Applying through UCAS

You're wanting to apply to Harper Adams University? That's brilliant - we can't wait to receive your application!

To apply for our full-time undergraduate courses, you need to do this through UCAS.

If you are still in full-time education, your school or college should be able to give you guidance on the application process.

If you have left school/college or are a mature applicant, please visit the UCAS website for information on applying. (Sorry, but we can't accept direct applications for our undergraduate degree courses.)

The UCAS application facility opens over a year in advance of the start of the course in  May and universities start to receive your applications from September.  Remember the deadlines - most ‘on-time’ applications must be submitted by the last Wednesday in January of the year you wish to apply for (or the year before if taking a gap year). Be aware that some courses may have an earlier deadline in October.  Any applications submitted after the last Wednesday in January will be classed as ‘late’ and institutions don't have to consider them.  Where we still have places available we guarantee to consider late applications, however if a course is full we reserve the right to close applications.

The 'Apply' pages of the UCAS website give detailed guidance on completing your application so please read these carefully. The system is straightforward to follow with help links at every stage to make applying as simple as possible. Please note, you can only apply once in a cycle.

Entry requirements

Each course will have specific entry requirements  - for more information on entry requirements please visit the specific page on this website for the course you wish to study. There is a drop-down menu on each course page which shows our  GCSE and Level 3  requirements. If you have a qualification that is not listed or if you just want to check your eligibility, please contact our friendly and helpful Admissions Team for advice before making your application by emailing admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk  or calling us on  01952 815000 - we are here to help you!

Minimum age requirements

To study on a degree or foundation degree course at Harper Adams you have to be 17 by the start date of the course in the year of your entry and must turn 18 no later than the 1st of May during the first year of study. Students must agree to abide by the rules and regulations set out by the University for students under 18 years of age, which includes a requirement to stay in on-campus accommodation for their first year. International students must also have an emergency contact based in the UK.

Your UCAS application

• Register for your Apply account and enter your personal details - make sure all names and email address are entered accurately. 
• You can choose up to five courses in any order and we won’t be able to see where else you have applied. You can apply for more than one course at any institution. You don’t have to use all 5 choices straight away - it's ok to submit your application with just one choice if you want to and then add others later.
• For most courses, you can apply for deferred entry if you want to take a gap year before starting your studies.
• Please make sure you carefully enter all your academic qualifications and list any qualifications you are currently studying.
• Before submitting your application, you should ensure that all sections have been completed in full as this will speed the process up and reduce the need for us to request additional information from you once your application has been received.

Your personal statement

Your personal statement is the first real opportunity for you to tell us all about you and we want to get to know you! We're not interested in quirky opening quotes from old books or poems, we just want a genuine insight into who you are, why you want to study the course(s) applied for and what you want to do in the future.

When reviewing your statement, we will be looking to see that you have a genuine interest in the area(s) of study that you have applied for, and that you have the motivation to succeed. You should ensure that your statement is relevant for all the courses that you have applied for. This is more difficult if you have applied for five different courses, so it is important to bear this in mind when deciding which courses (and institutions) to apply for. We are happy to consider a separate personal statement if you feel this would help to clarify your course choice.

Key things to include in your statement are:

• Where your interest in the subject area came from and your career aspirations upon completion of the course.
• Details of relevant work experience, and what you learnt from it.
• Details of extra-curricular activities, such as involvement in sports teams, volunteer work, membership of clubs (for example Young Farmers, Army cadets).
• Feel free to include details of anything else you wish for us to know, including any obstacles you have had to overcome.

Your personal statement (as well as your reference and qualifications) will be used by the Course Managers and Admissions Team to make a decision on your application, so it is important to spend time getting it right.

Your reference

Every applicant needs to provide a reference and we cannot process an application further without one.  We will need an academic reference from your current school or college, or from the most recent educational institution you have attended.  If you have been out of education for some time, an employment reference may be more appropriate with prior agreement.  If you are having difficulties in providing a reference please contact Admissions for advice.

Please ensure that your application is completed in its entirety before submission. If any information is missing it may delay the processing of your application.

International students

If you are a from outside the UK and Ireland and you are planning to study a full-time undergraduate degree you will need to:

• Apply through UCAS - we do not accept direct applications. All International applications are checked in the same way as those for home students
• Ensure that you are aware of the visa requirements. Those who need permission to enter the UK are subject to additional entry requirements as determined by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI). The latest Student Visa guidance is available at www.gov.uk/student-visa.

To comply with UKVI regulations, those candidates who are potentially suitable will be required to have an interview via an online web-based system such as Microsoft Teams.

For more information on international study take a look at our international pages.