Did you decide today that you want to go to uni only to find the deadline has passed? That\u2019s OK, you can still go! And the choice is either to wait until next year (putting the deadlines in your diary now) or see what is available to late applicants. Deadline doesn\u2019t mean dead-end.<\/p>\n
Karen Pichlmann<\/b>, Head of Admissions at\u00a0Bournemouth University<\/b>, explains why there are deadlines, what making a late application means and the options you’ll have open to you:<\/p>\n
Deadlines<\/b><\/p>\n
UCAS application deadlines are there for a reason, from your perspective it means your university application is out of the way before you get down to the all-important revision.\u00a0 Deadlines also mean universities can manage the selection process \u2013 time for interviewing, portfolio presentations, selection days etc.\u00a0 Universities deal with vast numbers of applications, and in order to give each one the consideration it deserves, we need time.\u00a0 Plus it works the other way too, universities have to let you know their decisions by certain deadlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n Many Schools and Colleges really encourage their students meet the deadlines (some students may say \u2018nagging\u2019!) and the vast majority of applicants do.\u00a0 For some prospective students, they just aren\u2019t ready by the deadlines for a variety of reasons.\u00a0 The decision to go to university may come later in the year, once they are further through their A Levels or BTEC for instance.\u00a0 Students who aren\u2019t in a school or college, may not be aware that deadlines exist \u2013 understandable when they seem so early compared to when university starts.\u00a0 Indeed, some students at university currently may have a change of heart and need to change course.<\/p>\n Missed the deadline?<\/b><\/p>\n So now we know why the deadlines are there, the next logical question is \u201care there deadlines for late applications?\u201d yes of course!\u00a0 See UCAS\u2019 important dates section<\/a>. \u00a0You can apply now and until 30 June as a late applicant.\u00a0 After this time, you will go into Clearing.\u00a0 5 months sounds like a long time, but I\u2019d urge you not to delay as some courses may close over the coming months.<\/p>\n Equal consideration<\/b><\/p>\n Before you proceed, I need to tell you about \u2018equal academic consideration\u2019.\u00a0 Essentially it does what it says on the tin, and guarantees each applicant equal consideration as long as they apply by the deadline.\u00a0 Applying after the deadline, means a university doesn\u2019t have to employ this rule and can reject you even if you meet the entry criteria.\u00a0 Most universities will let UCAS know that their courses are full and cannot accept any more applications.\u00a0 Some may only be looking for a few select applicants.\u00a0 Others know that good applicants sometimes miss deadlines, and give equal consideration.\u00a0 I\u2019d put Bournemouth in all three categories \u2013 some of our courses are full, some will have a small number of offers to make and some will consider late applicants more widely.<\/p>\n What will be available?<\/b><\/p>\n The short answer is not everything.<\/p>\n Example, you\u2019re suddenly consumed with a burning desire to study, say, English.\u00a0 You love literature, the classics, to write and to read widely.\u00a0 You start to research what\u2019s available and discover that the number of available English literature courses is limited.\u00a0 Looking more closely, you can see English language, English and Politics, English and Communications courses available for example.\u00a0 Reading the detail of these courses will tell you if they will be suitable for your goals and interests.<\/p>\n Therefore, you may have to be more flexible and think of alternative pathways if you apply now.\u00a0 Universities offer help and advice on your options, at Bournemouth we have a dedicated future students<\/a> team to answer your questions and so do other universities.<\/p>\n Finding out what\u2019s available<\/b><\/p>\n Research is the key to applying to university, whenever you do it.<\/p>\n University websites should tell you if they are accepting late applications, Bournemouth has it clearly on each course listing<\/a>.\u00a0 UCAS course search<\/a> too.<\/p>\n How to apply<\/b><\/p>\n There\u2019s no different process for applying now.\u00a0 You register to use UCAS\u2019 Apply<\/a> application portal and away you go.\u00a0 I can\u2019t emphasise enough the need to complete the application in full, including your references.\u00a0\u00a0 Whilst we are happy to consider late applications, we want to consider good ones.\u00a0 UCAS provide lots of advice on completing<\/a> your application.<\/p>\n I hope this has given you the confidence to get started on your application, knowing that it\u2019s not too late to start university this year.\u00a0 Remember to get in touch with the universities you\u2019re interested in.\u00a0 Good luck.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Did you decide today that you want to go to uni only to find the deadline has passed? 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