Firstly, you must decide what you wish to study – this should be relevant to your future career so make sure to consider what you enjoy and where you can see yourself ending up.

When drafting your personal statement, it is important to allow plenty of time for edits and amendments to be made before being sent to UCAS. Make sure to get feedback from your lecturers, guardians, and classmates to ensure that you have received as many opinions as possible and no details are missed.

When choosing the relevant information and facts to include within your personal statement, it is important to show your passion for the subject and what you have done inside and outside of the classroom to fuel this knowledge.

Make sure to highlight relevant extracurriculars and any work experience you have completed that has deepened your understanding of the subject. It is also important to discuss the transferrable skills that make you a good candidate for university as this demonstrates you are capable of handling and organising your workload and taking responsibility of your tasks.

When outlining your passion for the subject, it is important not to exaggerate or be too cliche with your wording. Universities look for authenticity and genuine interest, with a display of actions over words. Universities want to know why you would be a good fit for the course and what makes you stand out against other students so make sure this is reflected within your application.

When looking at universities, there are many factors to consider. From choosing the right course, to the location of the university, you need to choose what is right for you.

To make an informed decision, create a list of universities that offer the course you’re interested in, looking into the differences such as the modules, entry requirements, and assessment methods. It is important to understand the different structures, for example looking into which modules are compulsory as this may be a deciding factor for you depending on your interests. If you are torn between similar subject areas, it might be worth considering a joint honours degree as this gives you an even split of modules, so you have more flexibility for the future.

Once you have a better idea of the different options available to you, try to narrow it down to five choices for your UCAS application. If you have more than five, create a pros and cons list to help you figure out the universities most suited to what you’re looking for.

It is highly recommended that you attend Open Days for all your options. Not only is it important to like your course, but you also have to enjoy the city that you will potentially be living in for 3 years. Attending Open Days gives you the chance to ask questions in person and get a feel for the campus, the lecturers, the accommodation and the location. These factors can be just as important as the university course itself.

If you are still unsure about whether university is the right route for you, you can always take a gap year to ensure you are confident about your decision, but if you are considering university, it is worth applying regardless so you don’t miss the deadline. You can always withdraw your application or defer your place for a year.

If you plan on living away from home, accommodation is also an important part of your university experience, so it is important to do your research and view it beforehand where possible. It is also important to note that the most expensive accommodation doesn’t always necessarily mean the best.

You won’t need to decide on accommodation until you have decided on your desired university, however, it is recommended that you view the potential accommodation where possible.

Make sure to do your research into each place available as each one will have its own benefits. Some accommodations offer shared or ensuite bathrooms and this may be a large gap in pricing; some will be with many students whilst some will be with a smaller group. Some accommodations will be in a central location, whilst others may be further away from campus but may offer discounted bus passes. It is important that you are fully informed before you choose where you will be living for your first year.

It is recommended that you apply for Student Finance as early as possible to ensure all documentation is approved ahead of starting to avoid any delays in payment. It is a simple process that you will complete on the GOV.UK website and often includes both a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan.

The Tuition Fee Loan will likely cover your course fees for the duration of your degree and will be paid directly to the university, whilst the amount of Maintenance Loan you receive will depend on a range of factors, including household annual income, any dependents you may have, and your home situation.

When applying for Student Finance, ensure you have all the correct information and documentation to hand. This includes two forms of identification such as a valid passport and birth certificate, your National Insurance number, proof of residency such as passport or birth certificate, and your bank details.

You will also need your guardians’ or partners’ details, if applicable, including their proof of identity and income. This evidence will be processed in order to determine the amount of loan required and to assess their possible contribution to your costs. Your application cannot be approved until all the necessary evidence has been submitted and processed.

There is a maximum entitlement for Maintenance Loan each academic year which you can receive depending on the geographical location of your chosen university and whether you are living at home or at university throughout your degree.

If you don’t get the grades required for your top university choices, that’s okay! There are many universities which offer similar courses so finding an alternative route through Clearing is possible.

Make sure you have your Clearing Number, Personal ID number, and your grades or UCAS Tariff points to hand. It is also wise to have a few bullet points on why you want to join their course and some achievements that you can discuss with the universities that you’re applying to with Clearing. Also, make sure you have a pen and paper to hand so you can jot down important information such as the university name, phone number, and course code and title.

To apply through university Clearing, simply check your UCAS status, search for your desired course on the UCAS website, contact universities directly by calling them to get a provisional offer. Once you have received an offer, add that course and university as your Clearing choice on your UCAS application and wait for the university to accept your place by confirming it.

Once your place has been secured, contact the university again to finalise the details of enrolment, accommodation and your timetable for the upcoming year.

If you don’t want to move away from home or commute too far, there are still options available to you where you can get the university experience without the hassle. University Centre Weston (UCW) is a great place to gain a degree qualification locally with staff you will likely be familiar with.

UCW delivers over 50 degree-level courses, including Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Higher Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships, and HNCs and HNDs, many of which are from our partner universities, Bath Spa and University West of England (UWE Bristol). This means you will get a highly accredited university degree without spending a fortune living away from home, perfect for the more nervous and anxious learners.

Not only this, at UCW, you will likely be in smaller cohorts than in most larger universities, meaning you will get a more tailored and individualist approach to learning. You will also build strong relationships with lecturers which will create a supportive environment to grow in.

At UCW, you may stay near, but you will go far!