Art and Design courses fall into two application routes, imaginatively named route A and route B. The origins of the distinction are shrouded in history. It's not a logical division of courses or colleges. Both routes are of equal status.

Students applying through route A must have their applications in by December 15th. (In the case of Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, the closing date is October 15th). Applicants may make up to six choices through route A and these should be listed in section 3 of the application form in UCAS handbook order.

Applications through route B should be made between January 1st, 1998, and March 24th, 1998. Up to four choices may be made and, again, these should be listed in section 3 of the application form in UCAS handbook order.

Just to further confuse you, you may apply through both route A and route B. A total of six colleges/courses may be selected but with a maximum of four in route B. Your British and Northern Ireland counterparts will have completed A-levels and a year's art foundation course. Thus, they will be older and have more developed portfolios so applying via route B will allow you more time to build up your portfolio.