For the filing of documents to the universities of England and Britain (and for British students, and for foreign students), the centralized system UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) has long been used successfully. It has been working since 1993: today, through UCAS, you can submit documents and applications to more than 300 universities in the UK for 40,000 ducational programs and courses. It is especially convenient that each student can apply through the system to 5 selected institutions or to 5 different programs: this saves considerable time and effort, helps increase the chances of successful enrollment and, on the whole, greatly simplifies the process of admission.
How does UCAS work?
If you want to apply to UK universities using UCAS, first you must register on the official website of www.ucas.com. Carefully review the list of available universities and curricula, select TOP-5 priorities for you. It can be as 5 courses within one institution as well as different programs in different universities - the main thing is that the total number of applications does not exceed 5. Note: the submission of one application costs 11 £, and several - only 22 £, so it's more profitable to choose immediately Several programs.
After you have decided on the priority courses, carefully review the submission dates and deadlines:
- October 15 - the end of receipt of applications to Oxford and Cambridge, to all programs for veterinary medicine, dentistry and medicine (the highest competition)
- January 15 - almost all other programs (basic set)
- March 24 - end of the application for the course on art and design
- June 30 - deadline for filing applications if you are applying for a secondary (additional) set.
How to apply to UCAS?
The application in the UCAS system is a convenient and simple, step-by-step filling of several forms: personal data, work experience, certificates of education and additional courses, etc. Also, the entrant provides motivational essays (academic goals, personal and educational advantages and dignities), and also applies letters of recommendation and characteristics from teachers to the package of documents.
Try not to leave blank fields and the graph, fill out the application as completely as possible - and, of course, do not specify false and unreliable data: it will be very easy to check all the information, and in case of fraud the way to the British universities will be closed to you.
How can I get answers from universities? How long should I wait?
A special tracking system Track helps you to quickly monitor the process of reviewing your applications in each university you marked. If necessary, you can always place an additional order through the special unit UCAS Extra.
Usually universities after careful, detailed consideration of each application give the applicant one of two answers:
- Unconditional offer is an unequivocally positive answer: the chosen university is ready to enroll you to the program without any additional conditions
- Conditional offer - in general, the university is ready to accept you for the chosen program, but puts you additional conditions (for example, the surrender of one or several entrance examinations or tests, a portfolio demonstration).
Pay attention to the important fact: if you submit more than 1 application (and SMAPSE experts urge you to do this), place the university and programs in the order of personal interest and preferences. The first place is the university and the course where you want to study most, and further the programs and institutions that you choose more as additional, "spare" options. Why is it so important? In the UCAS system, there is a rule: if at least one application receives the Unconditional offer (that is, an unambiguous agreement to accept you for the chosen program), the remaining applications to universities (which are below your preferences list) are automatically canceled. Be attentive and strive for more!
