UCAS or the University and Colleges Admissions Service (www.ucas.com) provides an efficient and easy to use system to help students apply to all UK universities
Using UCAS
Students need to register with UCAS first of all – most will do this through their school or college. All applications follow the same format: students are limited to 5 options, and each of these options will receive the same information: personal details, course choice, examination record, personal statement and school reference. Because only one Personal Statement is allowed it is advisable to pick 5 similiar course options.
Course Search
Searching for courses is very easy and can be done from the UCAS front page. Searching for a broad subject category will bring up an alphabetical list of all UK universities offering courses in that subject – from this you can link to a particular university website to check course details and entry requirements. Your predicted or achieved grades will need to match these entry requirements.
The Personal Statement
The Personal Statement is the most important part of a UCAS application: it will probably be read first and could act as a tie breaker if the university has to choose between several very similiar candidates. The Personal Statement needs to explain 2 things: why you want to study this particular course and what you have done to prepare yourself to study at degree level. Unlike US college essays which can be very personal this is really an academic statement – it is personal in the sense that it is written by you.
Fee Status
There is a big difference between UK home fees and international fees and therefore it is worth exploring whether it is possible for you to gain UK fee status if you have a UK passport even though you may be attending an international school outside of the UK. You will need to give a UK home address when you apply and then the university will send you a fee status form – your answers need to persuade the university that the UK is your permanent home and that you have multiple links with the UK such as family, property, frequent visits etc. Each university will make their own determination of this issue.