So, you’ve submitted your UCAS application and now you might be wondering what happens next. Well, don’t worry - our step-by-step guide is designed to help you get organised between now and September.
You’ll start receiving offers.
We understand that waiting to hear back from universities can be nerve-racking but it’s important to keep in mind that each university will make their decision at different times. If you submitted your application by the UCAS deadline on 29th January 2021, you can expect to hear back by 20th May 2021. If you applied after this date, the university's deadline to get back to you will be later. You can find out more about these deadlines here.
If one of your chosen universities has not made a decision by the appropriate deadline, then you will see on UCAS Track that that choice will automatically be made unsuccessful.
Apply for Student Finance.
Whilst you’re waiting to hear back from your chosen universities, now is the perfect time to make a start on your Student Finance application. Not the most exciting part of the application process, we know, but it’s an important step in your lead up to starting university in September.
Don’t worry if you’re unsure about where you will be studying, your Student Finance application can be changed at any time during the application stage. Where you live will determine where you need to apply for student finance and what financial support is available to you.
All UK/EU Student Finance applications should be completed and submitted before the end of May. More information can be found here.
At Chester, we also have additional financial support available. You can find out more about our bursaries here.
Get to know your universities.
It’s a good idea to make sure you have all the information you need before you decide which universities will be your Firm and Insurance choices. Most universities will be hosting a range of events for you to get a real insight into your chosen course and to get to know the academic staff from your department.
At the University of Chester, we are hosting ‘Meet Your Department’ virtual events to give you a taste of the learning experience and the opportunity to delve deeper into your subject of interest, as well as the chance to meet your future lecturers and chat to current students.
Our virtual campus tours also give you the chance to explore our academic, recreational and residential facilities at our Chester, Warrington and Shrewsbury sites. These tours are the perfect opportunity to see for yourself where you could be living and studying as a student with us. From workshops to laboratories, sports facilities to libraries, accommodation to city life, we’ve got it covered. You’ll also hear from some of our current students about why the University of Chester was the right university for them.
Select your Firm and Insurance choices.
Once you’ve received offers from your chosen institutions, it’s time for you to reply to your offers on UCAS Track and decide which universities will be your Firm and Insurance choices. But what does that mean exactly? Your Firm choice will be your first-choice university - if you meet the entry requirements, you will be guaranteed a place. An Insurance choice is designed to be a back-up - you should deliberately choose somewhere with lower entry requirements as your second choice, just in case you don’t get the grades you expected.
It’s important that you reply to your offers before the deadline - your personal deadline will be clearly stated on UCAS Track. Reply deadlines are based on when you received your last decision from those universities and colleges you applied for.
If you received your last decision on or before 20th May 2021, your reply date will be 10th June 2021. Further information about replying to your offers can be found here.
Choose your accommodation.
Once you’ve chosen your Firm and Insurance institutions, it’s time to think about student accommodation. If you're going to be moving away from home, it’s important for you to really think about what matters to you - do you want an en-suite bathroom? Would you prefer halls of residence or to live in a self-contained house?
At Chester, we have a variety of accommodation options available and we guarantee accommodation to all Firm choice applicants. Rest assured, we don’t allocate accommodation on a first come, first-served basis. As long as you submit your application before the deadline, your application will be considered fairly, and you’ll be guaranteed a place in University-owned accommodation.
If you receive an offer from the University of Chester, we’ll be in touch with details about how and when to apply for accommodation.
Results day.
On results day, you will know if you’ve got the grades you need to get into your Firm choice university. If you have, your place at that institution will be confirmed on UCAS and within a few days you can expect to receive pre-arrival information.
We know that exam arrangements are looking different this year, with many exams cancelled. Universities will be working alongside UCAS and ofqual, the exams regulator, to confirm exactly how grades will be calculated and should be in touch with you when these details are confirmed by government. You will still receive your results on a specific day - A level results day this year is Thursday 24th August.
If you haven’t managed to secure a place at your first-choice university but have met the conditions of your Insurance choice, your application on UCAS will change to reflect that. You will then receive pre-arrival information so you’re ready to start in September.
If your grades don’t meet the conditions of either your Firm or Insurance choice, you will enter UCAS Clearing and you can find out more about that here.
It’s also worth knowing that if your grades have exceeded your Firm offer, then you may want to consider UCAS Adjustment. This allows you to reconsider your choices and see if there are any places available at other universities with higher entry requirements. There’s more information about UCAS Adjustment here.
Look out for induction information.
Starting university can be a big step, and it’s important for you to know and understand what support is available to you at university, both before you start and while you’re studying. More information about student support can be found here.
Prior to starting at Chester, you will receive induction information including details of different events that you can get involved with to help you settle into university life, so keep an eye out for this! You’ll have the opportunity to buddy up with one of our Peer Mentors, who are able to share their experiences and answer any questions you might have about university life in your first year.
You’ll also be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) before you start in September, who will be there to support your personal development to ensure you reach your potential. Not only that, they will be there to help you transition into university life, giving you a head start, as well as being a friendly face that you’ll recognise when you start.
Get excited!
You did it! The time has finally come to start getting excited about the next chapter of your life!
Everything you need to know about starting university will be sent out to you over the summer so by the time September arrives, you’ll feel prepared and excited to start your university journey!
At Chester, we’ll keep in touch along the way and share lots of advice and guidance information along with blogs on our website to help you get organised before you start!
