If you’re looking to start university in September 2014, getting your head around UCAS (University Central Admissions Service) early will make the process of applying to university much easier.

With around 300 providers and around 100,000 courses all applications to UK universities comes through UCAS and it is a great way to research which ones across the country offer the subjects or courses you’re interested in. Applying is made as simple as possible for you and is a step by step process that’s simple to follow.

Most of you will have a rough idea about what you want to study at university level but it’s always worth checking with UCAS and each uni about their entry requirements to make sure you are eligible to apply. If you don’t know what to study then UCAS offer advice to help you decide. We have a great ‘course search’ page on our website that  goes into detail about entry requirements, regarding what subjects you need to have experience of, and the tariff points you need to apply.

UCAS awards Tariff points to A-level and BTEC qualifications, so understanding your predicted grades will point you in the right direction to the courses you can apply for. The UCAS tariff pages go into great detail about all types of UK qualifications but examples for A Levels are below:

A*-  140 points
A- 120 points
B- 100 points
C- 80 points

Applicants can make up to five choices through UCAS, so it’s worth researching courses and universities and choosing the ones that suit you best.  Universities hold Open Days throughout the year so you can visit for more information. You can register for an Open Day at BU now.

The UCAS cycle for starting University in 2014 will open later this month; however different subjects will have different deadlines. Deadlines for most courses are in January, but some are in October or March – UCAS have a course search tool for you to check when your deadline will be, depending on the course you want to apply for.

Applications are competitive, so applying on time gives you more chance of getting a place on a course you want. All applications that UCAS receive by the deadline date are processed and sent to the universities and colleges. Applications that they receive after 30 June will not be sent to the universities and colleges in the normal way. Instead, these applications will go directly into Clearing.  (Clearing takes place in August and this is when Universities show which of their courses still have spaces available.)

When you come to apply, you will need to register and create an account for yourself on UCAS and submit details regarding your education and qualifications, any related work experience, and a personal statement. Your personal statement is great way to really sell yourself to the Admissions Team and explain why you have chosen the course you have.

Watch this space for a blog about how to write a great personal statement to enhance your application!

Let your course search commence!

Sam