• Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
Call Us: +44 (0)208 1871865 | Email: hello@ukstudyoptions.com
UK Study Options
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • University Application Support
    • University Fee Status Support
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • Destination Universities
  • Who We Are
    • About UKSO
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Menu

Tag Archive for: russell group

Beyond London – Great universities outside the capital

The UK is renowned for its quality higher education – it has almost 400 institutions and attracts 458,000 students from around the world each year. Typically, students from outside the UK immediately look to study in London, as it’s a globally recognised city that they will have been exposed to through media, film, politics or may have already visited. But are there any good universities beyond London?

London is a fantastic place to study and boasts some of the best universities in the world; UCL, LSE, Imperial College London, King’s College London etc, but the university experience can be quite different to that outside of the capital. Often students might be studying and living in different parts of the city rather than in a campus setting. It suits a student who is already quite mature, independent and used to living in a large city. Most of our students at UK Study Options don’t fit this profile and instead seek an undergraduate experience that introduces them softly into the ‘real world’ after living with family their whole life. There is a wealth of universities outside London that rival the capital’s education, diversity, history and fun that don’t get fair consideration as future study destinations.

So here are some of our non-London suggestions that teach a wide range of different degree subjects that we recommend you explore when thinking about university in the UK.

Warwick University – located in central England, this university offers top ranking education on a US-style campus so students can study, live, work and socialise within a safe, but diverse and vibrant environment. They are quite unique in having a theatre, cinema, concert hall and art gallery all on campus. Not far from Birmingham International Airport, it is well connected with the rest of the world.

University of Bristol – Bristol is a trendy and creative city with good access to the South West of England and the coast – great if you love water sports. The uni has the largest student union in the country and hosts 100s of societies and clubs. The city also has its own airport, flying to some international destinations.

Durham University – Durham is a small, beautiful northern England city, steeped in history. This collegiate university does consistently well in student satisfaction and employability surveys. Among UK students it’s a popular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge. They have over 200 sports teams, it’s a great location for outdoor pursuits. It’s also very close to Newcastle International Airport.

University of Edinburgh – an academically outstanding Scottish university that is over 400 years old. As another historically significant place, the city is packed with Medieval and Georgian architecture. It hosts the famous Edinburgh Arts Festival every August which offers students low-cost tickets to comedy, theatre and music shows.

There are plenty more excellent study destinations around the country. The key to selecting the right university, is to look at the whole package of what they offer and see if this is compatible with your criteria. You might discover a city or university that you have never heard of that is perfect for you! Ask yourself:

  • Is it ranked highly for the subject I want to study?
  • Is it easy to get home from? (Many cities have international airports.)
  • Can I practice the sport/activity that I love in the university or the local area?
  • Does it offer the right level of independence/security for me?
  • Does it fit my budget? (Living costs can vary widely in different parts of the country.)
  • What’s the weather like there? (Weather can also vary widely in different parts of the country!)

We always recommend that students visit their shortlisted universities to get a feel for if they are right for them. It’s difficult to know what a place is like from a website but in person you will immediately get a sense of if it’s where you want to be.

At UK Study Options we work closely with students to help identify the right course and university for them as individuals. Get in touch to learn about our university application support.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Beyond-London-1.jpg 521 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-27 14:49:482019-08-27 14:49:48Beyond London – Great universities outside the capital

A-Z list of UK Universities

There are 117 universities in the UK. Below is the full list in alphabetical order.

To learn more about how universities are ranked, read our blog University league tables explained and to understand more about the different university groups in the UK, visit our blog UK University Groups – a quick guide.

University of Aberdeen www.abdn.ac.uk

University of Abertay www.abertay.ac.uk

University of Aberystwyth www.aber.ac.uk

Anglia Ruskin University www.anglia.ac.uk

Aston University www.aston.ac.uk

Bangor University www.bangor.ac.uk

University of Bath www.bath.ac.uk

Bath Spa University www.bathspa.ac.uk

University of Bedfordshire www.beds.ac.uk

University of Birmingham www.bham.ac.uk

Birmingham City University www.bcu.ac.uk

University of Bolton www.bolton.ac.uk

Bournemouth University www.bournemouth.ac.uk

University of Bradford www.bradford.ac.uk

University of Brighton www.brighton.ac.uk

University of Bristol www.bristol.ac.uk

Brunel University www.brunel.ac.uk

University of Buckingham www.buckingham.ac.uk

Buckinghamshire New University www.bucks.ac.uk

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Canterbury Christ Church University www.canterbury.ac.uk

