Applying to University

Applying to university: A guide to getting a place at

university for undergraduates

Endless possibilities await.

Stay focused. Go far.

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CHOOSE CUMBRIA KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY CHECKLIST FOR CHOOSING your UNIVERSITY MAKE EVERY INTERACTION COUNT HOW TO APPLY IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS HOW TO WRITE A PERSONAL STATEMENT HOW TO GIVE A GREAT INTERVIEW Let’s bust the jargon

Choose Cumbria We are Cumbria’s university – enriching people and place. A place of possibility, where amazing journeys happen. Where it’s safe to be brave, to be boldly you. Where you’re seen and understood. Where knowledge changes lives, communities and business. Where stand-out graduates go on to untold possibilities, making a positive difference to our world.

Whatever you want to be, whatever you want to achieve, we offer a wide range of degrees across health, sports, social work, teaching, business, law, science, conservation, outdoor studies, arts, creativity, tourism, policing and more.

1 university.

5 campuses.

Endless possibilities.

We are the University of Cumbria.

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*Higher Education Statistics Agency 2020

key dates for your diary 8 SEPT 2020

UCAS* opens for applications to be submitted for September 2021

15 jan 2021

Applications should be made to UCAS by 18:00 (GMT) on this day for equal consideration. Your supportive reference needs to be gained and completed before your application can be sent through UCAS.

FEB 2021

Apply for your student finance support funding through your funding body depending on where you’re applying from.

25 FEB 2021 5 MAY 2021

UCAS Extra* opens.

3 JUN 2021

If you have received all your university decisions by 6th May, you must reply to any offers by today (except if you are using Extra to find a place), otherwise they’ll be declined.

17 JUN 2021

If you have received all your university decisions by 3rd June, you must reply to any offers by today (except if you are using Extra to find a place), otherwise they’ll be declined.

4 jul 2021 5 jul 2021

Last day to apply through UCAS extra.

aug 2021 sep 2021

Results month. Good Luck!

If you have received all your university decisions by 31st March, you must reply to any offers by today (except if you are using Extra to find a place), otherwise they’ll be declined.

Clearing opens. Clearing is how unis and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses. You can apply using clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places.

The beginning of your next chapter. See you there.

*see our Jargon Buster on page 15

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Support and advice You can find more dates for your diary at cumbria.ac.uk/choose-cumbria where you can book yourself on to one of our events.

Open days, masterclasses and campus tours are available year round.

We also have a team of experts on hand to support you every step of the way, from identifying the best courses for you through to support with applying and accepting your offer. This team are available 9-5 Monday to Friday.

Live Chat: cumbria.ac.uk Call us: 0330 127 4649 Email us: enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk

“It was a University of Cumbria open day that changed my mind. I went with my Mum and we both loved it, I think even my Mum was considering a career change!�

- Molly Mcconnell, BSc Outdoor Adventure and Environmental Studies

CHECKLIST FOR CHOOSING YOUR UNIVERSITY You need to be confident in your decision and positive that you’ve made the right choice for you. Will the university you are considering live up to expectations as well as deliver the knowledge and support you need to succeed?

We’ve developed a checklist to help you get clarity on what you actually want from a university, before you ask anybody what they can offer.

Work your way through the features opposite and rate them as 1, 2 or 3.

1: Really important to you 2: Nice to have but not a deal breaker 3: Not important to you Once you have gone through and numbered each statement, you will have a really clear idea of what’s most important to you.

Those marked with a number 1 are the top priorities for you when looking for a university and these are the things you need to ask about along the way.

“I chose the University of Cumbria because I’m passionate about supporting local institutions, the teaching staff were committed and passionate and you get a lot of one to one attention.”

- Chloe Booth, LLB (Hons) Law

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The university offers the course or subject area I want to study.

The job rate is high following graduation, meaning that I am more likely to go into the career I want.

The university is close to home.

The university is in a new location, away from my home town.

The local area is affordable to live in.

The location has good transport links so it’s easy for guests to visit me.

There are social and support groups which match my interests and needs.

The campus is safe.

The university is split location with each campus tailored to and designed for specialist subject areas.

The Students’ Union or the university itself offers activities and societies I’d like to take part in.

The surrounding area is packed with weekend activities and opportunities to explore.

The university and course have good partnerships and opportunities to network.

There are plenty of placement possibilities.

There are plenty of part time jobs available in the area.

The university is flexible and supportive to accommodate my needs, such as childcare and/or other caring duties.

The university values its students’ mental health and offers initiatives around health and well being.

Make every interaction count Attending a university event, be it a UCAS event or a university Open Day, can be overwhelming. You’ll have more information, ideas and options thrown at you than you can maybe handle. It’s good to bring your checklist to these events and really understand what that university can do for you. Get into the detail with our list of questions that will help you make the right decision.

Questions about your course • What are the entry requirements?

• What modules will I study?

• How many hours a week will I have teaching?

• How many hours a month will I have 121 with my academics/tutors?

• What career prospects are typically associated with the degree.

• What are the employability rates for this university?

• How will I be assessed? (e.g. exams, coursework, placements, etc.)

• What teaching facilities are there in particular for this course of study?

• Are there any opportunities to undertake placements?

Questions about student life • What recreational and sporting facilities are available on the campus?

• What clubs and societies are on offer?

• What is the Students’ Union like?

• What support and guidance does the university offer students?

• How can the Uni support with my studying?

• How can the Uni support me with my job prospects?

• What kind of public transport links are there?

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“University has changed my life.

It taught me the breadth of careers available, as well as giving me a plethora of skills which gave me the confidence to pursue my dream job.”

