Study Full Time in Great Britain

2 years before the start of your studies:

Ideally set up a file on the computer or paper to collate all the information you find out about.

Explore opportunities:

• study costs
• what course/direction you would like to get into
• work experience: what can you do to make your application stronger.

Start thinking of your options:

• What is it going to cost: living costs and costs of studies.
• Explore the higher education system in the UK.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Exploring and discussing cost.
• Support with course choice.
• Exploring work experience (what, why, where…).
• Introduction to the British education system.
• Exploring and supporting you in your planning.
• Answering any questions you may have.

1 and a half years before the start of your studies:

Seriously look into:

Find out what you need to do to apply

Think about:

• Who is going to be your referee?
• What courses would you be interested in?
• Can I afford this? If not, what can I do to make it work financially?

Find out about:

• What do you need to get into your favourite courses?
• What are your qualifications going to be worth and how do you find out?
• Living options (this is likely to be on campus for the first year at many universities.)
• Moving to the UK.

Visit universities/open days.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Advice on using the UCAS website and other sources of information to help you in your planning and decision making.
• Support with your UCAS application.
• Support finding a referee and organising your reference.
• Support with your decision making and planning.
• Support with finding your ideal course(s).
• Support and advice with your financial planning.
• Support with deciding what university would fit in best with your plans and ideas.
• Support finding out what your secondary qualifications would be equivalent to in the UK.
• Advice on and support with living in the UK.

Spring and summer 1 year before the start of your studies:

• Confirm your course and university choice.
• Register on the Ucas website
• Start your application
• Write your personal statement
• Confirm your referee
• IELTS test

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Advice and support with your decision as to where you would like to study.
• Assistance and support with your UCAS application.
• Advice and support with your personal statement.
• Proofreading your personal statement.
• Advice and support deciding who could be your referee and what that entails.
• Advice on your referee writing a reference.
• Advice and support in deciding on, and planning an English language test.
• Advice on your entry test, should you need one.
• Advice on and support for your planning.

Autumn 1 year before the start of your studies:

• Other entry exams or test for entry on some courses
• Complete your application including:
  • your personal statement
  • your reference
• Oxford and Cambridge; their deadline is October in the year before you start!.
• Apply by October if you are thinking of doing courses (degree programmes) in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science or veterinary medicine.
• Send application form to Ucas as soon as it’s ready.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Support organising our entry exam.
• Advice and support writing your personal statement.
• Proofreading your personal statement.
• Reference: unfortunately it’s not possible to support your reference beyond offering you advice on who could be a good person to write it.
• Advice and support in your decision making process (it will always be your decision!)

• Advice and support for your general planning.

Winter before the start of your studies:

Mid January: deadline for applying through Ucas! You can in principle still apply until the end of June, but many places could be filled.

• Look into accommodation, especially if not staying in university accommodation.
• Confirm everything will work out financially and explore solutions if they don’t.
• Concentrate on getting the best results for your present course.
• Accept and/reject offers

If you are not accepted on any of your choices:

Use Ucas Extra to apply to additional courses.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Advice and support for your applicatioin and planning, especially if you missed the January or October deadline.
• Advice for organising your accommodation and everything linked to this.
• Advice and support for the financial aspect to your studies. Bear in mind I am not a financial adviser and I can’t advice you in that detail.
• Support and advice for your final decision (it will still be your decision!).
• Support for your next step should you not get any offers.

Spring before the start of your studies:

Mid-March: Deadline for many art and design courses.

Send in your application form for student finance if you can. You can do this later but the sooner the better.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Support for your application for student finance and other finance.

Summer before the start of your studies:

From half through August: use Clearing to apply for any courses if you haven’t accepted any.

Confirm your choice once you have your results (contact university)

Confirm accommodation either with the university or with your landlord.

By the end of the summer:

• Move to your new accommodation.

If your accommodation is rented privately:

• Make sure you are insured.
• Arrange utilities if not all inclusive.
• Arrange internet if not all inclusive.
• Sort out council tax if living with non-students.

Attend introduction day for international students.

What I can offer (other support also available):

• Assistance and advice in case you haven’t received any offers.
• Assistance with and advice for organising your accommodation and utilities.

Advice about life in the UK.

At the start of your studies:

As soon as possible make sure you arrange:

• A bank account
• National Insurance card (especially if you are going to work part time to fund your studies)
• NHS card
• Registration with a GP (Doctor) and dentist.
• Send in student finance application if not done already.

What I can offer (other support also available):

Assistance and advice organising the practicalities of living and studying in  the UK.