UCAS - UCAS reveals top ten questions from university and college applicants

UCAS reveals top ten questions from university and college applicants

UCAS has shared the top ten questions asked by applicants searching its intuitive website - with queries about deadlines topping the chart.

Over the past year the UCAS website has received millions of hits to the intelligent search box on the homepage. Using keywords, anyone interested in higher education can pick the question most relevant to their needs, and get instant access to the right answer.

Typing in 'deadlines' brings up the most popular question: 'What are the UCAS deadlines for applying?' The answer gives all the key dates and requirements applicants need to be aware of. The second most-asked question was 'Which universities offer the course I'm interested in?' Students asking this are shown the link to Course Search on the UCAS website, which lets applicants search by university, course, or region.

Students interrogating the FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions] box were also interested in personal statement advice, and how to get started with Apply on the UCAS website.

Cathy Gilbert, Director of Customer Strategy at UCAS, said: 'This list shows that applicants are asking all the right questions before making their university and course choices. Students know that the UCAS website will give them the answers they need about all aspects of applying to university or college. It's especially encouraging to know that so many people want to make sure of the UCAS deadlines to get their applications in on time.'

Here are the top ten questions answered by UCAS.com via the intelligent search box, along with the number of hits to that question and the answers

What are the UCAS deadlines for applying? (490,000 hits)

15 October for dentistry, medicine, veterinary science and veterinary medicine and for all courses at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

15 January for all other courses except those above and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline.

24 March for art and design courses except those listed with a 15 January deadline.

30 June - the final deadline. All applications that we receive by this date are processed and sent to the universities and colleges [but they are not obliged to consider you]. Applications that we receive after 30 June will go directly into Clearing.
Which universities offer the course I'm interested in? (301,000 hits)

Use Course Search on our website to look for universities and colleges that offer the course you are interested in. You can search for courses by keyword, subject or course code, and see which universities and colleges offer the courses. You can also narrow down your search by picking only certain subjects, course levels, universities, or regions of the country.

How should I end my personal statement? (220,000 hits)

Try to end it with a positive statement - it could highlight your interest in the course(s) or explain how you think you will benefit from higher education. However you choose to end your personal statement, it is your final chance to impress.

How many UCAS Tariff points does my qualification have? (203,000 hits)

To see if your qualification will earn you Tariff points, find the qualification on our Tariff tables. Then check the grade you have obtained, and note the number of points given for the level you have achieved.

Please note, not all qualifications will give Tariff points. Please speak to the universities to ensure that they are happy to consider your particular qualification. They may make you a grades based offer instead of a Tariff based one.
Can I apply late? (140,000 hits)

You can submit a late application up until 30 June but the institutions would be under no obligation to consider you. Therefore, it is advisable to get in touch with your prospective choices before applying to check what their usual policy would be for late applicants.

Can my personal statement be more than 4,000 characters? (120,000 hits)

You cannot enter more than 4,000 characters into your personal statement, this includes lines and spaces. You also may use no more than 47 lines within your personal statement.

What is the UCAS Tariff and how do I work out my UCAS points? (107,000 hits)

The UCAS Tariff is a points system used to report achievement for entry to higher education in a numerical format. It shows how different types of qualifications compare and provides comparisons between applicants with different types and volumes of achievement. Full details of the Tariff are on this site.

In May 2011, UCAS announced the Board's decision to suspend the assessment of new qualifications for inclusion in the UCAS tariff whilst the Qualifications Information Review is underway. Read the announcement here.
Why haven't I received my letter? (98,000 hits)

If you're waiting for a letter, this can take up to a week to be received in the post after the relevant change has been made to your application. If it is being sent outside the UK, this could take up to three weeks.

Can I substitute a university choice? (91,000 hits)

You can substitute a choice within seven days from the date printed on your original UCAS welcome letter. In Track, go to the 'choice details' page for the choice you want to change and select 'substitute choice'. This will let you change the university or college details. You can only change each choice once.

How do I start using Apply? (46,000 hits)

You can access Apply here or by going to www.ucas.com and clicking on Apply. Click register/log in to Apply to start your application.

There's help text in Apply to help you with each question - click on the question marks or the help link on the left to access the help text. There's also lots of advice in the Applying section of this site.

Notes to editors

About UCAS

UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. The charity manages applications from over 600,000 applicants each year for full-time undergraduate courses at over 300 institutions across the UK.

Press Office contacts

UCAS Press Office: 01242 545 469
James Woodward, Press Officer
Email: j.woodward@ucas.ac.uk

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