Documents Needed to Apply for Postgraduate Studies

Greek nationals wishing to apply to British/American Universities and Colleges need the following documents:

• Certificates of seminars – conferences-workshops attended
• A photocopy of their passport
• Apolytirion of lyceum / GCSE’s / I.B / GCE A Levels
• English Language Certificates (i.e. IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, CPE, SAT)
• G.R.E or GMAT for M.B.A degrees
• Reference Letters (two academic – one or more from employment)
• Personal Statement
• Academic Transcript from Educational Institution/University attended together with Ptychion / Degree (for postgraduate studies only) stating the overall grade, Certificate stating the Class Rank, Erasmus Exchange Programme, Senior year Thesis abstract, internships university placements
• Bank statement for financing-tuition fees purposes and living expenses (for studies in the USA only)
•  8 photos (passport size)
• Birth Certificate (place of birth, nationality, citizenship, area of permanent residence)
• A sample of written work, in English (upon request)
• A certificate stating that the language of instruction of the previous institution was English if a student has attended an English-speaking Institution so far.
• Certificates of Scholarships awarded.
• Credit / Debit Card details for application fees
• Participation in extracurricular activities, merits, awards of sports excellence

The Academic IELTS delivered by UCLES has been the most popular English language test over the last 10 years and is continuously gaining in popularity. It is flexible as there are two examination dates a month and results are released 13 days after the exam. Most universities accept 6.5/9.0. Some, however, may require a higher grade depending on the chosen field of study (LLB Hons Law 7.0/9.0)

The TOEFL, iBT by ETS is also accepted as an English language qualification. Most universities require an overall of 80-100 score for an undergraduate degree programme and for a postgraduate degree a score of 85-105.

Some tend to ask “which is easier to pass?” Or “which is more preferable?” There is no easy or difficult test. Both require an intensive preparation to familiarize with the language skills such as listening, reading, writing and speaking in order to get a satisfactory band score.

How do I apply?  How does it work?

UCAS is the organization where students apply for entry to British Universities.  The application is online and you can apply up to 5 universities. 

Applications are usually submitted by the 15^th of January of each academic year.

Those who wish to apply for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Sciences should apply by the 15^th October deadline.

The deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is 15Octoberr as well. Students who wish to apply for Music courses apply through UCAS Conservatories.

What is UCAS Conservatoires?

UCAS Conservatoires is the new name for the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS).

It is the application service for performance-based music, dance, drama, and musical theatre courses at conservatoires in the UK – at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Conservatoire courses are very much based on practical training and performance, rather than the more academic courses available through UCAS Undergraduate and UCAS Postgraduate. Students who are interested in a practical discipline, such as instrumental or vocal performance, then a conservatoire course may be a more beneficial route for them.

All the information, advice and guidance they will need to make their application to study at a conservatoire is available here.

You can find out more on the CUCAS website: https://www.ucas.com/conservatoires

This following information comes from the website of the University of Aberdeen:

Universities in the UK   have a long-standing commitment to widening access to higher education. A key part of this commitment is the University’s Contextualized Admissions and Access Thresholds Policy. They are keen to encourage students from the widest possible range of backgrounds to participate in university studies, and we appreciate that not all students have the same opportunity to meet the entry requirements.

For this reason, universities take “contextualized information” into account when making decisions on the applications they receive and the exact grades they might require in any given case. Applicants who meet the criteria may be made an offer of admission at or below the relevant access threshold level.  The University can check if an applicant meets some of the criteria listed below using the information that is supplied in the UCAS form. Where possible applicants should include information about any circumstances they would like to highlight in their Personal Statement, or alternatively ask their referee to include relevant information in the Reference. If an applicant cannot include contextual information in the personal statement, they can send a separate document, which details these circumstances, to the University’s Admissions Service. Any additional information, which is supplied to the University in a clear and timely manner, will be considered alongside the main application. Applicants must include their full name and UCAS ID number in all correspondence with the University. The University would also ask that, where possible, referees mention and verify if an applicant meets one or more of the Widening Participation criteria in their UCAS reference. 

What follows is a list of definitions and other information that you can use to check if you meet the other widening access criteria: 

• Unpaid Caring Role: “A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support” (Carers Trust). If you provide an unpaid caring role please tell us about this in your personal statement or via a supplementary document (please see below for more information on supplementary documents). 
• Estranged Students: Applicants and Students who have no contact, and receive no support, from their families are referred to as being “Estranged”. Applicants and students, in order to qualify under these criteria, will have to have been estranged from their families for a sustained period of time (at least a 12 month period). They will also have to be expecting to receive no support from their extended family during their time at University.  
• Gypsy, Roma or Travelling Community: If you identify as belonging to the Gypsy, Roma or Travelling Community please let us know in your personal statement or via a supplementary document. Please note that although you can self-identify as coming from a Gypsy, Roma or Travelling Community in the Equality and Diversity section of your UCAS form, the University does not receive this information during the recruitment cycle. Therefore it is essential that if you wish this information to be considered as part of your application that you inform us using one of the methods described above.
• First generation in family to attend University: If neither of your parents have attended a University (either as school leavers or mature students) then you will be classified as “first in family” or “first generation”. Please let us know if you meet this criteria in either your personal statement or in a supplementary document. 
• Free school meal entitlement: If you were in receipt of free school whilst you were at secondary school then please let us know in either your personal statement or via a supplementary document.
• Education Maintenance Allowance: If you were in receipt of Education Maintenance Allowance, whilst you were at secondary school, then please let us know in either your personal statement or via a supplementary document.
• Mental Health Issues: If a personal Mental Health issue has impacted negatively on your education in the senior phase (or throughout the majority of your secondary education) then please let us know in either your personal statement or via a supplementary document.
• Physical Health Issue: If a personal Physical Health issue has impacted negatively on your education in the senior phase (or throughout the majority of your secondary education) then please let us know in either your personal statement or via a supplementary document.
• Refugee / Asylum status (Scottish/ EU fee status): If you have been granted Refugee / Asylum status (and you meet the criteria for Home Fees (Scottish / EU)) then please indicate this in your UCAS application form. If you have any questions about your current residential status please contact the Admissions Team.
• Refugee / Asylum status ( Rest of UK fee status): If you have been granted Refugee / Asylum status (and you meet the criteria for Rest of UK fees) then please indicate this in your UCAS application form. If you have any questions about your current residential statuses, please contact the Admissions team.
• Applicants whose parent(s) have had a custodial sentence: If either of your parents had (or have a current) custodial sentence then please let us know in either your personal statement or via a supplementary document.

