How to apply - UCAS

Here is a breakdown of the steps to apply:

1. Apply through UCAS - this includes completing the application, submitting a personal statement and including a reference from a teacher or tutor
2. Track and respond to offers - your student should monitor their UCAS Hub to keep an eye out for unconditional and conditional offers. This is where universities notify students of their decisions. Your student should then accept their preferred choices by the specified deadline

To delve in deeper, have a look at our guides to Writing a Personal Statement, Applying to University and Understanding University Offers

University brings greater independence, more academic freedom and the chance to make lifelong friends. Deciding to go will likely be the first big financial decision your student will make. There's lots of information available online but you may find our fees and funding pages helpful to understand the student loan and other sources of funding available. We’ve also put together a factual fees and funding guide to support.

For UK residents using the government's student loan scheme, we recommend that they apply as early as possible. They don't need to have a place confirmed to do this and changes can be made later on. As their supporter, you will be asked to fill out details about your household income which will be used to calculate whether your child is eligible for extra money on top of their tuition fee loan and maintenance loan. 

It's also good to know that as we're part of the University of London, our students are eligible for the higher rate of maintenance loan that comes with living in London.

Top tip: Be sure to research Royal Holloway's great range of scholarships and bursaries. Whilst many of our bursaries are automatic, check the individual application deadlines for our scholarships as these vary.

Once your student has made Royal Holloway their firm choice, they can register on the Online Accommodation System to view floor plans and compare rooms. 

Additional options, such as quieter living and alcohol-free accommodation, are also available, and once they're happy, they can book their preferred option directly. 

To confirm their place, a £300 prepayment must be paid and the terms and conditions accepted. 

We guarantee accommodation for new undergraduates who make Royal Holloway their firm choice and apply by the deadline, so there'll be no last minute panic if they decide to study with us.

For a full list of options, visit our accommodation page

First point to remember – stay calm! We’ve compiled a snapshot of what could happen on results day for your student:

• The university chosen as the firm choice will receive your student’s A-Level (or equivalent) results from UCAS and will decide whether to make the offer unconditional. 
• If the conditions are met, the place to study at the firm choice university is confirmed and this is the course and institution they will attend.
• If the offer grades at the firm choice have not been met, it may be that they will be accepted by their insurance choice university as the grades needed are usually at a lower level. (Please know that even if the achieved grades do not exactly meet those requested in the conditional offer, they may still be accepted at a firm or insurance choice as the university may take other factors into account).
• If your student is unsuccessful in getting confirmed offers or they've changed their mind about their course, they can use UCAS's Clearing service to find another suitable programme. 

Results Day can be fast-paced, but remember that it's an opportunity to celebrate your student's hard work no matter the outcome. Enjoy this milestone.

Read our Guide to Results Day for more information.

We want your young person to choose the right university for them, but the decision-making process can feel like a juggle between head and heart. Whilst they should consider the practicalities like courses, facilities and the campus, it's more important they can picture themselves enjoying life here. 

Students who have received an offer from Royal Holloway will be invited to an Applicant Visit Day in the months before they join us. These are an opportunity for your future graduate to get an in-depth feel for what it’s really like to study their chosen course and experience life at Royal Holloway. 

Features of the day include department-specific activities, a tour of campus and our accommodation, and a talk on student life.

You will have the opportunity to visit our Advice Hub and attend parents' talks, as well as the chance to speak with students about their experiences of studying here.

Your student will receive a personal invitation via email, and we'll also share other ways to visit the campus before they start. 

Still trying to get your head around all the terminology?

We've prepared a quick A to Z guide to help:

• Clearing: Another service to apply through once your student has their grades. This method suits mind-changers, late applications and those who missed their offer. Head to our Clearing page for the details.
• Conditional offer: This offer is based upon the student attaining the entry requirements set by the university for a specific course. It will give the student a goal to work towards and you can encourage them in achieving these grades.
• Confirmation: The outcome of a conditional offer that your student has accepted.
• Contextual offer: An offer made in respect to personal circumstances. This might be an adjusted offer, with slightly tweaked entry requirements. Read more Widening Access here.
• Deferral: Carrying over an offer to the next academic year.
• Entry requirements: What we ask for students to have or do to make for a successful application – i.e. Specific grades, admission tests, language requirements. These are listed on each of our course pages.
• Firm choice: The top offer your student accepts. For a conditional offer, they'll get the place once they meet the conditions, and for an unconditional offer, the place is theirs. 
• Foundation year: A dedicated year-long course we offer to help ensure a seamless transition to studying at university-level. Available in a wide-range of subjects, these support students who may need a little more support. Learn more here.
• Insurance choice: The 'next best' should your student miss the conditions of their firm choice. 
• Personal statement: A persuasive essay your applicant writes to back-up their applications and show off why they'd be a brilliant student. This commonly causes lots of worry, but you can find tip in our personal statement guide.
• Unconditional offer: If your student has already achieved the necessary academic grades to meet the entry requirements for the course, they'll receive an unconditional offer. This means the place is theirs if they want it. 

View this information in a useful pdf here