UCAS and CUKAS applications

UCAS is the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

If you want to take a full time course leading to a degree, a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education, or a Higher National Diploma or Certificate at a university, or other institution of higher education in the UK, you apply through UCAS.

You apply online, through the Apply system on the UCAS website. The site gives detailed information and guidance on how to do so.
Web: http://www.ucas.com/

Important dates, along with a brief outline of the application process, are given below. 

When to apply to UCAS

• For most courses apply between 1 September 2009 and 15 January 2010. Applications received between 16 January and 30 June 2010 will be regarded as late applications and may be considered by universities and colleges if they still have vacancies after considering applications received on time.
• Art and Design Route B will not be used for entry after 2009. Applications for Art and Design courses will be through the main UCAS scheme. The deadline for these courses will be either 15 January 2010 or 24 March 2010, depending on the course. The deadline for each course is shown in the course details, on the UCAS website. 
• Applications which include Oxford or Cambridge Universities among the choices must reach UCAS between 1 September and 15 October 2009.
• Applications which include courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Science must also reach UCAS between 1 September and 15 October 2009.
• New applications received by UCAS after 30 June 2010 are entered directly into the Clearing system.
• The closing date for applications through the Clearing system is 21 September 2010.

For the best chance of getting the place you want, get your application ready in good time. Your school or college needs time to add a reference before sending it off, so get your part done with time to spare.

If you want to take a year out

If you intend to take a gap year and start your course in 2011, check that the university or college will accept a 'deferred entry' application. You must tick the Defer box in the Courses section of the application form. You must still meet the entry requirements by the start of September 2010, as if you were starting your studies in 2010.

How to complete your application on Apply

• You can use Apply anywhere with internet access.
• You do not have to complete the form all at once - you can work on it and re-save it as often as you need.

There are several sections to complete. Save as you go!

Registration: register to use the system - if you are doing this through school, you need a 'buzzword', which you will get from your school
Personal details: your name and address will already be entered - indicate if you have any special needs; nominate someone to act for you if you will be away during the application period
Additional information: for example your ethnic origin and national identity, mainly for statistical purposes
Choices: list your five course choices, in no order of preference
Education: details of schools you have attended since you were 11, where you are now studying and what qualifications you have - do not send certificates
Employment: information on any full time or part time jobs you have had
Personal statement: your chance to explain why you should get a place on the course - the UCAS website gives a lot of guidance on the content of this
Reference: from one of your teachers, to back up your application
Declaration: that you’ve completed the form accurately and honestly
Pay/Send: your application fee - for 2010 entry, £9 for a single course, £19 for 2-5 choices

Comprehensive details of how to complete each section of the form are on the UCAS website: http://www.ucas.com/students/startapplication/  

What happens when your application is sent in?

Your school or college sends off your application.

• When UCAS gets your application, it sends you a letter with a personal ID and user name for Track, the system that allows you to track the progress of your application. 
• UCAS gives access to your application online to each institution you have applied to - they do not know where else you have applied.

Each institution then decides whether to offer you a place. They may ask you to gain certain exam results (a conditional offer).

Provided your application is in by 15 January 2010, you should hear from all of the institutions from March onwards and by early May 2010 at the latest.

When you have heard from all your institutions, choose two offers to hold until you get your exam results. Choose the one you would like best as your firm offer, and another as insurance, backup in case you are not accepted by your firm choice. If you are given, and accept, an unconditional offer, you cannot hold any other offers.

Use Track to reply to offers. Make sure you meet the deadlines shown on the UCAS website.

UCAS Extra 

If you have no offers, you can apply for other courses through this service, which operates from the end of February until the end of June. You apply for one course at a time, through Track.

Clearing

If you still have no offers, or do not get the required exam results, you can apply for other courses through Clearing, after the exam results come out in August. Courses with vacancies are listed on the UCAS website. There are also lists in some newspapers.

You need a Clearing Number to apply - you will find it through Track.

• Look through the courses, find one that interests you and contact the university or college yourself  (or have your nominated person do so) to ask if they will accept you.
• The admissions tutor you speak to will tell you what to do next.

Try to be at home during August, when your exam results come out! The end of Clearing is the end of September. If you get a place through Clearing, UCAS will send you an official letter confirming that.

CUKAS Applications

CUKAS is the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service, operated by UCAS. Conservatoires are higher education institutions that specialise in the teaching of music; there are nine in the UK.

For entry to any of the seven conservatoires listed below you apply through the online system, CUKAS Apply. You can access this at http://www.cukas.ac.uk/.

Full details the process are given there. You can apply to up to six conservatoires at one time.

• For entry to a conservatoire in 2010, you should apply to CUKAS between 2 July and 1 October 2009. Late applications up to 31 August 2010 may be considered.
• Auditions will be held from 15 October 2009 onwards - more details are on the conservatoires' websites.
• Like UCAS, you can follow the progress of your application through CUKAS Track.

Seven of the nine UK music conservatoires take part in CUKAS. They are:

• Birmingham Conservatoire
• Leeds College of Music
• Royal College of Music
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
• Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
• Trinity College of Music 

The remaining two - the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music - are not part of this system. You apply directly to these. Visit their websites for more information.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama: http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/
Royal Academy of Music: http://www.ram.ac.uk/