School Year 13 & 2nd year college students, applying to Higher Education

September - December

• If English is your second language, you may need to take an IELTS (or equivalent) test to find out the level of your English & if necessary, take an English course for entry to higher education courses. Check requirements from NARIC or check with your tutors and the universities you are interested in.
  
  
• Review which subjects you should continue with, now you have your examination results. Arrange to see a careers or guidance advisor, if you are still unsure about what to do and if you haven't discussed it during the summer
  
  
• Complete a draft UCAS application form or NMAS (Nursing & Midwifery Admissions Service) application form. You can send the UCAS form when complete, by paper application, electronic application system (EAS) or online through the website.
  
  
• Check who is writing your academic reference & give them enough time to complete it before the closing date.
  
  
• If applying for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or science, send application to UCAS, also practice specimen questions for Oxford, Cambridge, or London pilot entry test.
  
  
• Send in Oxford or Cambridge forms to the institution & UCAS applications.
  
  
• Apply for sponsorships, trusts & scholarships by closing dates. Advice available from careers advisors, Connexions Personal Advisors or from local councils of voluntary service.
  
  
• If you're an A-level, Art & Design student planning to take a Higher Education course in Art, apply now for a 1 year Art Foundation course. Apply direct to local colleges & collect samples of artwork for your portfolio.
  
  
• If you're an Vocational A level (AVCE) Art & Design student, decide whether to apply for higher education via Route A or B or both.
  
  
• Ensure that your UCAS or NMAS application is sent off from the beginning of September or as near to this as possible. It is better to apply early and not leave it until near the final date. You should receive an application acknowledgement but follow this up if you don't receive one.
  
  
• Oxford & Cambridge interviews are held during November & December. Most of the successful applicants are notified of an offer of a place during December & January.
  
  
• If interested in undergraduate courses in US universities, take  SAT or ACT tests, as early as possible, which are available only once a month (October - June only).
  
  
• Consider HNDs, HNCs or Foundation Degrees. Apply directly to universities or colleges for part-time courses and through UCAS for full-time courses.

• Still possible to make late applications, mainly for less popular or new courses and for NMAS courses.
  
  
• Complete & send off Art & Design Route B application.
  
  
• In mid January, supplementary application forms are sent to applicants who have applied for Art & Design courses via Route A but also want to apply via Route B. Complete the form & send off by closing date.
  
  
• Universities & colleges make decisions on applications & may interview you. If you don't receive any offers or are "non-committed" and have used all 6 choices, UCAS will automatically send you a UCAS Extra Passport which enables you to have an additional choice through UCAS. This will mean that if you do not have an offer at an early stage in the cycle, you do not have to wait until Clearing to continue to find a place. You can then contact institutions which still have vacancies to see if they will consider you.
  
  
• Complete an application form from your LEA or awarding body for tuition fees contribution & student loan assessment or apply online. Information on student finance from the student finance section and student loans from Student Loan Company

• By May, you should have heard from all your chosen institutions, seek advice, then reply to UCAS. If you have applied for nursing through NMAS, you will receive either unconditional offers or rejections.
  
  
• If you don't receive any offers through UCAS, or if you applied after 30 June, your application is automatically put into Clearing, which starts in mid-August.
  
  
• If you are applying for nursing training (other than degrees) after 30 June, apply directly to institutions.
  
  
• From April to June, Art & Design Route B applicants receive offers and must reply immediately.
  
  
• Art & Design Route B applicants still unplaced will be sent details about Clearing.
  
  
• Consider applying for  Gap Year or time out opportunities, especially if you have not yet got any offers from Higher Education courses.

• Be available when exam results are announced. If you have received the results required, your offer will be confirmed. If you are rejected, you will automatically be put into Clearing as long as you meet the minimum entry requirements.
  
  
• Don't panic if results are worse or better than expected. Contact your Connexions careers advisors or school or college careers advisors, use information by telephone & websites for practical advice & support.
  
  
• Clearing system for available Higher Education places starts in mid-August on the date of the A-level results.
  
  
• Apply for  Higher Education student support if not already done so.

• 2nd July 2004: Closing date for applications for Higher Education Support to your LEA or   download forms online
  
  
• September 2004: Applications for 2005 entry can be sent from summer 2004. Apply from 1st September for Oxford University & Cambridge University (if not done so). Applications to Cambridge University & Oxford University considered by universities from 1st September. Also send off NMAS (Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service) applications between now and December 15th.
  
  
• October 2004: 15th October deadline for all applications for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or science. 15th October closing date for Oxford or Cambridge, (submit applications to universities & also to UCAS)
  
  
• October - November 2004: Take  SAT l for US undergraduate studies
  
  
• November - December 2004: Take  SAT ll if necessary, depends on US university requirements
  
  
• December 2004: Closing date for NMAS, UCAS, Art & Design Route A applications - 15th December. UCAS & NMAS will process applications up to & including 30th June provided there are vacancies, but you may not get a place. It is also better to send applications before the deadline if possible.
  
  
• January 2005: Art & Design Route B 1st January - 21st March
  
  
• March 2005: UCAS Extra begins in mid March. Closing date for Art & Design Route B - 24th March. See date on letter for deadline to reply to offers
  
  
• June 2005: Closing date for social work bursaries to the General Social Care Council (GSSC)
  
  
• July 2005: Closing date for applications for Higher Education Support to your LEA or  download forms online

• GCSE results: 26th August 2004
  CCEA results (Northern Ireland): 24th August
  GNVQ results: 11th March 2004, 26th August 2004
  AS, A2, AEA results: 11th March 2004, 19th August 2004
  AVCE results: 11th March 2004, 19th August 2004
  A-level results: 19th August 2004
  International Baccalaureate: January for November session, July for May session
  
  
• Review your options, discuss exam results with careers or guidance advisors