For any student who is in the final stages of completing their A Levels or any equivalent form of academic qualification, the prospect of applying to University can be daunting. The fear of missing out on a place at the University of their choice can see even the most determined of students deliberate over the process for far longer than they should.
If you’re about to take your first steps into Higher Education then this guide should serve as a helpful tool in making sure you’re covered all the required bases.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Every application that you intend to submit to a University needs to be made through the UCAS portal. UCAS act as the official sanctioning body that oversees the process to ensure efficiency and impartiality.
Through the use of this portal, each individual University you apply to will be able to view your application and continue through the appropriate steps as required.
The Registration Process
Your first step is to register for an account through UCAS’ website. The process is straightforward but do make sure that you enter all of your personal details correctly. You will be asked for your current record of education as well as any other pertinent details.
Choosing a University Course
Once you’re set up, your next task is to decide on a course. You will quickly find that not all Universities provide the same courses so it is important that you start your search with a course rather than selecting Universities without knowing the courses they offer.
There are many ways to go about this task. We would start by:
- Compiling a list of subjects that would like to study. This list should be based upon interest as well as level of academic ability. Do keep in mind that some professions will require a specific path to be taken through Higher Education. These professions include Architecture and Medicine, especially if the goal is to become a Doctor.
- Your next step is to find all the courses relevant to your intended area of study. There are hundreds of thousands of courses to choose from so make use of one of the many online tools that will allow you to search through them at will. These tools will also tell you exactly which Universities offer your chosen course.
- You should now have found a course and at least one University. We would suggest a shortlist of five. Using the UCAS portal, you will now need to individually apply for each course and then wait for a response detailing the action you will need to take next.
If all goes to plan, you will have several conditional offers to choose from. All you now need to do is make sure you achieve the required grades of your chosen course and University. For further advice, there are several websites offering guidance on applying to Uni. We would suggest you browse through some of the FAQ sections you come across to find answers to any further questions you may have.
Although stressful, this is only the first step in your journey to embarking upon the career path you’ve always dreamed of so make the most of it.
