Leaving school or college is a big milestone for young people and although it can be an exciting time as they take the next step in their lives, it can also cause apprehension.
We are aware that students who are considering applying to start university in 2022 or 2023 may be particularly concerned as a result of the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
To help alleviate some of these concerns, we will endeavour to provide as much certainty for applicants as possible throughout the application process. All students applying to study an undergraduate course in the UK must apply through a central online application portal, which is managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
What can I do to support a young person thinking about applying to university for 2022 or 2023 entry?
Highlight the importance of research
Encourage them to research universities and courses online via the UCAS website and individual university websites. Whilst it may not be possible to hold large scale, in-person events such as Open Days, many universities have information available digitally.
At St George’s, we have put together a prospective student information hub called Explore St George’s, which has lots of useful information and advice in one place, including our guidance on how to make your application stand out and what to do about work experience.
All our online events, including webinars, social media Q&As and virtual fairs, can be found on our event listings page, and opportunities to visit our campus are published here when available.
Use virtual resources
Many universities are running virtual events too, which students can attend from the comfort of their own home. For example, at St George’s we run a series of webinars, with sessions on applying to medicine, applying to healthcare courses and work experience. We also have a campus tour video which shows some of our exciting teaching, learning and social spaces.
Understand UCAS: plan and prepare
Encourage them to get familiar with the UCAS process, key dates and decision deadlines – it’s important that students regularly check their emails and promptly complete forms, as there are important deadlines, for example for student finance and accommodation. There is a wealth of information available for parents and supporters on the UCAS website.
Applications to St George’s undergraduate courses must be made via UCAS and there are two main deadlines for students who wish to start their course in autumn 2022. Currently these are: 15 October 2021 for Medicine and 26 January 2022 for all other undergraduate courses. Beyond the January date, some courses may stay open for further applications, but consideration is not guaranteed. If you are supporting an applicant who has not received any offers, or decides later in the year to submit a UCAS application, then Clearing may provide another opportunity to apply.
Get in touch
If students have any queries about courses on offer, entry requirements or what it’s like studying at a specific university, encourage them to contact the university’s recruitment or admissions teams about their application.
At St George’s, our friendly course enquiries team can be contacted via email study@sgul.org.uk or via our phone line on 020 3897 2032. Prospective students can also chat online to some of our current students via the Unibuddy service.
What support is available to students at St George's?
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Our Student Finance team are on hand to provide help to students to ensure that finance is no barrier to them starting or continuing their studies.
Eligible students can apply for a repayable loan to cover the costs of their tuition fees and living costs.
Non-repayable bursaries and grants are also available for students from lower-income households and/or care-experienced students. Any student in financial hardship can also apply for additional support from our hardship fund.
For some courses, NHS bursaries and help towards costs of travelling to placements might also be available.
As the UK’s specialist health university, all our staff and students are dedicated to making a difference to society. Our courses are academically rigorous, but we pride ourselves on the personalised support and advice we offer students throughout their time with us.
Our Student Services team offer comprehensive support to students throughout their time at St George’s. The Student Life Centre is open throughout the week and is a one-stop shop for all student queries via email, telephone and in person. All students are also allocated an academic who acts as their Personal Tutor when they arrive, and they are the student’s first port of call for any help or advice.
Our students can access a wide range of support services, such as the disability service, careers team, and counselling service.
Our Students’ Union also offers welfare and wellbeing support to students through a dedicated Student Welfare Officer and peer-to-peer activities, such as Self-Care Week.
More information