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Category: Application Archives – The UK Study Expert

UK Application Timeline & Deadlines | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

The UK application timeline can be similar but very different compared to the US. The UK does not have Early Action or Early Decision. Instead, UK universities have set deadlines depending on the university and courses. To better prepare you in your application journey, below are the timelines and deadlines when applying to UK universities for your bachelor’s degree!

→ Need help with your UCAS application? Get our UCAS Guide for $27

 

Deadlines

The UCAS Application is the centralized application system for all UK universities for undergraduate courses.

 

Applications for Oxbridge or Medicine/Veterinary/Dentistry courses must be submitted by 15 October.

 

For the majority of all other courses and universities, applications should be submitted to UCAS between:

  • September to January (final deadline varies each year) to be guaranteed equal consideration with other applicants.

    Disclaimer: Many top ranked universities will require this as their final application deadline. Please check the university’s application page.

    For 2025 entry, the equal consideration deadline is January 29th.

  • End of January (equal consideration deadline) to 30 June – the majority of universities will offer rolling admissions for international students. Students can still apply until 30 June, but places on courses may vary.

  • After 30 June – Students can use Clearing (more information on this below).

 

Admissions Test

Most universities do not require an additional admissions test, but the universities that do require it are the competitive universities (Oxbridge) or competitive courses (Business, Medicine, Law, etc.). Universities will list on their course page, admissions page, or on our university page if you will need to take an additional exam and their procedure. Or you can also check the UCAS admissions test page on the UCAS website.

 

University Decisions

Each university and college will make their decisions at different times depending when you have applied. Once you have applied, they have to make a decision on a student’s application:

  • If you send your application by the January deadline, you will hear back from the Universities before or by May. The usual response time for universities to respond back to an application is 2-6 weeks.

  • If you send your application by the June deadline, you will hear back by July.

 

Replying to Offers

Once you receive all of your offers, you will have deadlines to respond by. Don’t worry – these deadlines will be presented on your UCAS portal and you will be notified. These are varied deadlines based on when you get the last decision from your university or college:

  • If you receive your last decision on or before the May deadline, your reply date is typically in June.

  • If you receive your last decision on or before the July deadline, your reply date is typically at the end of July.

The actual dates and deadlines will be listed on your UCAS Application Portal. It’s important to check and make a note in your calendar so you don’t forget.

Clearing

All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing. Clearing is how universities and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses.

From July – October, you can apply for a course using Clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places.

If you have questions about deadlines or the processes and wish to speak to a UK university representative who assists with US students, you can contact a representative directly on our university webpages. Click the “contact university” on the red button on the university page and your message will be sent directly to them.


Toni Dolby is the International Recruitment Manager for the Americas at the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield is a World Top 100 University located in the heart of the UK offering undergraduate and graduate study. The University is truly international as we are home to over 29,000 from 150 countries and have been voted one of the top 50 most international universities in the world!

 

Need help figuring out your UCAS application? Check out our step-by-step UCAS Guide!


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Predicted Grades and UCAS Application | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Yay, you’ve completed your UCAS Application! The next step will require your counselor or teacher to supply predicted grades for you IB, AP, or other exams. You may be wondering: What is the best way to approach this? Will submitting the wrong grade hinder your chance of acceptance? We asked Ashley Warmington from University of Glasgow to help us understand this process.

 

Before we begin, it’s important to understand a major differences between US and UK secondary education. In high school, which is called ‘college’ in the UK, there are no GPAs or transcripts. Instead, students work towards exams called A-levels or Higher’s (Scotland) taken in May or June at the completion of their course. Students use scores they receive on quarterly practice tests to estimate the grade they will receive on their final exam. This is the predicted grade.