Cardiff University www.cardiff.ac.uk

Cardiff University of Wales Institute (UWIC) www.uwic.ac.uk

University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) www.uclan.ac.uk

Chester University www.chester.ac.uk

University of Chichester www.chi.ac.uk

City University www.city.ac.uk

Coventry University www.coventry.ac.uk

Cumbria University www.cumbria.ac.uk

De Montfort University www.dmu.ac.uk

University of Derby www.derby.ac.uk

University of Dundee www.dundee.ac.uk

Durham University www.durham.ac.uk

University of East Anglia www.uea.ac.uk

University of East London www.uel.ac.uk

Edge Hill University www.edgehill.ac.uk

University of Edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk

University of Essex www.essex.ac.uk

University of Exeter www.exeter.ac.uk

University of Glamorgan www.glam.ac.uk

University of Glasgow www.gla.ac.uk

Glasgow Caledonian www.gcal.ac.uk

University of Gloucestershire www.glos.ac.uk

Goldsmiths, University of London www.goldsmiths.ac.uk

University of Greenwich www.gre.ac.uk

Heriot Watt University www.hw.ac.uk

University of Hertfordshire www.herts.ac.uk

University of Huddersfield www.hud.ac.uk

University of Hull www.hull.ac.uk

Imperial College www.imperial.ac.uk

University of Keele www.keele.ac.uk

University of Kent www.kent.ac.uk

King’s College London www.kcl.ac.uk

Kingston University www.kingston.ac.uk

Lampeter, University of Wales www.lamp.ac.uk

Lancaster University www.lancaster.ac.uk

University of Leeds www.leeds.ac.uk

Leeds Metropolitan University www.leedsmet.ac.uk

University of Leicester www.le.ac.uk

University of Lincoln www.lincoln.ac.uk

University of Liverpool www.liv.ac.uk

Liverpool Hope University www.hope.ac.uk

Liverpool John Moores University www.liv.jm.ac.uk

London Metropolitan University www.london.met.ac.uk

London School of Economics and Political Science www.lse.ac.uk

London South Bank University www.lsbu.ac.uk

Loughborough University www.lboro.ac.uk

University of Manchester www.manchester.ac.uk

Manchester Metropolitan University www.mmu.ac.uk

Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk

Napier University www.napier.ac.uk

Newcastle University www.ncl.ac.uk

University of Wales, Newport www.newport.ac.uk

University of Northampton www.northampton.ac.uk

Northumbria University www.unn.ac.uk

University of Nottingham www.nottingham.ac.uk

Nottingham Trent University www.ntu.ac.uk

University of Oxford www.ox.ac.uk

Oxford Brookes University www.brookes.ac.uk

University of Plymouth www.plymouth.ac.uk

University of Portsmouth www.port.ac.uk

Queen Margaret University www.qmu.ac.uk

Queen Mary, University of London www.qmul.ac.uk

Queen’s University, Belfast www.qub.ac.uk

University of Reading www.reading.ac.uk

The Robert Gordon University www.rgu.ac.uk

Roehampton University www.roehampton.ac.uk

Royal Holloway, University of London www.rhul.ac.uk

University of St Andrews www.st-andrews.ac.uk

University of Salford www.salford.ac.uk

School of African and Oriental Studies, London www.soas.ac.uk

University of Sheffield www.shef.ac.uk

Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk

University of Southampton www.soton.ac.uk

Southampton Solent www.solent.ac.uk

Staffordshire University www.staffs.ac.uk

University of Stirling www.stir.ac.uk

University of Strathclyde www.strath.ac.uk

University of Sunderland www.sunderland.ac.uk

University of Surrey www.surrey.ac.uk

University of Sussex www.sussex.ac.uk

Swansea University www.swan.ac.uk

Swansea Metropolitan University www.sihe.ac.uk

University of Teesside www.tees.ac.uk

Thames Valley University www.tvu.ac.uk

University of Ulster www.ulster.ac.uk

University of the Arts London www.arts.ac.uk

University College London www.ucl.ac.uk

University of Warwick www.warwick.ac.uk

University of the West of England, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk

University of the West of Scotland www.uws.ac.uk

University of Westminster www.westminster.ac.uk

University of Winchester www.winchester.ac.uk

University of Wolverhampton www.wlv.ac.uk

University of Worcester www.worcester.ac.uk

University of York www.york.ac.uk

York St John University www.yorksj.ac.uk

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Unis-list-.jpg 600 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-22 11:24:282019-08-22 11:24:28A-Z list of UK Universities

UK University Groups – A quick guide

Universities in the UK commonly form alliances or groups when they share common goals, visions or characteristics. University Groups can be a useful place to start when you are looking for a list of similar institutions. But remember that there are some very real differences between the universities in each group.

The Russell Group (and what was the 1994 Group) lead the league tables in terms of almost every traditional subject (Classics, Maths, English etc) and tend to ask for the highest entry requirements. The University Alliance and Million+ groups contain ‘new’ (after 1992) universities and provide some specialist or modern courses that you won’t find at the more traditional institutions. These newer universities tend to be more flexible in terms of the qualifications that they accept. The GuildHE Group represents specialist institutions that focus on particular courses. Finally, the Cathedrals Group share faith-based values. Here’s a breakdown of the different groups.

The Russell Group

The Russell Group is a group of universities with a shared focus on research and a reputation for academic achievement and includes many of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

In their words, “The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector.”  www.russellgroup.ac.uk

The group has a website dedicated to advising students on the best subject combinations for a wide range of university courses as well as the best choices for students who want to keep their options open. www.informedchoices.ac.uk

Who’s in the Russell Group?

  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Cambridge
  • Cardiff University
  • Durham University
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Exeter
  • University of Glasgow
  • Imperial College London
  • King’s College London
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Liverpool
  • London School of Economics & Political Science
  • University of Manchester
  • Newcastle University
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Oxford
  • Queen Mary, University of London
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Southampton
  • University College London
  • University of Warwick
  • University of York

University Alliance

This is a group of technical and professional universities who bridge learning with practical experience. They don’t always reach the top of the rankings but for students who want a vocational tertiary education, they provide promising career opportunities.

They describe themselves as “…Britain’s universities for cities and regions. We believe in making the difference across everything we do. We are committed to providing the high quality teaching that is critical to creating the world’s future leaders and problem solvers. We excel in preparing students for a career in industry and the professions.” www.unialliance.ac.uk

 Who’s in the University Alliance?

  • Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • Coventry University
  • Kingston University
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Plymouth University
  • Sheffield Hallam University
  • Teesside University
  • The Open University
  • University of Greenwich
  • University of Hertfordshire
  • University of Huddersfield
  • University of Lincoln
  • University of Portsmouth
  • University of Salford
  • University of South Wales
  • University of the West of England

 Million+ Group

 This younger, more modern group of universities focuses on research that drives economic, social and cultural change.

