St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

What is UCAS?

•UCAS stands for the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service.

•Manages all applications to UK universities, for home, EU and non-EU students.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

What goes on the UCAS form?•The institutions you would like to apply to (up to a maximum of five) and the courses you would like to study at each.•GCSE results.•Predicted A2 grades.•Other formal qualifications e.g. Duke of Edinburgh Award.•Personal Statement.•References.

Not included:•AS results, although some universities will ask for module results separately.

Universities cannot see:•Where else you have applied.•Any order of choices.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

What are universities basing their decision on?

•Academic aptitude for and interest in the course applied for.•Proven ability to perform.•Appropriate preparation for the course in terms of academic subjects offered.•Ability to cope within the university environment: independence, self-organisation.•Evidence of relevant work experience or extra-curricular interests.•Universities vary as to which aspects of an application they put the most weight on.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

Timescales

•Applications for those applying for Vet. Science, Medicine, courses at Oxford or Cambridge, and some Art must go by mid-October.•Overall deadline for all other courses is mid-January, however we will aim to send ours earlier.•Decisions start to come in soon after the October deadline, although some universities will take longer than others.•Students who have heard from all universities by the end of March must confirm which offer they would like to have as their ‘firm’ choice, and which they would like to have as their ‘insurance’ offer. •On results day in August, those offers will then be confirmed, assuming requirements have been met.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

Offers

•Offers can be made as grades or points.•They can refer to as many A2 subjects as the student has listed on their UCAS form.•They can specify grades in particular subjects.•They can ask for grades in the AS that has been dropped.•Points can be accrued from both the A Level courses and other activities: a full list can be found at http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/.•Points offers will usually specify a minimum that must come from A Level study.•Information in university prospectuses on usual offers is a guideline only.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

Competitive courses

•The more competitive the course, the more they will be looking for evidence of academic potential.•Students applying for Medicine, Vet. Science and courses at the Russell Group Universities must be aware that the academic profile sought by those courses can be very competitive indeed.•Extra-curricular and work experience must be linked to the course.•Extra admissions tests may apply, such as the BMAT test for those wishing to study Medicine.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

How can your daughter have the best chance of success in the UCAS process?

•Do as well as she possibly can at AS.•Use her summer holidays wisely to spend time on activities that will strengthen her application: relevant reading, visiting exhibitions, work experience, attending lecture series.•Prepare her Personal Statement early – and then be selective about getting advice!•Think carefully about where to apply and look to include at least one ‘safety net’ choice.•Medics and Vets can only apply to up to four Medical/Vet Science courses; think carefully about what to put for the fifth choice, as the same Personal Statement will go to all five institutions. Bio-medical Science is usually a relatively safe choice.•Think carefully about which subject (if any) to drop for A2 – do check course requirements.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

How will we be supporting your daughter?

•University Applications morning towards the end of June: log on to UCAS, Personal Statement workshop, provisional predicted grades issued.•Prospectuses and other materials available in the library.•Support available throughout the year from Sixth Form Tutors and Head of Sixth Form, whether it’s advice on choosing a course, reading through Personal Statements, or helping choose which offers to accept.•UCAS workshops after school in the Autumn Term.•Interview workshops.

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

What if things don’t go as expected?

•UCAS Extra•Clearing•Adjustment•Re-apply after A Levels

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What now?•Course research and Open Days.

Data taken from The Times Good University Guide 2013

University Name of course University ranking Course ranking Average ranking Offer

Cambridge Geography 2 1 1.5A*AA

Durham Geography 5 3 4A*AA

LSE Geography 3 5 4AAA

Lancaster Geography 12 7 9.5AAB

UCL Geography 7 12 9.5AAA

Glasgow Geography 15 10 12.5AAB

Exeter Geography 10 16 13AAA

Sheffield Geography 21 6 13.5AAB

Nottingham Geography 20 8 14AAA

St Andrews Geography 6 25 15.5AAA

KCL Geography 20 22 21AAB

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

What now?•Course research and Open Days.

University Name of course University ranking Course ranking Average ranking Offer

Cambridge Geography 2 1 1.5A*AA

Durham Geography 5 3 4A*AA

LSE Geography 3 5 4AAA

Sheffield Geography 21 6 13.5AAB

Lancaster Geography 12 7 9.5AAB

Nottingham Geography 20 8 14AAA

Glasgow Geography 15 10 12.5AAB

UCL Geography 7 12 9.5AAA

Exeter Geography 10 16 13AAA

KCL Geography 20 22 21AAB

St Andrews Geography 6 25 15.5AAA

Data taken from The Times Good University Guide 2013

St. Francis' CollegeSt. Francis' College

More information: www.ucas.ac.uk