If this description applies to you please check the appropriate box on your online UCAS form to say that you have experience of being in care. You can also inform us by mentioning it in your UCAS personal statement or via a supplementary document.

Your statement should be as original as possible, as this is the way in which you can differentiate yourself from other applicants applying to the same course as you and who have, or are predicted, similar grades. Your statement should focus mainly on your academic abilities and achievements.

There are several questions you should think about before you start writing your personal statement:

• Why have you chosen the course you have listed?
• What interests you about your chosen subject?
• How have you developed your subject interest outside of your school studies? Have you read any relevant books or articles, attended lectures or followed online courses. How did these activities inform your choice of course?
• What are the ‘big issues’ in the subject(s) you have applied for, or what do you find most interesting about them? What are your thoughts on these topics?
• What are your social, sports or leisure activities
• Emphasise any skills you have gained (e.g. communication/IT/decision making)
• What are your career plans for when you graduate from university?
• What are your future plans?

Laying out a Personal Statement

Please see below for how you are expected to lay out a Personal Statement:

Start off in the Introduction by introducing us to the reason why you want to study the course that you do and show us an example of why/how you became interested in that course.

The process of a Personal statement is to look at three aspects: Your 1) Academic Work, your 2) Personal life and any 3) Internships or Work Experience.

You then look at the skills you’ve gained from all these – personal skills such as dedication, commitment, teamwork and you look at how these can be applied to your chosen course of study and how these skills will help you at a University course in the UK. So, give us a small example of what you have done in each of these areas, followed by detailed reflection and analysis of what skills you’ve gained from doing this.

Remember: when discussing personal skills, you do not always need to relate it to your course of study. The Personal Statement is about you showing the university your personality. Show them you have interests outside of the academic environment, and skills outside of your chosen course of study, and how these skills gained through your interests can be applied to your studies.
For example, volunteering at an animal shelter might teach you compassion and resilience. Resilience is definitely needed when deciding to study abroad because you’ll be in a foreign environment, and compassion is needed when interacting with others on a daily basis.

When giving examples, don’t merely list everything that you’ve done. Try to think of its relevance to the Personal Statement. It’s better to have quality over quantity eg: fewer examples, but going into depth as to the skills you’ve gained.

You should also really try to show us why you’d like to study in the UK – what it is about studying there that appeals to you? This should come at the end of your PS ie: “I believe studying …. in the UK will be beneficial for me because…”
There will be many applicants applying and you need to stand out – so if you can show the university that you have done your research and show them why you want to go to the UK, what specifically about the UK appeals to you, then you stand a better chance of impressing them.

General Comments

1. Do not write anything negative – even wording such as ‘I was very keen on sports, but now understand the importance of academia’. This is negative as it makes it sound as if you never were taking academia seriously.
2. ALWAYS write an example followed by analysis and reflection on the skills you’ve gained through these experiences. BUT DO NOT GIVE US TOO MANY EXAMPLES. As mentioned above, it is better that you give us fewer examples and write more about what you have learned rather than just list lots of examples with zero analysis. This tells us nothing about you.
3. You need to balance the personal statement: Academic examples and Work Experience or Volunteer work. So, give us an example of what your favourite subject(s) are at school and what work you’ve done ie: project work with other people, experiments in Chemistry, for example – BUT REFLECT ON WHY YOU LIKE THESE AND WHAT SKILLS YOU’VE GAINED. It does NOT have to be directly related to Business, the important thing Development (It comprises activities enabling participants to achieve physical, mental and emotional development)
4. Mention your Social Participation. This comprises of social activities enabling participants to socialize and offer to people in need.
5. Mention your Life in Nature-Environmental Awareness. This comprises of activities urging people to love and respect Nature and the Environment. For the time being, the Greek Guiding Association is running the action “Α world in a suitcase” based on the educational program “Refugee flows, human rights and interculturalism”, a program that for the first time is being applied in Greek schools, approved by the Greek Ministry of Education and under the auspices of UNHCR. The action’s goal is helping the Greek students, through experiential activities, understand the refugee crisis and develop their compassion regarding the refugees who are fleeing their countries. A main goal is also to bring the students closer to human rights’ values and teach them the way they can promote these values.