apprenticeship is ideal for you. You will get the majority of learning through on-job training, unlike the traditional degree course. There are over 1500 job apprenticeships in the UK and to be considered as a candidate you have to apply for an apprenticeship program in England. Listed below are the required criteria for an apprenticeship:
- Aged 16 or over
- Living in England
- Not in full-time education
Pros and Cons of an Apprenticeship
Can international students apply for an apprenticeship?
Yes, applicants from all over the world can apply for an apprenticeship if they have the necessary visas and are eligible to work in the UK.
Internship and Volunteering
UCAS also offers the opportunity to explore different kinds of internships and volunteer work to the candidates and help them understand how these internships and volunteer work can add value to their future careers. Also, an internship can give you the necessary skills and experience that is needed in a particular job role and industry.
For more detailed information regarding UCAS and the programs it offers, you can browse through UCAS’s website.
