L6 UCAS FAQs & Pathways Bulletin

All Lower Sixth pupils will have started the application form by the end of the Trinity term. Only the applicant can complete the form, and it is very important it is accurate. You have been provided with clear instructions and can continue working on the form by logging in to your UCAS Hub here: Sign in

Applicants can apply to five courses, which are usually at five different universities. You can apply to more than one course at the same university (there are pros and cons to this). Visiting universities can be really helpful in choosing where to apply.  

You will have started course shortlists in school, supported by your Tutor. Unifrog, the UCAS website, and university websites are all good resources. If you are making an application while at school, you will need to make a decision in line with the deadlines in order to submit your application on time.

This does happen, as your ideas may change as you continue your Sixth Form studies. If you change your mind and you have not yet applied, there may be time to adapt your application. If you have already submitted your form, you can either reapply in a gap year, or continue in this cycle and consider courses in Clearing

Clearing is a process for matching course vacancies to applicants who have not secured a place on Results Day in August. It can be particularly useful for applicants who have changed their mind about what or where to study, or who achieve exam results that were unexpected.

If you are certain you would like to take a gap year, we recommend applying this year for deferred entry, but in some circumstances, it may be advised to apply during a gap year, once you have your exam results. The school will support a gap year application, but the more you can prepare in advance, the better.

This is not an easy question to answer, as it depends on the university, the course, and the point at which you ask for a deferral. Some universities will be flexible, but others will not, due to the popularity of the course. It is important that you seek advice before submitting your application, so you are clear on your options.

All Lower Sixth early application pupils have participated in elite academic Post-18 preparation throughout the Lower Sixth year. They have also received a presentation from the University of Bath, and a workshop in school, but there is no substitute for working on this independently. You should meet with your mentor before the end of term to ensure that you have a clear plan for preparing both your application and your personal statement over the summer. You will have submitted a first draft of the personal statement to the Head of Specialist Higher Education by Monday 23 June, in order to receive feedback before the end of term. A strong second draft must be submitted on Unifrog by Saturday 6 September. The final deadline for the completion of all early UCAS applications is Friday 10 October 2025.

All Lower Sixth pupils have had guidance on the personal statement, including a presentation from the University of Bath, and a workshop in school, but there is no substitute for working on this independently. The first priority is to ensure you have activities and experiences to write about – if not, you can be adding to these over the summer – then start drafting as soon as possible. There are interim deadlines for drafts of Section 1 (8 September), Section 2 (22 September) and Section 3 (6 October), with the final deadline for uploading the finished personal statement to Unifrog being Monday 13 October 2025.

Yes, the 2026 personal statement is divided into three sections, each with a clearly defined question prompt. The recommended content remains broadly as before, but the questions will help Admissions Tutors to identify key information presented by applicants. Unifrog has structured the personal statement in three sections for a number of years, so we do not see any issue in adapting to this change.

The first point to make is that UCAS and universities have been very clear that applicants will not be penalised for putting content in the ‘wrong’ section. UCAS provides personal statement subject guides, which include specific suggestions: 2026 personal statement guides | UCAS

You will primarily work on your personal statement with your Tutor. You may like to also share it with a subject specialist (aligned to your chosen course), but try to resist the temptation to share with too many people – their comments may contradict each other, and it is important that the personal statement sounds clear and authentic. Above all, please note that all personal statement drafting should be done on Unifrog – the platform with automatically save all version history. Sherborne Boys staff will not look at personal statements on any other platform/ application.

The application form is checked by the Careers team, to look for obvious errors, but we will not check your qualification grades, and we will not be able to comment on personal information you have shared. The application form is the responsibility of the applicant, so please make sure you check everything carefully.

You may wish to discuss events that have impacted your educational journey in your personal statement, or your Tutor may add this to the reference. The ‘More About You’ section of the form also allows you to declare long-term health conditions or learning differences. Please seek advice and talk to your Tutor about how best to declare this important information.

The predicted grades on the UCAS form are the same as your Target Grades, which may be reviewed after the June Trial Exams in Lower Sixth, or as a result of other assessed work. The final opportunity for Target Grades to be reviewed will be following the November Trial Exams in the Upper Sixth, with the last date for any changes being 21 November 2025.

If you are planning to attend a university overseas, apply for an apprenticeship, or perhaps go straight into employment, please consider completing a UCAS application as a back up plan. Last year, over 90% of Upper Sixth pupils made UCAS applications while at school, whether as a Plan A or Plan B.

When you have completed the UCAS application form, and the personal statement and reference have been through the final checks, you will arrange a meeting to send the application. Please be mindful that the checking process will take some time, so you are advised to meet deadlines promptly. In your meeting, the Careers Team will add your reference (which you will read onscreen) and predicted grades. You will then pay the fee to UCAS (£28.95) with a bank card, and the application will be sent.

Our first tip would be to spend plenty of time on research, selecting the right courses and universities, including genuine back up options. Second, focus on what really matters in the personal statement – the priority is that you have genuine, relevant experiences, not using impressive language or filling every available space; keep it concise, specific and relevant to the course. Finally, plan your time sensibly and be strict with deadlines – this way, your application process will be smooth and stress-free, leaving plenty of time and energy to focus on maximising your chance of high grades and enjoying your time in the Sixth Form.