UCAS Guide for Gap Year Students
2024 Entry�www.ucas.com
Applying to university during your gap year…
Your UCAS reference…
Important deadlines
Due to the processes involved in preparing and attaching a reference the MHCHS deadline dates for completing your UCAS application form online and returning information to me are as follows:
29th September for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
8th December for all other courses
Registering for an account
If you already have a UCAS account, you do not need to re-register but you must create a new application for 2024 entry.
You can do this directly from your UCAS Hub Homepage.
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Registering for an account�
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Registering for an account�
Complete the short form. Make sure the password is memorable.
We recommend you use a personal email address so you have access to updates at all times.
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We’ll email you a code to verify your email address, so we know we’ve got the right details.
Registering for an account�
Registering for an account�
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Once you’ve registered, we ask you a few questions like when you want to start studying, where you live and what you’re interested in so we can tailor the information you see.
Make sure you choose the correct study year, 2024 if you want to start next year, including if you want to defer entry.
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Choose the correct level of study; it's Undergraduate if you’re still at school/college or if you are taking a gap year.
You can choose to get information on apprenticeships and conservatoires here too.
Tell us where you live so we can direct you to the right information.
Registering for an account
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Choose if you want to get tailored information about uni, college and apprenticeship options.
Select the subjects that you are interested in – you can change these at any point in your preferences.
Registering for an account
Registering for an account
To Do:
Your email
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It’s really important your contact details are kept up to date throughout your application.
We recommend using a personal email address as your primary email, rather than a school/college one, so that you have access to it throughout your application journey.
To update your email address, go to ‘Edit your account’ from drop-down, where you can change your email.
Starting your application.
Starting your application
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Choose the year you want to start your studies, level of study (it's Undergraduate if you are still at school/college) and type of application you wish to make.
Make sure you choose 2024 if you want to start next year, including if you want to defer entry.
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Starting your application �
To start your UCAS application click on 2024 applications to get started.
You must click on “NO”
Application overview.
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Your ‘Application status’ helps you keep track of your progress.
As you add information to each tile, the percentage complete updates each time you mark a section as complete.
You don’t need to complete the application straight away, you can log in and out at any time until you're finished.
Application overview
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The application form is responsive to make it easier to complete.
Once you’ve completed ‘Contact & residency details’ if your permanent residence is in the UK, you’ll also see the ‘Diversity and inclusion’ and ‘Extra activities’ sections to complete.
All sections must be marked as ‘Complete’ to send to your school or college that you may be linked to for review. You must complete all mandatory questions to mark a section as complete (they have a *).
Application overview
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Application overview
The list on the left of each section will show which sections are completed (with a tick), which are in progress (with a half-moon) and which have yet to be started (no icon).
Click on the throughout for help text to provide advice about what to put.
Personal details.
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Personal details: your name should already be visible, but you'll need to add your title and complete the other mandatory fields (marked with a *).
Once you have completed a section you must remember to mark the section as complete and save it at the bottom of each page.
Contact and residency details.
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Your email will be used by both UCAS and your choices to update you. If you're using a school/college email address make sure you can access it at all times so you don’t miss anything important.
We would advise using a personal email address, which can be updated in the Hub preferences.
You'll only see the fields to add the nominated contact details if you answer Yes to the question.
This means someone else can speak to us about your application.
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If you select No, additional Home address questions will appear. Remember to use our help text for advice about this question if you are unsure what to enter.
Nationality details.
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If you’re a UK national, this is what you will see.
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If you were born in the UK but have a different nationality, you will be asked additional questions.
The information you provide will help universities and colleges in determining your eligibility and allow them to assist you with the visa application process, if required.
There's some possible combinations but we'll only show relevant fields depending on your answers.
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If you select that you will need a visa, you’ll also be asked for your passport details.
If you have a passport, we ask you for your passport number, valid from and expiry dates; and place of issue.
Select to see our help text with advice about this.
Supporting information.
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All questions are mandatory (*), but you have the option of don't know and Prefer not to say.
English Language Skills.
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If you have taken an English proficiency test, you can add your certificate numbers and we’ll pass them on to your chosen universities and colleges when you submit your application.
If you haven’t completed any tests, you can leave the remaining fields blank and then mark this section as complete.
Finance and funding.
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You will only be asked further questions in finance and funding if you select UK, ChI, IoM or EU Student Finance Services.
We'll ask you for your local authority under ‘Student support arrangements’.
For more information head to: ucas.com/finance
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Diversity and inclusion.
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You’ll only see these questions if you have a UK home address.
There are two mandatory fields(*), but you have the option to respond with I prefer not to say.
This information is only shared with universities or colleges once you have secured a place, it does not influence any decision making. It’s used to ensure applications are treated fairly.
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Growing up in care means you are entitled to a range of practical support; for example during your application, financial assistance, year-round accommodation, or help with managing your health and wellbeing.
When you give this information, you are letting the university or college know that you may need additional support during your studies. They may get in touch to tell you more about the benefits and options available, if you want it.
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You can select I prefer not to say for the parental education question.
For the occupational background, you must type at least 3 letters into the response field, and then select an option from the menu that appears below it.
If you prefer not to give this information, please enter ‘I prefer not to say’.
More about you.
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You can tell us about any circumstances that you might need support for during your studies. We don't need you to give details – this information will be shared with those involved in making arrangements to support you at the university or college (e.g. the student support team, admissions staff), and they may get in touch to tell you more.
In order to mark the section as complete you will need to select an answer: either to share information or select 'No disability’. You will see this question if you have a UK or Non-UK home address.
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You might feel uncertain about sharing personal circumstances, please feel reassured this information is confidential and will not negatively impact your application.
These questions are intended to connect you to the right support for your needs.