They say, “We are a university think-tank. This means we work to help solve complex problems in higher education and to ensure that policy reflects the potential of the UK’s world-class university system.

We champion, promote and raise awareness of the essential role played by modern universities in a world-leading higher education.” www.millionplus.ac.uk

Who’s in the Million+ Group?

  • University of Abertay Dundee
  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • Bath Spa University
  • University of Bedfordshire
  • Birmingham City University
  • University of Bolton
  • Canterbury Christ Church University
  • University of Central Lancashire
  • University of Cumbria
  • University of East London
  • Edinburgh Napier University
  • Leeds Metropolitan University
  • London Metropolitan University
  • Middlesex University
  • Staffordshire University
  • University of Sunderland
  • University of West London
  • University of the West of Scotland
  • University of Wolverhampton

GuildHE

The GuildHE is a group of universities, further education colleges, professional bodies and specialist institutions that specialise in art, design and media, music and the performing arts; agriculture and food; education; business and law and health and sports. www.guildhe.ac.uk

Their vision – “The diversity of UK higher education nurtures innovation and creativity. It means more choice for students and for graduate employers and more opportunities to reach out to new learners. It encourages healthy competition, fresh approaches to research, different ways of engaging with business and industries and new ways of enriching the social, economic and cultural prosperity of life in the UK’s communities and regions. Diversity is the key to excellence.”

Who’s in the GuildHE?

  • Arts University Bournemouth
  • Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln
  • Buckinghamshire New University
  • Falmouth University
  • Glyndwr University
  • Harper Adams University
  • Leeds College of Art
  • Leeds Trinity University
  • Newman University
  • Norwich University of the Arts

 The 1994 Group

Like the Russell Group the 1994 Group was another prestigious collective of smaller, mainly campus-based universities that focused on research until the group disbanded in 2013. The 1994 institutions are known for doing well in the league tables particularly in terms of student satisfaction.

Who was in the 1994 Group?

  • Birkbeck, University of London
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Essex
  • Goldsmiths, University of London
  • Institute of Education, University of London
  • Royal Holloway, University of London
  • Lancaster University
  • University of Leicester
  • Loughborough University
  • School of Oriental and African Studies
  • University of Sussex

The Cathedrals Group

This is the only group of universities and colleges in the UK that unite on ethical and faith grounds. They are a mix of teaching and research institutions that specialise in arts, humanities and social sciences with particular focus on public sector training, in fields such as education, health, social work etc.

“Members share a common faith heritage and a strong commitment to values such as social justice, respect for the individual and promoting the public good through our work with communities and charities.

Within Cathedrals Group institutions there is a strong commitment to providing a high quality education for students, supporting personal and spiritual development within a challenging learning environment.” www.cathedralsgroup.ac.uk

Who’s in the Cathedrals Group?

  • Bishop Grosseteste University
  • Canterbury Christ Church University
  • Leeds trinity University
  • Liverpool hope University
  • Newman University
  • Plymouth Marjon University
  • St Mary’s University Twickenham
  • University of Chester
  • University of Chichester
  • University of Cumbria
  • University of Gloucestershire
  • University of Roehampton
  • University of Wales Trinity Saint David
  • University of Winchester
  • York St. John University

The UK Study Options team has extensive knowledge of UK universities and guides students on the ‘best fit’ institution for them. Find out what university application support

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/University-groups-1-scaled.jpg 1707 2560 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-21 14:47:022019-08-22 10:51:13UK University Groups – A quick guide

Personal Statement Essentials – What you need to know

The Personal Statement is an important part of your application to any UK university which you submit through UCAS (The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). It must meet quite specific criteria and plays a major role in determining whether your application is successful or not. Here we spell out what it is, what it should contain, how it’s used by Admissions teams and more.

Why is the personal statement important?

The personal statement is a very important part of the UCAS application. You may believe that you are only one of a handful of students applying for a course with a particular set of examination grades and predictions. But the reality is that there are lots of other, equally able candidates, all wanting one of the limited number of places. The Admissions Tutor for an oversubscribed course needs a way of deciding which applicants most deserve an offer and a carefully considered and well written statement is needed to help you stand out from the crowd.

The personal statement is likely to be the only communication that you as an individual have with an Admissions Tutor. Most courses do not interview applicants and it is likely to be your only opportunity to show that you are an interesting person who is genuinely interested in the course they are responsible for.

Who reads the personal statement?

Although some UCAS forms are processed by a centralized admissions department, most personal statements for competitive courses are read by a tutor in the department to which you are applying. Admissions tutors will be actively involved in both the research and teaching that takes place in the department. In other words, you must assume that your statement will be read by an expert in the field who is looking for students who share their enthusiasm for the subject and that they will enjoy teaching.

When are personal statements read and how are they used?

The primary role of a personal statement is to help admissions tutors differentiate between candidates of similar academic ability and decide who they will make offers to. They are read (together with the rest of the information on the form) when the UCAS application is sent to the university. Many admissions departments will consider applications as soon as they arrive and make offers immediately – others will wait until they have a batch of applications.

Sometimes statements are used to decide which candidates to call for interview. This is especially true of Oxford and Cambridge who interview all applicants before making any offers. Personal statements may also be used to generate questions at interview. Be warned – anything you claim to have read or be interested in is fair game for Admissions Tutors to quiz you about.

Sometimes statements are used to reject candidates outright – especially if they are poorly written and contain grammatical and spelling mistakes.

The personal statement can also make a difference much later on in the UCAS process, after offers have been made and accepted and examination results known. If an applicant has narrowly missed the required grades (and there are still places available to be allocated) Admissions Tutors may look again at the personal statements to decide whom to give those remaining places to.

Why write your personal statement early?

