Extracurricular activities play a key role in the holistic assessment of UCAS applications. Activities beyond the classroom can significantly boost your chances of getting the offers you want, as well as helping you develop as a person.
In this article, we’re going to look at some of the ways involvement in extracurricular activities can help you shape a compelling UCAS application.
We’re going to offer you some practical advice on how to select UCAS extracurriculars and how to present them in your application. We’ll also review the impact these activities have on your overall application.
What Are Extracurriculars?
Your regular academic curriculum is the content that you learn at school in the classroom. Extracurriculars are activities which go beyond this.
Joining a sports team, working on a school newspaper or signing up for a robotics club – we’ll go into the huge variety of extracurriculars a bit later! – are all great ways to foster your own holistic development.
You’ll get the chance to develop your skills, make new friends and grow as a person.
Why Are Extracurriculars Important for UCAS Applications?
Before we dive into the huge variety of extracurriculars you can get involved in, here are five reasons to include extracurriculars in your UCAS application.
I. Holistic profile
Including some of the extracurricular activities you’ve taken part in shows university admissions officers that you’re a well-rounded individual, that you have a life outside of school and your academic achievements.
This also provides some insights into your many diverse interests, passions and talents, some of which may catch an admissions officer’s eye.
II. Skills demonstration
Many essential skills are developed and applied in various extracurricular activities and you should definitely demonstrate these in your UCAS application by discussing your extracurricular involvement.
Show off your teamwork skills by talking about your role in your school’s cheerleading team or mention how time spent in the debate club has made you a world-class communicator. Maybe you’re a head volunteer at your local charity shop – how has this helped you with your leadership?
III. Competitive edge
Your extracurriculars can help set your UCAS application apart in a competitive admissions environment. Don’t be afraid to show off your unique personality and diverse experiences in order to get ahead of the curve.
How many other students demonstrated their dedication and commitment to a goal by winning an essay competition in Year 11? Who else has volunteered with a homeless charity every weekend for five years? Can anyone claim to show extreme determination by joining a local climbing gym and conquering their fear of heights like you can?
IV. Personal growth
We’ve already mentioned how taking part in activities beyond the classroom can boost your own personal growth, and admissions officers know this too.
Including extracurriculars on your UCAS application will signal your commitment to personal development and continuous learning, while also demonstrating valuable qualities like resilience, adaptability and a proactive attitude.
V. Alignment with values
Every university tries its best to foster a unique culture through the promotion of certain values and these universities will be looking to accept students who can make a positive contribution to their student community.
On your UCAS application, try to illustrate the ways in which you’re a proactive member of your community. Volunteering is especially good for showcasing your contributions to your community, and proving you’re a socially responsible and engaged individual.
10 Extracurricular Activities to Include
We’ve established that extracurriculars are great to include on your UCAS application. So, what have you already done that counts as an extracurricular and what can you pick up going forward?
1. Academic clubs and societies
Extracurriculars are activities that go beyond the classroom, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do them at school or engage in academic extracurriculars.
If you haven’t joined one already, have a look at the academic clubs and societies on offer at your school and in your local community. If you can tell universities that you were the president of the Maths Club, a member of the Science Society or a participant in a Model United Nations, you can demonstrate a passion for your subject, which is exactly what they’re looking for!
This can also demonstrate effective organisation and time-management skills, and if you secure a committee position, you can show off your leadership skills as well.
Start building your list of academic extracurriculars today by applying for an Oxford Scholastica summer school.
2. Sports teams and fitness clubs
Sports and fitness activities are also great extracurriculars to include on your UCAS application. Universities know that participating in yoga classes takes self-discipline, captaining the school football team takes leadership and belonging to the athletics club involves teamwork.
On top of this, all of these indicate a personal commitment to your physical health and wellbeing, signalling your sense of self-value. You don’t make decisions or goals lightly, making you a valuable and confident student to have on board.
3. Art, music and drama
Show off your creativity, self-expression and dedication to a project by mentioning that you played the lead role in the Year 10 school play or have been a member of the school choir since Year 7. Maybe you regularly visit art exhibitions or enter (and win!) competitions.
4. Community service and volunteering
By volunteering at a local food bank, cleaning up your neighbourhood or tutoring younger students at your school, you’re showing that you’re a self-motivated individual wanting to make a difference in the world.
By including these activities on your UCAS application, you demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility, and highlight your empathy, compassion and willingness to contribute to the community.
There’s a lot in this for you too! These activities are incredibly rewarding, make a difference and can lead to a broader understanding of societal issues.
5. Leadership roles
Maybe you were head prefect, president of the student council, captain of the debate team or worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise school events.
You’re a leader. You can take charge, delegate efficiently and produce great results. You’re not afraid to take an active involvement in decision-making processes in order to contribute to improving your community.
6. Work experience and internships
Interning at a local marketing firm, getting a part-time job at the local book shop or securing work experience in a research lab will offer valuable practical exposure to your chosen field, as well as demonstrating a proactive approach to learning and gaining real-world experience.
Connecting academic studies to their practical applications is a skill universities are looking for and it will also help you further down the line when you’re making career decisions.
Continue your journey, or get started, by applying for one of our online research internships.
7. Non-academic clubs and societies
Indulge one of your interests by exploring after school clubs. Join chess club, the environmental club, shoot for the stars and become president of the photography club! All of this demonstrates a life outside of your school work and exams.
8. Language clubs, exchange programmes and cultural societies
Demonstrate your language proficiency and cultural awareness by showcasing your involvement in language clubs, exchange programmes and cultural societies.
Tell your universities how adaptable you are and that you possess a global perspective. Not only can you speak different languages, but you also have an awareness of different cultural contexts.
9. Innovative projects and competitions
Maybe you won the Regional Science Fair, joined your school’s robotics club or entered some entrepreneurship competitions. Add these to your UCAS application to showcase your scientific acumen and innovation, as well as your passion for problem solving and critical thinking.
Universities love to see how you have encountered and dealt with real-world challenges, so this is a great way to do it.
10. Online learning and certifications
Have you completed an online coding certification, language proficiency certification, a digital marketing course or something similar? Include this on your UCAS application to demonstrate your proactive approach to skill development, and provide real, tangible evidence of your skill set.
Haven’t done one of these yet? Enhance your academic and professional profile now by signing up for one of our online summer schools.
How Do I Include Extracurriculars in My UCAS Application?
Before starting your UCAS application, you should take some time to decide on your most relevant extracurriculars for your chosen course to maximise the impact of your application.
Personal statements
Writing your personal statement gives you the chance to speak to your chosen universities directly, so it’s important to make your words count.
In your statement, you’ll be composing a narrative. You want to include aspects of reflection and storytelling, alongside your personal accounts. Listing off your classes and academic qualifications isn’t going to cut it here so use your extracurriculars to showcase your personality and well-roundedness.
Referees and references
In the academic references section of your UCAS application, your referees will attempt to provide additional information about you so your chosen universities have a better understanding of your student profile.
Encourage your referees to sing your praises, emphasise the impact and relevance of your extracurricular activities and provide context for your achievements. You might even ask them to include some of the things you couldn’t fit in your personal statement.
We hope that this article has helped you to understand why extracurriculars are important to include on your UCAS applications, which extracurriculars you might consider including and how you might include them.
You should approach your UCAS applications holistically, leveraging your unique strengths and experiences.
By Jen Protheroe
Jen is a finalist studying Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Oxford. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time in nature and is a strong advocate for mental health.
