Deciding where you want to go to university is just the first step. Next, you’ll need to submit an application. Written statements, qualifications and personal details are just some of the information you’ll need to include. There’s a lot to remember, but don’t worry - we’ve put together the ultimate guide to show you how to apply for university in the UK.
Before you apply
You should already have carried out lots of research before you decide on the universities that you want to apply for. If you haven’t, then you aren’t quite ready to begin your application. We’d recommend looking at prospectuses, visiting education fairs and watching videos from universities to help you make your choice.
The application is managed by UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) and you’re able to submit five different choices of course. Later, you’ll receive offers from your universities and make your final decision.
You can edit your application and return to it at any time, but it’s necessary to make sure you have everything you need before starting the process. Important information like your qualifications and personal details need to be included, so make sure you have these ready.
Putting your application together
Once you’re happy with your five choices, you’re ready to start the application. First, you’ll need to enter all of your basic contact information. Like with any important form, make sure all of your details are correct. If you change your phone number or address, then don’t forget to update UCAS.
Next, you’ll enter your university choices. You don’t need to worry about putting preferences as this information is only seen by you and UCAS. You’ll also include your education and employment history. List your qualifications, work experience, any extra courses you’ve taken and the jobs you’ve had - especially if they're relevant to the course you’re applying for in any way.
The most important section will be the personal statement. This is an essay you’ll write that outlines exactly why you want to study that course. It’s a chance to promote yourself in a positive way and impress the admissions team.
You only have around 500 words (4000 characters) so make them count!
Here are a few quick tips for writing a personal statement:
- Talk about what sparked your interest in this subject
- Cover any relevant hobbies or extracurricular activities
- Use specific references to show your passion
- List skills that will be relevant to your studies
- Find a way to stand out from the crowd
Make sure you have a teacher check over your personal statement. They can spot little errors and spelling mistakes that you might have missed. They can also review the statement to make sure everything you’ve said is engaging, relevant and helpful to your application.
We’d recommend having as many people look at it as possible as you never know what they’ll see that you didn’t.
Finally, you need a written reference from a teacher or tutor who can recommend your academic work. Make sure you give them plenty of time to put the reference together.
After everything has been put together and you’re happy with your application, you’re ready to submit it. Make sure you enter your application ahead of any deadlines the university has set. However, don’t forget you’ll also need to sort out accommodation and a visa so don’t leave it too late.
What to do next
It doesn’t take too long for responses to come back from universities but the waiting period can still be difficult. We’d recommend getting through it by planning ahead and thinking about everything you need to do before you arrive in the UK.
There’s a lot to think about - accommodation, travel, packing, visas and more. So, use this waiting time to carry out some research. This means you can take the next steps straight away after you hear you’ve been successful.
There’ll be a temptation to just keep checking the status of your applications on the UCAS website but you will receive emails to let you know when a university has issued a response. There’s a lot to remember from start to finish, so you need a way of making sure you’re organised.
Stay organised with our free application tracker
When you’re working on your personal statement and getting your reference organised, it’s easy for something to get missed. To make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible, use our free application tracker.
It gives you a step-by-step guide to applying to a UK university and always makes sure you’ve completed all of the tasks you need to before moving on to the next stage. Download your free copy of the application tracker now using the link below.
