Are you in your final year of A-levels or planning to return to full-time education? Thinking about applying to BU? If so, are you unsure of how to get started? If the previous applies to you, take a look at my step by step guide on what to do next…
Make your UCAS application (https://www.ucas.com):
UCAS is the central tool you will use to apply for higher education. For your application you must provide your education history, personal statement and choose up to 5 courses ranked from first choice down. Although it will vary depending on your chosen course, it is important to know your deadlines of application. The deadline to apply to Bournemouth for undergraduate courses is usually mid-January. However, if you miss the deadline you can always try to apply through clearing:
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-apply/clearing-adjustment/guide-clearing
Attend an open day:
It is really important you visit Bournemouth before you apply, you need to be 100% sure you are making the right decision and the best way to decide is by visiting the campus in person! Open days can be booked in the link below:
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/meet-us/open-days-tours#self-guided-tours
Bournemouth’s student ambassadors will provide tours on campus as well as of accommodation. Alternatively, if you cannot attend these dates you can visit both the Talbot and Lansdowne campus during working hours. Bournemouth provides self-guided tour manuals to help you find your way round the University grounds:
Talbot Campus tour:
Lansdowne Campus tour:
Research accommodation (https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/why-bu/accommodation):
Whether it is the student village on Talbot campus or the rowdier blocks on Lansdowne, make sure you know which accommodation you want to bag when the time comes to pick. To make my decision, I read student forums to see what past students thought about accommodation at Bournemouth:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2350385
UCAS Track (https://track.ucas.com):
If you have applied to Bournemouth be sure to keep track of your application, if you change your mind about a particular course you can withdraw or defer your application.
Interviews and submissions:
As a part of your application to BU you may be asked to attend an interview or submit a piece of work. For instance, when I applied for BA (Hons) Media Production I had to create a 5minute short video. The University will contact you directly with these details, so keep an eye on your email!
Apply for Student Finance England (https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance):
Finally, once you have met the requirements of the University and have confirmed your place you need to look at applying for Student Finance England (SFE). Here you can apply for the 9k loan to cover your tuition fees. Furthermore, you may be eligible for bursaries and other financial support. If for example, you are from a low-income household you can apply for a BU Maintenance Bursary. For further advise about scholarships, loans and bursaries check out the ‘Fees and Funding’ page on the BU website:
https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fees-funding
I hope this guide was helpful and you now have a clearer understanding of your next steps!
The thoughts of an Indian in Bournemouth
