Pursuing Higher Education in

the UK

Higher Education Office

Raffles Institution
Apr 2021
 Forenote
• This deck of slides is intended to take students through considerations
for UK universities.
• It follows our first Higher Education –An Introduction guide and is
intended for self-reflection and learning: serious applicants would be
taking about an hour and a half to properly understand and consider
the counsel given here.
• It is not necessary to read through this guide in one sitting. Any time
between now to UCAS application deadline is fine! (This would be early
Sep 2021 for Cambridge, early Oct 2021 for Med/Oxford, early Jan 2022
for non-Oxbridge/Med courses).
• It complements the class webinars (Term 2 Weeks 6/8), as well as class
FAQs (to be published in Term 2 Week 10, after webinars).
• It also complements the F2F counselling we do, where we work with you
on your individualised application strategy. Should you be unsure about
options, come in to see us.
• In Term 2, students are encouraged to come in on their appointed days
(refer to next slide for schedule). You may also walk in earlier to book
appointments for a later week.
• There are also separate guides for Medicine and US universities, which
you can find in IVY HEO.
 Class Schedule for F2F Counselling

Day & time Walk-ins for students from the following classes

Mon 230- 21S03E, 21S03F, 21S03G, 21S03I, 21S03J, 21S03M, 21S03P, 21S06H,
530pm 21S06K, 21S06N, 21A01A
Tues 230- 21S02A, 21S03O, 21S03K, 21S03Q, 21S06D, 21S06I, 21S06L,
530pm 21S06O, 21S06P, 21S06T, 21S07A, 21S07B
Wed 9am- 21S03D, 21S05A, 21S06B, 21S06F, 21S06J, 21S07C, 21A01B, 21A01C,
12pm 21A01D, 21A13A, 21A13B
Wed 12pm-
21S03B, 21S03C, 21S03H, 21S03N, 21S06E, 21S06M, 21S06R
3pm
Thu 230pm-
21S03A, 21S03L, 21S06A, 21S06C, 21S06G, 21S06Q, 21S06S
530pm

Please adhere to the above schedule, which is in place as part of safe management
measures.
So, let us begin….
How to choose between the UK and the US? Consider the following:

• Courses of interest
• Specialization (mostly UK) or broad-based (mostly US)
• Your learning style –not everyone thrives in the US liberal arts
environment, which means you need to enjoy both the sciences and the
humanities.
• 3 years (UK) or 4 years (US)
• Funding –an overseas education in the UK would cost approx. S$210-240k,
while a US education costs approx. S$400k - $500k. The specific cities you
are in will make a difference as well.
• Covid-19 and the state of the world today: consider health and safety—
what are you prepared to take on and cope with? Have an open discussion
with your family on this. Be aware that different universities and courses
may have differing policies on virtual learning.
What is needed: a comparative overview
A UK application (via UCAS)
• CT recommendation
• Additional tests as necessary –e.g.,
Oxbridge subject specific, LNAT
• One personal statement
• Academic interviews (Oxbridge,
Medicine/Dentistry)
• 5 choices allowed by UCAS. Oxford
OR Cambridge. (only 4 choices
allowed for Med)
• Focus on: academic fit.
A US application (via Common
App & CIALFO)
• Three academic recommendations
in all: your CT and two subject tutors
• SATs/ACT*
• Common App essay + supplemental
essays for every school you apply to.
• 10 Activities + 5 Academic Honours
• Recommended: 6-10 schools.
• Focus on: academic AND soft fit.
*SATs/ACT: this is currently optional
for most unis. Keep updated on
university websites for latest news.
 The UK
An in-depth look into applications &
considerations
 Important notes
• All UCAS applications go via RI as a centre.
• Students are to adhere to internal procedures and deadlines.
• An application is complete only when all parts are in—which includes your
CT’s recommendation. And your CT only writes after you have completed
your parts. Hence your internal deadlines are earlier so that the entire
package can be sent in by the official university deadline.
• Only your CT writes the recommendation.
• UCAS account creation begins from mid-end July with the new application
cycle. Students should not be creating any UCAS accounts now.
• In mid-end July, once our UCAS counterpart is ready, we will publish a UCAS
guide, taking students step-by-step through the technicalities of setting up
your UCAS account and the application process. Watch out for this in IVY
HEO.
• Once the current application cycle ends, we will publish timelines for the
new cycle in end May. This would be the all-important Timelines document,
which all students need to adhere to.
• Don’t worry, as HEO will pace you through the entire process: you simply
need to keep aware and come along for the ride! 
 Where in the UK?
• Oxbridge – be aware that the entry criteria required is highly stringent:
e.g., for A-levels, Cambridge commonly requires 4H2s, while most other
UK universities require 3H2s. In addition to excellent grades, you also
need good test results (Oxbridge specific tests) & interview
performances.
• London – e.g., LSE, UCL, King’s, Imperial –London schools are highly
popular, thus they should not be viewed as safety options: rejection can
be the norm even with straight A’s.
• Outside London—e.g., Bristol, Durham, Manchester, Edinburgh, St.
Andrew’s, York, etc. Students should consider these quality options, as
they offer highly regarded courses, may have specialisations which are
aligned to your interests, and usually come at a cheaper living cost than
in London. They also offer a different experience and environment apart
from the traditional routes that students go for.
 Tips: starting your research
• Go to https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ as a launch-point
to get an idea of the exact majors offered. Search via University League
Tables Subject League Tables. Select the course of interest.
• You will be led to a ranking list of all schools offering your selected
course.
• If you individually click on Courses for each school, you will see all the
courses offered that are related to your search term. E.g., searching for
“Economics” in UCL shows that there are 15 undergraduate Economics-
related courses in UCL alone.
• Do your research into these courses for a start. In your UCAS choices,
you will be required to specify your major alongside your university.
• The indicative grade profile is also offered. Note that as we have no A*,
for all intents and purposes, take an A* requirement as an A. I.e., a
requirement of “A*A*A” would mean 3 H2 As is the typical offer.
 Tips: Pay attention to course differences
between and within schools

