Perhaps it only feels like yesterday you were agaonising over what A-Level subjects to choose, and now, suddenly, people are talking to you about what you want to do next! Choosing which university or college to go to is a major decision; add to that having to choose a course and suddenly it all feels a bit overwhelming. 

But with some personal research, advice and support from school or college, and  help from UCAS, applying to university or college is quite an easy process – and it’s never too early to start planning.

Around 20 per cent of HE students live at home.  If that’s your decision too, then obviously you need to find a local university and check out the how you will get there each day.  Is there a good public transport system.  How much will it cost you to travel?  Don’t forget the 16 – 25 Rail card www.16-25railcard.co.uk.

If you want to get away as far away as possible, then do you know how you will cope being a long way from home?  You never really know until you find out, of course, and although some places may seem too far away, Britain isn’t that big a place, really!  And it could be quite exciting!

Some universities and colleges are scattered throughout the town or city in various buildings, while others are all in one place: on a campus. So, if you want all your lectures and general amenities close at hand, including your accommodation, go for the latter. If you’d rather things were a bit more spread out, you want the former.   

There is quite a different way of living between these two options, so think about which one you want!   Obviously, the quality of the university or college is vital, but remember you have to live there for three years at least, so it’s worth making sure you’re going to feel at home as well as be entertained!  As well as checking out the websites of the universities you are interested in, take a look at other helpful sites. UCAS’s www.yougofurther.co.uk  has great advice, as well as www.independent.co.uk/student.

A number of universities have particular subjects that they specialise in. For example, Bath are known for engineering, the University of Central Lancashire for journalism and Warwick for the sciences. Some universities have a good reputation, too, for certain courses but remember that there may be higher competition for these places. 

Do you think you will get the grades expected of you by the particular insititutions to which you are applying?

Remember, that even though you are at University to study and gain the relevant qualifications, it’s not all about work, work, work!  If you have particular interests or pastimes then find out whether there are facilitieies to cater for them.  You may be attracted to a particular town or city for the lifestyle.  Do you want a large, busy city or a smaller, friendly town?  The choice is yours!

Attend open days – it’s the best way to find out if the college or university is what you really want.  You can visit individual departments, ask questions, meet other people considering the same university, and generally get a feel for the place.  Visit www.opendays.com for where and when you can visit.

Accommodation is usually one of the most expensive bits of university life, so getting it right in your first year is really important. Find out if things such as internet access and bed linen are included in the rent and what activities are available if you go into halls.  Are the rooms en suite, how are the halls arranged, etc.

If you have particular special needs then find out how good the institution is at catering for them.  Is there easy access to all the buildings and facilities, do you have any learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, dyslexia, or anything else that is significant for you? Contact the Student Welfare Officer or Disability Officer to find out.

Is there a good Chaplaincy at college or university?  What about local churches?  A church community can provide a home from home, a good caring, supportive community of people to make you feel at home!

The usual time to apply for enry the following year is from the beginning of September to the middle of January (UCAS recommends that you apply by the beginning of March to avoid the last minute rush).  The dates are slightly different if you’re applying to  Oxford or Cambridge, or for courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science, so it’s important to check the UCAS website to get the exact dates. 

Universities and colleges do not guarantee to consider applications they receive after 15 January, and some popular courses may not have vacancies after that date.  Contact individual universities or colleges if your uncertain.  Students who apply late should contact the university or college they are applying to in order to check that they will accept a late application. Universities and colleges guarantee to consider all applications received by the stated deadlines, but they consider late applications at their own discretion.

Once you have explored all the options and decided which university and which course you would like to apply then you can visit www.ucas.com and log into the online application system called Apply. This is a secure, web-based system designed for all applicants.

You will find an overview of the online application system and details of its benefits, together with loads of information about how to register and pay for your application.  There s also guidance on how to prepare and fill in the personal statement and reference, and a list of frequently asked questions. Once your application is submitted, you can check its progress using the online Track system.