UK university applications: what students need to know

With its vibrant higher education sector, the UK offers students high-quality teaching and a vast range of choices. But it also has a unique university application system that students need to know their way around. Read on for a complete understanding of what makes the UK an attractive place to study, and how to secure a place at a UK university.

Why study in the UK?

The UK boasts more than 160 universities, from historic to modern, and from specialist institutions to universities offering a vast range of courses. About 2.4 million students study in these universities for more than 50,000 courses. The country is home to many of the world’s leading universities, namely Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, and universities in London, including University College London, Imperial College, and the London School of Economics. But it’s not just the big names; UK universities score highly in global rankings and enjoy a good reputation with employers globally.

The relatively short duration of UK university courses can offer considerable cost savings. Unlike the US, most university courses in the UK last three years, with exceptional programs such as medicine and law. Moreover, many master’s programs in UK universities have a duration of one year. Scotland, with its slightly different education system, typically offers four-year undergraduate degrees.

The higher education system in the UK encourages independent learning, and students are responsible for organizing themselves. Dissertations are essential for most courses, providing students with invaluable problem-solving skills that will serve them well in the working world. The country has a reputation for innovative teaching and learning methods that are adopted internationally.

As a multicultural nation, particularly its cities, just living in the UK will facilitate engagement with a vast range of cultures. But its student body is even more diverse, hailing from every corner of the world and providing a richer student experience.

The UK’s diverse economy means internship opportunities while studying can be tempting. Students are generally allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during school and 10 hours a week otherwise, so they can even take up paid work to complement their studies. And when they finally graduate, a government visa scheme allows them to stay in the country and work for a further two years.

Who should apply to university in the UK?

With its breadth of courses, university environments, and locations, the UK offers something to suit most students. The most distinct characteristic of undergraduate courses in the UK is their high degree of specialization. That works best for students who are confident about what they want to study and already clear about their chosen career.

The emphasis on independent learning means that UK universities often suit people who like to explore and take the academic initiative. If a student prefers to learn through a prescriptive, lecture-based method, other countries might be a better fit.

What to study in UK universities?

Applicants need to apply for a specific course for their undergraduate program. So once students decide that the UK is the right destination, they must zero down on the course and specialization.

“The key in the UK system is to think about what subject do I want to study, and then where do I want to study it,”

Catherine Eames, International Student Recruitment Manager at Imperial College London

Students can apply for more than one course at the same university. However, with all applications made via a single UCAS form, it’s almost impossible to write an application that will apply to multiple courses unless they’re extremely similar. Since students apply to a specific subject, transfers between programs are rare. Again, if they do happen, it’s likely to be between similar courses.

There are also some variations in the types of courses offered in the UK. Sandwich courses allow students to spend a year on internships or at a campus in another location. Integrated programs provide the chance to combine bachelor’s and master’s programs in a single four-year course. Universities in Scotland, meanwhile, are more likely to offer joint honors than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.

Where to study and how to find the right-fit university?

Students tend to default to the famous names – which usually receive the most applications and are the hardest to crack. Counselors can help students explore other options and find the right fit by investigating the teaching style and curriculum for the chosen subject at different universities.

Here are some other factors to consider while choosing a university:

• Course-specific rankings: While rankings can be critical for assessing a university’s strengths and weaknesses, they are often generalizations. Counselors must encourage students to look into a university’s reputation for their chosen subject.
• Facilities and costs: The student environment can be very different depending on which university a student chooses. Big cities and smaller towns offer different atmospheres, facilities, and experiences. Students should remember that costs tend to be higher in the cities, and towards the southern parts of the UK. 
• Culture at university: There’s also a difference in ambiance between the country’s ancient seats of learning and its modern campuses. Resources like the National Student Survey, conducted on behalf of the UK’s official higher education regulator, can give students insight into what life is like at a particular institution.
• Work opportunity: Students should also consider employment and internship opportunities offered through each university. Several universities support students by sharing job openings on their website.
• Financial aid: As finances are a concern for many, it’s also worth noting that fees vary by university and course, as do the range and size of scholarships and other sources of financial aid offered to students.

What qualifications are required?

Several qualifications are recognized by universities in the UK, including the homegrown A-level system, IB and the US curriculum. For students with qualifications that are not recognized in the UK, foundation courses can provide a route to undergraduate courses.

When to apply?

There are a few key dates to remember for students who are planning to study in the UK:

• August: the centralized UCAS system opens for applications.
• October 15: the deadline for applying submission for courses in medicine and veterinary sciences, as well as to Oxford and Cambridge.
• Final Wednesday of January: the deadline for all other applications. However, students should try to apply well before then. While they can still apply after that deadline, universities are under no obligation to look at those applications.
• March to May: universities make the majority of their decisions. Bear in mind that the more in demand the university, the slower it’s likely to get back to students – and with the least promising applicants often weeded out first, no news can be good news.
• July to August: universities make their final admission decisions, after the publication of that year’s A-level results.

For more information about UK university application timelines, please download the PDF resource for UK admissions given at the bottom.

How to apply?

UK university applications are centralized through the UCAS system, which also acts as a useful starting point for researching courses and colleges. Students can apply for a maximum of five course-and-university combinations through the UCAS form. Most of the information required is pretty straightforward: personal details, qualifications, grades, subject choices, work experience, and references, as well as a personal statement.

Students can also research their options and apply directly through Cialfo. The platform’s School section features a list of colleges in the UK, while its Direct Apply feature shows details of the courses they offer, along with deadlines for application.

Predicted grades are a vital factor for UK universities when it comes to admissions decision-making, so encourage students to be realistic and apply for courses that match their grades. Colleges will also consider academic records, references from the school, additional entrance tests in selected cases, typically in subjects like medicine, law, and math, and the UCAS personal statement.

Offers and Acceptance

The overwhelming majority of offers from UK  universities are conditional, where the final decision depends on high school results. Sometimes students think this is somehow not a real offer, but it very much is; unconditional offers are a rarity. Even if all of a student’s five initial applications are rejected, that isn’t necessarily the end; the UCAS Extra system allows them to make further applications until July 5, while the UCAS Clearing system allows them to do so after that.

Students may get acceptance from upto five places, but they need to narrow their choice down to two of them by June. One is Firm Acceptance - which means that if students achieve the required grades, the place is theirs. The other is Insurance Acceptance, with lower required grades in case they don’t quite get the results required for their first choice, giving them two chances to go to a college they’ve chosen.

The most important thing for students to decide is their choice of course, as in the UK system, everything else follows from that, and students must specify it on their UCAS application form. They can refer to ucas.com, the British Council, universities’ websites, and the School page on Cialfo’s student platform for information on UK universities. They should bear UCAS’s deadlines in mind and make sure they provide accurate, detailed information, focusing on the personal statement, which should emphasize academics.

Watch this webinar to know more about applying to universities in the UK and fill the form below to download your UK application timeline tracker.