It is important to start early – good students redraft their statements many times until they are satisfied. Keep in mind the deadline for your application – October 15th (Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science) or January 25th (most other courses). You will also need to work to any deadlines set by your school. Teachers and UCAS referees do not have an unlimited amount of free time available to check your statement – help yourself by ensuring that they receive your statement in plenty of time.

Many admissions departments look through applications and make offers well before the official deadlines – it is in your interest to apply early while there is still a full complement of offers available. In addition, early applications show organization, good time management and enthusiasm – qualities that university students need and that you are trying to demonstrate.

As the official UCAS deadlines approach admissions tutors are inundated with a rush of applications – you want your application to cross their desk well before this, so that they have more time to carefully consider your application.

How long should the statement be?

The electronic UCAS application form allows you 4,000 characters, including spaces, which is about the same as one side of A4 paper. You should draft your statement in word and then copy and paste the finished article into your UCAS Hub account. There is no spell-check facility on the UCAS form so it is essential that you have checked and double checked your statement for spelling and grammatical errors.

Many students try to use complex language in order to impress Admissions Tutors but good writing is often concise and it can be more useful for you to use the limited space by putting your points across directly and simply. Be careful not to waste any of the valuable space by including information that is already available to the admissions tutor elsewhere on the application (e.g. details of A-levels being studied.)

Can I write more than one personal statement?

No, you are only allowed to write one statement for all five course choices. This is relatively simple if you are applying for the same single honours course at all five choices but becomes more problematic if you are applying for slightly different courses – the skill here is to identify and focus on the common ground between the courses and then provide evidence that you are a suitable candidate to study these elements. With joint honours courses you will need to show that you are equally interested in both subjects.

If you are applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry you are only allowed four choices for these courses and a fifth back up choice that is usually for a related subject but can be for something completely different. For these applicants the personal statement must be purely directed to the Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry course and needs to be much more work experience based than the majority of statements. Most ‘fifth’ choice admissions tutors are happy to accept a statement that is clearly aimed at one of these ‘early entry’ courses, but this may not always be the case and you should always check with individual institutions. (Some may ask for a separate statement to be sent to them directly.)

What about plagiarism?

UCAS check each incoming personal statement (via their similarity detection software) against a library of personal statements previously submitted to UCAS. They also sample statements collected from a variety of other sources. If your statement is found to have enough similarities to any other, then UCAS will contact your universities to inform them that they suspect you have copied your statement. The decision about what action, if any, to take regarding cases of plagiarism rests with the Admissions Tutors at individual institutions.

Lots of students look at statements that have been used before, either from friends or from websites – this is fine for research purposes, but your statement MUST be an original piece of writing and your own work.

Needless to say, your UCAS personal statement is a very specific piece of writing so it’s worth taking the time to understand its purpose, how it is used, who reads it and any specific requirements, such as character limit. Once you have a good understanding of this then it’s time to start crafting the content.

As ex Admissions Officers for top UK universities, the UKSO team know well what makes an excellent personal statement and we are experts in coaching students to write compelling, competitive and successful statements. Read about out Personal Statement Package to see how we can help you succeed.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Personal-statement.jpg 533 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-21 14:30:392022-06-20 14:43:30Personal Statement Essentials – What you need to know

Higher education jargon explained

Like every other walk of life, UK higher education has its own distinct terminology and jargon.  To help you make sense of this we have listed the most common terms that you are likely to come across when navigating the UK university process.

Admissions: A team of people in each university that process student applications.

Academic year: This is the university year, which usually runs from September to July.

BA: This is the abbreviation for Bachelor of Art. This is a type of degree traditionally awarded to those subjects based in the field of Art. However, this is a very broad category and can include subject areas such as Social Sciences and English.

Bachelors degree: A degree awarded by a college or university to a person who has completed undergraduate studies. They are typically 3 years for most degree subjects, 4 years for Engineering and 5 years for Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary.

BEng: This is the abbreviation for Bachelor of Engineering. This type of degree is awarded to those subjects based in the field of Engineering.

BSc: This is the abbreviation for Bachelor of Science. This type of degree is traditionally awarded to subjects based in the field of Science and Social Science. The BSc degree is not limited to traditional sciences.

Conservatoire: A provider of performance-based music, dance and drama courses.

Combined or Joint honours degree: A type of degree where you study two subjects.

Dissertation: A dissertation is normally a long report, based on research undertaken by the students themselves.

Entry requirements: a set of criteria that a student needs to meet to gain entry to a degree programme. This could include certain grades or to have previously studied certain subjects or to have a certain amount of work experience etc.

Fee Status: the status that determines what tuition fee a student will pay when they apply to university in the UK which is either Home/EU or Overseas.

First class honours: Most UK universities use a degree classification system. First class honours or a ‘first’ is the highest level degree awarded.

Foundation degree programme: This is a programme designed to prepare students who have acceptable qualifications for general university entry, but do not have the appropriate level or coverage for a specific degree programme.

Fresher: This is the term commonly used to describe students in their first year at university.

Graduate: This is the term used for a person who has completed and passed his or her degree and been awarded their qualification

HE (Higher Education): This is education and training for students of 18 years and older, who have completed the required amount of study in further education, (college or sixth form). Institutions such as universities often provide higher education in the form of degree programmes.

Honours degree (Hons): This is a degree programme taken at university. It is normally a first degree which lasts three or four years. An honours degree requires extra modules/units to be studied in comparison to an Ordinary Degree, often in the form of a dissertation.

Humanities: Typically covers ‘Arts’ subjects such as history, literature, Classics, theology film, modern languages and drama.

LLB: Bachelor of Laws. The accreditation given to Law degrees which allows for progression onto further training to become a barrister or solicitor.

