applying to university sandra bloomer senior admissions officer admissions and access service
TRANSCRIPT
HIGHER EDUCATION
UCAS:
Universities (Traditional and New)
Stranmillis University College
Further & Higher Education Colleges (Foundation Degrees)
DIRECT:
St Mary’s University College
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
CAO: Universities, Institutes of Technology & Private
Colleges
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• Prospectuses
• University websites
• Other Publications (The Big Guide, Potter’s Guide, etc)
• Open Days
• Former Students
• Informal Visits
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Location (Ease Of Access)
Academic Reputation (Quality of Teaching and Research)
Type (City, Campus, Technological)
Type of Course (Vocational/Non-Vocational/Sandwich)
Assessment (Formal Exams, Continuous Assessment, etc)
Size
Accommodation
Other Facilities
CAO (for Republic of Ireland) Covers most HE Institutions Closing date 1 February Fee €25 (online) or €40 (paper) Up to 10 Honours Degree and 10 Ordinary Degree /
Higher Certificate choices No personal statement or school report Strictly order of preference No conditional offers Change of mind possible up to 1 July Selection by order of preference and results
in August
UCAS SYSTEM
CLOSING DATES:
Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine 15 October
All other courses 15 January (On-time)
30 June (Late)
COSTS:
Normal Cost (up to five choices) £ 23
One Choice Only £ 12
ABRDN A20 N400 MA/Acc Accountancy 1 N N
EDINB E56 M320 LLB/LAW Law 1 N N
QBELF Q75 N323 BSc/ACT Actuarial Science and Risk Management 1 N N
QBELF Q75 M100 LLB/LAW Law 1 N N
ULS U20 N120 J BSc/BusS Business Studies 1 N N
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Content:
Personal statement is common to all course choices
Motivation, aspirations, commitment to subject / career
Work experience
Extra-curricular activities
Positions of responsibility
Reasons for deferred entry / Gap year
Similarity detection software (UCAS)
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Structure: Reflective and insightful
What applicant has done What applicant has learnt Why this is relevant to chosen
subject / career Structured, clear, concise, precise Avoid waffle, slang and inappropriate
language Check GRAMMAR and SPELLING
REFERENCE
Normally provided by teacher / academic who has experience of candidate’s performance
Academic achievement and potential Predicted grades Suitability for course(s) Career aspirations/motivation Extenuating circumstances/health Personal qualities Interests and activities
HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE
Made by admissions officers and academic selectors before final examinations are taken and results known
All information on UCAS form important especially:
If you are applying for a popular course
If your application is at any stage borderline (offer criteria)
CRITERIA FOR OFFERS
Factors taken into account:
GCSE grades and Year 13 performance
Academic reference – including predicted grades
Personal statement
Interview
Aptitude Tests
UNIVERSITY DECISIONS
Universities can make one of three decisions:
• Unconditional offer
• Conditional offer
• Unsuccessful
Conditional offers can be expressed in terms of A-level grades, BTEC grades,
or UCAS Tariff points
• Queen’s makes offers in terms of grades
Deadlines for university decisions on applications submitted by 15 January:
• 31 March 2015 (for most applications)
• Final deadline 7 May 2015
Deadline for university decisions on late applications 16 July 2015
(provided that late applications are being considered)
CANDIDATES REPLIES
Applicants can make one of three replies Firm Acceptance Insurance Acceptance Decline
They are allowed to hold up to two offers 1. Firm acceptance (CF)
2. Insurance acceptance (CI)
Applicants do not have to reply to offers until all decisions are received.
Approximately three weeks to decide after the final decision is received. UCAS will decline by default on 6 May if candidates fail to reply, except where offers were made AFTER 31 March
CONFIRMATION OF OFFERS - AUGUST
Universities receive A-level and BTEC results directly from UCAS
If conditions are exactly met, applicant will be accepted
Applicants normally go to their Firm choice (CF) institution, if accepted
Adjustment
If Firm choice (CF) is unsuccessful and Insurance (CI) choice accepts, applicants are automatically placed at their Insurance choice
If both Firm and Insurance are unsuccessful – Clearing
CLEARING
Clearing commences mid-July
Eligibility:
very late applicants
those who are holding no offers for whatever reason
those unsuccessful by CF and CI institutions in August
Clearing vacancies declared mid-August
Information available from newspapers, UCAS website and university websites
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UCAS & CAO
UCAS CAO
5 choices 10 + 10 choices
Alphabetically by Institution Strict order of preference
Personal Statement -
School Reference -
Conditional Offers -
Two offers can be held All choices can be held – changes allowed
Decisions by selectorsPossibility of flexibility
Ranking/Computer selection in August – random number
Clearing 2nd and subsequent rounds
Sandra Bloomer – Email: [email protected]
Queen’s University BelfastQueen’s University Belfast
Admissions & Access ServiceAdmissions & Access Service