Writing a UCAS application as an international student
If you want to study in the UK, you need to submit a UCAS application. To do so, it’s important to understand the process so you submit the best possible information to university admissions teams.
The UCAS application comprises many stages and it’s important that you understand the deadlines before beginning the process. Some universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, have earlier deadlines than others and it’s important you read and understand exactly what you’re being asked for.
Below is an overview of each of the application stages:
Register on the UCAS site.
Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to fill in your personal information including sponsorship details, residential status, any special needs and prior criminal convictions.
This information needs to be verified by email and you can nominate access if an advisor, parent, or guardian will speak on your behalf at any stage during the application.
Choose a course.
Before you do this, it’s important to do some homework about different courses offered by different universities. For example, even if two courses have the same name, they may cover different topics and modules, so it’s best to understand these similarities and differences before chosing a course. Choose what you find most interesting and are passionate about!! We can’t stress this enough – there’s nothing worse than studying something you have no interest in.
In addition to this, you need to make sure you meet the course’s entry requirements. Many international students speak to school or Higher Education Counsellors to understand more about this. We advise you do the same if you have any questions about eligibility.
Choose universities.
You can only choose up to 5 universities which offer the same or similar course. To help you choose a university, we urge you to consider where it’s located because you need to make sure you’ll be happy living somewhere as a priority. Yes, the university’s reputation can look good on your CV, but if, for example, you think you’ll get distracted by living in a large city, choosing institutions in smaller towns or cities might be more appropriate.
Check out different university websites and read alumni testimonials to learn what others have to say about a certain institution. Also, consider the cost of living in different locations. Living in London tends to be a lot more expensive than living in a smaller city, for example.
Educational background.
You’ll have to evidence your educational background by including things like qualifications and equivalent scores from secondary school onwards. “Equivalent scores” just means how your grades in your home country translate to UK scores. For example, an Indian student achieving a 90%+ average in their CBSE/ISC board exams would roughly equate to an A* grade at A-level, which is worth 56 UCAS points.
If you’re still studying and awaiting your results, your referee can put your predicted grades on your application.
To learn more, check out the UCAS Website which includes all the information you need for completing your application.
Employment history.
Work experience can be relevant when applying to university but is especially relevant to postgraduate applicants. You can add up to 5 jobs on your application which can be full or part-time. Make sure to include things like company names, locations, addresses and job descriptions, as well as start and end dates. You can elaborate more on these in your personal statement, so don’t go into too much detail. Evidencing your work experience can help universities understand more about you as a person and enhance your application.
Statement of Purpose (these are due to be reformed for 2025 in favour of a questionnaire).
This is where you go into detail about yourself and showcase your interest in the course. You should be able to explain why studying in the UK will benefit you and how studying. Your personal statement can be a maximum of 4000 characters (including punctuation). You can check your character count on UCAS’ website.
It’s a good idea to draft and redraft your statement. It’s normal for your first draft to be a mess of ideas, and through re-reading making tweaks you’ll steadily improve your drafts to the point where they’re nearly ready for submission. Ask friends, family members, or teachers to read your personal statements and give you feedback.
We recommend you include the following information in your statement.
> Excitement: Describe what makes you excited about the course you intend to study.
> Inspiration: Include information about what inspired you to study the course.
> Activity: Say what you’ve done in pursuit of your interest.
> Skills: Include information about your skills and relate them to the course you’re planning to study.
> Information that’s unique to you: Remember that your statement is a chance for you to shine! Include information that makes you stand out such as your hobbies and interests.
References.
You’ll need to include some references for your application and they’ll each write a reference letter. Your referees can be teachers, advisers, or a working professional. Make sure to approach your referee in plenty of time to ensure they submit your reference in plenty of time.
Applying for university can be a mystifying process and it’s essential you do some desktop research and speak to your advisers before starting. Do your homework about course eligibility, university locations, and the differences between courses at different institutions.