UCAS Application Information Session

1. UCAS Application Information Session Dr Lizzie Peachey

2. UCAS Applications • You need to register on the UCAS website • www.ucas.ac.uk / www.ucas.com / www.ucas.co.uk • Click on the ‘Students’ tab and then click ‘Log in to use Apply 2012’ • You will need your school’s ‘buzzword’ to complete your registration • Write down your ID number, username and password • You will be sent an email containing a verification code

3. UCAS Application • Personal Details • Name, address, DOB etc • Student support • Fee code: 02 UK, ChI, IoM or EU Student Finance • Student Support Arrangements: NIBd – Belfast • Disability/special needs • Do not be afraid to enter the correct information here. You will not be disadvantaged in any way. • Once you have completed all the information, tick the ‘section completed’ box and click ‘save’

4. UCAS Application • Activities in preparation for higher education • Step-Up! • Start Date: September 2010 • Duration: (Year 1) 13days in University • Location: University of Ulster • Start Date: September 2011 • Duration: (Year 2) 17days in University • Location: University of Ulster • You can expand on the information you give here in your Personal Statement • Once you have completed all the information, tick the ‘section completed’ box and click ‘save’

5. UCAS Application • Education • Highest qualification achieved • Below honours degree level qualification • Add school/college/centre (attended since age 11) • School name • Start & finish date • Attendance: Full time • Formal qualifications achieved? – Yes • Add qualifications – GCSEs, A-levels etc • If you are re-sitting an GCSE, enter it twice: once with the highest grade you have obtained to date, and once stating the grade as ‘Pending’ • A-level Double Award (GCE-2005 onwards) • Subject: Applied Science (Double Award)

6. UCAS Application • Employment • Add an employer (you can add up to 5) • Don’t be afraid to declare if you have a part-time job • Only include paid work in this section • You can supply details of any unpaid or voluntary work in your Personal Statement • If you have not had any paid work, then leave this section blank, but mark it as complete

7. UCAS Tariff Points • Tariff Points: AS levelA level • A grade 60 points120 points • B grade 50 points100 points • C grade 40 points80 points • D grade 30 points60 points • E grade 20 points40 points

8. Additional Tariff Points A = 120 points B = 100 points C = 80 points D = 60 points E = 40 points 60 UCAS Tariff Points 40 UCAS Tariff Points 20 UCAS Tariff Points AAB BBC CCD AAB BBC CCD AAB BBC CCD BBC CCD DDE BBB CCC DDD ABB BCC CDD

9. UCAS Application • Choices • Click ‘add a choice’ • You have a maximum of 5 course choices • Institution code, Course code, Campus code • Point of entry • Foundation Year = 0 • First Year = 1 • Search for courses through UCAS or University websites • We recommend you choose University of Ulster as one of your choices

10. Making Course Choices • Be honest with yourself about the grades you are likely to achieve • Choose something you are interested in! • Get as much information about the courses you are considering before making a decision • You have 5 course choices available – don’t choose 5 completely different courses • The University of Ulster has an online prospectus: www.ulster.ac.uk/prospectus

11. Submitting Your Application • The deadline for submission of your UCAS application is Sunday 15th January 2012 • Some Art/Design courses have a March deadline • Late applications will only be considered after all of the ‘on time’ applications • Once your application is processed, UCAS will send you a welcome letter confirming your personal details and choices • Check all the details are correct!

12. Tracking your application • Once your application has been processed, you can monitor it through the UCAS website using ‘Track’ • You will need your ID number, username and password to log in • When a University makes a decision to accept or reject your application, it will appear on ‘Track’ • You will also receive an email to inform you about any changes • Log in regularly for updates

13. Offers • When a University makes you an offer it will either be conditional or unconditional • You MUST reply to offers you receive • Ultimately you will be left to make two choices • Firm offer (CF) • Insurance offer (CI) • Make sure your CI has a lower grade tariff than your CF

14. UCAS Applications 2010/2011

15. Important Dates • 15th January 2012 – Deadline for submitting UCAS application • 24th March 2012 – Deadline for some Art/Design applications • 31st March 2012 – University decisions should be made by this date • 9th May 2012 – Deadline for replying to your offers • 10th May – Final deadline for universities to make decisions

16. Clearing • Once the exam results are released, the Universities will know how many places are available on their courses • Courses with places available are ‘in clearing’ • Places are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis • If you don’t get the results you were hoping for, BE PROACTIVE!

17. Help! • Careers teachers • Parents: www.ucas.ac.uk/parents • Step-Up • Dr Lizzie Peachey: e.peachey@ulster.ac.uk • Dr Clare Ryan: c.ryan@ulster.ac.uk • Dr Damian O’Kane will host a ‘UCAS Clinic’ on Tuesday 21st August 2012

18. HPAT Ulster • Allied Health Professions • Dietetics • Occupational Therapy • Physiotherapy • Podiatry • Radiography (Diagnostic & Therapeutic) • Speech and Language Therapy • http://hpat-ulster.acer.edu.au/index.php

19. HPAT Ulster • Registration • Opens 9am on Monday 3rd October 2011 and closes 5pm on Wednesday 11th January 2012 • Late Registration • Opens 5pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 and closes 5pm on Wednesday18th January 2012 • Additional fee of £30 • Test • Saturday 28th January 2012 • Coleraine, Magee & Jordanstown campuses • Cost of test - £97.50 – payable by Mastercard or Visa at time of registration