 

Often US teachers or counselors do not know how to calculate a predicted grade and are afraid they may be held accountable if they guess incorrectly. This is not the case. When approaching the predicted grade, think of it as the University asking you if the student is likely to meet the academic requirements. Using the mid-year transcript or a first semester progress report is a great way to estimate a final grade. We recommend that the teacher try and answer as honestly as possible based on the student’s previous coursework, but also keep in mind what the university’s minimum entry requirements are.

 

With all this in mind, we can see why the UK admissions process is historically test-focused. US applicants either appreciate the transparency (get the grades and you’re in, fall below and you aren’t) or fear it. It isn’t a perfect system, but one of the silver linings of the pandemic has been more and more UK institutions offering a flexible and holistic review process for US applications.

 

I hope that clarifying the UK grading/testing system helps you to understand the UK application/admissions process a bit better. As always, we recommend reaching out to a UK university representative if you are unsure. You can always find helpful articles on our website, The UK Study Expert or UCAS.

 

Ashley Warmington is the Senior International Officer for western USA at the University of Glasgow. Ashley studied her undergraduate degree in Scotland and has worked in UK admissions since 2016. She is now based in Southern California, where she helps American students through the UK application process.

 

 

Should You Consider a Foundation Year?

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Foundation years are something that are often overlooked in the UK university system, but provide benefits to certain students. There are typically two different types of foundation years in the UK.

 

The first is aimed at those who need some assistance with English before undertaking a full degree. This is called international foundation. We wouldn’t recommend this to US students since their first language is English. The second is a different type of foundation year, that students might take for a number of different reasons, and it is this one that would be most relevant to students from the US.

 

Foundation year is a preparatory pathway taken prior to starting a three-year degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are in broad subject areas, which will allow you to progress into a more specialized area. For example, at University of Sussex, our foundation year in Business, Management and Economics will allow students to progress into any of our 3-year degrees in the University of Sussex Business School.

 

So why take a foundation year?

A foundation year can be taken for a number of different reasons. As you start to research English universities, you’ll see that undergraduate degrees are in specialized areas (and start in the subject from day 1; we don’t have general education classes in our system!). But you might not be ready to commit to something that early on, so a Foundation Year can provide you with an intro year in a broad subject area whilst you finalize your choice on the three-year degree.

 

Most English degree programs will have specific academic requirements that you need to meet to be granted a place. This may be AP test scores, SAT/ACT scores, GPA, and we do this to ensure that you’ll be able to manage the workload on your chosen degree. If your test scores aren’t quite matching up, you could also consider a foundation year. There will still be requirements to meet (again to ensure that you can work at the foundation year level which is higher than high school), but they tend to be lower than the requirements for the degree, and give you that chance to bridge the gap between high school and first year of university.

 

Think of it like a final year top-up or attending community college in the US: It’s a great option if your grades aren’t strong enough to get into the school of your choice and you want to improve your academic skills. The foundation year gives you that option but you won’t be taking general education classes. Instead, you will be developing your subject knowledge before starting your bachelor’s degree.

 

You may also want to consider a foundation year if you’re rethinking your educational path, or if you’re coming back to education after a little while out.

 

How can a foundation year benefit me?

Foundations years have the aim of preparing students to be successful in the full degree they progress into. Because of this, you will be learning material specifically aimed to preparing you for a certain subject area – when school may not have done for you! You’ll learn essential skills and knowledge, and be taught by members of your university’s faculty. In fact, you’ll be considered a full member of the university, and get access to all the support services, facilities, and student life experiences that English universities have to offer.

 

What happens next?

Once you have successfully completed your foundation year (each university will have a certain grade they need you to make), you can then progress into one of the 3-year degrees that is in your chosen pathway. For example, the Social Sciences foundation year can lead into degrees in Politics, Law, Sociology, International Relations, Criminology, Geography- just to name a few. At this point, you’ll join the first year of your chosen degree and complete it successfully! And we know that students who have done a foundation year do really well too! At University of Sussex, over 88% of foundation year students went on to achieve the top two grades in their full degree in 2021.