Masters degree (MA, MSc, Meng, Med, MPhil): Masters degrees are taught courses which allow students to extend their learning for one to two years after they have graduated from their first (Bachelors) degree. MA is the abbreviation for Master of Arts, a postgraduate qualification, but it can also be an undergraduate degree studied at one of the UK’s ancient universities such as St Andrews, Oxford and Cambridge. An MSci is a Master of Science. An MEng is a Master of Engineering. An MEd is a Master of Education and is specific to education subjects. Confusingly an MPhil is a Master of Philosophy but rather than being in the subject of Philosophy, it is a research-focused masters and can be in any subject.

Module: A module is a unit of study that explores a specific area within a subject.

Ordinary degree: Generally this is a degree passed without honours. Some universities offer ordinary degree courses in their own right but ordinary degrees can also be awarded to those students who complete an honours degree but without achieving the conditions required to gain honours.

Placement year/ Sandwich year: This is a year of either work experience or study placement in another institution, which can be an optional or compulsory part of a university course. Students can opt to take their placement year in another country.

PhD: Also known as a doctorate, this is the highest form of degree awarded and involves you carrying out research with little or no teaching. You need to have completed at least an undergraduate degree to study at this level.

Postgraduate: A student who has completed an undergraduate degree and is studying for a higher degree such as a masters or PhD.

Second class honours: Most UK universities use a degree classification system. The highest level is ‘first’ with second class honours broken down into two further classifications – upper division (2:1) and lower division (2:2). An upper second or first class degree is often required for entry into postgraduate courses in the UK.

Single honours: This is an honours degree course in which a student studies a single subject.

Third class honours: Third class honours is typically the lowest degree classification awarded.

UCAS (The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service): An organisation that manages the application system for UK universities.

Undergraduate: A student studying for their first degree on a programme which normally lasts for three or four years.

Undergraduate masters: Four year degrees such as Masters of Engineering (MEng), Masters of Science (MSci) etc which comprise three years of undergraduate level study, with a further year to gain a Masters qualification.

University: A university is an institute of higher education which has the authority to award bachelors and higher degrees and which usually has research facilities.

University groups: institutions that form alliances when they share common goals, visions or characteristics.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/The-importance-of-language-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-20 13:15:072019-08-20 13:24:38Higher education jargon explained

Thinking of applying to Oxford or Cambridge?

Students wishing to study at a university in the UK apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), which allows students to apply to 5 courses at 5 universities. However, anyone interested in making an Oxford or Cambridge application will have to apply early (by 15th October) and choose which one of these prestigious institutions they wish to put down on their UCAS form (students are not allowed to apply to both).

Oxbridge is the term used to refer to two of the oldest universities in the UK – Oxford and Cambridge. Both offer traditional academic courses where formal assessment is often 100% based on examinations. Both stress the importance of their highly personalised teaching time led by subject experts, with Oxford calling these sessions tutorials and Cambridge referring to them as supervisions.

Colleges and ‘pool’ applications

In contrast to most UK universities Oxford and Cambridge are made up of colleges and applications are made to individual colleges (unless a student makes an open or ‘pool’ application where the student is allocated a college place).  Once a student is accepted at a college then that remains their home and central focus of teaching for much of their time at university.  Each college decides which applicants will be offered places, co-ordinates the tutorial system, provides accommodation and other facilities and takes overall responsibility for the students’ academic and pastoral care.  The university and its departments and faculties set and mark examinations, decide on course content and organise lectures, seminars and practicals. Both universities boast historic architecture and excellent facilities and are situated in attractive places to live, where students enjoy cycling and punting on the rivers.

Specialist subjects

Whilst Oxford and Cambridge share a reputation for world-renowned teaching and research in both arts and science subjects there are differences between them, particularly when it comes to course choice and course structure.  Many courses offered by both Institutions have a lot in common but there are particular subjects or combinations of subject that are only offered at one of the Universities.  For example, PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) is offered at Oxford and HSP (Human, Social and Political Science) at Cambridge.  If you want to study Veterinary Science at Oxbridge then you must apply to Cambridge; those interested in Fine Art must head for Oxford.  Cambridge courses (or Triposes) cover subject areas very broadly in the initial years and then offer a wide range of options in which to specialize in the later years.  Most science subjects at Cambridge are taught within the Natural Sciences framework, which gives students a broad first year before allowing specialization in the following years.  This is in contrast to Oxford where science specialisms are studied from day one.

Supra-curricular requirements

It is important that both students and schools are aware of the knowledge, preparation and research necessary to make a successful application to either of these very competitive universities. Students need to be aware that there are likely to be additional requirements and different deadlines involved. All UCAS applications require evidence of academic achievement (results of examinations that have already been taken) alongside predicted results for forthcoming exams and the personal statement.  Oxford and Cambridge may also require students to provide written work and/or sit an admissions test and no student is offered a place without a formal, academic interview.  Schools are required to provide predicted grades for any forthcoming examinations and a reference that reflects the academic potential of the student for the relevant course.

Admissions Tests and/or extra work required

In most subjects, at both Oxford and Cambridge, students are now asked to sit admissions tests either prior to being invited to interview or (for some subjects at Cambridge) on the day of the interview. The tests are about applying the knowledge that students might reasonably have been expected to have gained from their school curriculum to new problems. Potential applicants will need to check the registration deadlines and familiarise themselves with the format of the relevant test by looking on the websites.

Anyone applying for a humanities subject may also be asked to submit 1 or 2 essays that they have written at school. These should showcase not only their ability to express academic ideas in writing but also their ability to work through complex ideas in a systematic way.

Supplementary Application Questionnaire

Any student applying to Cambridge University is also asked to complete a SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire), which is submitted online shortly after the UCAS application.  The SAQ collects additional information such as which topics have been studied at school and allows students to submit an alternative personal statement, which should focus on the Cambridge course rather than the more general subject area covered by all the UCAS choices.

