Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
2018
Contents
About this guide 3 Section 3: Post-submission 21
3.1 At UCAS 21
What is UCAS? 3
3.2 At the universities and colleges 21
Changes for 2018 entry 4
3.3 What applicants need to know 21
2018 entry key dates 5 Track 21
Contact details 21
Stay up-to-date 6 Changes to exam details in Apply 21
Checking for decisions about choices 21
Section 1: Apply opens 7
Offers 22
1.1 Preparing your centre 7
UCAS Tariff points 22
1.2 Preparing your centre’s advisers 8 Replying to offers 23
The UCAS correspondent 8 Extra – a chance to apply to more
The UCAS coordinator 8 universities and colleges 24
Setting up staff users 8 Direct contact service 25
Passwords 8 Exam results and Confirmation 25
Permissions 9 Change of course 26
1.3 Preparing pre-applicants 10 Delayed or late exam results 26
Useful resources and websites 10 Re-marks and appeals 26
Adjustment 26
1.4 Resources for your students’ parents
and guardians 12 Clearing 26
3.4 Keep up-to-date with your
Section 2: Completion of application 13 students’ applications 28
Journey of an application 13 Adviser Track 28
2.1 Application overview 14 Reports for schools 29
When to apply 14
Section 4: Training and conferences for advisers 29
2.2 First stop – the student’s sections 14
Online training 29
How to apply 14
Conferences 29
Choices 15
Contextualised admissions – Section 5: UCAS terms explained 30
what this means for your students 15
Troubleshooting 31
Disabilities, special needs, and medical conditions 16
UCAS information and advice 32
Students who are care leavers or
‘looked after’ children 16
2.3 Next stop – the adviser’s sections 16
Checking applications 16
Guidance for writing references 17
Predicted grades 19
Detecting fraud 20
It explains how to apply to UK universities and colleges, how UCAS processes applications,
how you can manage your students’ applications, and the support, training, guides, and
resources we provide.
What is UCAS?
We process applications to study full-time courses at universities and colleges in the UK,
as well as some countries in Europe. We help advisers to help their students make informed
choices, by guiding them through the entire higher education application process.
If you need to contact us about any aspect of the application process, our Schools Team
is here to help (Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 17:00 UK time):
• phone from UK – 0345 123 8001*
• phone from outside the UK – +44 330 333 0239 (international call rates apply)
• email – adviserhelp@ucas.ac.uk
• fax – 01242 544 961
If you have hearing difficulties, you can contact the Customer Experience Centre, using
the text relay service:
• phone from the UK – 18001 0371 468 0 468*
hone from outside the UK – +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and ask the operator
• p
to dial 0371 468 0 468
– W
e have produced guidance on how higher 24 March
Deadline for art and design courses, except those with a 15 January deadline.
education providers are responding to the changing (18:00 UK time)
qualification landscape, and the FAQs we’re receiving:
www.ucas.com/applying-with-reformed-quals. 30 June Applications received by this deadline will be forwarded to universities and colleges. After this time,
(18:00 UK time) applications are automatically entered into Clearing.
– A
n additional field has been introduced in
Apply for science practical A level grades for 4 July Last date to add an Extra choice in Track.
English-domiciled applicants. Referees can enter
a predicted grade for a science practical, and Clearing opens for eligible applicants and vacancies are displayed in the search tool.
applicants who’ve already achieved a grade can 5 July
International Baccalaureate (IB) results day.
list this in their application. You can download
our Science practical – quick guide from
Early August SQA results day.
www.ucas.com/applying-with-reformed-quals.
ur new search tool for undergraduate and
• O GCE A level results day.
conservatoire courses starting in 2018 will be live 16 August
Adjustment opens for registration.
from May 2017. Students will have access to high
quality information and advice, as well as a more 20 September
intuitive and comprehensive search. Last date to submit 2018 entry applications.
(18:00 UK time)
Deadlines for all courses can be checked in our new search tool.
Applications received after the deadlines will still be forwarded to universities and colleges, providing they have vacancies,
but they are not obliged to consider them.
Top tip:
TIP:
• U
se the links on the left-hand side of the
screen to move between sections and get
back to the ‘Welcome’ screen.
• A
lways sign out when you have finished
Fig. 3 – Lost password using Apply for advisers.