 

Kasia Symons is the International Officer for the Americas at University of Sussex.

Differences of High School in the UK vs US | UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Have you ever wondered the differences between UK high school education compared to the US? Also, why do so many UK universities require AP exams to be admitted into their university? Ashley Warmington from the University of Glasgow clarifies the UK secondary system to better understand why…

There are four nations that make up the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The education system is similar throughout the UK; however, Scotland has a slightly different set of high school qualifications:

Scottish Education

In Scotland, high school students study what are called the Highers. At the end of each year, students take Higher examinations. Highers are one year in length and sYou’d be surprised to know that students can even take several Highers in their Junior year. (Known locally as Fifth year.) What the Scots call Sixth year, or the equivalent of a Senior year, students can take additional Highers or Advanced Highers in topics they have already studied. This is not required, but it is common for competitive students to complete this additional year.

This system means that students in Scotland have the option to apply to university in their Junior year; that being said, Scottish students typically need at least four test scores to apply. Degrees in Scotland are therefore four years to account for the optional year and still total 16 years of education like the rest of the UK.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland Education

The rest of the UK is uniform. Students sit the A-level exams which are taken in the final two years of school or what is known as Year 12 and 13. They spend these two years focusing on three or four subjects per year.  in preparation for the A-Level exams. Students in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales normally apply to University during Year 13 or Senior year. Since these exams are taken over 2 years, students often apply up to five with three test scores. 13 years of school leave and only three years at University to total 16 years of education. This is why degrees are three years in length in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Conclusion
While students in the UK don’t have GPAs or transcripts, they do specialize their education very early on. For instance, if you want to study Medicine you will be taking Biology, Chemistry and likely another STEM subject. If you are interested in Sociology you will be taking essay and analysis based classes such as Higher Psychology, English, Sociology – you get the idea. This targeted education can help them gain offers of study to their anticipated major.

The biggest difference between UK and US university education is the lack of general education or core curriculum requirements. Students in the UK apply to their major and study it from day one, allowing them to tailor their degree experience from the beginning. US students, on the other hand, tend to start broad with their classes and whittle down their interests later in university.

With all this in mind, we can see why the UK admissions process is historically test-focused. US applicants either appreciate the transparency (get the grades and you’re in, fall below and you aren’t) or fear it. It isn’t a perfect system, but one of the silver linings of the pandemic has been more and more UK institutions offering a flexible and holistic review process for US applications. This has been led by having more in-country officers based in America than ever before.

**Fun fact/side note: there are no high school graduations in Scotland! When students complete high school at their chosen exit point, they are commonly called ‘Leavers’. Instead of ‘Class of 2021’ hoodies you’ll see students with shirts that say ‘Leavers’. Because there is no grand exit to mark a momentous occasion, completing high school is not your qualification and you don’t receive a high school diploma – you receive the exam scores in your Highers or A-Levels.

Ashley Warmington is the Senior International Officer for western USA at the University of Glasgow. Ashley studied her undergraduate degree in Scotland and has worked in UK admissions since 2016. She is now based in Southern California, where she helps American students through the UK application process.

UK Still Accepting 2022 Applications | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

UPDATE [August 29, 2022]: The below universities are no longer accepting applications for 2022. Did you miss the September 2022 deadline? Learn which universities are accepting applications for January 2023! Read More.

The following UK universities have provided information if they are still accepting undergraduate and graduate applications for September 2022.

To speak to a university representative, please go onto their university page, click their university Contact Button and complete the form. The form will go directly to the university representative’s inbox who assists US students.

Any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

WALES

Aberystwyth University 

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Therapy are no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS, Direct University Application or CommonApp

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Cardiff University

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Occupational Therapy are no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

SCOTLAND

University of Abertay

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Glasgow

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, and Nursing are no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Heriot Watt University

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

ENGLAND

University of Birmingham

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Business, Law, Computer Science are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Scholarships available for PG courses – Global Masters Scholarship of £10,000.

