Research the options
- Start looking early.
- Visit the UCAS website.
- Visit any relevant university websites.
- Attend one or more of the open days.
- Attend the Higher Education fairs.
- Order prospectuses to aid you.
- Contact universities if you have questions for them.
- Sit down with your son-daughter and ask them what their plans are.
Things to think about
- There are over 300 institutions in the UK that deliver higher education programmes.
- Your child can go anywhere to study.
- There are over 50,000 courses nationwide.
- Your son or daughter can only apply to five institutions and only have to choose two (one firm choice and one insurance choice).
Hints and tips
- Encourage your son or daughter to pick a course that they will enjoy studying; a course that will lead them into a career that they are motivated to work in and are passionate about learning more about.
- Ensure that they find out how the course will be assessed.
- Make sure that they find out whether there are any opportunities for work placements.
- Find out the entry requirements, the modules they will study and how the course is taught.
- Make sure they are applying to courses / universities that they have a realistic chance of getting in to.
Things you should consider
- If they move away from home, how long would it take to return for weekends / holidays and how much would it cost?
- If they choose a local university and stay at home, how long will the commute be?
- What type of institution would they prefer – traditional or new university?
- What is the town or city like (for example facilities, amenities and nightlife)?
- What is the reputation of the institution for things like employability, research and student and staff satisfaction?
How you can help with the application
- Encourage your son or daughter to get their application started early; as soon as they return for their second year of post 16 education.
- Stay aware of the deadlines.
- Ensure they disclose any disabilities and / or spent time in care.
- Read their personal statement and check for errors in spelling, grammar and structure.