You will only see these questions if you have a UK home address.
Education.
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You must enter all your qualifications from secondary education onwards – whether you have the result (even any that were ungraded) or you’re still awaiting exams and results.
First you need to add details of where you’ve studied, or are studying, then add qualifications.
Start by clicking Add place of education.
You’ll be asked for a Unique Learner Number – if you don’t have one leave the question blank.
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Type the name of where you studied. Once you find your centre, click on the name and the Exam centre number will automatically populate.
If an exam centre number doesn’t appear that’s ok, it’s because we don’t have it.
Add when you started and finished, and if you’re still studying there add the month, you’re due to finish.
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There are warning messages to help you.
For example, you can't say you attended 2 or more places of study full-time during the same date range.
Red text are warnings and mean something is wrong and blue text is for information you need to be aware of.
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Once you’ve added where you studied you need to ‘Add qualification’.
If you are searching for a qualification make sure you use the qualification title. For more help and advice head to ucas.com.
International qualifications are listed by name and country, but don’t worry if yours isn’t there – type ‘other’ into the search box and select the relevant option.
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The qualification dates you can select are based on those you entered when you entered your place of education.
You need to enter the awarding organisation – speak to your teacher or adviser if you’re not sure.
If you haven't finished the qualification or had your result, then you choose Pending*.
It's entirely up to you whether you include module information. However, some courses may state in their entry requirements that they'd like to see module results – in which case make sure you include them on the application.
* If presented with a free text box then the result must be left blank.
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Employment.
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Only enter paid work here, so not everyone will have something to enter.
If you add more than one employer it will appear in chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Any work experience or volunteering should be covered in your personal statement.
If you leave this section blank remember to mark it as complete.
Extra Activities.
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Please add any activity you have taken part in to prepare for higher education.
These include national or regional schemes, university-run programmes, summer schools, taster courses, and booster courses.
Open days are not relevant to this question.
If you haven’t attended any such activity, please leave this sections blank.
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If this section is relevant to you, you need to include:
If the type of activity you attended is not listed, please select ‘Other’.
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The activity provider is the organiser of the activity. It may be a university or college, or a national, regional, or local organisation.
If the activity provider isn’t listed, please select “Other”. If you’re unsure of the answer, contact whoever organised the activity to find out, and, if you’re still unsure, select ‘Don't know’. ��
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Add the official title of the activity. If you’re unsure of the answer, contact whoever organised the activity to find out.
Remember you can use your personal statement to include more details about the activities you took part in, the skills you learned, and how this prepared you for higher education. �
Personal statement.
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You can save and edit this section as many times as you need to.
If you try to navigate away without saving your work. We'll remind you with a pop-up warning.
For advice on how to write your personal statement head to ucas.com or use the personal statement builder in the UCAS Hub.
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You can only mark this section as complete on the Preview screen.
Remember we'll carry out checks to verify your personal statement is your own work.
If it appears to have been copied from another source, we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. They will then take the action they consider appropriate.
We'll also contact you by email to tell you this has happened.
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PERSONAL STATEMENT ADVICE
Task:
Do | Don’t |
- tell the reader about your interest in and suitability for the subject. - show your Personal Statement to several people for fresh eyes and feedback - give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course, more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given). - find out as much as you can about what the course will cover and how it will be taught, and try to make your personal statement relevant to this. - if you have long term career plans, make a link between these and the course - try to be concise - make every word count! | - don’t be afraid of details. It's much more compelling to read about 1 or 2 detailed examples than 5 or 6 brief ones. - don’t mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated and what you learnt from them. - don’t refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent) - don’t apply for significantly different courses using the same Personal Statement. - don’t plagiarise from others but you can use a previous statement that you have written - don’t use cliches or use words you can’t define |
Adding a choice.
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To add your choice start typing the name of the university or college into the institution field. Select from the options displayed.
Do the same for the course you have selected.
Locations and start dates are displayed according to the course details.
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Some courses may require you to disclose your criminal conviction status.
We'll only show this question if the course choice requires it.
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There is a maximum of 5 choices and choice restrictions still apply (a maximum of four courses of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science).
Once all choices are added you must mark the section as complete to be able to submit.
Choices do not need to be added in any preference order, and universities/colleges cannot see where else you have applied to.
They will only know where else you applied once they’ve made their decision and you’ve decided whether or not to accept them as your firm or insurance choice.
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Some courses have extra admissions tests and assessments.
We'll show these in blue text on the choice card.
This should not be a surprise to you, as you should have seen details of this when researching the course.
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Click anywhere on a choice card to expand it or collapse it.
Any choice combinations that are not permitted will be flagged with red text on the right of each relevant card.
For example these screens show error messages for students trying to apply to University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.
Requesting a reference from MHCHS.
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Click on this link and follow the instructions carefully.
The BUZZWORD is AimingHigher24
Do not fill these boxes in!
Submitting the application.
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There are 4 steps to the submission process.
The profile must be complete and showing 'Ready to Send' before being able to review and submit.
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This shows the full application and you can download it as a pdf (in the top right) to help you check it.
At the bottom of the application, click Accept and proceed (or return to application if you want to make more changes).
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We need you to update your preferences.
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You must tick the box at the bottom of the page to confirm you have read and understood the terms and conditions.
You can collapse these by clicking the .
Then click Accept and proceed, or you can Return to application, or Return to marketing preferences.
Pay and Submit.
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If you need to pay by card you will see this, click Pay now and you will be asked to enter your card details.
£27.00
UCAS Application Complete :)
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FINAL REMINDER…
Due to the processes involved in preparing and attaching a reference the MHCHS deadline dates for completing your UCAS application form online and returning information to me are as follows:
29th September for all medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all courses at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
8th December for all other courses