UCAS vs. Common App: A Must-Know for International Students

If you are thinking of pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom or the United States, then you are probably no stranger to the UCAS (University Colleges Admissions Service) vs. Common App debate. Before jumping the gun, it is essential to understand that both are centralized systems for applying to universities in respective countries. The UCAS is a centralized application system for all UK-based universities, while the Common App is a similar system for universities in the USA. 

The Common App platform enables applications to multiple universities without any issues regarding costs. However, UCAS allows applications to up to five institutions for a reasonable fee. Let us learn more about the key differences between the two systems below. 

UCAS vs. Common App 

Here are some crucial differences between these two systems that you should know more about: 

UCAS and Common App- Purpose

The biggest differentiator between the platforms is linked to their actual usage needs. For example, a student in the USA can apply to UK universities through the UCAS portal while applying to colleges in their home country through the Common App platform. Some universities outside the USA also take applications through Common App. 

Common App is a well-known application platform, although it is still not used by several colleges and institutions in the country. The UCAS platform, on the other hand, is used by close to 350+ universities in the United Kingdom. Almost all universities in the country accept undergraduate course applications through the platform. Common App is used worldwide by students across more than 200 countries. 

Here is a look at the application processes across both platforms. 

UCAS- How to Apply?

1. Start by registering yourself at the UCAS Hub, completing the registration questions, and confirming the year along with the level of study. 
2. Complete all details, including residency status, information on personal circumstances, plans to fund your education, and more. 
3. Add your education history and qualifications. You may have to send proof through transcripts and certificates to your chosen universities. 
4. Complete your employment history, entering details for up to five part-time or full-time jobs. You should not include any voluntary or unpaid work in this section. 
5. Choose up to five courses. 
6. Write your personal statement between 1,00-4,000 characters, and 
7. Submit your application after reviewing it and agreeing to the declaration. 
8. Get a reference (your referee has to complete and add your reference to the application) and pay the application fee before completing your application. 

Common App- How to Apply?

1. Get your materials in place. These include a high school transcript copy, a list of work, activities, and family responsibilities, test scores and dates from college entrance examinations like SAT/ACT, the parent or legal guardian details, and academic honors and achievements. 
2. Create your account and choose your student type while entering login credentials accordingly. Complete the registration information like your date of birth, name, home address, phone number, and so on. Choose your communication preferences and accept the privacy policy to finish the process. 
3. Search for colleges based on your chosen criteria and add them to your list with the add button. This will be visible on your Dashboard thereafter and you can adjust the list anytime. You can add up to a maximum of 20 colleges. 
4. Get your recommendations sorted. Complete the FERPA Release Authorization. Invite recommenders using invite button. Select the invitation type and manage the recommendations likewise. Teachers, parents, counselors, and non-academic recommenders can be chosen depending on the type of application or requirements of the college. You will have to assign your recommenders to specific colleges. 
5. Get the lowdown on requirements, including application fees, deadlines, personal essays, test policies, grades, courses, writing supplements, portfolios, and recommendations. 
6. Organize the writing prompts, depending on the college requirements, and complete your essays likewise. 
7. Review your application and pay the application fees (if required by the college) before completing your submission. 

Conclusion

As you can see, the differences between UCAS and Common App remain mostly to do with their usage and location-centric aspects. If you wish to apply to universities in both the USA and the UK, then you will have to bolster your understanding and knowledge of how both these platforms work.