• You will want to do so particularly for fields which are extremely broad,
such as the social sciences, or for fields which are rapidly evolving, where
new majors come up or combine all the time.
• It pays to do your research, as the subtle differences in courses can make
a lot of difference in what you study. The following two slides give
examples of these.

Note: we have published guides to a spectrum of arts & science majors in

IVY HEO. You can refer to these for an introductory look at majors. 
 A closer look at Economics as an example of a
broad‐based discipline
Some popular schools for Economics include LSE and UCL. As Economics is
a social science which can be geared towards the humanities or
mathematics, or combined with a wide variety of related disciplines, it is
good to dig a little deeper into the course descriptions and syllabus. The
following lists just some of the Economics‐related majors available in the
two colleges. You will see that there are plenty of choices available, even
within a specialized degree.

LSE
(14 Economics‐related degrees
available)
Economics
Economics and Economic History
Environmental Policy with Economics
Mathematics and Economics
Philosophy and Economics
UCL
(15 Economics‐related degrees
available)
Economics
History, Politics and Economics
Statistics, Economics and Finance
Economics and Statistics
Economics & Business with East
European Studies
 A closer look at Engineering as an example of
a rapidly evolving discipline
With the rapid changes in the field of engineering, it is good to research a
little further into each school’s course offerings, to figure out what you
really like. Imperial and Edinburgh are two well‐known schools when it
comes to engineering. Take a look below at just some of the
engineering‐related courses they offer. Note that not all courses in one
school may have equivalence in another.

Imperial College London Edinburgh

Computing (Visual Computing & Robotics) Software Engineering
Electronic and Information Engineering Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Civil Engineering with a Year Abroad Civil Engineering
Design Engineering Structural Engineering with Architecture
Materials with Nuclear Engineering Chemical Engineering
 Tip: look beyond academics
Remember that you will not just be studying, but living in a new city. Thus, consider
some of the following practicalities, as liveability matters:

•Health & safety: Ensure you pick cities and locations that you are personally
comfortable in. Your safety and wellbeing should be your top priority when you are
living overseas by yourself. This is particularly true given Covid-19 realities: keep in mind
that in big countries, what is happening in one region (e.g., restrictions on movement,
school closures) may not necessarily be so in another.
•Nature of lessons: are lessons going to be conducted virtually or face-to-face? Is your
major something that can be translated to online learning, or does it require hands-on
lessons? What is your preference and what are you willing to pay for?
•Transportation: How are transport links within the city? Are things easily accessible
from your campus?
•Housing arrangements: On campus, or off? Does the school provide accommodation,
at least for the first year? Where do most students live?
•Food, Entertainment & Leisure: Are these easily within walkable distance, or do they
require a commute? Is the variety within the city sufficient for you?
•Support networks: If you should need help (e.g., medical attention), is it easily
accessible and available?

