UCAS Applications

UCAS

University & Colleges Admissions Services for applications to colleges in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

UCAS is the application system for applicants who want to apply to study in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. There are thousands of courses to choose from so applicants need to spend considerable time researching the various options. The application deadline for 2021 entry to Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary and entry to Oxford and Cambridge University are now closed as they had a deadline of the 15th October 2020.

All other courses in the UCAS system have a deadline of the 15th January 2021. Make a start on your application as soon as possible, do not leave it to last minute.

There are several sections to be completed and applicants should allow sufficient time for this. The sections include personal details, education, work experience, course choices and personal statement.

The personal statement is a very important part of the application and will require several drafts to get it just right. It is 47 lines of text or 4,000 characters in length. Admissions teams in Universities take the personal statement, as well as predicted grades, into consideration prior to offering applicants a course offer. Therefore, it is essential that you write an effective and strong personal statement. In 2019, 561,420 people applied through UCAS. That is a lot of personal statements! Your personal statement must stand out!

Include the following in your personal statement:

1.      Reasons for your choice of course – what interests you about the course?

2.      Why you want to study at a particular college? If applying to more than one college, keep this general.

3.      Research course content and link your qualities and skills to match. Show the admissions teams rather than tell; provide evidence that demonstrates your qualities and skills. For example, my role as senior class prefect and mentor has developed my leadership skills.

4.      Work experience / Volunteering

5.      Achievements

6.      Hobbies – discuss clubs (sporting, musical, drama) that you are a member of

7.      Attendance at open days, taster events, insight evenings, short courses, etc

8.      Goals for the future

Applicants should write in an enthusiastic and positive manner. Also, make sure to proof- read your statement several times.

A reference and predicted grades, for each subject, are also required as part of your application. In schools, the Guidance Counsellor or a Subject Teacher will complete the reference on your behalf.  The predicted grades will also be entered into the reference section.

Application fee for one course is £20 or £26 for up to five course choices.

For some courses in the UCAS system, applicants will be called for interview. Nursing degrees are one such example.

One big difference between the CAO system and the UCAS system is that UCAS applicants may receive college offers prior to sitting their Leaving Certificate. These offers will be conditional and depend on the applicant receiving certain grades. Applicants must choose a firm choice (first preference course) and an Insurance choice (back up course if you do not get your firm choice). CAO does not release offers until after the Leaving Cert. results are issued.

For more information or to begin your UCAS application, go to www.ucas.com. If you would like help with your UCAS application and personal statement, contact McCullagh Careers today at info@mccullaghcareers.ie or call 0872120527.