University Applications

UCAS application process

All university courses must be applied for through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

The UCAS website allows applicants to:

1. Search for courses
2. Apply for up to FIVE courses
3. Track their application and receive offers from universities

N.B. Applicants can only apply to a maximum of four courses in Medicine, Dentistry, or Vet Medicine. 

Focus Point offers lots of advice for pupils on the UCAS process. See How to Apply. 

UCAS deadlines 

Applying to the Conservatiore

Pupils wishing to apply to a practice-based course in the performing or production arts at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) or another 'conservatoire' elsewhere in the UK must do so through UCAS Conservatoires.

Applicants to Music courses at the RCS must submit their applications through UCAS Conservatoires by OCTOBER 1ST in the year before the course commences. (The deadline for other courses is January 15th.)

Visit UCAS Conservatoires for more details.

Focus Point has compiled advice for pupils on Accessing the Performing Arts, with guidance on entry requirements and the audition process, plus information on the opportunities available through FOCUS West's Entry to the Creative Industries programme. 

Applying to art and design courses

As with the performing and production arts, applicants to courses in art and design are assessed on more than their application form.

In addition, applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their own artwork - generally this will be in the form of an online e-folio that presents a selection of digital images of artworks or designs by the applicant. Accompanying this, applicants must submit a statement explaining the visual artwork submitted in their portfolio.

If the applicant is successful, they will be invited for an interview during which they will discuss their complete portfolio and sketchbooks.

Focus Point offers advice for pupils on Applying to Art and Design. 

FOCUS West also aims to support applicants to these courses from our schools through our Portfolio Development programme at Glasgow School of Art.

Accessing the professions

Entry to courses in Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Vet Medicine is highly competitive and demanding. 

As well as achieving excellent Higher grades, applicants must meet additional entry requirements. 

We've collated information on these requirements and advice on applying to each of these courses here. 

S4-6 pupils interested in pursuing these courses may also be eligible to participate in the Reach Scotland programme which runs activities both in school and on university campuses. For more information on the programme, visit Reach Scotland.