Deciding where you want to go to university is just the first step. Next, you’ll need to send an application. Written statements, qualifications and personal details are just some of the information you will need when you apply. 

There’s a lot to remember when you apply to the UK, but the process has been made to be as simple as possible.

In our blog, we've listed every step of getting admission into a UK university. 

Before you apply

You have probably already carried out lots of research before you decide on the universities that you want to apply for.

If you haven’t, then you aren’t quite ready to begin your application. We’d recommend looking at prospectuses, visiting virtual fairs and watching videos from universities to help you make your choice.

Your application will be done through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Using this service, you can choose five different courses that you would like to study. 

Later, you’ll receive offers from your universities, and be able to make your final decision.

You can edit your application and return to it at any time, but you need to make sure you have everything you need before starting the process. Important information like your qualifications and personal details need to be included, so make sure you have these ready.

Putting your application together

Once you’re happy with your five choices, you’re ready to start the application.

• First, you will need to enter all of your basic contact information. Like with any important form, make sure all of your details are correct. If you change your phone number or address, then don’t forget to update your details in UCAS.
  
  
  
• Next, you will enter your university choices.

You don’t need to worry about putting preferences, as this information is only seen by you and UCAS. 

You will also include your education and employment history. List your qualifications, work experience, any extra courses you’ve taken and the jobs you’ve had - especially if they're relevant to the course you’re applying for.

• One of the most important sections will be the personal statement. This is an essay that explains exactly why you want to study that course. It’s a chance to promote yourself in a positive way and impress the admissions team.  Remember, your personal statement will be read by all your University choices - so don't name the University. Instead, write to apply for the course. 

You only have around 500 words (4000 characters) so make them count!

Here are a few quick tips for writing a personal statement:

• Talk about why you're interested in a topic
• Cover any relevant hobbies or extracurricular activities
• Use specific references to show your passion
• List skills that will be relevant to your studies
• Find a way to stand out from the crowd

Make sure you have a teacher check over your personal statement.

They can help you fix little errors and spelling mistakes that you might have missed. They can also review the statement to make sure everything you’ve said is engaging, relevant and helpful to your application.

We’d recommend having as many people look at it as possible as you never know what they’ll see that you didn’t.

• Finally, you need a written reference from a teacher or tutor who can recommend your academic work. Make sure you give them plenty of time to put the reference together.

After everything has been put together and you’re happy with your application, you’re ready to submit it.

Make sure you enter your application ahead of any deadlines the university has set. However, don’t forget you’ll also need to sort out accommodation and a visa, so don’t leave it too late.

What to do next

It doesn’t take too long for universities to get back to you, but the waiting can still be difficult.

We’d recommend getting through it by planning ahead and thinking about everything you need to do before you arrive in the UK.

There’s a lot to think about - accommodation, travel, packing, visas and more.

So, use this waiting time to carry out some research. This means you can take the next steps straight away after you hear you’ve been successful.

There will be a temptation to just keep checking the status of your applications on the UCAS website, but you will receive emails to let you know when a university has issued a response. There’s a lot to remember from start to finish, so you need a way of making sure you’re organised.