In no particular order, some of the more popular towns and cities you may wish to
explore are: London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, Durham, Bristol. 
Where in the UK? –A closer look at
Oxford and Cambridge: how to consider
1) Consider your major of interest first. Both universities offer different
types of courses; a particular course may not necessarily offered in both.
A sample of some popular courses can be seen below:
Oxford Cambridge
• Geography • Geography
• History • History
• History and Economics • Economics*
• History and Politics • History & Politics
• PPE • Human, Social, & Political Sciences
• Economics & Management • Law
• Human Sciences
• Law (Jurisprudence) *Economics in Cambridge is highly
quantitative and maths-focused.
Question to ask yourself: what major am I most interested in, and can qualify
for? Be aware of subject requirements for some majors.
 Where in the UK? –A closer look at
Oxford and Cambridge: how to consider
2) Consider the practical realities of the time schedule for application: what can
you manage without compromising on the A-levels?
Keep in mind that all offers will be conditional based on your A-level results.
Advice: students looking to apply to Cambridge to possess, as an indicative
guide, Y5 overall results of AABB or better, to demonstrate confidence over
material which has been taught.

3) Consider interview styles –which may you be better at?

Tip: for more details on interviews, refer to:
Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/interviews
Cambridge: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/interviews
What Cambridge Oxford
Timeline & Early Sep: submission of UCAS Early Oct: submission of UCAS
progression Mid Oct: Shortlist & call for interviews End Oct: Subject-specific test (if any)
of End Oct: Subject-specific test (if any) Early Dec: Shortlist & call for
application interviews
How Currently, interviews are conducted Interviews are conducted online.
interviews online due to Covid-19 restrictions on
are done international travel.

Question Academic-focused –e.g., a student More open-ended critical thinking –

types applying for Economics can expect to e.g., a student applying for
solve Economics-related maths Economics may get an open-ended
questions, or answer questions on question such as: what is the
concepts and theories difference between an apple and a
house?
What is Mastery of academic content –students should be well-prepared conceptually
common to explain their reasoning, and be confident enough to ask & field questions.

Key question to ask yourself: Time matters: What can you cope with during the prelims to A-
level period, without sacrificing the A-levels?
A closer look at Cambridge & Oxford
Useful university admissions links:
Oxford:
• https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing
• https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/choosing-
what-study
• https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/admission-
requirements

Cambridge:
• https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses
• https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/what-are-we-
looking-for
• https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/entrance-
requirements

Tip: If you are unsure about courses and choices, or about capacity to cope,
make an appointment for a F2F session, as we will work with you on your
application strategy and guide you in healthful decision-making.
 In summary, broad tips for UK applications

• Have some safety schools, apart from just dream schools. Have a good mix
of London schools and schools out of London.
• Do your research carefully on universities and courses, as you will have to
indicate specific majors in your application.
• Apply for what you want to study, based on what you can cope with. There is
no need to follow the crowd!
• Once the Timelines guide is published in end May, exact dates and deadlines
will be known. Keep to these, so that you make a timely application.
• Be considerate, both to yourself and to others: Avoid impulse, last minute
applications: a thoughtful application requires months of work, and your CT
also needs time to write for you.
• Look out for the Approaching the UK Personal Statement guide (Term 2
Week 10) and UCAS guides (end Jul), as they will be key to you.
A good time-frame for action
• Term 2: Focus on researching on universities and courses. Shortlist your 4-
5 schools and majors. Start looking back at your academic and related
activities, that can form material for your personal statement. Look out for
our personal statement guide at end of this term. Drop in to HEO if you
need help in considering schools & courses.
• Term 3 & 4: Pay attention to application to-dos and deadlines. Create
your UCAS account come end July, approach your CTs early and personally
to ask for references based on our timeline. Take the additional tests
(Oxbridge, BMAT/LNAT/UCAT etc) as required. Write a good personal
statement and submit your application in a timely manner. HEO will be
open for feedback on your statements in Term 3, so come to us then if you
should wish for guidance on this.
During the A-level period, you should focus on the A-levels: by this time, all
Oxbridge/Med applications & Cambridge interviews will be done.
Meanwhile, Oxford’s interviews are in Dec post-A-levels, and non-
Oxbridge/Med submissions are only due in early Jan 2022. So the time in
Nov should be focused rightly on the A-levels.
 Important note for boys doing NS
• Most universities do not give a 2‐year deferment for Medicine & Math
courses. Come Jul-Aug, check university websites for information on whether
they are willing to consider before putting in your application.
• Most other universities and courses typically allow for a 2‐year deferment.
But there are exceptions – LSE. Always check school websites closely for
updated information.
• There is no rush. Apply in the next cycle (2022/2023) if you wish to focus
on your ‘A’ Levels this year. We help NS boys after their graduation from RI,
and even then, you still have 2 rounds of application possible, with firm A-
levels in hand. Should this be your choice: This year, you simply want to get
a sense of the application cycle & timelines. Email collegeadmissions next
year when you are ready to put in your applications, and keep in touch with
us on: http://www.ri.edu.sg/school-life/higher-education-office
The End