Some tips to help you sail smoothly through this critical process... 

What is UCAS?

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to higher education. Applications for most full-time uni or college places are made this way. Applications can only be made online.

• First off you need to register – if doing this through a school or college then you’ll need their ‘buzzword’, but not if applying as an individual.
• Amazing how quickly time goes, especially if you have other things on your mind such as course work and exams!
• You can apply to up to 5 institutions – research the institutions and the courses they offer carefully and don’t be sucked in by fancy websites and shiny brochures! Check out the article on ‘How to choose a University’ for more on this.
• You will need to fill in 7 sections: personal details; additional information; choices; education; employment; personal statement and references. The personal statement section (link to article on personal statements) is your chance to tell unis and colleges why they should want you as a student. It is very important as many places won’t be offering interviews and will base their decisions on the information you provide! There are also some useful tips on the UCAS website.
• It costs £21 to apply (£11 if just applying for one course).
• After submitting your application you need to apply for finance – this may seem scary and overwhelming but there is a lot of help out there. Student loans and grants can be obtained from the government and there are comprehensive guides on how to do this.
• Getting an offer – you will usually hear by the end of March but it might be as late as May. If you don’t get the offer you want, the UCAS Extra Service is available if you have already used all 5 of your choices. This operates from the end of Feb to June and there is a video guide explaining how this works.
• Extra is only for applicants who did not receive any offers, so it wouldn’t be the case that an applicant who has received a conditional offer but not achieved the required exam results would be eligible for Extra. They would instead be eligible for Clearing.
• Clearing system – this is where late courses are advertised and runs for a month. Don’t panic if you don’t get the offer or the grades that you wanted. You can use this system if you have not withdrawn your application and hold no offers or your offers have not been confirmed – this is often used by students who’ve just missed their grades and have been rejected by their first choice – also check out the article on ‘How to tackle clearing’.
• Offers – these can be conditional (dependent on you getting certain grades) or unconditional (if you already have the grades required).
• Getting results – if you get the grades required UCAS will send a formal letter of confirmation. If you don’t get the grades, your uni of choice may not be able to confirm your place, in which case your insurance choice may or there is the Extra Service and Clearing.

Key Facts

• UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to higher education.
• You can apply to 5 institutions.
• If you don't get an offer or don't make the grades, UCAS offers a clearing system which can help you find a place on a course.

And remember...

Whether you’ve already begun your UCAS application or you’ve only just decided to apply, you need to meet the deadline for your choices to have the best chance of getting a university place.

Most courses have a deadline of 15 January, but there are a few exceptions. Make sure you check on UCAS’ Course Search for the correct deadlines for your choices. If UCAS receives your application on or before this date then you’ll be guaranteed consideration.