Application: Direct University Application

University of Bristol

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? No

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Falmouth University 

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Data Science BSc, Music Business BA, Sound Design BA are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Artificial Intelligence MSc, Game Programming MSc are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: Direct University Application

Goldsmiths University of London

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: MFA Fine Art is no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: Direct University Application

Imperial College London

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? No

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Kent

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Medicine is no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Kings College London

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? No

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Some programmes could still be open, however, students need to check the pages on a course by course basis.

Application: Direct University Application

Leeds Beckett University

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: BSc Physiotherapy is no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: MSc Speech and Language Therapy is no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: Direct University Application

London Metropolitan University 

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Courses that are full for September 2022 will have a banner across the top of the course page noting they are full, but almost all of our undergraduate/postgraduate courses are still open.

Application: Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Dietetics and Nutrition MSc is no longer accepting applications for 2022. Courses that are full for September 2022 will have a banner across the top of the course page noting they are full, but almost all of our undergraduate/postgraduate courses are still open.

Application: Direct University Application

The University of Manchester

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: We are accepting limited applications for some of our environmental engineering courses, some of our international studies and politics courses, and very limited availability for biology or biomedical courses for 2022.

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Middlesex University London

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: BA Social Work is no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Newcastle University

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Medicine and Dentistry are no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: UCAS or CommonApp

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Norwich University of the Arts 

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

Oxford Brookes University

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Direct applications for international students are open until 30 June 2022. Allied health courses tend to close for applications before the deadline because of demand.

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Direct applications for international students are open until 30 June 2022. Allied health courses tend to close for applications before the deadline because of demand. 

Application: Direct University Application

University of Plymouth

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Medicine, Dentistry and some health programmes such as Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Health programmes such as Occupational Therapy and Nursing are no longer accepting applications for 2022.

Application: Direct University Application

University of Roehampton London

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS or Direct University Application

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Sheffield

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: BA Digital Media and Society, LLB Law and Criminology and LLB Law are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Surrey

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Veterinary Medicine, Acting, Musical Theatre are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: Direct University Application

University of Sussex

Undergraduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Application: UCAS

Graduate:

Accepting Applications? Yes

Notes: Data Science MSc (with placement), MSc Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management are no longer accepting applications for 2022

Application: Direct University Application

To speak to a university representative, please go onto their university page, then click their university Contact Button. The completed form will go directly to their university representative’s inbox who assists directly with US students.

Any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

 

 

UK and US College Essay Differences

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Your college application essay, what the UK call the “personal statement”, can be a crucial component to being admitted into university. The US college essay and the UK personal statement are very different from each other. It’s important to understand the differences and and what to look out for before submitting your application.

 

Most US college essays require you to select a topic that may be structured around you as a person. From what I’ve seen, most US students tend to submit a creative writing piece of their life that’s emotive and how they overcame a particular situation. It can sometimes be triggering and very dramatic to grab the reader’s attention. In addition, students may be required to write supplemental essays about why you want to study at that school or academic field. Universities may use creative questions which allows the reader to understand their ability to think and engage. If you are applying to a large sum of colleges/universities, this can be very stressful and time consuming.

 

Creating a personal statement for a UK university is a very easy and straightforward process. What they are requiring is not a creative writing piece but more so of an understanding and clear idea of who you are, your academic skills, knowledge of the subject, why you chose the subject you want to study, and why you want to study in the UK.

 

If you are applying through UCAS, you are required to submit one essay with a limit of 4,000 characters, which roughly estimates to a few paragraphs. That’s right… one! This one essay will be sent to each individual university you are applying to, therefore, it’s very important to avoid listing the universities by name. You want to make the essay generalized so it applies to all the courses and universities.

 

Another difference is that they do not require different essay topics to choose from nor do they require supplemental essays. This should save you time when planning out to submit your application.

