UCAS application process

Application cycle
Assisting with the UCAS application
The Personal Statement

Application cycle

All applications to full-time programmes at the University of Bristol, with the exception of Dental Hygiene and the International Foundation Programme, must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS); further information about how your son/daughter should proceed to apply is available from our how to apply page within the online prospectus.

All UK schools and colleges (and a small number of establishments overseas) are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on the application process will be available from your son/daughter's teacher or careers adviser. International applicants can obtain advice from the local British Council office.

The table below summarises what your son/daughter will be expected to do and how you can help. Staying ahead of deadlines set by UCAS and your son/daughter’s school/college is critical.

UCAS application cycle
When	Activities
Year 12 and beginning of Year 13 24 - 18 months ahead of entry	Research and choose courses and universities Encourage your son/daughter to attend Higher Education and careers fairs. A list of the fairs the University of Bristol will be attending is available. They should consider which subjects they want to study and at which institutions based on their subject preferences and priorities. Encourage them to visit universities and narrow down a shortlist of institutions to apply to, paying close attention to entry criteria, course content, facilities etc. You can download our open day factsheet which provides information about getting the most out your visit. Encourage them to discuss their predicted grade and plans for higher education with school/college tutors ahead of making an application.
Ahead of 15 October in the year before entry for Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science and applications to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge 12 months ahead of entry Ahead of 15 January in all other cases for students at schools and colleges in the UK 12 - 9 months ahead of entry	Complete applications Your son/daughter should draft, edit and finalise their UCAS application and get this proof read. Avoid writing or heavy editing of the personal statement section yourself. You can download our UCAS applications dos and don't's factsheet for useful tips. Encourage your son/daughter to ensure that their tutors have completed academic references and ensure that they complete the online UCAS form ahead of the deadline. Check with your son/daughter whether they need to sit any admissions tests that their selected universities ask for (eg LNAT, UKCAT etc). The University of Bristol asks applicants for law to sit the LNAT.
October Year 12 - April Year 13 12 - 6 months ahead of entry	*Wait for all* decisions** UCAS will confirm of your son/daughter's applications. Any offers they receive will appear on UCAS Track, so encourage them to check the website regularly. Applications for Student Finance can usually be made from January. Full information about student finance can be found on our online prospectus. They should attend any interviews or post-offer visit days during this time; these are a good opportunity for your son/daughter to see if the University is right for them ahead of making it a firm or insurance choice. Ensure your son/daughter chooses a firm and insurance choice on UCAS Track once all decisions have been returned.
Results day 2 months ahead of entry It is vital that your son or daughter plans their summer holidays to ensure that they are at home when exam results are published so they can contact universities if necessary	If your son/daughter has met the terms of their offer they do not need to contact the university; this will be confirmed on UCAS Track. If they have missed the terms of their offer they should contact their firm choice immediately to see if they are still able to offer a place. They should then contact their insurance choice accordingly If they have not made the terms of either their firm or their insurance choice, they will automatically be entered into clearing. If they have exceeded the terms of their offer they are eligible to enter adjustment although places are often limited.

Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

Assisting your son/daughter in making a UCAS application

Parents often ask how they are able to assist their son/daughter in making a successful UCAS application. Here are some tips for applications:

Encourage your them to begin their University research early. This will allow them to research course content and different Universities thoroughly, ahead of any deadlines imposed by their school/college or UCAS.
Ensure they find out the dates of any open days and visit opportunities well in advance. Many Universities, including Bristol, require booking for open days. Open days are an excellent opportunity to find out what it's really like to study at an institution, view teaching and research facilities and talk to academic staff and students, whose views can often be invaluable!
Encourage them to explore University websites fully which offer a wealth of information. The University of Bristol's online prospectus contains full information about course structure, course leaflets and departmental admissions statements which explain how the admissions team will assess their applications.
Ensure they remain realistic in terms of their applications; will they enjoy the course and will they meet the entry criteria?

The Personal Statement

On their application, your son/daughter will be asked to provide a personal statement. This is the opportunity for them to 'sell' themselves, describing why they are appropriate for their intended degree course and making their application stand out.

We have produced a useful factsheet - UCAS applications dos and don'ts - which is available to assist them whilst writing their application.

By all means you should encourage them in this process; it may be the first time they have had to sell themselves and 50 lines can be daunting! Admissions tutors, however, are used to reading thousands of personal statements and are likely to have a very good idea if parents have been too involved.

Once your son/daughter's application has been received

The University of Bristol receives applications on a rolling basis from September to January. As applications are received, members of the admissions team consider them according to criteria set by each department. All departments publish their admissions statements. Each application is judged on its merits and reviewed holistically; no single aspect of any application alone leads to acceptance or rejection.

Following an application, your son/daughter will receive an acknowledgement and will be updated on the progress of their application via email.

For some courses, your son/daughter may be invited to interview. They can expect to hear back from the University with a decision by 31 March providing their application is received by 15 January, but they may hear within a few weeks of applying.