ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE - Student Guide 2020/2021 - UCAS Application

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ben

Student guide outlining the UCAS journey for higher education applicants in the UK, including how to understand UCAS, research courses and universities, and evaluate whether a university choice fits intended profession and subject interests. It explains course search resources, common degree study formats, and the role of planning, visits, and online application steps. Guidance also covers admissions tests, language requirements such as IELTS, and the importance of key deadlines and next steps after application.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages45

Reading Time1 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

What is UCAS?

Choosing a Course

Choosing a University

UCAS Tariff Points System

The Importance of IELTS

Admissions Tests

Important Deadlines

Your UCAS Application—The Online Process

Writing a Personal Statement

Gap Year—A Good Idea?

What Happens Next?

STUDENT GUIDE 2020/2021 ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE TABLE OF CONTENTS What is UCAS? 3 Choosing a Course 4 Courses – Where to Find Information 7 Choosing a University 8 Points to Remember when Researching Universities 9 OXBRIDGE-Are you a Likely Candidate? 15 UCAS Tariff Points System 18 The Importance of IELTS 19 The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 20 The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) 22 The National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) 24 English Literature Admissions Test (ELAT) 26 Oxford: Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) 27 History Aptitude Test (HAT) and Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) 28 Important Deadlines 29 Your UCAS Application-The Online Process 30 UCAS Log on Record Form 31 Registering for APPLY Instructions 32 Completing your Application Form 33 Writing a Personal Statement 39 Gap Year – A Good Idea? 43 What Happens Next? 44 ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE WHAT IS UCAS? The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK. Not only do they process more than two million applications for full-time undergraduate courses every year, but they help you to find the right course for you. To make things run as smoothly as possible they provide everything you need online: from making your application through to tracking your offers. You can search for courses and follow links to individual university and college websites, read information about finance, order a UCAS card and much more besides. [www.ucas.com](www.ucas.com) A successful UCAS application is best achieved when student, school and agent/parents are all actively involved. Step 1 – Planning, research, visits Step 2 – Choosing courses: deciding what and where Step 3 – Applying online through [UCAS.com](UCAS.com) Step 4 – [Offers: check progress using Track at UCAS.com](Offers: check progress using Track at UCAS.com) Step 5 – Results Step 6 – Confirmation of placement, or Clearing Step 7 – Starting University or College Six good reasons to go to university • Graduate earnings are still greater than those of non-graduates, so choosing to do a degree is an investment worth making • Graduates are 50% more likely to get a job and are more likely to receive training and promotion. • Graduate employees are more likely to experience ‘job satisfaction’ (challenging jobs with responsibility and inherent rewards) . • A relevant degree is required for entry to some professions i.e. architecture, law, teaching, accountancy, medicine. • A university education will develop you intellectually and personally leading to an enhanced quality of adult life. • It is great fun!– a chance to spend three years with people the same age from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds. It is probably the biggest decision of your life so far-get it wrong and you could end up losing money if you drop out, or spending three very unhappy years in education. You might fail to gain access to the occupation you had hoped for and have to retrain. PAGE 3 CHOOSING A COURSE Becoming a student in higher education (HE) is a big step, and there are important questions you will need to consider. There are over 50,000 higher education courses listed in the UCAS database, offered at over 350 universities and colleges. There are also a significant number of Further Education Colleges that offer higher education courses. With so many options available, choosing a course can be a difficult decision. What are you looking for? Is your intended profession dependent on a specific degree? Do you want to study a particular subject or subject combination in greater depth; think about what you enjoy and can do well, both at school and outside. It doesn’t even have to be a subject you studied at school: there is a far wider variety of subjects available than in the secondary education curriculum and work experience, a job or a hobby m

FAQs

What is UCAS and what does it do for applicants?

UCAS manages applications to higher education courses in the UK and helps students find the right course. It also supports online application, tracking offers, and accessing course and finance information.

How should students choose a course in the UCAS system?

Students should consider whether their intended profession depends on a specific degree, and decide what subjects or combinations they want to study in depth. UCAS Course Search provides course information including fees, financial support, entry requirements, and possible career paths.

Which admissions tests and requirements are highlighted for different subject areas?

The guide lists key tests such as BMAT, UCAT, LNAT, ELAT, and Oxford’s TSA, plus HAT and PAT for specific pathways. It also emphasizes the importance of IELTS where relevant.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ben