One year before your application
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'Research courses and universities
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&Attend university open days and UCAS conventions
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ASpeak to teachers and discuss predicted grades – make realistic choices
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;Decide which five institutions to apply to
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bExplore subject choices and career paths by attending open days and reading prospectuses
Summer of year 12 and beginning of year 13
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&1 September – UCAS application cycle opens
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315 October – deadline for the application to Oxford or Cambridge and courses in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science
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@26 January – deadline for UK applicants to be guaranteed equal consideration (you're advised to apply before this deadline)
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.Complete the UCAS application forms
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=Gather together qualifications achieved and currently undertaking
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.Write a personal statement
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?Teachers to write a student academic reference to support your application
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%Submit application form to UCAS
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bSit any additional entry admissions tests (for example, UKCAT/BMAT for Medicine/Dentistry)
September onwards (depending on when UCAS form submitted)
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AWait for decisions – the length of time varies across all institutions
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?Offers, decliners, invitations to interviews start to arrive – check UCAS Hub
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'Attend interview and university offer holder days to help make an informed choice on which university to study with
February
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JUCAS Extra opens for students who have declined all their offers or not received any
End of April/May (you'll be informed by UCAS of exact deadline)
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@Accept/decline offers
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)Inform UCAS of firm/first choice and insurance/second choice
Mid-August
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&Results day
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HIf: Firm choice grades met – wait for confirmation of place from UCAS/university
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3Or: Firm choice grades not met – check with firm choice university; if not accepted contact insurance choice
On and after results day
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&If you choose adjustment, you have five calendar days to find an alternative place
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?
 Confirmation and Clearing
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0Firm/insurance choice grades not met or no offers held – enter Clearing. Contact universities for vacancies
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0Firm choice grades met and exceeded – you may be eligible for adjustment. Contact universities with vacancies available through adjustment to ask about options available
Mid-September
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'Start university
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&Placed students start university – induction and enrolment