Each year, around 80% of 6th Form students move onto university from Allerton Grange. It’s incredible to see the wide variety of universities and courses that our students choose to go to. Here are just a few examples from 2023 and 2024 leavers:

• Midwifery at the University of Leeds
• Environmental Science with Industrial Experience at the University of Manchester
• Pharmacology at Kingston University
• Illustration at Leeds Arts University
• Sport Psychology at the University of Stirling
• Music Journalism at the University of Chester
• Law at the University of York
• Linguistics at Newcastle University     

University Application and Information Timeline 

• May of Year 12 – Next Steps Day at Allerton Grange 

Students spend a day off-timetable; hearing from speakers, creating a UCAS account, taking part in a personal statement writing workshop and networking with alumni. This starts the UCAS process and gives ideas for students to start doing some research. This is followed by an information evening for parents/carers. 

• June of Year 12 – UCAS Discovery Event 

All Year 12 students are taken by coach to Leeds Beckett University, to the UCAS Discovery event. Almost all UK universities attend the event, with information stalls and student recruitment teams to answer any questions. There is also a huge number of workshops and information sessions for students to attend, ranging from topics such as student finance to subject specific sessions for courses such as those hoping to study medicine or dentistry 

• September of Year 13 

UCAS opens applications. Students work with form tutors and the 6th form team to write personal statements and complete their applications.  

• October of Year 13 

The deadline for Oxford and Cambridge applications, and for those applying to study medicine or dentistry is in October. 

• December of Year 13 

Applications must be completed before Christmas. The official UCAS deadline is not until January, but Year 13 students have PPE’s in January and therefore we require all students to send off their UCAS application before the Christmas holiday, to ensure they can focus on their PPE’s. 

• February of Year 13 

UCAS Extra opens for students who wish to change university or course or have received no offers (see more info about UCAS Extra below). 

• May of Year 13 

The deadline for Student Finance applications is in May (the exact date will change slightly each year). 

The majority of university offers must be made by mid-May. The date will differ slightly each year. 

• June of Year 13 

If you have received all of your offers in May, you must reply to these offers by early June. The exact date will change slightly each year.  

• July of Year 13 

Clearing opens. This is only for students who already have their A Level results. 

• August of Year 13 

RESULTS DAY! Students are encouraged to be in the country and come into school to collect their results. This allows school staff to support students with their plans.  

UCAS Extra 

If students have changed their mind about their university or course choices once their application has been sent off, or if they do not receive any offers from universities, they can make use of UCAS Extra. This allows students to apply for different courses and universities (one at a time). More information about UCAS Extra can be found here. 

Clearing 

Clearing allows you to apply to courses that have not already been filled. Universities generally accept lower grades than if you had applied to them initially, BUT there is no guarantee what courses and universities will have places available.  

Student Finance 

The average tuition fees cost for UK nationals studying at UK universities is £9250 per year. The vast majority of students use a loan to cover this cost. A tuition fees loan is paid directly to the university, not into your bank account.  

Living costs will vary a lot and will be heavily influenced by whether you live at home or whether you move away. You can apply for a loan to cover some of your living costs. This loan is paid directly into your bank account. 

Applying for Student Finance 

Student finance includes student loans or grants for tuition fees and living costs. 

All full-time university students can apply for student finance on the link below 

Apply online for student finance - GOV.UK 

If you are unsure if you are eligible for student finance follow the link below 

Student finance for undergraduates: Eligibility - GOV.UK 

To apply online you will need your Passport and National Insurance Number. The application deadline varies slightly each year, but is usually around the middle of May. 

Student Bank Accounts 

You can apply for a student bank account from around the age of 17, some banks require you to be 18. 

Some accounts offer perks such as free rail travel cards or amazon prime membership. It is important to weigh up all the pro's and con's of the various accounts to see which is best for you. 

Accommodation 

Once you have made your firm and insurance choice of University on UCAS, keep checking your emails and start doing some research about where you might like to live.  

You should be contacted directly by the Universities to arrange student accommodation, you must complete the forms as requested and submit to both your firm and insurance Universities. If you don’t hear from your universities shortly after receiving your offers, please contact their admissions teams to ask about accommodation. Some accommodation is highly sought after and may get filled up, so it’s worth being on top of this.  

Lots more information and advice can be found on the UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service) website here.