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Why you should consider a two-year degree

Fri 26 July 2019 - 09:02

By Samantha Carmichael in First year

Since the House of Commons’ ruling on accelerated degrees, it is becoming likely that all universities could soon offer two-year degrees.

Yes – a fully accredited degree in just two years.

Where I study, at the University of Buckingham, they have been offering this alternative for over 40 years. Since the Commons’ announcement, people have been giving two-year degrees a bad rap, with one educationalist calling them ‘gimmicky’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As a student who’s halfway through a two-year degree, I thought I had to shed some light on the concept of accelerated degrees, because there are many misconceptions out there.

Now these are the top five...

What happens next?

Wed 17 July 2024 - 15:50

By UCAS in UCAS advice

So now you’ve sent your application you’re probably wondering what happens next. Look no further as we’ve got it covered in this short blog post!

1) Uni decisions 

Wondering when the unis will reply? If you applied by 31 January you’ll have a decision from each uni by 16 May.

Once a university has made a decision, you’ll see one of the following in Track:
  • conditional offer – you still need to meet some requirements – usually exam results
  • unconditional offer – you’ve already met the entry requirements and your place is confirmed. However, additional information such as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or proof of qualifications may need to be provided
  • invitation received – you’ve been invited to an interview. The date will usually be given in Track – if not, ring the uni for details
  • unsuccessful – you haven’t been...

What you need to do before the deadline

Mon 22 July 2024 - 13:11

By UCAS in UCAS advice

29 January is the 2025 deadline for most undergraduate courses. If we receive your application by 18:00 (UK time) on this date, its guaranteed consideration by your chosen universities and colleges. There are some exceptions where a different deadline might apply – see when to apply here.

Has this deadline crept up on you? If the answer is ‘yes’ then you’re probably less prepared than you might have hoped. It’s never a good idea to wait until the very last minute when it comes to something as important as your university application, so if you haven’t already hit send, aim to do so as soon as you can. Here are some of the reasons why you need to set aside plenty of time...

You’ll need to pay for your application
If...

Got an unconditional offer?

Thu 19 December 2019 - 10:10

By UCAS in UCAS advice

If you’ve got an unconditional offer, it means the uni or college thinks you will succeed on their course. It also means that if you select them as your firm choice, you will definitely be accepted.

But it’s important to remember accepting any offer is a big decision – and it should be where you want to go! If it’s unconditional, or a conditional offer that changes to unconditional, if you firmly accept it, just make sure you think things through.

1. Qualifications matter

An unconditional offer may be reassuring and take a bit of the pressure off, but your school or college qualifications are still important. You might be on your way to getting a degree, but finishing your studies, doing the work, and taking your exams are all really important to prepare you for uni or college – you’re going to have to work when you get there too, and you’ll be straight into assignments, coursework, and for many courses,...

Applying to uni as a parent

Wed 5 June 2019 - 14:17

By Gemma King in Parents

Their are so many emotions when considering and applying to University for everyone, not just parents. Parents have a couple of extra thoughts… Will I have enough time to spend with my children? Where will they go when I’m in lectures? Will we cope financially? I have thought these things over and over in my head since I hit that apply button back in October. 
 

I have two children, and have been putting off applying for University for the last two years since completing my access course back in 2016. However as a single Mum and back with my parents, I have had to recalculate my finances, ensure all possible loans and grants are applied for and calculated so I know my budgets! Not to mention having to ensure my youngest is in nursery and my eldest has someone to drop off and pick up as the uni is around 40 minutes away from our new home. 

Thankfully my university has a nursery near campus (Top Tip: Ensure your Child's name is down on...

UCAS Application status: Sent!

Fri 20 December 2019 - 11:16

By Sophie Gibbons in Applicant

Hello, my name is Sophie Gibbons, and I am currently attending college where I study a Level 3 UAL in Media Studies and Production as well as the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification.

I have now officially sent off my application to five different Universities where I will potentially be attending one of these five choices in 2019, and I am absolutely blown away by how nerve racking it was! I am surprised with how much of an affect this has had over me as I am usually quite a laid-back person, but no... clearly am not – I proved myself wrong, I am in fact the opposite.

So, I was sitting at my desk in college today and the realisation hit me... I need to send of my application! Even though I have an extended deadline compared to everyone else applying to university in my college, as me being the unique and impatient person I am, I decided to apply as an individual because the college didn't get me their buzzword quick enough.

The result of this now is me...

How to prepare for interviews, auditions and tests

Thu 25 July 2024 - 11:31

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Depending on the kind of courses you apply for, your chosen unis and colleges may invite you for an interview or audition – in fact they’re compulsory for some courses, such as teaching and nursing.

They’re a way for both students and course tutors to find out if they’re mutually suitable. If invited, your chosen uni will make sure you have all the details so you know where to go and when. The interviewers may want to see work examples – such as an essay or piece of coursework – but they’ll let you know this in advance.

Here are some quick tips from us:
  1. Plan ahead – check where you’ve got to go, when you’ve got to be there and try to sleep well the night before so you’re in the best possible position on the day.
     
  2. Make a good first impression – show up on time, dress appropriately, remember your manners...

Settling in during freshers' week

Thu 20 June 2024 - 12:07

By James McDowell in First year

For many young people, including myself, freshers’ week can be a daunting and nerve-wracking thing to think about. There are many worries that freshers may have about uni life – this is very normal, and includes fears around how they are going to cope with new surroundings, the workload, and the financial responsibility they will now have to face. This blog will shows new freshers that there is nothing to worry about, with a few tips along the way.

One of the main fears new students have is their first few weeks at university. This is to be expected – some students will be walking into classrooms with people they have never met before, which can cause some anxiety. My university had a great induction programme which helped me settle in and get to know others. This also helped me develop confidence that I was good enough to be on the course – one of my personal fears, as I thought I was not smart enough to be at university. However, this fear was quickly eliminated during my...

How to prepare for your conservatoire audition

Mon 22 July 2024 - 13:12

By UCAS in Applicant

If you’re applying to a conservatoire, you’ll need to attend an audition before they can make a decision – our guide to making the most of your audition will help you get to grips with how to prepare.

To give you a better idea of what could be in store for you at an audition, Nicola Peacock from the Royal College of Music shares her top tips.

Auditions are a busy time for conservatoire staff, but also exciting, as we get to meet the talented new students who will be joining us next year. We are very aware that auditioning at a conservatoire can seem a daunting prospect, but we really want applicants to have a positive experience and a lot of effort goes into ensuring we look after you on the day.


How to prepare
Each conservatoire will have information on its website about what you need to prepare and any particular requirements, so check these carefully when you know your audition date. If...

1st Year Studies - Starting (and Changing!) Universities

Thu 4 July 2024 - 11:05

By Chloe Brewster in First year

Almost two months since my university journey commenced, it is fair to say that I, like other uni students, have gained a multitude of experiences which, as I write this on a Saturday night with my mind somewhat foggy after finishing a strenuous shift at work, is quite overwhelming to think about. In fact, most first-year students would tell you that the first couple weeks of university are madly busy, often to the extent that it is easy to forget the ‘little’ moments which, if you were not facing so many tasks at one given time, you would definitely remember!
 

However, I’m enjoying the fast-paced nature of university life – although this opinion will probably change when deadlines for essays loom even closer! – because, as each week passes, I’m growing more settled in my transformation into a student in higher education, a status which I’m extremely grateful to declare as mine.
 

Yet, as the title of this post...

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