UCAS January Deadline

With the holidays coming up, there are just a few things on everyone’s mind… Gifts, Family, Food and of course, UCAS.

In January, you’ll meet the deadline for selecting your universities and courses that you’re applying to. I’ll go through what you need to do by the 31^st January and also a couple of tips for the personal statement based on my own experiences.

The UCAS application deadline is 31st January.

Your Choices are the most important part of this decision, it’s where you’d like to see yourself for the next three years (or more for some courses).

• Have you been to an Open Day?
• Do you like the course content?
• Where is the accommodation relative to the campus?

These are just some examples of questions that you can (and should) ask yourself if you need to narrow your list down to just 5 options.

N.B.: You do not need to use all five options if you do not want to.

So, let’s get started! You’ll need a web device (such as a tablet or laptop), and the application can be saved to come back to later, as there is quite a bit to fill out. Start by visiting UCAS Hub and logging in or creating an account.

From here you’ll have the option to start your application and UCAS will take some personal details. These include your name, education journey up to present, any employment, finances and more. One of the steps will be to upload a Personal Statement.

Your UCAS application can be saved to come back to later, so you don't need to do it all at once!

A Personal Statement is a short piece of writing about you to make you stand out from other applicants. While you should save your words (remember there’s a 4,000-character limit, approximately one A4 side) make sure that the account should be spelling, punctuation and grammar perfect. To ensure nothing gets overlooked, I highly recommend printing it out and checking it over with family and your teachers to ensure it reads correctly and conveys your intended points concisely.

Conserve your Characters. A golden rule for personal statements. The best way I found to write a draft of mine was to write everything that came to mind first and condense it down to the limits. This way, you won’t forget anything and you can refer to a previous draft if you remove something which you want to add back later. Remember, spaces count as one character too!

Your statement should explain why you want to study the course. Try to avoid tropes such as “As long as I could remember, I always wanted to be a...”, and include what you learned from any relevant educational awards. In my case, I had achieved a Cyber Award with the RAF Cadets, which I detailed what skills the award had improved rather than just stating that I had received the award. This will help you to keep the points relevant, refreshing and engaging.

Another feature in the process is your reference, which is provided by your UCAS referee. This is usually a combination of statements from your college / sixth form teachers, which your referee will combine to explain from the school or college’s side why you are a good fit for your course choices.

Keep your Personal Statement focused, and expand on why your skills will help you.

Finally, there is a small fee to pay to UCAS on the application for processing and distribution. This varies depending on if you applied for one course or more than one.

So, enjoy your time away for the holidays, but remember: the deadline for all of your application to be in by is Wednesday 31^st January 2023 at 6 pm. That's all the parts: the personal details, choices, and payment made.

Closing note: Earlier I mentioned you had five choices, in the extremely unlikely event that you have been unable to obtain a place at any one of your choices, you will have a second chance with UCAS Extra which opens on 28^th February 2023.