UCAS: preparing for what comes next

The UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline (ECD) has passed, and the excitement of waiting for decisions from universities and colleges begins to build. Here are a few things for your students to think about during this period, to best prepare for what comes next and ensure the decisions they make are as informed as possible.

Meeting conditions on accepted offers

If your student receives an offer, make sure that they carefully read the conditions attached, and that they fulfil these as soon as they are able to.

Some requirements might take a while if you’re waiting on exam results, but things like original transcripts for previously completed qualifications can be sent as soon as the offer is received. The more documents a university has in advance, the quicker the process will be for your student when they receive their results.

If your student is taking the IB, make sure that they give permission directly to IB to share their grades, as this makes the process a lot simpler for everyone. Another top tip is to make sure that your student always includes their UCAS personal ID number when contacting universities, to make it quick and easy for them to find their record of the student and reply. If you will be speaking to the university or UCAS on behalf of your applicant, make sure that they have added you as a nominated contact.

Offer holder days

If your student has accepted an offer, they may be invited to an “offer holder day”. This is like a mini open day where they are also able to view potential accommodation. Although this won’t be suitable for all students due to distance, if it’s manageable for your students and they weren’t able to make it to an open day, it could help them feel more confident in their decision.

Many universities will have virtual options available if they’re not able to attend in person, or online taster classes. Alternatively, your students could use Unibuddy on the UCAS site to talk to a current student.

Accommodation

Make sure that once your student has selected a firm choice, they start to look at the accommodation options available to them. Their options will range from university-managed accommodation to private student halls or private sector accommodation. To help your students figure out what’s best for them, it’s worth looking into all three options, but on-campus university-managed accommodation can be easier for first-year students, as bills are typically included in the rent and it’s a great way to make friends.

Most cities will have a range of options for all budgets and needs. Be aware that if your student is going into private sector accommodation some landlords or letting agencies will ask for a UK-based guarantor. Whichever option your student chooses, make sure they keep on top of any application deadlines and understand when they’ll hear back about their application.

Fees and scholarships

Once your student receives their offers and decides where they will be studying, it’s time to think in more detail about how they will be funding their studies. Some universities offer scholarships and bursaries, and will begin to communicate this to eligible students, but why not try browsing the UCAS International App to see all the opportunities in one place?

Make sure that if they are planning to use any kind of loan or scholarship within their own country, they start this process as early as they’re able to. If your student has been given international fees and for any reason thinks this is incorrect, it’s always worth checking with the university. They will need to see evidence explaining the request and each university will assess fees slightly differently – UKCISA is a good starting point if you or your student think their fee status is incorrect.

Visas

If you are supporting a student who needs a visa to study in the UK, make sure that they are aware of all the relevant documents they will need for this, including financial evidence, medical certificates and a passport with enough time left on it.

Their university won’t be able to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies or CAS (the document students use to apply for a visa) until all their conditions are met, but having all the documents ready can help to speed up this process. For more information, UKVI is a great source of information, or students can reach out to the visa team at the university. If your student isn’t sure if they need a visa or not, make sure they reach out to the university they plan to study at as soon as possible to check this.

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