Thinking about applying to university in the UK in 2024?

Here’s what you should be doing over the next few months.  

Embarking on the university application process is an exciting and pivotal moment for every student. But it can be a complicated and confusing system to navigate. As a recent graduate from Oxford, here’s what you need to know and should be doing over the next few months.  

Exploring your options

Choosing your course

Consider the subjects you enjoy at school and the subjects that you excel in, and research universities that offer courses aligned with your interests. Similar courses can differ between universities; for example, the Earth Sciences course at Oxford University is a comprehensive geology degree with compulsory interdisciplinary modules, whereas the equivalent course at Imperial College London is one of their Geology-specific courses with additional supplementary modules. Make sure that you understand and are comfortable with what the course offers before you apply.

Choosing your university

Whilst choosing the right course is important, choosing the right university that is fit for you is equally as important. It will be your home for at least the next few years, so make sure that you research its teaching structure, culture, student experiences, and levels of support available before applying to any given university. 

In the UK, there are a group of prestigious universities that are collectively known as “The Russell Group”. The association includes 24 universities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, that are bound by their shared commitment to producing world-class research, excellent teaching standards, and academic excellence across a range of disciplines. Some of the most prestigious universities in the UK, such as Oxbridge, adopt a unique tutorial/supervision teaching system, where one tutor is grouped with 2-3 students and conduct a student-led approach to learning, whereas other universities in the UK generally adopt a lecture system where the lecturer could be presenting to hundreds of students at once.

Lastly, you can choose between a campus university or a city-based university. The former is a centralised university building where all the majority of its facilities are located, such as lecture theatres, halls of residence, student social venues, etc. Examples of universities that adopt a single-campus community include the University of Exeter and the University of Birmingham. The latter is where the university is composed of several buildings that are scattered throughout the city, including institutions such as the University of Liverpool.

Depending on the experience you are looking for, it’s extremely important to choose the university that will be the right fit for you.

Crafting your personal statement

Previously, your personal statement was an opportunity to showcase your interest in the degree subject and your passions, skills, and ambitions, and was a critical part of your application. In 2024, the personal statement is being reformed to make the application process more accessible for everyone.

The personal statement will be changed from a 650-word piece of writing to a series of free-text questions. This is because 83% of students in a UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) survey said that they found the personal statement process stressful, and that they relied heavily on support from others in order to feel confident that what they had written was sufficient. Splitting the statement into a series of questions will make this section much simpler for students to answer, as the questions will pose a clearer idea of what should be included.

 The three key themes of the statement questions are intended to help university admissions teams assess whether applicants are a good fit for the course, and are as follows:

Motivation for the course: why do you want to study this course?

Your answer to this question should include a compelling argument as to why you want to study your chosen course. This might relate to career ambitions, or it might just simply be because you love the subject. This section will provide evidence that your chosen course really does offer what you are looking for. This could be sector body accreditation, a pathway to a specific profession, or the opportunity to really delve into a discipline which excites you. 

Preparedness for course: how has your learning so far helped you to be ready to succeed on these courses?

This is an opportunity for you to highlight what you’ve gained from school or other formal learning opportunities. This could include things like an A-Level course that has helped you understand the breadth of a discipline and leading you to further research into where your interests best lie, or it could include specific skills related to the course you want to go on to study. Your answer will be personal to you, but the key thing to demonstrate here is an understanding of what will help you succeed academically.

Preparation through other experiences: what else have you done to help you prepare, and why are these experiences useful?

 The experiences featured here are likely to involve activities such as extracurricular learning, involvement in sports or social clubs, and employment or other work experience. Your response should include an experience and then an explanation as to why you are using this as an example. Discuss things such as what you learned from the experience, the skills you developed, what critical thought has been sparked and what you did next as a result. Detail why these things will help you on your chosen course.

Application process and UCAS

 Most universities in the UK use the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) system.

 The first thing you should do is familiarise yourself with the key UCAS deadlines. For instance, Oxbridge applications usually have a deadline around the 15th October every year. If your course has an entrance exam, then you will need to register for this separately before the deadline. It’s also important to be aware of any application deadlines so that you can give your referee plenty of time to write their reference letter for you.

 To monitor your application’s progress, you can use your personal UCAS ID and the UCAS track system. Here you can view university place offers, rejections, or pending outcomes.

Top Tips:

Applying for university can be a stressful time, but there’s a plethora of things that you can do to ensure that your application is as strong as it can be. To stand out amongst your peers, you can:

 Delve into some wider reading beyond the scope of your A-Level curriculums

Searching for university reading lists for your subject might be a good place to start. A classic book for an Earth Sciences/Geology course would be How to Build a Habitable Planet by Charles H. Langmuir. Following your university course LinkedIn page may also be a rich source of new research for you to consume.

Listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos on your chosen subject

There are lots of podcasts/videos available at the tip of your fingers, simply by just searching for ‘History podcast’ (or whatever your chosen course is!). Refine your search by being more specific. For example, you could search for a particular area of History, such as ‘podcast about the history of World War Two’. A great YouTube channel that I can recommend for the Earth Sciences is Geology Johnson, by Oxford’s very own geologist. More broadly, the BBC Radio 4 Programme In Our Time covers a wide range of educational content from History, Science, Philosophy, Religion, and the Arts, and is delivered by a host asking academic leaders about their research.

Be authentic and show genuine passion for your subject

It’s important to remain authentic and show genuine passion for your subject – remember, universities are not looking for carbon copies of what a student ‘should’ be like; they’re looking for genuine enthusiasm and a willingness to learn more.

If you need any help with interview prep and admissions, please reach out to us! Our mentors are here to support you!