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UCAS working with students to develop free iPhone application

Monday 7 June 2010

UCAS has been working with a brother and sister team on developing a new iPhone application which allows users to keep up-to-date on their university applications while on the move through Track.

Toby and Abbie Hughes had already created an iPhone app which allowed UCAS applicants to log into Track and keep an eye on their progress. Eighteen year old Abbie, who is currently at The Abbey School, Reading and is starting university this year, came up with the idea.

'It seemed obvious to me, as soon as you send your UCAS application, your whole year involves constantly being on the computer, tracking your application - Track addiction sets in!. So I thought it would be easier and simpler to be able to track your application from your phone. It was a need that I had, and many others felt the same. The app meant that students don't have to stress about their application because they have all the information at the touch of a button! The whole process of applying to university is stressful enough, so this just makes it slightly easier for students. I saw a niche in the market and hopefully this app has filled it.'

After Abbie came up with the initial idea, Toby who is studying biochemistry at Swansea University, had no problem designing the application as he had already had success in this area.

'My first design was an app for the entertainments department of the student union that allowed users to check up on events and listen to the student radio station - Xtreme Radio. I recently wrote an app for the Welsh Varsity 2010 which is being hosted in Swansea for the first time.'

'Everyone really liked the app and it was getting an average of 4.5/5 star ratings on iTunes' said Toby. Abbie continues, 'Everyone said it is such a fantastic idea and they wish they had thought of it! I don't think either of us realized we would sell over 800 in the first two months!'

It was this success that led UCAS to approach the siblings and offer to buy their idea and work closely with them to develop it further.

Jo Redfern, General Manager of UCAS Media, said 'We are delighted to work with Abbie and Toby on this project. We have been extremely impressed with the work that they have put in to the Track app. UCAS is constantly looking at ways to use the technologies of today and to make information more accessible.'

Abbie says of her experience of working with UCAS, 'It has been a great opportunity to be able to go for meetings at UCAS in Cheltenham, in a business environment. It has opened us up to new experiences and is a really good for later in life. Everyone at UCAS treated us with such respect, like fellow business associates. Who would have thought we would be doing that at the age of 18 and 19! It's been such a surreal experience but I love the fact that something we have done has had such success - it shows other people our age that anything is possible!'

The application is a read-only version of Track, where students can login and get an overview of their choices. They can select one of their choices where they will be able to see further details. There are also links to a comprehensive FAQ section and key dates in the UCAS application cycle.

The Track app is available on iTunes now and is free to download.

For more information, please contact.

Darren Barker
Corporate Communications Executive
Tel: 01242 545723
Email:d.barker@ucas.ac.uk

Lisa Davies
Corporate Communications Officer
Tel: 01242 544619
Email:l.davies@ucas.ac.uk

Notes to editors

There will be the opportunity for advertising on the application or it will be commercially supported. Before UCAS joined forces with Toby and Abbie, their original application had been on sale through iTunes since December 2009 at a cost of 59p and the feedback they received was extremely positive. Track is a UCAS online system that allows applicants to follow the progress of their application. They can use Track once they have received a Welcome letter from UCAS.

UCAS is a charity and is the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications for full-time undergraduate courses, together with applications through GTTR (Graduate Teacher Training Registry), CUKAS (Conservatoires UK Admissions Service) and UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service).

Since its inception in 1993, UCAS has processed around 30 million applications and placed over 5 million students on higher education courses.

Services include:

  • An informative website (www.ucas.com) enabling students and parents to access a wealth of information designed to help their application to higher education run smoothly.
  • A state-of-the-art contact centre (0871 468 0 468) providing a point of contact for students, schools and higher education institutions.
  • An online application system.
  • A simple, straightforward tracking service enabling students and schools advisors to access up-to-date information about their applications at the click of a button.
  • Over 50 higher education events each year providing 250,000 students with face-to-face advice on the UCAS process. Internationally, we participated in events in over 12 countries and also provided training and professional development throughout Europe and beyond.

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