UCAS is the portal that connects people to University, post Uni studies including teacher training, apprenticeships & internships.
To increase your chances of getting a place on a course UCAS gives you the option of applying to up to five courses at once, usually all in a similar subject so that your application is relevant to all of them.
Please note, there are a couple of restrictions though:
You can only apply maximum of four courses in any one of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science.
Usually you can only apply to one course at either the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge. There are exceptions – visit the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge websites for more information.
Types of degrees
Foundation years:
Some degrees offer a foundation or qualifying year as the first year, sometimes called ‘year zero’. They are generally one year, full-time courses delivered at a university or college, and can be offered as a 'standalone' course, or as part of a degree. You'll still be treated as a full-time undergraduate student.
Foundation years are designed to develop the skills and subject-specific knowledge required to undertake a degree course, and specialise in a subject area.
If your grades weren’t suitable, or you studied combinations of subjects at school or college that mean you don’t meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, a foundation year could be suitable. Not all universities and colleges offer foundation years.
Most students who take a foundation year choose to stay at the same university or college to complete their full degree, but it may be possible to apply for a full-time degree course elsewhere if you complete the course successfully. You will need to check this with the individual universities and colleges concerned. You will also pay tuition fees for your foundation year.
If you're interested in a foundation year, you'll need to include this in the undergraduate keyword field in the UCAS search tool.
Diploma in foundation studies (art and design):
This one-year qualification – often shortened to ‘Art Foundation’ – is widely recognised as a primary route to gain entry to some of the most prestigious art and design degree courses. The learning is tailored to a student’s specific area of art and design subject interest, so they can progress to study that area at degree level.
Foundation degrees:
Foundation degrees are usually two-year courses (longer if part-time), that are equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree. They are not the same as a foundation year.
These can be a good destination for school leavers at 18, as they offer a qualification that can help gain degree entry. This route is a good option for students who need a course with lower entry requirements and fewer examinations, would prefer a vocational degree/to study while they work, or are not yet ready to commit to three years at university.
Foundation degrees often combine academic skills and knowledge with workplace performance and productivity. They may have been designed in partnership with employers, and therefore focus on a particular job role or profession, enabling you to gain professional and technical skills to further your career. They can be used as a standalone qualification for employment, but are more commonly used as the basis for progression to a final ‘top-up’ year, leading to a full bachelors degree. The final year may be taken at a different university or college.
HNCs, HNDs, and other incremental routes:
The Higher National Certificate (HNC), a one-year work-related course, is equivalent to the first year of a university degree programme. The Higher National Diploma (HND) is a two-year, work-related course, which is equivalent to the first two years of a bachelors degree. As with a foundation degree, it is possible to progress from these courses to complete a full bachelors degree at a university, either through a specific top-up course, or by directly entering a degree in year three.
If you wanted to study a degree in stages, or exit after one or two years of study, the following qualifications may also be suitable. They don’t directly lead to a degree, but you may be able go on and join the second or third year of a full degree (perhaps at the same university/college, or elsewhere) if you change your mind and want to graduate with a bachelors degree after all.
One year of a degree – a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
Two years of a degree – a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
Degrees or graduate level apprenticeship (typically for UK citizens):
This is a new type of higher level apprenticeship, which can lead to a bachelors degree as part of an apprenticeship. It is important to check the full details of a given job and apprenticeship with the employer and training provider. These courses are a good fit for students who want to gain work experience rather than studying full-time at university, but would like to achieve the same degree status.
Students need to be highly committed – competition can be fierce and entry qualifications can be high. If you’re considering this option, you may want to keep your options open by making an application to a full-time bachelors degree through UCAS at the same time.
Bachelor degrees:
Bachelor degrees usually last either three or four years if studied full-time (although some courses are longer). You can concentrate on a single subject (also called Single Honours: means that you typically choose 1 subject from 1 faculty to study when you apply), combine two subjects in a single course (often called Dual or Joint Honours courses), or choose several subjects (Combined Honours). Most courses have core modules which everyone studies, and many courses allow you to choose options or modules to make up a course that suits you.
Some bachelor degrees offer a Sandwich Year, involving an additional placement or year in industry, which forms part of the course. If you're an international student, you'll need to check you're eligible to work in the UK, or that your visa allows you to do a placement course. Most international students on a tier 4 visa will be eligible for a year in industry or work placements as part of their course, but there may be some conditions. Check with the university or college before making this choice in your application. You can find out more on the UKCISA website:
Benefits of Sandwich courses:
You can apply your academic studies to real-life working situations;
Experience in the field allows you to test the water before entering the job market;
You can start to build a network of potential employers and possibly secure a job offer when you graduate;
Your employment prospects may be enhanced because your work experience helps you to stand out from the competition. You will have demonstrated sought-after skills in a workplace context (technical, communication, teamwork) and you will be more likely to have maturity and confidence in an interview setting;
Your period of work experience may count towards a professional qualification;
You may have the chance to work abroad and consolidate/learn a foreign language;
You will earn while you learn. This may well be even more desirable given current fee levels. It is also possible that the company you work for will decide to sponsor you during your fourth year at university.
There are also courses which include postgraduate-level study, known as integrated master's. Integrated master's being at undergraduate level, then continue for an extra year (or more) so you're awarded a master's degree at the end. These are most common in engineering or science subjects. If you're interested in an integrated master's, you'll need to include the term 'master's' when using the UCAS search tool.
Looking to study performing arts?
As well as university and college courses, you can also choose to study at a UK conservatoire. Courses at conservatoires are more performance-based than you will find at a uni or college. Conservatoires offer courses in music, dance, drama, and musical theatre.
For more information, please click on the following button:
For more information on how to choose your undergraduate course, please click on the following button:
UK undergraduate grading system
Most universities award a class of degree based on the marks from the assessed work you have completed. To distinguish between students on the basis of their academic achievement, undergraduate degree awards are classified as follows:
First-Class Honours (70% and above): a first class degree, usually referred to as a ‘first’ or 1st, is the highest honours degree you can achieve
Upper Second-Class Honours (60-69%): there are two levels of second class degree. An upper second class, known as a 2:1 or two-one, is the higher of the two levels
Lower Second-Class Honours (50-59%): a 2.2 or two-two is the lower level of the second class degree
Third-Class Honours (40-49%): known as a ‘third’ or 3rd, this degree is the lowest honours degree achievable
Ordinary Degree: If an honours student fails to achieve a third class by a small margin, they may be awarded an ordinary degree i.e. without honours.
Source: "What is a 2:1 Degree? Guide to UK Undergraduate Grades - Study in the UK" by Cardiff Met International
Sources:
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/how-choose-right-undergraduate-course-you (accessed on the 9 June, 2021)
Guide to UK Universities, BridgeU LTD 2018.