Making the move into the world of University is a huge leap, and for many, it can be just as scary as it is exciting. It is one of the most important choices a young person will make, where parents, guardians, teachers and careers advisors can all play an important part in helping and advising.

Here we provide some information to support students through the process.

UCAS and the application cycle

The majority of deadlines for Undergraduate applications are set by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), an application service used by higher education institutes in the UK.

It’s here that students apply for their course and University of choice.

Most of our courses have a corresponding UCAS page, you can find our courses using our ‘Course Finder’. Meanwhile, a list of important UCAS dates can be found on our admissions page.

For more information about UCAS, please visit their website.

Getting started

With all the deadlines and application processes on the horizon, there are many things you can do to help make it easier from the get-go. These include:

Sit down and discuss what it is they like, what subjects they’re good at and what they might like to do in the future. This will help them to think about what they want to do, making applying for courses easier

From finding the right course and place to study to reputation, size and accommodation, it’s important to research everything.

This will help find the exact course they’re looking to potentially study. You may even find a course that mixes others they’re passionate about together, or, it could change their mind on what they wish to study.

Once you’ve shortlisted some Universities, attend the Open Days (usually 9am – 3pm), where you’ll be able to meet lecturers, explore the facilities, surrounding areas and ask questions. A great way to get advice regarding your subject choice, funding, careers, making your application and everything in between. Find out more about our Open Days and how to book your place on one here.

Once all this has been done, they should be able to decide on the University they want to attend, making the application process that little bit smoother

Access All Areas Days

While we provide Open Days for potential students, we also host Access All Areas Days too.

Helpful for teachers, parents and guardians, these are designed for Year 12 and 13 students and helps us show them the University of Bolton. Year 11 students are also welcome, however, you’ll need to contact the team on schoolsandcolleges@bolton.ac.uk or 01204 903807 to arrange this.

During these days, students can partake in mini-lectures, tours, and learn about the support provided for students. While this is available to individuals, it is encouraged that groups from colleges and sixth forms attend to.

Areas at the University that offer these days are:

Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
Institute of Management
National Centre of Motorsport Engineering
School of the Arts
School of Creative Technologies
School of Education and Psychology
School of Engineering
School of Law
School of Nursing and Midwifery
School of Sport and Biological Sciences

Dates vary for each subject, and more information can be found here.

Preparing for University

While you wait for those all-important UCAS dates to be released, there’s plenty more you can be doing to help them prepare for University.

From accommodation to finance and the area where they’ll be living, we’ve highlighted a few things below:

The first thing you need to do is enrol. And, while the process can seem daunting for all involved, you’ll find everything you need to make it easier here

Moving away from home for some can be a big deal, and helping to find the right accommodation is extremely important, as it’ll help to teach independent living while building new friendships. Find out more here.

University costs money, and eligibility and entitlement when it comes to government funding are all based on household income. Take a look at our finance and funding page

Situated in a large vibrant town on a modern, compact campus and filled with around 11,000 students, there’s lots to love and learn about Bolton. Only 20-minutes from Central Manchester that has everything to offer, whatever your tastes

Moving away can be difficult, and it’s important to know that those coming to the University of Bolton will be looked after. Our team of award-winning support services help new students take to uni life with ease, whilst offering on-going support during studies. Find out more here

For teachers and tutors

For all those teachers and tutors trying to help their students when it comes to University, we do as much as we can to help you when supporting young people.

One way we can help is by providing presentations either here or at your school or college. During these presentations, a member of staff will talk to your pupils about the following subjects:

The benefits of further education, higher education, and choosing the right course
Student funding advice and information
University life: accommodation, social activities and what to expect in the first few weeks
Setting and achieving personal goals
Apprenticeships
Applying through UCAS
Personal Statement Advice

These talks can also be offered at parent’s evenings or as drop-in student sessions. Alongside these talks, we also offer Academic Enrichment Taster Sessions.

Designed to help students when it comes to choosing a course, these sessions provide a look at what’s to come before they join the University of Bolton, helping them to see if it’s right for them.

We also offer bespoke visits to our University. These allow you to tailor your visit to the specific needs of your students. From a tour and taster session to visiting specific departments and discussions around careers, our academic team can help arrange all of this for your pupils.

To find out more, please email schoolsandcolleges@bolton.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1204 903 807.