Interviews
Having looked at the all the information at their disposal Oxbridge admissions tutors decide who should be called for interview.  These interviews are different at Oxford and Cambridge from most other universities. Students are interviewed on their own with 2 or 3 academics asking questions and posing problem-solving scenarios that are always relevant to the course applied to.  The purpose of the interview is to assess how students think and how they use their current knowledge alongside any additional information given during the interview to solve new problems.

Students living outside the UK/EU – even temporarily

Students attending an international school need to be aware that they may also need to complete some extra elements. Anyone applying to Cambridge who is living outside of the EU at the time of application must complete a COPA (Cambridge Online Preliminary Application) prior to submitting the UCAS form. Students who are not taking UK school qualifications (which include the IB) will need to check the entry requirements very carefully and are likely to be asked to submit a transcript of their high school academic results.  Evidence of English language skills will be required and any student receiving an offer must apply for a student visa if from outside the UK.

Overseas v UK fee status
The cost of studying at Oxford or Cambridge is dependent upon whether the student is assessed as an ‘overseas’ or UK home student. At Oxford and Cambridge overseas fee payers are required to pay ‘College fees’ (which cover academic facilities and other services provided by Colleges) in addition to the usual undergraduate tuition fees.  This is on top of accommodation and living costs.

UK Study Options specializes in helping students apply to Oxford or Cambridge. See what university application support we can offer you to help you secure a place at one of these excellent institutions.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Applying-to-Oxbridge-Edit.jpg 496 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-13 14:44:312020-11-23 17:02:09Thinking of applying to Oxford or Cambridge?

Personal Statement for UK university applicants

Schools have broken up for the summer holidays, students are told to work on their Personal Statements ready to be handed in during the first week of term. Students may be planning to get it wrapped up in a day or so, after all what can be so hard about writing a Personal Statement, 47 lines long, about one side of A4 – 4000 characters (including spaces)? Well, plenty if you haven’t prepared enough in advance!

It’s particularly hard if you are planning to apply to a competitive subject or a high ranking university as you need a show-stopping Personal Statement that is clear, informed about your subject choices, articulate about your passion to study the subject and send the right signals that you are ready, academically able and willing to take a step into the next stage of your life as a university student.

Avoid the common pitfalls

You may think you are the only person who is applying for the course but the reality is that if it is a popular subject like Law or Economics or vocationally specific like Medicine or Veterinary Science there are likely to be at least 15 or more students each applying for one space on the course. They will all have the required predicted grades, so your Personal Statement is your opportunity to shine. Remember that the university admissions person who is choosing their students has studied the subject for many years so they will spot waffle and shallow interest a mile off. They are looking for keen students who are genuinely interested in the course, have done their best to inform themselves by reading widely ‘beyond the school curriculum’ (this means books outside those that you are told to read at school) and are offering something unique to bring to the course and their fellow students.

So, let’s get started

Before you get writing, make notes of books you have read, related resources, lectures you have been to, workshops attended, competitions entered etc. Did you agree with the writer/speaker? Why/why not? How did these resources make an impact upon your decision to study this subject?

  1. What prompted you to study the subjects you are taking at school? What do you enjoy about them and why? Have you become aware of specific skills a subject can give you? For instance, Maths develops strong problem-solving techniques.
  2. What about work-experience, work shadowing, part time jobs, school events that you have organised? What did you learn, did you acquire new skills, what existing skills did you utilise?
  3. Sports and social activities: Tutors want you to get the most out of your studies and will expect you to participate in some sporting and social activities. These may also help you to destress at exam time and get to meet a wide range of people from all cultures – part of the university experience.
  4. Finally, it’s good to reiterate your reasons for wanting to attend a UK university; to learn from your fellow students as well as the academic staff. To be at a culturally diverse and vibrant institution, to be stretched and challenged and to enhance your career prospects. All good reasons to go to university in the UK.

A word of warning! UCAS puts all the UCAS forms and Personal Statements through plagiarism software to avoid temptation to copy and paste the odd sentence that sounds good on the web! Make it yours, make it genuine, make it successful and good luck!

Some resources to help you get started:
Durham University
www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/ucas/personalstatement/

University of Warwick https://warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/tips/uow_personal_statement_guide_online.pdf

UK Study Options provide tailored student guidance on writing a personal statement for competitive university applications. Have a look at what our Personal Statement Package includes.

We also write a number of blogs on Personal Statement writing and the university application process in general, visit our blog page to find more useful tips and information.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rsz_personal_statement_essentials-resize.jpg 533 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-07 13:26:422019-08-07 13:26:42Personal Statement for UK university applicants

Visiting your shortlisted universities this summer

Browse a university’s marketing materials and they will all say the same “world-leading research”, “cutting-edge facilities”, “outstanding teaching”, “vibrant and diverse community” etc. And it’s all true – universities in the UK do offer all of this and more but beyond the marketing speak, how do you know which one is right for you?

The answer is simple. Go there. At UK Study Options we always recommend that people visit their shortlisted universities before making their final decisions. No website or prospectus can tell you how a place is going to make you feel, if you’re going to connect with it and enjoy your time there. For somewhere where you are going to spend 3-4 years of your life, possibly longer, it needs to be right – your studies will prosper all the more for it.

When to visit

The logical time to visit is the summer holidays before you apply (the year before you start uni). Universities are more likely to have planned tours and open day activities for school years 12 and 13 which means you will have more access to facilities, academics and students to get a real insight into what it’s like studying there.

Earlier than this and universities may only give you basic access to their campus facilities. Later than this, you will have already had to make your Firm and Insurance offer decisions in UCAS (May deadline) – decisions that will be made much easier by visiting the universities.

