There’s a lot to consider when applying for university, from deciding where and what to study, to writing your personal statement. Here, we’ve broken down the undergraduate application process into a step-by-step guide outlining what you need to do and when you need to do it.
If you’re applying for a postgraduate course, you can explore everything you need to know about master’s degree applications here.
When do you apply for university?
It’s important to stay informed about application deadlines and UCAS key dates, as they can differ depending on the course. The UCAS deadline for most full-time undergraduate courses starting in September falls at the end of January each year. However, some courses, such as medicine, have a much earlier deadline on 15 October. The January deadline is the final date when applications will be considered equally for all courses. While you can still apply to university after this date, there are no guarantees, and some courses may already be full. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to apply as early as possible. If you miss the UCAS deadline, explore your options here.
All university applications close at the end of June, after which they automatically enter the Clearing process, which opens in July. For the most up to date information for Sunderland, read our help and advice article.
Key steps when applying for university
1. Do your research
Applying to university is a big decision, so it’s crucial to conduct thorough research to make sure you’re choosing both the right degree and university for you.
There are hundreds of subjects and courses out there, so explore all your options, and choose something that aligns with your interests, academic strengths, and career goals. You may want to ask yourself some important questions such as, do the modules interest you? How is the course taught and assessed? Do you meet the entry requirements? Read the course information carefully, as even courses with the same title will vary between universities. It may also be helpful to speak to a teacher or careers adviser, who can offer advice if you have a particular course or career in mind.
If you’re thinking about moving away from home for university, it’s also important to consider where you want to live for the next few years. Does the town or city match your lifestyle and needs? What’s the cost of living like? How far is the campus from student accommodation?
We recommend requesting a prospectus and attending some university open days, where you can explore the campus and city, as well as speak to staff and current students about what life is really like at the university.
2. Write your personal statement
Your personal statement is a key part of your university application, as it allows you to demonstrate why you should be offered a place compared to other applicants with similar qualifications. To make your application stand out, it’s important to be yourself and let your personality shine through.
A strong university personal statement typically includes the reasons for choosing the course and how it aligns with your future career goals, along with any extracurricular activities, hobbies, and other relevant skills and experience. Be sure to highlight what makes you unique. Finally, don’t forget to have someone proofread your final draft to ensure it’s polished and free from errors.
For more top tips, read our guide on how to write the perfect personal statement.
“Before sending off your UCAS application, make sure to attend university open days, explore different cities, and ask questions about the courses so that you can find out more about the core and optional modules. Don’t limit your choices; make sure to explore every option out there. It can be difficult choosing both your university and course, but with enough research you’ll come to a decision eventually.”
Hannah Sly
BA (Hons) Media, Culture and Communication
3. Register with UCAS and complete your application
Before applying for university, you’ll need to register with UCAS. Once registered, you’ll be able to apply for a maximum of five courses. Make sure you allow plenty of time to complete and submit your application, which will require filling out your personal details, educational history, employment history (if applicable), qualifications, course choices, and your personal statement.
You’ll also need a written reference as part of your university application. If this is from someone at your school or college, it will be added once your application is filled out.
As with your personal statement, it’s a good idea to have one or more people proofread your entire application before submitting it to ensure everything is clear and free from mistakes.
4. After applying
After submitting your application, there’s no set date for when you’ll hear back from universities, but if you’ve met the UCAS January deadline, you can expect to receive responses by mid-May at the latest. You can track the status of your application through UCAS Hub, where you’ll be notified when you receive any offers. For some courses, you may need to provide additional documents, such as a portfolio or attend an interview or audition. You’ll be sent any important updates like this via email.
Universities will respond to applications with different types of offers:
- An unconditional offer means you’ve been accepted regardless of your grades
- A conditional offer means you’ll be accepted if you achieve the minimum tariff points
- Unsuccessful means you haven’t been offered a place.
If you’ve used all five of your choices but aren’t holding any offers, you may want to consider using UCAS Extra, which lets you add one more choice.
Once you’ve received all your offers, you’ll need to make a firm choice (your first choice of university) and an insurance choice (your back-up option) then decline all other offers. If you have a conditional offer, your status will be updated once your A level results are confirmed in August, and in most cases, your results will be sent directly to UCAS. Once you’ve been firmly accepted by a university, you’ll receive instructions on the next steps from them.
For more information about how to apply to the University of Sunderland, you can read our dedicated help and advice articles, or why not join us for an Open Day to find out more?
Published: 27 November 2024