The process of applying to university can seem daunting. But all those decisions will become easier as you move through a step-by-step process, which will help you to discover what you really want to study and where you want to study that subject.

Although these choices are important ones and will plot out a course for your professional and social life, you should not worry if you are still unsure what you want to do. This year more than any other, there is a raft of resources at your fingertips to guide you towards the course or university that best suits your tastes and talents, and to help you to sell yourself in all your glory.

First things first The University and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) is your portal between school and university. It is on their webpages that you will fill in the forms and tick the boxes that make up your application. The first step is to register by getting a “buzzword” from your school’s careers adviser — the keyword that links your application with your school or college.

Research the course Your choice of course will be informed as much by what you enjoy as what you are good at. The range of courses on offer at universities is far broader than those studied at A level, so check that your chosen course bears a relevance to your A-level subjects — although it may be less obvious than it seems. A classics and a history A level could make you a good archaeologist, perhaps?

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

Multimedia

• Good University Guide Map

Courses can also differ between universities, so find out how each university breaks down your chosen course and how the teaching methods differ. Ann Forster, head of admissions at Durham University, said: “Do research the course you are looking to apply to, thinking about the things that are important to you, such as whether the course offers placement opportunities, a choice of modules, the opportunity to carry out independent research, assessment methods and so on.”

The full list of universities and their courses can be found online at ucas.com/students/courseresearch Research the university In choosing your university, you should be ambitious, but also realistic. Look at a university’s grade requirements and see if you think you can attain them. Can you push yourself to get the As or Bs that they might be asking for?

You should also consider what sort of university would best suit you. Some people thrive in the cosy and convenient atmosphere of campus-style universities, whereas others prefer to be in bustling city centres. Teaching in the collegiate system at Oxbridge can be very intimate and individual, but some people prefer larger classroom-based set-ups.

Whereabouts do you want to go? To seek out a far-flung city with a new and different scene, or stay closer to home and what you know?

Research the resources If choosing a course has you stumped, try the Ucas Stamford Test. It asks a series of straightforward questions about your likes and dislikes and provides you with a list of courses that might appeal. Nothing is more valuable than visiting a university in person, so you should check out the list of open days on Opendays.com. In the meantime, you can visit Unionview.com, which has independent reviews on some universities, virtual tours and interviews with present students.

The Times Good University Guide gives you an in-depth look at how universities compare, broken down by subject. Ucas also has a page called YouGo, where students, present and prospective, can have a Facebook-style chat about courses, universities and other practical information that might help you to make your decisions.

You can also log on to thestudentroom.co.uk, which has a dedicated forum for every British university where questions are answered, myths are dispelled and advice is offered on your application.

Filling in the form Aside from an ability to spell and a clean criminal record, there are a number of things that will help you to fill in the Ucas form. Although they are filled in online, you should write your answers in draft form to save you accidentally sending it off half-finished.

It will be some time between writing that first draft and pressing the “submit” button, so keep copies safe to which you can add in moments of inspiration. You can apply to up to five universities on the Ucas form, or can also to apply for two different courses at the same university.

It is advisable, however, to make sure your application seems well focused towards your chosen subject rather than hedging your bets between widely different courses. This is because you have to fill in a Personal Statement section, in which you must explain your choices.

It can be harder than you would think to talk glowingly about yourself for a whole page, so choose your words carefully. Be concise and economical, but try to get across a sense of your enthusiasm for your subject and a general zest for taking part in university life. Be honest, because many admissions tutors use the Personal Statement as a source of interview questions which will catch you out if you have lied about reading that novel or speaking that exotic language. Avoid cliché if you can and do not plagiarise. If you have found all your ideas on Google, so can they . . .

Remember, professors are not only looking for brains, but also for someone they would enjoy working with and who is seeking to get the most out of the university experience. Do not be afraid to add a little colour and flair.

And lastly, enlist the help of anyone willing to cast an eye over your Personal Statement. Parents, schoolteachers and kindly passers-by may all spot hidden mistakes you missed — although avoid the temptation to get them to write it for you.

Ms Forster says that the admissions team at Durham looks at a variety of factors in considering an application. As well as assessing your grades, personal statement and references, they will also be looking for signs of your motivation to study your chosen subject, your ability to work and think independently, and any skills you have derived from extra-curricular activities such as sport, art or voluntary work.

Oxbridge Potential Oxford or Cambridge entrants must submit their applications by October 15 , to allow time for all good candidates to be interviewed. When applying to Oxford, Cambridge or Durham, you must also choose a college. At Oxbridge, most teaching takes place within your college, so this decision can be important.

For convenience, you can look at whether a college has a Fellow in your chosen subject: a tutor who is permanently affiliated with — and often lives within — the college. Individual colleges can differ greatly — some are known to be particularly strong in certain subjects, some are known for being well-funded and others have vibrant social scenes.

Oxbridge prospectuses will give you an idea of the competition for places in individual subjects at each college and the student union prospectuses will give you an amusing warts-and-all insight into the peculiarities that set each college apart. There is a “pool” system at Oxbridge, so you may still get a place if you are not accepted at the college of your choice, and remember that you cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge.

Tests and deadlines The application deadline for courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science or veterinary medicine is also October 15, but for most other universities and courses the deadline is January 15. Some universities and courses (for example medical courses and law) require applicants to sit a pre-interview test, so check whether your preferred course requires a test and find out the application deadlines for the test.

Waiting for offers Try not to anxiously stalk the postman or bite your nails down to the quick. Universities have tens of thousands of applications to sift through and they will all tend to reply at different times. Do not worry if your friends hear before you do, even if they have applied to the same university.

An offer, when it comes, is usually conditional on achieving a certain set of grades. Sometimes these conditions will specify particular grades for specific subjects, tailored towards your chosen course. You can accept only two offers — one as a firm acceptance and one as an insurance in case you do not get the grades for your top choice. This is why it is advisable to choose one or two universities with slightly lower entry criteria than your first choice. Even if you miss out on all five choices, you can use the Ucas Extra system which allows you to apply to more universities, one at a time, until the end of June.

Clearing A list of courses with spare places is published in summer, and around 30,000 students every year find places this way. Come mid-August, be ready to scour the list on the Ucas website for courses that suit you, and have your telephone at the ready to be at the head of the queue.

Do not rush into a decision, and make sure you stay in touch with your school over summer in case you need some last-minute advice. When you accept a place, send your Ucas number to the university and get packing.

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