The process of university selection in the UK is much tougher than any other country due to the limit on the number of universities you can apply to. Through the UCAS, you can only apply to 5 universities, making it very important for you to thoroughly research all universities before making your 5 choices. 

Here are 5 things you have to remember while selecting your universities:

• Meet the university’s minimum grades requirement

Make sure you meet the minimum grade requirements of each course at a university. Avoid applying to universities where you do not meet the minimum grade requirement. For example, if  University College London has a requirement of 95% for students applying for Philosophy but the applicant has a predicted grade of 85%, we advise the student to not apply to UCL. They should instead consider applying to another university whose requirements are lower than 85%. 

• Meet the university’s minimum IELTS/TOEFL requirements

Similar to the grade requirement, most universities also have a minimum IELTS or TOEFL requirement so make sure you meet that before applying.

• Make sure to find the right fit

Apart from these entry requirements, every university may not be the right fit for you. For example, some students might want to attend universities which are more focused on academics whereas other students might want to attend universities which focus on sports. Some students may also have a preference for the location of the universities. Therefore, you should check your compatibility with the academic system, the location and other factors that are important to you.

• Search for universities where you can apply directly, without the UCAS

Apart from the 5 universities that you can apply to through the UCAS, there are a couple of exceptions in which you can apply directly through the university websites. For example, an applicant can apply to St Andrews University via the UCAS form or by directly logging onto their website. If you apply directly, you add an additional university to the 5 UCAS universities. Therefore, we recommend you to look for universities which have their own application portals to add additional universities to your list.

• Always stay consistent on your application

The statement of purpose is common to all 5 universities so make sure you apply to all universities for the same or similar course. For example, if a student applies to King’s College for Politics and Imperial College for engineering, the Statement of Purpose might conflict with these two courses. So, remember to always stay consistent with your application.

I hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions about the application process to universities in the UK for an undergraduate degree, please visit unirely.com get a team of counselors and mentors to help you create a well-suited university list.