Keeping on track with UCAS
For those of you who are considering further study beyond your present course at Perth College UHI, you may already be well on the way to completing your UCAS application. There may be some of you who are still not sure about the next step. Whatever stage you are at, the information on this blog will hopefully help you on your UCAS journey with the choices to be made and ensuring you make a first-class application to the courses of interest to you.
UCAS stands for the University and Colleges Admissions Service. It is a UK-based organisation located in Cheltenham whose main role is to process applications for full-time undergraduate courses. Each year it handles over 350,000 applications!
Essential Facts:
All applications must be completed online at www.ucas.com
You pay UCAS directly using a credit or debit card. It costs £20 if applying for one course or £25 for multiple courses.
If you want a reference from Perth College UHI, you must register “Through my school/college” using the college Buzzword PERCOL2020 or if you are a SWAP applicant, swapeast2020. This allows your referee to access your application and provide a reference. Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) is often the person who knows you best so can be a good choice to provide you with a reference. If you are applying as an individual but want a college reference from the college, it is essential that you contact Ian McCartney, Careers Adviser. See contact details at the end of this blog.
Important Dates:
7th December 2019 – the college recommends that you have completed your application form so it is ready to be checked by your referee.
15th January 2020 – 18:00 hrs (UK Time) – UCAS deadline for most undergraduate courses.
25th February 2020 – UCAS Extra opens. If you have used all 5 choices, and you’re not holding any offers, you might be able to add another choice.
30th June 2020 – 6pm (UK Time) – the deadline for late applications.
5th July 2020 – last date to apply in UCAS Extra.
6th July 2020 – Clearing opens for eligible applicants
21st September 2020 – 6pm (UK Time) – last date to submit 2020 applications.
Course Choices:
You can apply for up to 5 courses (with a few exceptions). There is no preference order, and your chosen universities/colleges will not see where you have applied until after you have responded to any offers made to you. UCAS will let you know how to accept or decline an offer of a place.
For more information about completing your UCAS application, please watch the following video:
The Personal Statement:
This is the most important part of your UCAS application and is your chance to stand out from the crowd! To do this there’s a few golden rules:
Give yourself plenty of time to write it – draft and redraft until you are happy with it.
Carefully research the courses you are interested in by reading prospectus and course leaflets, checking out websites, going to Open Days or visiting/speaking with staff in those universities/colleges. Courses vary in content and emphasis, so it’s important to do your homework.
Be able to talk about why you are interested in the course(s) you are applying for.
Organise your statement into paragraphs which flow logically. You have 47 lines or 40,000 characters including spaces, so make the most of the space you have – it is a letter, CV, job application and interview all in one!
It will help if you have a well-structured statement covering the following questions:
Why have you chosen this particular course?
How can you demonstrate your interest in the course subject?
How do your present/past academic studies relate to your chosen course?
How are your hobbies/interests/work or voluntary experiences relevant to your chosen course and university life?
How do your ambitions link to your career choice?
Don’t repeat material already on your application form such as listing subjects being studied.
Check spelling and grammar – get someone to read over your application.
Don’t be tempted to copy someone else’s statement. UCAS have systems in place to identify plagiarised work.
For more information about writing a good personal statement, watch this video:
Also make sure you get a copy of the year’s UCAS 2020 Guide prepared by Perth College UHI’s Careers and Employability Centre for more useful tips about writing a strong personal statement. Ian McCartney and Caroline Curley, the two College Careers Advisers, are more than happy to look over your statements too.
Useful Links/Information:
www.ucas.com – for your UCAS application
www.ucas.com/connect - for information/advice, videos and tips to help you get through the application process
https://unistats – the official website for comparing UH higher education course data
What happens after you have applied?
You will receive a welcome letter from UCAS confirming your choices. The universities/colleges you have applied to will then decide whether to make you an offer. Some may ask you to come for an interview before taking that decision.
The decisions made will be either:
Support available within Perth College UHI to help with UCAS applications.
Presentations about UCAS from the Careers Advisers – check with your PAT about this.
There are UCAS drop-ins throughout Semester One at the Careers and Employability Centre in the Brahan Building Library at the following times:
Monday - 10-11am
Tuesday - 1-2:30pm
The UCAS Information Guide 2020 and other supporting materials are available from the Careers and Employability Centre and in the careers section of the library.
If you have any questions, or need help with anything including looking through personal statements, please speak with your PAT or get in touch with one of our Careers Advisers.
