Undergraduate Admissions Procedure

You will find details of how to apply in the Cardiff University Undergraduate Prospectus and also on the UCAS website. The following guide has been written to help you understand the process. This process is the same for applying for an undergraduate course at any university in the UK.

Step One
Do your qualifications meet our entry requirements?

The majority of courses at Cardiff University request an IELTS score of 6.5 or 7.0, or TOEFL 580 - 625 (230 - 263 Computer Based Testing). Some courses have higher requirements than this - for example Journalism for which students need an IELTS score of 7.5. Click here for details of other acceptable English Language Qualifications. For details of academic entry requirements for our courses, please see the entry for your course in the Undergraduate prospectus or use the online courses database. If you are not sure if your qualifications meet our requirements please e-mail us the International Office, and we will be happy to advise. Alternatively, please contact one of our registered education advisors who have offices throughout the world. They can advise you further on applying and whether you would be made an offer of admission.

Step Two
Apply Online

Applications are made for undergraduate programmes to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). It is an online process. One UCAS application form enables you to apply for up to 5 universities in the UK.
Please note that you cannot make a direct application to any university in the UK, it must be done through UCAS. However if you would like to know if you are likely to be made an offer please contact the International Office and we will be very happy to advise you.

Please note that the last date for UCAS to receive your application form is 30 June 2011, however candidates are strongly advised to complete an application form well before this deadline. 
Dentistry and Medicine courses have a much earlier deadline and applications for these courses should have been made via UCAS by 15th October 2010 for 2011 entry.

For more information on UCAS and how to apply online please visit the UCAS website

Step Three
Completing your UCAS application form

Once you have completed and submitted your UCAS form online, UCAS will distribute your application form to all the Universities that you have applied to. Your application is then considered by the Admissions Tutor for your particular degree scheme and their decision is sent to UCAS. You will receive e-mail confirmation from UCAS when the admissions tutor has made a decision on your application. If you have been successful you will also receive information from Cardiff University.

The response will be either:

• Unconditional
  This means that you do not need to send further proof of your qualifications or English Language level; or
  
• Conditional
  You must fulfil all the conditions before you will be permitted to enrol. If your offer of admission is conditional on examination results, evidence of these should be forwarded to the Undergraduate Registry (Admissions)  as soon as they are available.
  
• Reject
  This means that your application has not been successful and you have not been made an offer to study.

After you receive an offer we will send you the following:

• An e-Welcome Brochure by e-mail, giving you further information about living and studying at Cardiff University.
  
• Further information on your course
  
• An e-mail containing a electronic Residences Brochure and a link to the online Accommodation Request Form. Please note these are not sent out until February/March.
  

Step Four
Making your decision

You must now consider the variety of offers you have received from different universities and inform UCAS of your choice. UCAS then informs us. You have three options for responding to offers:

• Firm Acceptance
  This means that the university selected is your first choice, and you are prepared to accept this place; or
  
• Insurance
  If you accept a place as insurance it means that if you do not meet the required entry conditions of your first (firm) choice, and you do meet the conditions of your insurance choice, then you accept the place offered by your insurance university; or
  
• Decline
  This means you do not wish to accept the place offered to you.
  

Whatever you decide to do, you need to let UCAS know. You will have information from UCAS explaining how to do this. UCAS then informs the universities concerned of your decision.
If you propose to accept your offer from Cardiff University as your firm choice you will be able to apply for accommodation online immediately on receiving the Residences Brochure. This will give you access to the greatest range of our accommodation and the highest priority in the allocation process.

If you accept our offer of a place we will send you the Guide for International Students . The Guide aims to answer all of the questions you may have about coming to study here. The Guide reflects our experience with overseas applicants and our knowledge of the sort of questions they have. The information in The Guide can also be found on these webpages.

Receiving no offers

If you do not receive any offers from any of your five choices you may be eligible for UCAS Extra. If you are interested in applying to Cardiff via this method please contact UCAS directly (www.ucas.com). Please note however if you have already applied to Cardiff and have not received an offer, it is unlikely you will be considered for a second time.

Step Five
Meeting the conditions, if any, of your offer

If you hold a conditional offer, which you have firmly accepted, and achieve the examination grades required your place will be confirmed through UCAS and you are guaranteed a place at Cardiff. If you hold a conditional offer, which you have accepted as your firm or insurance choice, and narrowly fail to achieve the grades required then your application may be reconsidered by the Admissions Tutor and UCAS would inform you of any decision.

It is essential that you provide us with copies of your exam results (including English language exams) as soon as you receive them.
These should be forwarded to the Undergraduate Registry (Admissions).

Once it is confirmed that you have achieved the grades to come to Cardiff, the following information will be sent to you:

• Enrolment Information.
  The Undergraduate Registry will be sending out Enrolment Information in August and September; this will help guide you through the steps you need to take to become a registered student at the University in late September. Do not worry if you do not receive these before you leave as they can be collected on arrival; it is not essential to have this information before you come to Cardiff (Enrolment Information will also be available; and printed copies can also be obtained upon arrival in Cardiff.);
  
• E-Offer of Accommodation and Information Pack.
  The Residences Office will notify you by e-mail, of where you have been allocated a place in an electronic Offer of Accommodation and Information Pack. This will include all the information you need to take up your place in one of our halls of residence.
  
• Pre-Departure Briefing Notes.
  The International Office will send you detailed travel information to help you get to Cardiff. This will include details of our coach collection service from Heathrow and Cardiff airports together with a programme of induction events to help you settle in to life here. This information is also available here
  

If you have any questions about your application please do not hesitate to contact the International Office.