UK University Guide

How do I apply to university in the UK?

To apply for an undergraduate course in the UK, you will need to fill out and submit an application form through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS).

They will then process this and send it to your chosen universities for consideration.

The UCAS form contains the following sections:

• Personal details
• Additional information (UK applicants only)
• Student finance
• Course choices
• Full education history
• Employment history
• Personal statement
• Reference

The personal statement is one of the most crucial parts of the application form, so we recommend you start your application in July or August, so you have plenty of time to complete it, especially if you are applying for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science or to Oxbridge.

To help you write your personal statement, we have lots of resources here at Studential, including:

• Personal statement examples
• Personal statement template
• Personal statement length checker
• Personal statement writing guide
• Personal statement editing services

Once you have written your personal statement, and filled out the rest of the form, you can then submit it to UCAS.

Take a look at our application timeline to make sure you don’t miss the deadline (otherwise universities may not consider your application).

What is a higher education college?

A higher education college is a great alternative to university if you would prefer to attend a smaller institution.

These colleges, like universities, offer undergraduate courses in a more intimate environment.

As well as this, there are the added benefits of smaller class sizes, more one-to-one time with tutors, more detailed career guidance, more flexibility, and in some cases, lower costs.

Take a look at our College or University? section and our Swindon College case study for more details.

How do I prepare for university?

To make sure you are ready to start university in the autumn, you will need to have sorted out your accommodation, student finance and your student bank account.

Before you go, it’s also a good idea to make a checklist of everything you need so you don’t forget any of those essentials (or non-essentials!).

Check how long it will take to get there, where you need to go when you arrive and leave plenty of time.

If it’s a long journey, you might want to consider travelling the day before and staying the night somewhere locally. This way, you’ll be refreshed and ready for your first day.

What happens in Freshers’ Week?

Freshers’ Week is a rite of passage for any student beginning their university journey, giving you a chance to make friends and have lots of fun before getting down to the serious business of studying.

This week-long event is an opportunity to adjust to your new environment, find out where the supermarkets and other shops are, and find your way around the lecture halls, canteen and other facilities.

You can also sign up for clubs and societies, so take a look at what’s available and get involved in anything that interests you.

We're sure the week will fly by! so make the most of it while you can.

What other resources are there to help me prepare for university?

As well as talking to your family and friends about any concerns you may have, we have lots of other tips and advice on preparing for university, including:

• Freshers’ Week Survival Guide
• Freshers’ Week Tips
• Student budgeting
• Student TV licence guide
• Council tax for students
• Student tax & national insurance
• Budgeting
• University checklist
• Student cooking
• Student blogs.