- Amy Jones BSc (Hons) Marine and Freshwater Conservation

Questions about accommodation • How much are the accommodation fees?

• What type of accommodation does this campus have available?

• Is there accommodation on-site, off-site or both? Or If off-site, how far is it from campus?

• Are all first-year students guaranteed on-site accommodation?

• What security measures are in place for accommodation?

• Do you have accommodation with suitable adjustments for disabled students?

• How far is the accommodation from the nearest shops/bars/restaurants?

Questions for current students • Why did you decide to study here?

• What do you enjoy about this university?

• What is the community like at the university?

• What advice would you give for yourself if you could go back in time to your open day?

How to apply in 4 simple steps UNDERGRADUATE APPLICATION PROCESS

step 1: FIND YOUR COURSE We offer more than 100 unique degrees, from Art to Zoology. Browse our course list at cumbria.ac.uk/choosecumbria

step 2: APPLY THROUGH UCAS All full-time undergraduate applications should be made on www.ucas.com.

It is advised to apply before the 15 January to secure your place.

You can apply for up to five courses at a time. The UCAS application costs ÂŁ20 for a single choice and ÂŁ26 for 2 or more. Although the main deadline is the 15th January, there are still additional application periods throughout the year until Clearing in August.

Apply on UCAS (Institution code: C99)

Step 3: Come for an interview or audition Some of our courses, such as healthcare, teaching, policing and arts, require an interview or an audition. Our admissions team will get in touch with more information if you need to come for an interview.

Step 4: ACCEPT YOUR OFFER If we decide to offer you a place, you will receive email notification from admissions with any conditions you need to meet. You will need to accept this offer on UCAS.

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We are amongst the best in the UK and top in the North West for employment or further education after graduating.

(HESA 2020)

How to write a personal statement What does a personal statement look like Personal statements have a character limit of 4000 characters (about 500 words) and there’s a lot to include in that. It needs to be written by you, about you, and can include any skills, hobbies, interests or experiences you think are relevant to your application.

Typically it is split into about five paragraphs.

1.

2.

what interests you about the subject? why have you chosen it?

what experience do you have of the subject that isn’t already on your ucas applications

3.

4.

5.

work experience, placements and relevant activities at school.

interests outside school particularly those that show you are a reliable and responsible person.

your goal of attending university and a memorable closing moment.

Top tips • Read some examples online.

• Proofread it yourself and ask others to check it for you.

• Use a ‘professional’ email address.

• Keep it positive and enthusiastic.

• Use a strong opening and closing sentence.

• Avoid jokes, quotes and humour.

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How to give a great interview Each course has their own requirements – make sure you do your research on your application process.

Here’s Sharon from our Admissions team (who’s been interviewing our new students for more than 10 years) with her top tips on giving a great interview.

VIDEO TO BE EMBEDDED HERE

Let’s bust the jargon Adjustment: A service available on results day to those students who have gained higher results than expected and would therefore would like to change the institution or course they will be studying.

BA: Bachelor of Arts, the undergraduate degree awarded to those studying an arts or humanities degree.

BMAT: The Biomedical Admissions Test. A form of medical admissions test required by certain universities.

BSc: Bachelor of Science, the undergraduate degree awarded to those studying a scientific discipline.

Bursary: A non-repayable monetary award made to students who satisfy certain criteria as set by the awarding universities and colleges.

Clearing: A service that opens on results day each year whereby those students without a place at a higher education institution can gain a place on courses with spaces still available.

Combined Honours: A degree encompassing more than one subject.

DSA: Disabled Student Allowances are monetary awards made to those students who may need additional support through their studies as a result of a disability or long-term health condition. For example these awards may pay for specialist equipment, printing costs, a note-taker etc. These awards are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

FE: Further Education. Refers to the qualifications taken post 16, i.e. after a student has taken their GCSEs. Firm Choice: A student’s first choice of higher education, this is the institution and course they will attend providing they meet the conditions of their offer.

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Fresher: The informal term given to first year students at university.

Gap Year: Students may opt to take a year out of their studies before beginning a higher education course, this year can be used to work, travel, volunteer or a mixture of the three.

Halls: The term given to university accommodation that students can opt to live in during their first year of study at university.

HE: Higher Education refers to the qualifications that are taken at level 4 or above, i.e. those that are taken after A-Levels or equivalents.

Hons: Honours - indicates a level of attainment attached to a BSc or BA. Insurance Choice: A student’s second choice of higher education, usually with slightly lower entry requirements. This is the institution and course a student will attend should they not meet the terms of their Firm choice.

Lecture: A style of teaching whereby staff deliver content in a theatre style room with students taking notes.

Module: A period of study covering a particular topic. Many programmes are divided into modules with a certain number of modules required to study the course to completion.

Semester: A block of study containing certain modules (at universities the year is usually split into two semesters).

Seminar: Smaller, more interactive, group teaching. Usually centred on group discussion with some work to prepare prior to the session.

SFE: Student Finance England are the body who manage applications for maintenance and tuition fee loans across England.

Term: The periods of teaching time throughout the academic year.

UCAS Extra: An additional period of time to apply for courses through UCAS when someone has not applied during the main UCAS application period or has received no offers of a place.

UCAS Track: The online service allowing applicants to track the status of their higher education applications.

UCAS: University and College Admissions Service. The central organisation who handle applications for higher education across the UK. UKCAT: The UK Clinical Aptitude Test. An admissions test required by some medical and dental schools across the UK.

CONTACT US 0330 127 4649 enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk @CumbriaUni universityofcumbria cumbriauni