Now that restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted and university life and on-campus teaching has returned to normal, there is no better time to consider – or reconsider – higher education as the next step after school or college, or as a route into a new career.

At Bedfordshire, there is a wide range of excellent courses to apply for, including creative courses – such as Fashion Design and Television Production – health and social degrees – such as Mental Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Professional Policing – business courses – such as Law with Criminology and Financial Technology – life science and psychology degrees – such as Biological Science and Forensic Psychology – and sports and teacher education courses – such as Clinical Exercise Therapy, Secondary English and Physical Education. 

Any prospective students yet to complete their UCAS application, the University’s Director of Admissions, Bob Cozens, has the following advice for applicants to think about before pressing ‘SUBMIT’:

1) Do your research: Look carefully at the course you are interested in and what the entry requirements are. It is also a good idea to have a look at where you want to study and what the local area is like. When choosing a university, what else is on offer to help support you with your studies? Following the pandemic, many universities may also offer home-learning options so it’s worth investigating the university’s virtual learning platforms and accessibility. Student support and facilities are also key assets whilst at university, so check out what your chosen university can provide. Some universities also offer added benefits to support you during you studies. For example, Bedfordshire offers all undergraduate students up to £2,400 cash during their studies, while sport scholarships, care leavers bursaries and laptop loans are some of the other benefits students can access – visit the Support+ webpage for more information.

2) Make it personal: Your personal statement is your chance to ensure you stand out from the crowd, so give yourself enough time to do a good job. Don’t just focus on your academic achievements, but also mention your interests and any work experience you have done.

3) Double check before submitting: First impressions count, so check your spelling and grammar and make sure it makes sense by reading through your application several times. Even better, ask someone else to read it through – an extra pair of eyes may pick up mistakes you have missed.

4) Try not to panic: If you are applying for a popular course such as Nursing, Teaching or Social Work, don’t worry – as long as you apply by the deadline your application will get equal consideration.

UCAS has a number of online resources to help prospective students to apply. The University of Bedfordshire also has a handy ‘Guide to UCAS’ page for step-by-step assistance and the University’s Aspire Higher platform has pulled together a useful ‘What is UCAS?’ guide, aimed at supporting mature learners with the application process.

It isn’t too late to choose higher education study – UCAS applications close at 6pm on Wednesday 26^th January 2022.

Apply now via UCAS online, call Bedfordshire’s Admissions Team on 0300 3300 073 for a friendly chat about your options or email admission@beds.ac.uk for tips and advice.