UCAS is the application system for Higher Education institutions, universities and colleges.  Students need to apply to UCAS in the Autumn term of Year 13 – by this time students will need to have decided what they want to study and where they want to study.  There are thousands of courses to choose from, so students need to start researching as soon as possible.



During Year 12 students will need to start considering their options and what they will need to achieve to receive an offer on the course of their choice.  Academic qualifications are important – GCSE and AS results are asked for on the UCAS form as well as predicted grades for A Level.

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Universities make applicants an offer based on their application forms, often using a tariff system (see below).  The offers vary from course to course, so it is important to research carefully.  Work experience, voluntary work, extra-curricular activities (taking part in productions, sporting activities, being a Buddy etc) are also important and look good on UCAS applications.

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Students will be given plenty of help and support when completing the UCAS application form. We also have good links with local HE institutions as well as those further away, including Oxford and Cambridge.  We organise a visit to the  Merseyside UCAS Convention, ‘Your Future’ days in college and opportunities for individual mentoring using our pastoral system. Your mentor will provide the reference to UCAS in support of your application, which you will be able to see before it is submitted.