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Undergraduate

Four homemade Christmas present ideas

Thu 10 January 2019 - 14:46

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Whether you’ve already blown your budget or want to eschew consumerism this festive season, you can still spread holiday cheer with a sweet and simple handmade gift.
 
For the plant lover
For even the most botanically inept, terrariums are easy to make, and look fabulous under the Christmas tree. To start, you’ll need a clear glass container – such as a goldfish bowl, pickle jar, a vase with a broad base,...

Five ways to save money while socialising this Christmas

Thu 10 January 2019 - 14:46

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Don't let your bank balance stop you enjoying the festivities!

Whether you’ve already lost your cash to the sales, or you’re stashing away savings, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get into the festive spirit. Here are five ways to have a cheap (and charitable) Christmas.

1. Deck the halls

If you’re the type of person who unashamedly owns Mariah Carey’s 'Greatest hits' and knows all the words to The First Noel, why not put your rare talent to good use and lead your friends in a bout of Christmas carolling? You could offer to sing at your local community centre or town square (and raise money in the process), or invite friends around for a singalong at home.

The great thing about Christmas songs is that you don’t need Mariah’s range to make them sound half-decent, and if you’re really, really terrible, people may even pay you to be quiet. Your chosen charity will thank you, even if no one else will.

...

Christmas Dinner on a budget

Thu 21 March 2019 - 15:59

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Christmas dinner doesn't need to cost the earth – here's how to do it on a budget.
 
Christmas dinner from your childhood might be a little beyond your means, but as long as you have access to a kitchen, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make your own budget version. It’s also a brilliant opportunity to show off your cooking skills to your friends.
 
First off, forget the turkey. They’re generally the most expensive part of any Christmas dinner, but probably not all that helpful for you. They’re massive and overpriced around Christmas. Supermarkets sell turkeys around £4.50 per kilo. Compare that to chicken – around £2.20 per kilo – and you can see...

How to make the most of your visit to an open day in four simple steps

Mon 7 October 2019 - 16:04

By UCAS in UCAS advice

It’s always a good idea to get a taste of a university before you apply there or accept an offer of a place from them. The best way to do this is by attending an open day! Not sure how to find them or why you should attend? This blog has it covered…

Why should you attend an open day?
They give you the chance to get a first-hand impression of the uni that you can’t get online – so important if you end up spending three years living there. You’ll get to see the university in action, find out more about the course, ask the tutors questions as well as the opportunity to meet their students who will know the uni inside out.
 
Search for open days and make a shortlist
There are over 370 unis and colleges in the UK, so you won’t be able to attend them all! Make a shortlist of the unis and courses you’re interested in by looking at our search tool.
...

Help and advice for care leavers

Tue 6 November 2018 - 16:02

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Ben Jordan is the Senior Policy Executive at UCAS. Here, he shares why you’re asked whether you’re a care leaver on your university application, and where you can find support if you’ve been in care.

We aim to help people make informed choices that best suit their aspirations and abilities, and give them the best opportunity to succeed. We provide information and advice to around 720,000 applicants each year. This includes people with a range of individual needs, including care leavers.

We know there are many challenges faced by care...

The five reasons why you can’t sign in to your application (and how to overcome them)

Thu 21 March 2019 - 15:50

By UCAS in UCAS advice

We gets lots of phone calls and queries on Facebook and Twitter from people who can’t sign in to their applications.There are a few different reasons why you might not be able to sign in, but here’s how to overcome the most common sign in issues, in case you find yourself faced with this message:
1. You've selected the wrong type of application
There are four different types of application you can sign into – UCAS Undergraduate, UCAS Teacher Training,...

Oxbridge application tips

Fri 20 December 2019 - 10:41

By UCAS in UCAS advice

The early UCAS deadline for Oxbridge applications is fast approaching. For those of you who are considering applying to these universities, work will now be well underway regarding your personal statements, academic portfolio and finding suitable references. Representing yourself through so few words is one of the biggest challenges you will have faced throughout your sixth form experience so far, hence it is natural to feel overwhelmed and a little stressed by it all. Fear not – whilst the deadline is approaching, there is still more than enough time for you to complete everything necessary. It’s all in your approach.

As far as your personal statement goes, make sure that you have a clear structure as you read over everything. If...

Personal statements: quick-fire questions answered!

Mon 1 July 2019 - 09:56

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Got a question about writing your personal statement? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’re often asked about this section of the application, and chances are your question will be one we’ve heard from other students. Check out the answers to five of the most frequently asked questions below – they're all from admissions staff at universities and colleges (the people who spend their time reading personal statements!)

1. When should I start?
  • "As soon as you can! Give...

Specialist careers advisors ready to help families on GCSE results day

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:05

By Exam Results Helpline in UCAS advice

Teens and their parents waiting for GCSE exam results on Thursday (Aug 24, 2017) are being urged not to panic as the UK’s only specialist ‘pop-up’ exam helpline for students is open for them first thing on the morning of results day.

The Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000) is a specially-formed team of expert UK careers advisors who come together at the UCAS head office in Cheltenham once a year for the sole purpose of helping young people who receive unexpected exam results.

Created nearly three decades ago and funded by the Department for Education, the...

The ultimate checklist for parents ahead of exam results

Fri 31 May 2019 - 11:37

By Exam Results Helpline in UCAS advice

While students across the country are nervously waiting their A Level results this Thursday (Aug 15) or GCSEs (Aug 22), a thought should be spared also for their equally anxious parents.

To help everyone going through the stresses and strains that inevitably come with this time of year, the Department for Education’s Exam Results Helpline opens at 07:30 on A Levels Day and will continue to be a lifeline of support and guidance until the end of the month.

Although students make the bulk of the calls, a quarter are from parents phoning to find out how best to help their youngsters take the next steps.

Here, Exam Results Helpline careers advisor Iwan Williams has outlined the ‘Ultimate Checklist’ for parents to ensure they can help their teenagers make the right decisions when the time comes.

So, what do parents really need to know?

1) The options: Having a solid understanding of the...

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