Applying to Third Level in the UK

Thursday 11th October, 2012

What is UCAS?

UCAS stands for Universities & Colleges Admissions Service

in the UK.

It is the UK's version of the Irish CAO system.

Irish Students can apply to courses in Northern Ireland,

England, Scotland and Wales through the UCAS system.

Places will be offered to students based on their Leaving

Certificate Results or PLC Course or as a Mature Student.

Why do Irish Students go to the UK?

There are many colleges in the UK where it is much easier to get into

a desired course than in Ireland. (i.e. lower points/grades than Ireland)

Financial incentives (i.e. Scotland and to a lesser extent than Wales)

The Scottish Executive decided from the start that there would be no

undergraduate fees for non-UK students. (currently under review)

Ease of Access (i.e. travel distance, flights, ferries etc.)

Cost of living may be cheaper than Ireland

College Reputation (i.e. word of mouth, friends, siblings, past pupils,

university league tables etc.)

Most Popular Degrees

Actuarial Sciences Architecture Children’s Nursing Dentistry Diagnostic Radiography Dietetics Medicine Midwifery Occupational Therapy

Optometry PE Teaching Physiotherapy Primary Teaching Psychology Speech & Language

Therapy Therapeutic Radiography Veterinary Science

UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions System

Covers over 50,000 or more applications to full time courses in over 300 colleges and universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Application Fee Application Fee Entry for 2011: £11 for 1 course and £21 for more

than one 1 course. (5 courses max)

Application Fee Entry for 2012: – small increase to £12 for 1 course

and £22 for more than 1 course. (5 courses max)

Applicants to UK from ROI (Acceptances) - 2010

Scotland 3840 (665)

England 5235 (1597)

NI 2241 (517)

Wales 1239 (236)

Important Dates to Remember

Closing Date: 15th October 2012 - Courses in Oxford,

Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine,

Veterinary Science. (Including non UK/EU applicant).

15th January 2013: Deadline for receipt at UCAS of all

applications, including the reference, for all courses except

those with a 15 October deadline.

25th February 2013 - UCAS Extra opens. If you are

eligible to use Extra, you can refer yourself to another

choice.

Important Dates to Remember

24th Mar 2013: Application deadline for the receipt of applications

for Art & Design courses except those listed with a 15th January

deadline.

31st March 2013 - Date universities will usually have made a

decision about your application if you sent it before the 15th January

deadline (although this may take longer in some cases.)

8th May 2013 - The date you need to make a decision on your firm

and insurance choice if all your universities responded by the 31st

March deadline. If UCAS do not receive your responses, they will

decline offers on your behalf.

Important Dates to Remember 9th May 2013 - If you applied by 15th January, universities and

colleges need to send their decisions by this date. If they don't, UCAS

will make any outstanding choices unsuccessful on their behalf. 6th June 2013 - The date you need to make a decision on your firm

and insurance choice if all your decisions are received by 7th May

2012. 27th June 2013 - If UCAS receive all decisions from your universities

or colleges by 7th June, you need to reply to any offers by this date. 18th July 2013 - If you applied by 30 June and are waiting for

decisions, universities and colleges need to send UCAS their decisions

by this date. If they don't, UCAS will make any outstanding choices

unsuccessful on their behalf.

Important Dates to Remember

25th July 2013 - If UCAS receive all decisions from your

universities/colleges by 19 July, you need to reply to any

offers by this date.

Application Process

Students must register with UCAS before they can send in an

application for college using the website: www.ucas.com Students must click on ‘Apply’ button

- Register/ log in to use Apply 2013

- Registration

- Takes approximately 15 minutes

- Enter your personal details

- You must enter school buzzword: (ask Guidance Counsellor)

- You receive a UCAS username

- You create your own password

- Keep a record of these!

Application Process

Applications are completed online using the ‘Apply’ system at

www.ucas.com

You may have to complete an extra assessment depending on the

course or courses your are applying to e.g. Interview or Aptitude Test

(UKCAT/BMAT)

No order of preference when filling out course choices as they are

stored alphabetically on the system.

Types of Offers by UCAS Conditional Offer:

- Place is offered on the basis that you meet certain

requirements, i.e. exam results. Unconditional Offer:

- You have met all the academic requirements and the university or

college is happy to accept you. Withdrawn Offer:

- A choice can be withdrawn by you or the university or college Unsuccessful Offer:

- This means that the university or college has decided not to offer

you a place on the course.

UCAS Application Overview:

Personal Details: Self explanatory Choices: A maximum of 5 courses can be applied for

Choice Restrictions

- Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary

Science.

- Maximum of 4 courses for Oxford OR Cambridge Education: Schools & qualification you’re taking/have

taken. Employment: Work history – part-time jobs, work

experience, voluntary work. (up to 5 listings can be

completed)

UCAS Application Overview:

Personal Statement: Why you are applying for the course

you’ve chosen and why they should want you as a student.

(4000 characters/600words)

Reference: PLC Coordinator

Entry Requirements Each university/college has different requirements e.g. exam grades,

tariff points (like points in Irish Leaving Cert) or health checks

depending on the course.

Entry requirements are available on UCAS website.

- www.ucas.ie (Course search).

Check Entry Profiles (EP) as they help applicants decide which

college/course to apply to.

N.B. Always check college requirements for every course you are

applying to.

Entry Requirements

The Entry Profiles give the following information:

- Give details on courses/university/college

- Entry qualifications

- Selection criteria

- Admissions policy

- Indicate personal qualities/interests/experiences that

would be useful for the applicant to have for the particular course.

Personal Details

Some parts are not mandatory

Personal Details

Adding Choices

Course Choices

Education

Education

Education

Employment

Personal Statement

UCAS-Tariff Points versus L.C. Grades

Some universities use UCAS Tariff Points when making offers to Irish students, some use specific grades and some use a combination of two.

In general, whenever there is more demand for a course, the entry requirements will specify actual grades rather than UCAS Tariff Points.

UCAS-Tariff Points versus L.C. Grades

Useful Websites: http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/gug/gooduniversityguide.php

Find out which is the best university in the UK for the course you want to do.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008 An extremely useful site which rates the best universities in the UK according to subject areas.

www.educationuk.org This site is run by the British Council and gives information on studying in the UK for non-nationals.

www.qaa.ac.ukQuality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Useful Websites: www.push.co.uk

PUSH University Chooser

www.realuni.com RealUni – Choosing a University.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students Nursing

www.studential.com Excellent website to give you information about how to apply to UCAS and list of accommodation etc.

Questions