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Making the transition from school to university or college can be a challenging time, not only for students but for their parents as well. Decisions about what to study and where, concern about where your child will live and how they’ll cope living on their own, potential debt – there are numerous factors to consider.

At UCAS, it is our aim to try to make the transition as smooth as possible. Not only do we process more than two million applications for full-time undergraduate courses every year, but we help students to find the right course. We do this through the provision of extensive information and a number of innovative online tools that make it easier for students and higher education institutions (HEIs) to manage applications and offers.

UCAS

Based in Cheltenham, UCAS (the University and Colleges Admissions Service) offers a number of admissions services through which students can apply for a variety of different courses. The main service is the UCAS service, which in 2008 saw over half a million applicants apply for a full-time undergraduate course. In addition, we operate: CUKAS, the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service, for students wishing to apply to specialist practice-based music courses at a number of UK conservatoires; GTTR, the Graduate Teacher Training Registry for postgraduate teacher training courses; and UKPASS, the UK Post Application and Statistical Service, for other postgraduate courses.

Research

Gaining a place on a full-time undergraduate course at university or college has three distinct stages:

1. research

2. the UCAS application

3. consideration by the HEI.

Choosing what university or college to go to and what course to study is a big decision, and the importance of the first stage cannot be underestimated. Thorough research will make sure that the right course is applied for, for the right reasons – and will ensure that you and your child know exactly what is required during the admissions process. While an application can be made to any course, some will require particular qualifications or grades; others may require an additional interview, admissions test or submission of a portfolio.

The UCAS website www.ucas.com is an excellent place to start. Here you will find information specifically tailored for parents and students, giving advice and guidance on topics such as finance, important dates in the application calendar, and choosing what to study and where.

Our interactive Course Search system offers the facility of searching for courses through a number of filters, including course type and region. Each return will give details on the entry requirements needed and further information about the course itself. Many courses now have their own Entry Profile, which give much more detailed information on what the course offers, the selection process, open day information, finance and bursary information (including a bursary comparator) and much, much more. You will also see links to another useful website, www.unistats.com, which allows you to see a variety of data on specific HEIs and courses, including what over 200,000 students responding to the National Student Survey thought of their higher education experience.

Experiential research is also important, and each year we organise many events to help inform your child’s decision-making. The more that can be found out about individual courses and places to study, the more prepared they will be, first, to make an application and, second, when they get there. Our conventions and subject-specific exhibitions give the opportunity to speak to representatives from universities and colleges; many also have extensive seminar programmes, covering topics such as grants and loans, taking a year out, filling in the UCAS application the and entry to competitive subjects.

It is also important to visit an institution that your child may be considering applying to, to get a real feel for the campus, see the accommodation on offer, and meet staff and current students.

The UCAS Tariff

When looking through the various course details, you will often see an entry requirement based on UCAS Tariff Points: for example, 240 points. The UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points to qualifications used for entry to higher education. It allows a range of different qualifications – including foreign qualifications – to be used by students to help secure a place on an undergraduate course.

The Tariff helps universities when deciding on course entry requirements and when making offers to students. Entry requirements and conditional offers (see Decision-making by HEIs, below) that use Tariff points will often require a minimum level of achievement in a specified subject. For example, ‘300 points to include grade A at A-level Chemistry’ or ‘260 points including SQA Higher grade B in Mathematics’.

Students can collect Tariff points from a range of different qualifications, although not all will necessarily be acceptable for entry on to a particular course. It is imperative that the entry requirements for a course that your child is interested in are read thoroughly in order to ensure that his or her qualifications are suitable for that particular course. Equally, the achievement of a points score does not give automatic entitlement to entry and many other factors are taken into account in the admissions process. Use of the Tariff can vary from department to department within any one university or college; where you or your child are unsure of the acceptability of a qualification, it is recommended that advice is sought from that institution before the submission of a formal application. It is worth noting that not all post-16 qualifications attract Tariff points. Likewise, not every university or college uses the Tariff when making offers. When researching what course to apply to, it is important that all information about the specific entry requirements are read and understood. If in doubt, speak to the university or college admissions tutor or ask your child’s school tutor for guidance.

The UCAS website contains a number of sections giving information on and explanations of the UCAS Tariff; Tariff tables detailing the points score for various qualifications and grades are also available.

The UCAS application

Advice on how to complete the UCAS application, including the personal statement, will be given in school. In addition, there are useful video tutorials and ‘how to’ guides on our website (www.ucas.tv) and further information on our main website (www.ucas.com). The application form is completed through our online Apply system. It saves the information inputted as you go, so your child can take time to consider her or his application, and it means that it doesn’t all have to be completed in one go. It is important, however, to adhere to any application deadlines set either by the school or by UCAS.

Once the application form has been completed by the student, the school tutor will then complete a reference. After that, the form gets sent to UCAS and we will send it off to the institutions being applied for. Decision-making by HEIs A university admissions tutor may initially make one of three decisions in respect of an application:

1. unconditional offer – which means that all entry requirements have been met and the university or college is happy to accept the applicant

2. conditional offer – which means that they will offer a place if certain conditions are met, which are usually based on exams 3. unsuccessful.

Your child will be able to follow their application, keep up to date with any offers received and manage their offers through our online Track facility. It is important your child thinks carefully before replying to any offers as, once an offer has been accepted, including an insurance offer, they will be committed to that course.

More information on receiving and replying to offers, including explanations of the different types of replies that can be made, can be found in the student area of our website and the ‘After you apply’ section.

Clearing

If, having submitted an application, your child does not secure a place at university or college they may be eligible for Clearing. Clearing begins in August and can help students to find suitable vacancies on higher education courses in the UK: thousands of students gain a place in Clearing each year, so if your child finds themselves in this situation, or if having received their exam results they don’t meet the conditions of their offer, it is certainly not the end of the world. Extensive information on Clearing and other options that might be suitable can be found in the ‘Results, Clearing and your next steps’ section of our website. If your child would prefer to speak with someone, then the customer service advisers in our call centre will be happy to help. They can be reached on 0871 468 0 468 or by email at enquiries@ucas.ac.uk. Spending two, three or maybe four years at university or college can be a life-changing experience. With appropriate time spent researching and understanding the various options available and taking time to consider their application, together with being prepared for Clearing, those years could be the best of your child’s life.