What is UCAS?

UCAS stands for “Universities and Colleges Admissions Service”. It is a centralised platform for applying to higher education courses at universities and colleges in the UK. UCAS also processes applications, provides information and advice about UK higher education, and offers a central resource for applicants.  

Who can apply using UCAS?

Both British locals and international students can apply using UCAS. UCAS offers applicants the option to apply for five courses at once and multiple different universities at the same time on one platform, making it highly efficient. UCAS also has a special function to allow agents to make representative applications and directly interact with higher education providers. Our experts would be happy to take on this role and help you to successfully apply to your dream university and major.  We also support direct applications and are happy to provide pre-submission checks and feedback where applicants want to make their own application.

The official UCAS website provides a large amount of information about higher education in the UK, helping applicants better understand the requirements of different schools and courses and the steps and timetables for the entire application process. Our experts at UK Bound know the ins and outs of UCAS and will guide you to make the most of this valuable tool.  

How to apply for university at UCAS? 

Step One – Choose a Course 

One of the first step you can take is learning more about the courses you want to apply for. Knowing what you want to study isn’t always easy, so at UK Bound we offer expert personalised counselling to help you make a decision. If you’re looking for more information on courses, visit www.ucas.com/search. There are more than 3,300 courses from more than 300 universities and colleges to choose from. 

You can search for related courses based on region, academic level and course (professional) terms. If you, for example, search for “Mathematics”, you will find all courses related to mathematics (the schools listed are arranged alphabetically). 

Click on each course to view the school’s course introduction, admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fees, employment prospects, and much more. 

International students can also visit www.ucas.com/international for additional application advice.

Step 2 – Application 

Start your application by registering online at www.ucas.com/apply. You can apply for up to five courses. It could be one course at five different universities, or five courses at one university. 

The information and documents that must be prepared before applying for UCAS include: 

1. Personal Statement: 

Your personal statement is your chance to explain to universities and colleges why you wish to study your chosen subject and why you would be a great student. This step is really important and shouldn’t be underestimated. UK universities are turning down statements that don’t meet the required standard, and a major problem is the increasing number of statements generated by AI (universities now commonly using cutting-edge AI detection tools to search for AI generated evidence). Writing a great personal statement takes time and preparation, but with our assistance, it can be a smooth process. Our experience boosts your chances of success because we know exactly what universities are looking for.  

2. Reference Letter: 

Letters of recommendation are usually provided by a teacher at your school, or if you have left school, by an independent referee such as a former teacher or employer. This letter is an endorsement of your academic and personal qualities and is valuable to admissions officers. If you’re not sure about the requirements, feel free to contact us at any time.   

3. Pay attention to the application status 

For courses applied through UCAS, students need to pay attention to UCASTrack after submitting their application. The application progress and results can be viewed on this UCAS application platform. The following statuses usually appear: 

• Unconditional admission: Indicates that the applicant has met all academic admission requirements of the university or college. 
• Conditional admission: Indicates that there are specific conditions attached to the admission, such as the applicant must obtain a higher IELTS band or have an ATAS certificate. 
• Rejected admission: If you do not receive an offer letter and your application is unsuccessful, you can apply for supplementary courses through a tool called Extra. In Extra (the programme runs from the end of February to the beginning of July every year), you can apply for courses where there are still available places. Please visit www.ucas.com/extra or contact us for more details.  

An overview of important dates for applying to UK universities in 2025 

• May 2024 – UCAS opens application search, and you can start to check the majors offered by universities in the UK 
• September 2024 – UCAS will officially open undergraduate applications. Higher Education Provider will start processing all received applications. Keep in mind that 98% of undergraduate programmes require application via UCAS, making it the only way to apply.  
• January 15, 2025 – Application deadline for most undergraduate courses 
• February to June 2025 – Universities will gradually release admission results 
• February 28, 2025 – Applications open for UCASExtra 
• March 24, 2025 – Application deadline for some art and design courses 
• Mid-May 2025 – Applications submitted before January 25th will be finalised by the university to which UCAS applied
• Applicants who receive offers from early June to mid-May 2025 will need to respond by early June 2025
• Early July 2025 – UCAS Extra application deadline, UCAS clearing application is open 
• 15 October 2025 – Deadline for applications to Oxford or Cambridge, or medicine, dentistry or veterinary/science courses 

What is UCAS Extra?

UCAS Extra is a supplementary option within the UCAS system that gives students the opportunity to apply for additional university courses after the main application season has ended. Normally, UCAS Extra is open from the end of February to the beginning of July. Students can only apply for one course at a time during Extra, so choose carefully. Before applying for Extra, please contact our team at UK Bound to find out the remaining places in each college and subject, so as not to waste the opportunity of UCAS Extra.  

What is UCAS Clearing? 

UCAS Clearing is a system that UCAS and UK universities use to fill in remaining university degree places before the end of the academic year. UCAS Clearing usually opens in early July. 

Since Clearing is the last opportunity to apply for the year, you should seize that opportunity. It’s suitable for the following situations:

• Haven’t received any admission notice yet 
• They have not yet responded to confirm receipt of any offer of admission 
• Admission notice without timely reply 
• Apply after the June 30 deadline 
• Scores do not meet admission requirements 

After supplementary enrollment begins, you can use the online search tool (www.ucas.com/search) to search for supplementary enrollment courses. We at UK Bound are able to contact UK universities on your behalf to see if you can apply via Clearing. Feel free to get in touch with us if you want to boost your chances of getting into your dream university. 

Please keep in mind that UCAS only manages undergraduate programme applications. If you’re looking into postgraduate studies, a different procedure is required. Feel free to contact us, and we’ll guide you through the appropriate application process for postgraduate programmes.