Meet:
undergraduate, postgraduate, and conservatoire courses
– W
e provide subject guides and a range of useful in one search tool for 2018 entry. The existing search tool finished our round of open days, both my son and
resources about choosing subjects and courses at for courses starting in 2017 will still be available. I have a better understanding about where he
www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/ wants to go and what he wants to study.
what-study. • unis
– T
he courses listed in the search tool include entry • colleges
requirements, so your students can check any specific
Find open days using our search tool at • employers
subject and qualification requirements.
www.ucas.com/open-days. • gap year providers
isit www.ucas.com/explore-jobs and other careers
– V
websites to find out about routes into particular jobs.
If your students can’t attend an open day, a university or Book a free group visit now at
• H
elp them refine their choices and make decisions. college virtual tour might be an alternative. Although nothing www.ucas.com/exhibitions
Highlight essential information and facilitate discussion. beats seeing for themselves, virtual tours give an idea of
Checklists can provide useful reference points for students. the facilities. These are especially helpful for international
• M
ost importantly, challenge their choices – what are students. There’s a list at www.ucas.com/virtual-tours.
they choosing, why they are choosing it, and where it will
lead them?
Did you know? As part of the open day
programme, many universities and colleges
Useful resources and websites
timetable in sessions just for parents on key
CAS buzz quiz: www.ucas.com/buzz-quiz – a short quiz
• U topics like student finance, staff/student
designed to help students identify what they like and contact hours, and accommodation.
what they could do.
Fig. 5 – UCAS search tool
• I nformation about higher and degree apprenticeships is Enrol on a taster course or summer school
available at www.ucas.com/apprenticeships.
Many universities and colleges offer short taster courses and
• D
ownload our new Parent Guide 2018 – this year summer schools, giving students experience of academic
created in partnership with Which? University. and social life in a higher education environment. Most are
• N
ational Careers Service (England): free, and they last from one day to a week. Summer schools
nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk. are designed to be as authentic as possible, with lectures
y World of Work (Scotland): www.myworldofwork.co.uk.
• M and tutorials, and give students the chance to share their
academic interests.
Welsh IB Diploma
Scottish Scottish Baccalaureate Extended
Higher Advanced Advanced Skills Extended BTEC New BTEC IB IB Essay /
qualification Higher Challenge Project Extended Tariff BTEC Subsidiary BTEC Diploma Diploma Theory of
and grade grade Certificate Qualification AS level A level Diploma points Diploma Diploma Certificate Higher Standard Knowledge
D*D*D* 168
D*D*D 160
D*DD 152
DDD 144 Fig. 12 – Conditional offer viewed in Track
DDM 128
DMM 112 D*D* Fig. 13 – Reply date viewed in Track
104 D*D Unconditional offer – usually means the applicant has
MMM 96 DD
already met all the university or college’s entry requirements
MMP 80 DM
for the course. They might still have to meet other • They can accept one offer as their firm choice.
MPP 64 MM
A A* A* 56 D* H7 requirements, such as financial or medical conditions. • I f that’s a conditional offer, if they want they can also
B A A PPP 48 MP D H6 Sometimes universities and colleges make unconditional accept a second offer as an insurance choice – in case
C B B 40 they don’t meet the conditions of their firm choice.
offers against predicted grades. Please make sure your
A 33
students understand the implications of accepting an
D C C 32 PP M H5 • Any other offers must be declined.
A* 28 D* S7
unconditional offer. This blog post gives helpful advice:
B 27 www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/accepting-
D A D 24 D H4 S6 unconditional-offer-0.
C 21
Offers may also be for an alternative course. This option
B A 20
E C B E 16 P M S5 S5
can be used, for example, if the applicant has changed the
D 15 subjects they are studying, or if the university wants to make
D C 12 H3 S4 A an offer for its HND rather than degree. The university or
D 10 B college should discuss an offer for a different course with the
E 8 P C applicant before formally making its offer.
E 6 S3 D
4 E There are two other decisions a university can make.
Extra – a chance to apply to more universities and colleges Fig. 15 – A conditional offer firmly accepted in Extra, viewed in Track
All is not lost if your students are not offered a place at any
Direct contact service
of their five choices, or they decline all their offers. You can
Fig. 14 – Replying to an offer viewed in Track
encourage them to use Extra to apply to other universities Our direct contact service is available from the end of
and colleges that still have vacancies. It’s a free service that February, right through until mid-September.
