Applying through UCAS

To apply for our full time undergraduate courses you must apply through UCAS. 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 entrant, you should visit the UCAS website for information on applying.

The UCAS application facility opens in September and all ‘on-time’ applications must be submitted by 15th January. Any applications submitted after this date will be classed as ‘late’ and institutions are not obliged to consider them. However, where we still have places available, we guarantee to review late applications.

The 'Apply' pages of the UCAS website give detailed guidance on completing your application so please read it carefully. The system is easy 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

Entry requirements are specific to each course, for more information on entry requirements please visit the specific page for the course you wish to study.

Minimum age requirements

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

Your UCAS application

• Register for your Apply account and enter your personal details, ensuring names and email address are entered accurately.
• You can choose up to five courses, there’s no preference 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 can apply for deferred entry if you wish to take a gap year before starting your studies.
• Please ensure you carefully enter all of your academic qualifications and list any qualifications you are currently studying.

Your personal statement

Your personal statement is the first real opportunity you have to ‘sell yourself’ to the University. It is an important tool in enabling your application to stand out from the crowd.

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.

Key things to include in your statement are:

• Details of relevant work experience, and what you feel you learnt from it.
• Details of out-of-school activities, such as involvement in sports teams, volunteer work, membership of clubs (for example Young Farmers, Army cadets).
• Where your interest in the subject area came from and your career aspirations upon completion of the course.

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

Your reference

We require an academic reference from your current school or college, or from the most recent educational institution you have attended. Everyone needs a reference, unless you get permission from your chosen universities that this is not required. If you have been out of education for some time, an employment reference may be acceptable with prior agreement.

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 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 Skype.

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