UCAS & Applying to University
Lots of students that attend sixth form will apply to higher education and university. Statistics show that graduates are more likely to access higher paid careers. University offers a wealth of opportunities for students to develop independence and experience wide ranging opportunities. At L6 we recognise that University is not for everyone and we have structured support to help students applying for an apprenticeship, employment with training or looking to take a gap year before attending university.
For students applying to University (via UCAS) there is a strict timeline to follow. A good starting point for students thinking about university is to research areas of interest www.ucas.com/students.
When researching courses and university it is important to consider the following points:
- What grades/points are needed
- When are their open days
- Is work experience required, what other skills, qualities are they looking for?
- Will the university conduct an interview in addition to your UCAS application.
Students should be aware that for some courses e.g. medicine, there are additional requirements and different timescales. Students considering applications into these areas should raise with their Tutor and Miss Silto as soon as possible so we can ensure a clear package of support to process a successful application. Students applying to Oxbridge Universities will be supported with an enhanced package to give you the very best opportunity.
Often UCAS applications are submitted and students will receive offers, these offers are conditional on achievement of certain grades. Some Universities will make offers based on grades e.g. AAB often they are based on a Tariff for A Levels. For example:
- A* 56 points
- A 48 points
- B 40 Points
- C 32 points
Students will then need to decide which offers they wish to accept. We will encourage students to apply to universities that fit their academic profile. They need to be realistic and build in an insurance choice in case things don’t go as well. However, it’s important to be aspirational and select strong universities and courses, so a ratio of 2 aspirational choices and 1 insurance.
Russell Group Universities represent the 24 leading UK universities, we encourage all our students to research universities carefully. What will you be getting for your investment? What’s the quality of teaching like? What opportunities and post graduate support will you receive? This is not necessarily exclusively the best at RG Universities, but they are certainly worth reviewing as they remain very popular with employers.
A good UCAS application is dependent on a strong personal statement and your predicted grades. To ensure your predicted grades are strong you need to be fully committed to your studies in Year 12 and prepare very carefully for mock exams in year 12. Your personal statement is, however, a key element of your university application. This will include why you are passionate about the subject you are applying for, what career path you would like to follow, it will mention personal achievements, work experience etc. We will support you and guide you carefully through your application, with specialist workshops and dedicated reviews.
The following links from UCAS are really helpful in addressing questions. Joining the UCAS Hub is a great way of supporting your research into universities and your eventual application.
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/filling-your-ucas-undergraduate-application
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/entry-requirements/ucas-tariff-points
https://www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options/create-your-ucas-hub-today
