University: getting in

When the time comes for your child to negotiate the maze of university application, expect to be bewildered. In the generation since you first considered higher education the system has changed, but we've got some hints on UCAS, Clearing, gap years, grants and all other essentials bar the way to the Student Union...

You get started by matching subject choice and predicted A-level results with universities and courses. This comes through word-of-mouth, online research, and then when the choice is narrowed, visiting the universities  themselves. You'll do this at open days.

Remember there's no point in applying for courses not in line with predicted grades. For example, if the choice is medicine then three predicted A-grades in maths and the sciences are required.

Essential steps

You need to register with and apply through the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) - you'll find this at UCAS. Then list the top five choices (for courses and universities). Each university selected will not know about any of the other choices. But remember:

• with medicine/dentistry/veterinary courses there are only four choices

• you cannot apply for both Oxford and Cambridge

Fill in the education section, listing qualifications and predicted results. It's now time to for your son/daughter to write out the 400-character personal statement, which along with their reference and £15 application fee is essential to all UCAS applications.

All applications are to be made between mid-September and mid-January, except for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses (who'll need it by October 15).

Offers

The chosen universities receive copies of the application and decide whether to make an offer. If your son/daughter receives more than one offer then they'll be able to choose the most suitable.

Going through Clearing

Some courses will require your son or daughter to achieve specific grades in their A-levels. If he/she fails to achieve these, the place will not be available but she may be able to choose an alternative university or course through the Clearing system.

Clearing allows application for courses with vacancies and starts in August. More than 30,000 students gain university places through Clearing each year, so it's certainly not stigmatised.

Gap years

Thousands of students do this each year. Many apply through UCAS, get offered a place, go on their gap year and then take up the place the following year.

• Options after school: helping your child decide

Paying for it

Here's the important part! The Government offers maintenance grants for students from low-income families, but most students in England have to pay tuition fees (£3145 a year for all universities) and living costs.

The Government offers loans to cover this, which students only start paying back after completing their courses and are earning over £15,000 a year.

Also remember, it's best to travel light if they are to live in residence or other student accommodation. The reason is that many universities demand that students clear all their belongings out of residence outside of term time (because they let out this accommodation).

• The best 18 year investments

Author

Gavin Evans is a father of two daughters - aged 17 and 13 - and lives in North London. 15 years ago he changed gear from being a full-time reporter to full-time parent and part-time journalist. His writing on issues affecting fathers has been published in a wide range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, The Times and The New Statesman. He has written five books on sport, a chapter on men in Your Pregnancy Bible and is completing his first screenplay. Gavin also regularly posts blogs at www.gavinevans.net.

Any helpful advice?

If you've had any experiences with universities or UCAS that you think fellow readers should know about, then keep everyone informed using the comments system below.