Tony Charlton and Alan Jones

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The knowledge _at_ UCAS

• Tony Charlton and Alan Jones

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Outline of morning

• Warm up quiz
• Understanding the application system
• Pre-application research tools

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University challenge

• First, a test of your geography..

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ANSWERS
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Oxford University
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University of Exeter
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The University of Manchester
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Queens University Belfast
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University of St Andrews
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Aberystwyth University
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Setting the scene UK higher education

• Largest sector in Europe
• 300 universities colleges
• 38,000 courses

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Understanding the application process
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The applicant journey - summary
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• Researches where to study

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• Registers online with UCAS Apply

• Completes all sections of form

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• Reference added by centre

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• Centre sends form electronically to UCAS

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• UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen HEIs

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• HEIs submit decisions

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• Applicant views decisions on Track

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• Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm /
  Insurance)

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• HEIs confirm places when results are released

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Completing the form
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Key facts

• Number of choices (5 max.)
• 2012 applicant fee - 22.00 (11.00 single
  choice)
• Simultaneous consideration
• Invisibility
• Conditional offers

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Key dates

• 15 October
• 15 January
• 24 March
• 30 June

• Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry
• Oxford or Cambridge
• On time applications
• Various Art Design Courses
• Applications after this date held for Clearing

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2012 apply went live on 8 June

• Registration only takes 10 minutes
• Use the school buzzword
• No need to pay at registration stage

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What information will UCAS require?

• Your students are asked to complete the following
  sections
• Personal Details
• Student Finance - new
• Additional Information
• Choices
• Education
• Employment
• Personal Statement
• Having checked the above, you will then add
• A Reference

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Personal (contact) details....
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New section - student finance
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Adding choices, one at a time...
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Adding qualifications...
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Common applicant errors

• Failure to check entry requirements
• Qualifications (eg. GCSEs) missing, or
  incorrectly named, on form
• Wrong student support fee code
• Email address not verified
• Forgotten to register for admissions test

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Reference writing

• Work the UCAS reference into the existing school
  schedule.
• For example at the end of year 12
• Students fill in activity / information sheets
• Subject tutors complete subject reference on
  students the same time they complete end of year
  reports
• Head of sixth (or assigned co-ordinator) gathers
  all information and edits reference
• Keep files of previous students references

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Example format for a reference
Information on school /college
Suitability for chosen course
Subject by subject report

• Personal qualities
• Endorsement

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University and college decisions
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University and college decisions

• Admissions tutors can make one of three
  decisions
• Conditional Offer
• Unconditional Offer
• Unsuccessful

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Conditional offers

• Can be expressed in
• UCAS Tariff points
• 200 points
• Grades
• BCC in A levels, or MPP in BTEC ND
• a combination of both
• 260 points, including a B in Maths

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Tariff tables
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29 July 2010
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Results time
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Confirmation

• Exam results are issued (e.g. A levels on 16
  August 2012, IB
• BTEC in July 2012)
• Admissions staff check if applicant has matched
  the conditions of the offer
• If yes, the student will be sent an official
  confirmation of their place

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Confirmation (2)

• Adjustment period
• What is it?
• Five day window of opportunity to seek place at
  another university or college
• Eligibility
• Results must have exceeded CF offer and
  subsequently been made UF

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Celebration time!!
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If an applicant has no offers

• Two further stages to gain a place
• UCAS Extra (24 February 4 July 2012)
• Clearing (16 August 2012 onwards)

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Top Tips
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Hints for managing A level results day

• Definitely no benefit in staying up late the
  night before (Track is not unfrozen at midnight!)
• Students need to bring their Track log in details
  into centre
• Tell students that not all decisions from CF/CI
  institutions will be made by the end of the day
  need for patience
• Stress the importance of reading carefully all
  correspondence from UCAS
• Clearing choices can be entered on Track from
  18.00pm
• Encourage students to have contingency plans
  (e.g. part-time or distance learning HE,
  Foundation Degree, Apprenticeship, re-apply in
  2012 Scheme)

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Questions

• Tony Charlton
• Professional Development Officer
• t.charlton_at_ucas.ac.uk