In the UK there are different types of educational institution, which offer different kinds of qualifications. You can find out more about the education framework of the UK in our Understanding Qualifications article to help you understand what level you are currently educated to, and consequently, which level is most appropriate for you to progress onto.
Depending upon what age you are, where you live, and what your educational history is, there are different types of educational institution which will be more or less relevant to you. Within the equine industry, there is an added layer of complexity, as you need to identify if the role you are looking to work in requires professional registration requirements. Due to the devolved nature of the industry, this can be challenging. We have laid out the Governance of the equestrian industry in a simplified manner here.
Where do I apply to the institute I want to study at?
If you are applying for an undergraduate programme in the UK, you will be applying through UCAS. UCAS is the centralised admissions service for UK universities. You can learn more about how UCAS works here. UCAS has clearly defined application deadlines and rules which make applying fair and straightforward. It is worth noting that some other programmes, such as foundation programmes and some postgraduate teacher education programmes, are also administered through UCAS. If a programme is listed on EQUK and is administered through UCAS, we include that information for you on our website, to make it as straightforward as possible to apply.
For all other programmes – from college level to postgraduate, you apply direct to the institution. In the UK, most courses run from September until summer the following year. Individual course dates are found either on their EQUK listing (if they are partnered with us) or on the providers own webpages.
Individual institutions will have their own admissions systems and application forms. This means that you will need to submit your information multiple times if you are applying to different institutions. It’s worthwhile if you are at all confused what is being asked of you during the application process to contact the institution directly to ensure you are doing it correctly.
Generally, application forms ask for similar things. Basic information like your full name, title, home address, contact details, and previous educational establishments are all standard fields to fill out. Having information about when you studied and where to hand will make the application process much easier. They will also likely ask you to fill out your education history: this often consists of what qualifications you have completed, the subjects you studied, the grades you achieved, and when.
Some application forms will ask you to write a personal statement about yourself and/or why you want to study the thing you are applying for. Institutions will all use these differently and may ask for slightly different information. You can have a ‘standard’ personal statement which you can tweak to meet the individual parameters if you are asked for different statements for different courses. It’s worth noting that UCAS just asks for one personal statement, which is sent to all of your five university choices. You can read our handy guide about how to write an equestrian personal statement here. Other institutions may ask you to prepare your application in specific ways, for example with a CV or in a specific format of document.
Institutions may also ask for supporting evidence to go with your application. This can include references (check whether it is an academic, work, personal or equine specific reference they are asking for), videos of you riding, or a work experience diary.
How do I know if I am qualified?
Institutions will often list the most commonly accepted qualifications on their pages. You can use our easy to use Understanding Qualifications guide to get started. If your qualification isn’t listed, we recommend contacting the institutions admissions team directly with exactly what you have studied and when to find out with certainty that you are eligible to apply.
What do I do if I get stuck?
If you are applying to multiple different places, or are just generally feeling a bit overwhelmed, we can help! You can reach out to us for assistance, we will support you the best we can, and direct you onto where you need to go next.