 

If you’re having a difficult time on how to write the essay, I always give these resources to help them through their journey. UCAS provides so many helpful personal statement resources. These are my favorites below:

 

UCAS Personal Statement Mind Map

UCAS Personal Statement Worksheet*

 

*Two important questions that are missing from this sheet is: ‘Why do you want to study in the UK? Why do you want to be an international student rather than study in your home country? Don’t forget to add these in as this is an essential part of who you are.

 

UCAS also has more helpful resources and inspiration that is worth checking out.

 

How The UK Study Expert Can Help You

 

Looking to find your best match UK university? Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy search tool. Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match. 

 

Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs. 

UCAS vs. Direct UK Applications

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

When you start your research on how to apply to UK universities for your undergraduate degree, the UCAS Application is the main resource and platform to start your journey.

 

? Need help with your UCAS application? Get our UCAS Guide for $27

 

What is the UCAS Application?

 

The UCAS Application is the centralized application system for all UK universities. In the application, you can only apply up to 5 UK universities. Therefore, it’s important to do your research and narrow your list on where you would like to apply. Plus, there’s fees associated depending on how many you apply to (£20 for a single course, or £26 for more than one course). It’s not only a centralized application system, but it also offers helpful tools such as a university course finder, student life, interviews, etc.

 

What you may not be aware is that many UK universities are also offering their own online direct applications outside of UCAS. Applying through their own system instead of going through UCAS can be beneficial and have many advantages including:

 

  • Quicker response time on the decision of your application

  • More affordable (Most are free!)

  • Easier to complete compared to UCAS – many students have trouble inputting the correct information into the qualifications section, etc.

  • Able to upload all of your documents instead of submitting them directly to the admissions department. Sometimes you may be waiting until the admissions department reaches you. With the UCAS application, you cannot upload documents.

 

The benefits are great but what happens if you apply to direct university applications and the UCAS application? What are the precautions when applying to both?

 

DISCLAIMER: Applying to both could ultimately impact your offers if you do not read the following below:

 

If you know a university has a direct application, we recommend you check their policy before applying. For example, University of Brighton recommends applying through their direct application only if you do not intend to apply to other institutions.

 

If that is the case, I would respect their requirements and choose wisely. With other universities, if they do not state this type of policy on their website, then it’s OK if you apply through UCAS and the university’s direct application. There’s no penalty or issues when applying to both. Plus, this could actually widen your pool of offers because you could potentially apply to more than 5 if you add the direct applications!

 

The biggest takeaway that you need to be aware of is when you accept an offer. We highly recommend that you accept only 1 offer between the direct app and UCAS.

 

Here’s the issue: If you accept two offers (one from UCAS (firm) and another from a direct app) you will jeopardize and risk losing both offers.

 

Why? When you accept an offer from a direct application, the information goes directly back to UCAS. Once the information is populated in the system, UCAS can notify both universities and reject your decision.

 

Overall, it is possible to apply both through UCAS and direct applications, but just be careful when accepting! You don’t want to risk jeopardizing your chance of admittance.

 

*If you are applying to Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science – due to the competitiveness of these programs, some universities may recommend applying through their direct application or only through UCAS. We recommend checking with the universities before applying.

 

UK Universities that offer direct applications for international students:

Aberystwyth University

Falmouth University

Northumbria University

London Metropolitan University

Oxford Brookes University

Queen’s University, Belfast

St. Andrew’s University

University College Birmingham

University of Brighton

University of Bolton

University of Buckingham

University of Cumbria

University of Dundee

University of Essex

University of Greenwich

University of Hertfordshire

University of Kent

University of Manchester

University of Roehampton

University of South Wales

University of Stirling

University of Strathclyde

University of the West of Scotland

York St. John

How The UK Study Expert Can Help You

 

Looking to find your best match UK university? Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy search tool. Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match.

 

Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs. 

 

 

 

Need help figuring out your UCAS application? Check out our step-by-step UCAS Guide!

Get the UCAS Guide for $27