Check what events the universities have on and when, and create a plan for the day so you know you’re not missing out on anything. Make sure you book on to all the tours and talks that you want to go to, as they may fill up and this way you’ll receive all the pre-arrival information. If none of the dates they have are convenient, you can get in touch directly and they may arrange something personally for you. If you’re unable to arrange anything specific, it’s still worth going to have a look around, you can wander around most university campuses even if you can’t access all the facilities.

What to ask/find out/see

If it’s one of your shortlisted universities then you’ll probably know a lot about them already and the courses they offer. When you visit, go armed with a list of what you want to find out when you are there – preferably things that you couldn’t find out from the website. Here are some suggestions:

  • What facilities would I use on the course and can I see them?
  • How many students are in a lecture/class/seminar?
  • What’s a typical week on the course like?
  • How do you score on the Student Satisfaction Survey?
  • How far is the accommodation from the classroom?
  • What transport is available to help me get around? (If relevant)

You may also want to see the accommodation you’ll be staying in, the student union or other social areas, food outlets and supermarkets, the sporting and fitness facilities.

You will come into contact with students, alumni, academic and admissions staff at open days, so direct your questions to the right person and take advantage of them being available to speak with as you might not get another chance to talk to them. Students and alumni are arguably the best people to ask questions as they will give you real insight into what life is like to study there and can be franker and more open than staff members.

Don’t forget to plan a walk around the nearby city/town which might be away from the university itself, to make sure you also get a feel for the place where you might spend some of your time socialising or working.

At UK Study options we spend time getting to know our students to help them find the right course and university for them. See our University Application Support page for more information on how we can help you.

 

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/un.jpg 600 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-08-01 14:06:092019-08-01 14:24:11Visiting your shortlisted universities this summer

Use your summer wisely – get work experience!

The summer holidays are here, you’ve worked really hard at school and you’re looking forward to a break – perhaps you have some travel booked. But if you are thinking about applying to university in the UK, the holidays are an important time to get work experience, internships or volunteering that will contribute to a more competitive UCAS application, not to mention enhance your career opportunities.

Assume that admissions receive more applications than there are places on the course and that everyone who applies has met the academic entry criteria – what is going to make your application more compelling than the next? What you have done outside your studies that will win you a place on an oversubscribed course?

Universities favour work experience as it shows that you are serious about your future and are able to pursue multiple interests. It doesn’t necessarily need to be directly related to your studies (unless you are applying to Medicine, Veterinary or Law).

Why is this important?

  1. Work experience, internships and volunteering will give you a whole range of skills that are desirable to universities, such as commitment, self-motivation, time management, team working, negotiation and organisational skills, not to mention role-specific skills. These skills can all be applied to enrich your studies.
  2. The experience you gain will prove invaluable in the classroom, helping you to connect academia with the ‘real’ world. It can add context and insight to your studies and a different perspective.
  3. Work experience helps you to form realistic career expectations and goals which universities like to see in their prospective students. It also allows you to try out certain sectors and roles to see if you like them before making big decisions about your career.
  4. Having some professional experience before you graduate will help make the transition from studying to working easier and will increase you chances of getting the job you apply for. Universities love employable alumni – it reflects well on the university and improves their employability stats. The Careers Centre at your destination university will offer a great deal of support including: compiling your CV, application letter writing, gaining the competitive edge when it comes to beating the opposition!
  5. You can get ahead in building a professional network that you can call on for career support and job opportunities after you graduate.

How do you get work experience?

There are many ways you can secure work experience and volunteering work. It depends on what you are interested in and where you live but an obvious place to start is in your local area. Reach out to local businesses, organisations, public services etc to see if they have opportunities. You may be able to use family connections or friends to help you secure informal experience. It’s great if you can get practical experience but even the chance to shadow a member of staff will give you some insight into your chosen role/sector – it’s better than nothing.

UCAS recommend several resources to get you started – so get exploring and get ahead of your peer group!

www.ucas.com/alternatives/internships/internships-and-volunteering

UK Study Options supports students with enrichment activities that boost their profiles and enhance their applications to university. We also offer services such as CV and cover letter guidance and proofing, as well as, conduct mock interviews and more to prepare students for internships, university and beyond! Read about our services on our University Application Support webpage.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/work-experience.jpg 600 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-07-25 16:43:172019-07-25 16:43:17Use your summer wisely – get work experience!

What Makes an Effective Personal Statement?

Personal statements are an essential part of your UCAS application as they set you apart from all the other equally capable candidates applying for one of the limited places on a course. Your personal statement should give the Admissions Tutor a strong understanding of who you are and why you want to study the course that you are applying to. You only have 4,000 characters, so you have to be concise but compelling. It is also likely to be the only communication that you as an individual have with an Admissions Tutor so you need to make it count.

It is also very important to understand that the most selective UK universities wish to see a personal statement that is at least 70 – 80% academic. Your extra-curricular activities, hobbies and interests should form only a small part. Remember – the person reading your statement is likely to be an academic who has spent their life studying the subject you claim to have an interest in. Therefore, the main focus of the statement should be your interest in the course and the evidence you have to prove it.

The best personal statements provide evidence of:

  • enthusiasm and motivation for study of the subject
  • understanding and/or experience of the subject
  • academic engagement with the subject
  • relevant knowledge and skills for the subject
  • originality and independence of thought

The Russell Group of research-intensive universities which includes institutions such as, Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Warwick, Edinburgh and Exeter, recommends the following 4-part structure:

  • Introduction
  • Course
  • Extra- curricular activities
  • Conclusion

We’ll have a look at each of these in turn.

Introduction – why do you want to study this course?