If an applicant firmly accepts an unconditional offer, they gives applicants an opportunity to look for a place earlier,
are committing themselves to take up that place and cannot instead of waiting for Clearing. They can apply for several It’s designed to help those who find themselves without
hold an insurance choice. courses in Extra, but only one course at a time. There are a university or college place, by allowing universities and
four steps to using Extra. colleges to make direct contact with unplaced applicants,
Applicants need to think very carefully and make sure they and talk to them about a place on a course they think
do not accept an offer from any university or college if they might be suitable.
1. S earch for courses with Extra vacancies in the UCAS
would not be prepared to study there.
search tool. Eligible applicants are sent an email asking them to sign
2. Think about related and different subjects. up to the service. If they fulfil their offer conditions and
receive a confirmed place, their name will be removed from
3. G
et in touch with the university or college to check they
Did you know? Applicants don’t have to hold can consider them. If they want to apply for a course
the service and they won’t be contacted.
an insurance choice. If they’re not sure any of their
different from their initial choices, they can explain they’ve
other offers are right for them, it might be better to Exam results and Confirmation
changed their mind and offer to send a revised personal
wait and see what’s available in Clearing. This way
statement to support their application. However, they UCAS receives exam results from many awarding bodies
they won’t have to negotiate their way out of an
cannot change their original personal statement. and sends them to the universities and colleges that are
offer they don’t want.
4. Add the course details in Track. holding offers for your students. Check which exam results
these are at www.ucas.com/sending-exam-results.
The Extra process operates from 25 February until 4 July If your students are taking any other qualifications, in Fig. 16 – Confirmed place viewed in Track
It’s important that an applicant replies by the date we give 2018. Fig. 15 shows a conditional offer firmly accepted particular non-UK qualifications, they must send their results
them. We call it their reply date, and they’ll see it in Track. in Extra. to the universities and colleges themselves as soon as they
The date depends on when they receive the last decision
from their universities and colleges.
receive them. TIP: It’s a bit of an urban myth that we
Universities and colleges will want proof of all qualifications TIP: update Track at midnight on A level results
entered in Apply (e.g. GCSEs). day – we don’t, your students need to wait
until the morning to see if they’re accepted.
What is Clearing? Fig.17 – Permission to add Clearing course from university or college
If your students don’t get the exam grades they hoped for
and their places are not confirmed, they could find another
course by using Clearing. The Clearing process runs from
5 July 2018.
Tariff points: the UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points Withdrawal: before the decision has been made to make
Section 5: UCAS terms explained to some qualifications used for entry to undergraduate higher
education. Not all qualifications are included on the Tariff.
an offer or not, the applicant, or the university or college,
can withdraw a choice.
Adjustment: an opportunity for applicants who have met Entry requirements: what the university or college Track: our online tracking system where applicants can
and exceeded the conditions of their firm offer to research recommends you need to do/have to get on the course see how their application is progressing. They can view
alternative courses, while remaining accepted at their – from qualifications and specific subjects or grades, to university and college decisions, reply to offers, and change
original confirmed university or college place. interviews, admissions tests, and medical requirements. some details, such as email address, postal address, and
telephone number.
Admissions test: some universities and colleges require Extra: the opportunity to apply for another course, if an
applicants to sit an admissions test for certain courses, in applicant has used all five choices and is not holding any offers.
addition to making a UCAS application. It runs from 25 February until the beginning of July.
on applying, careers,
Higher education
• T
hinking about • Search for courses
higher education • International students
www.ucas.com/videos
• Accommodation
• Entry requirements • P reparing to start
• Personal statement your studies
Apprenticeships
• Apprenticeships in the UK • A
pplication, recruitment,
• Degree apprenticeships and selection – tips
• Higher apprenticeships • A
pprenticeships in Wales
• H
ow to find and apply • A
pprenticeships in Scotland
for apprenticeships • A
pprenticeships in
• C
hoosing the right Northern Ireland
apprenticeship for you • A
pprenticeships in England
Gap years
Going to work
32
Published by:
UCAS Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
GL52 3LZ
© UCAS 2017
All rights reserved.
UCAS is a registered trade mark.
UCAS, a company limited by guarantee, is registered in England and Wales number: 2839815
Registered charity number: 1024741 (England and Wales) and SC038598 (Scotland)
We have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information in this publication was
correct at time of publication. We will not, however, accept any liability for errors, omissions, or
changes to information since publication. Wherever possible any changes will be updated
on the UCAS website (www.ucas.com).
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