Scottish UCAS applicants 2025 entry

[motheronthedancefloor]

i know there's a HE board but that's dominated by English parents/schools/unis.

I thought I'd start our own thread for Scottish parents of kids applying to UCAS this year. What are your kids applying for? Where are they applying?

I'll start!

DD is applying to primary teaching. Considering Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Stirling. We discussed UWS but its too far away to commute and as she'd be a young 17 (february born), I wouldn't feel comfortable with her so far away. She's academically capable, but in some ways still quite young.

She has BBBCC from S5 (bastard SQA and Higher HIstory). Doing 1 AH and 2 more HIghers this year. Qualifies for a contextual offer.

Personal statement draft all done. Teacher seems happy with it. She has work experience, did the Accerlerate Education challenge I think its called and is accepted onto Top Up. So her statement looks quite good.

What annoys me is that Strathclyde asked for something specific to be included in the personal statement but that's specific to Strathclyde and might not necessarily be accepted by other universities or what they want to see. Plus it doesn't seem to be mentioned on their entry requirements so other applicants may not know this for that particular course.

Also annoys me that they don't use UCAS Tariff points. That would make it so much easier as its not clear if DDs C grades are accepted or not.

DDs school will do the submissions in December. Then I'll probably post here like every day as an anxious mum or rather angry mum - why won't they give my DD a place? lol

Mine has his first unconditional in for 2025 entry yay. At least now he knows he can put his horrible experience at Glasgow behind him.

well done to him

My DS has received an unconditional offer for Strathclyde. So relieved. It's been such a slog of a couple of years for us as he's been refusing to go to school because of anxiety.

Onto the slog of university next! 🫠

well done! Can I ask what course as DD is still waiting on SClyde.

DS got his offer from Heriot Watt for Conputer Science last night. Conditional, he has to get one B in anything, which should be easily met.

It's his first choice and he is DELIGHTED. Was still awake at 4.30am, wired, because he was so excited!

Congratulations to all who have their offers! We are still waiting to hear back here (from Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews), and getting slightly antsy. DC finished their application before Christmas but the school didn't add their part and submit it till the deadline so it feels like it's been a long wait already but it might still be a while.

Edinburgh were slow for my son last year, it was April before he heard. He already knew he was going to turn it down but wanted to know what they said. Boys!

mine has UC for maths at Strathclyde but waiting to hear from all his others. He well exceeds all entry requirements but I guess the question is how his false start at Glasgow will be viewed.

aw well done to all

Anyone know if/when offer holder days take place for Scottish unis?
And also when do our YP need to apply for halls?

Offer Holders Day for Glasgow is 1 April. Apparently accom applications open sometime in Feb.

Offer holder days take place when early all offers have gone out, which means after Easter holidays/right on top of exams.

It varies between university when you need to apply for accommodation and how they treat applications. But definitely check out those you have offers at because some offer preferred accommodation on a first come first served basis with applications opening around Easter, or sometimes earlier.

Are offer holder days just the same as open days as DS went to those so prob wouldn't want to go back if it's just the same- anyone been to any before?

My son went to the Edinburgh offer holder day a couple of years ago.

He found it useful as it was subject based so he connected with future classmates and also attended more in depth presentations than the open days. He felt it was worthwhile, missing muck up day for it.

@Aurea Thanks- never heard of 'muck up' day. ?

Muck up day is generally the day before they break up for exam leave.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_prank

Thanks - never heard of that before- will need to ask DS if they do that at his school.

Muck up day is not a school thing, it is pupil thing. Schools often go to considerable effort to minimise it as it can cause harm to both school and local community. It is not unknown for police to get involved when it goes beyond ‘hijinks’ to criminal damage.

Computer science and maths

My DC now has all their offers in, heard from Aberdeen and Edinburgh within days of submitting the application, Glasgow was a bit longer but came before Christmas, heard from Dundee in mid-January and finally Strathclyde yesterday!

Glasgow and Edinburgh were the top choices, and we will be attending the Offer Holder Days at both but I know with getting offers from all five they are really going to struggle with making a decision and once that decision is finally made there will a lot of second guessing and stress/worry that they made the wrong choice.

I have an older DC already at Uni (in 2nd year) but that was very straightforward as they knew exactly what they wanted and where they wanted to go. Other than advising them to make the decision based on the course they really want to do, can anyone advise or offer any guidance please? I didn’t go to University and I really feel like a fish out of water.

Some points for consideration -

Glasgow and Strathclyde they could stay at home if they want.

Strathclyde have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship

Aberdeen have offered one year free accommodation but it is a 4 year course as opposed to 3 years everywhere else.

Edinburgh, I have heard, is viewed as being quite prestigious in the field they wish to study but cost of accommodation and living will be expensive and I think an equally good degree can be obtained elsewhere?

I know very little about Dundee - both the university and the city itself.

Thank you for taking the time to read and for any advice anyone can give 🙏

Congrats to your DC. It would help to advise if you were able to share the subject - you will get much more helpful feedback then as courses can differ widely in different universities.

Well aye, that would help, wouldn’t it? 😂 can’t believe I typed all that out and forgot the subject. It’s Law with French.

Ah, that's the end of hope for any useful advice from me! Law needs technical advice from someone in the profession, really. Wonder if it would be worth asking for advice on the Legal Matters board where the lawyers hang out? Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow all good for the French part. But you must be wrong about the length of courses - aren't they all four years? Is Aberdeen 5 because of the year abroad working a bit differently?

Yes. 5 years at Aberdeen and 4 everywhere else 🙄 I’m on nights this month and really should have slept before I posted, sorry

I will post on there (after I sleep!) that’s a good idea, thank you.

DD has unconditionals for Stirling and Napier, and has received a conditional for her first choice, which is Glasgow Uni. The condition is to attend the Widening Participation Summer School for 4 weeks. This sounds great actually - does anyone know anyone who's done this by any chance?

Well done to all who've received their offers!

well done! Which course is that? DD is still waiting to hear from Stirling and Strathclyde but hopefully not long now if your DC heard from Stirling.
DD is doing top up which Glasgow accept as an alternative to the summer school but I have heard that they are strict that you don't go on holiday during the time of the summer school so make sure you check the dates!