This should be a snappy opener to grab the reader’s attention – no longer than 4 sentences. It should be interesting, original and give an indication of your personality. Keep in mind that a personal statement should be personal and the introduction is your chance to make a connection with the Admissions Tutor.

Admissions Tutors like to know why an applicant is applying for the chosen course, particularly if they are applying for a subject that they have not studied before at school, such as Engineering or Earth Sciences. You could include a personal trigger that explains why the course interests you or an example of how it relates to modern affairs. You could mention one of the ‘big issues’ in the subject you have applied for or talk about what you find most interesting about the course. Sometimes students start with a relevant quote (if you use a quotation you must ensure that it is accurate and that you explain how it has inspired you) or some questions to show that you know what the course entails and that you are enthusiastic about studying it in more depth. Be warned – if you are expressing interest in a particular aspect or module of the course, be sure to check that all your course choices offer this as part of the degree. Sometimes students talk about their current studies at school and how these have inspired them to pursue the subject at a higher level. Career interests can be a starting point for course choice but be aware that Admissions Tutors will still want to see academic interest in the subject.

The course – what evidence do you have to prove your academic engagement with the subject?

This is the main body of the statement where you can demonstrate both your enthusiasm for and commitment to the course.

Tutors are looking for a personal statement that demonstrates your academic engagement with the subject. They are looking for evidence to show why a course genuinely interests you together with proof that you understand what is required to study the course. In other words, they need to be reassured that you have done your research and have looked beyond course titles to investigate what the course is actually about.

Because this section should be 70-80% of the statement it can be helpful to break it down into ‘inside school’ and ‘outside school’. ‘Inside school’ could include current studies and what you have found particularly interesting and would like to take further. ‘Outside school’ will be anything that you have done that is relevant to your course, which is outside of your school curriculum. Admissions tutors are looking for these ‘super-curricular’ activities as evidence that you are engaging independently with your subject and that you have the capacity and self-motivation for independent study – key to a successful undergraduate experience. The focus here is not to list loads of activities but to give fewer examples with evidence and to show that you have thought about/reflected on/learnt from these experiences.

Extra-curricular activities – what have you done that shows you have the skills needed to be a successful student on the course?

Although competitive universities are primarily interested in seeing evidence of academic interest in the personal statement they also want well rounded students. They are looking for proof that you have the skills necessary to succeed on your course and that you will be able to cope with university life. Non-academic interests and achievements can also help you to stand out from the crowd and give personality to a ‘personal’ statement.

As with the academic interests it is important not to list a whole stream of interests and activities – no matter how impressive you think they are. It is far better to choose fewer, more interesting examples, draw out the transferable skills that you have gained from them and show why these demonstrate your potential to succeed on the course.

Conclusion

It is sensible to finish the statement in a professional manner by rounding it off with one or two concluding sentences. Without repeating what you have already said, link back to the course you are applying for, remind the Admissions Tutor how committed you are, and how you are looking forward to participating in university life as a whole. Make this a really positive finish showing why you think that you deserve to be offered a place.

Top tips

  • Ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. When you are satisfied with the content, proof read it – no one is immune from the odd typo or mistake. Do not just rely on spell-check. The easiest way to spot mistakes is to read the statement out loud to yourself and let others read it too
  • Make full use of the space available, but with correct punctuation. Get rid of words/phrases that do not add anything to your statement
  • Start writing your statement well in advance of the deadline so you have time to re-draft it a number of times
  • Follow a clear, logical structure
  • Avoid jargon, abbreviations or non-standard English
  • Try to include some subject specific vocabulary
  • Avoid repetition of information contained in the UCAS form
  • Write using active verbs, not passive verbs

Things to avoid

  • Jokes (these can come across as unprofessional and your sense of humour may not appeal to the Admissions Tutor)
  • Every sentence beginning with ‘I’. Try using gerunds (a verb plus ‘ing’ at the start of sentences)
  • Lots of pompous language that you would not ordinarily use in an attempt to impress
  • Lists – an admissions tutor does not want a long list of every book that you have read or every sport that you play. Fewer examples of current or recent activities in more detail is the key
  • Naming a particular university unless you are only applying to that one university
  • Lying or exaggerating claims (remember that if you have an interview you may well be asked questions based on your statement)
  • Saying that you have “always loved” a subject. Talking about how you first developed an interest in something is more believable and interesting.

And finally:

Always remember that every part of the statement should answer the question “why should we give you a place on the course?”

Take advice from parents, teachers, and advisers but at the end of the day it is YOUR statement and it should reflect and sound like you – it is called a personal statement for a reason.

UK Study Options provide tailored student guidance on writing a personal statement for competitive university applications. Have a look at what our Personal Statement Package includes.

https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/rsz_kelly-sikkema-lfgaatmudvc-unsplash1.jpg 600 800 Kate Raison https://ukstudyoptions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ukso-r-logo.png Kate Raison2019-07-22 12:22:102019-07-25 17:43:39What Makes an Effective Personal Statement?
Page 1 of 212

UKSO Blog

  • UK University places are more competitive than ever07/07/2022 - 12:00 pm
  • The Cost of an Undergraduate Degree in the UK08/06/2022 - 10:41 am
  • UK University Fee Status Rules05/05/2022 - 2:32 pm

UK Study Options Tags

admissions applications aston bath British cambridge Clearing competitive dentistry eligibility EU evidence expat expatriate expats fees fee status funding grades home home fees international international fees lancaster loughborough medical schools medicine open days oxbridge oxford personal statement postgraduate russell group sandwich course students surrey tuition fees UCAS UCL uk universities university US veterinary vocational

Get in Touch

Email
hello@ukstudyoptions.com

Phone
+44 (0)208 1871865

© Copyright - UK Study Options 2023 | Privacy Policy | Proudly built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Milton Keynes
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our site functions. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only