The ultimate guide to the UCAS process

What is UCAS?

UCAS stands for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It's a UK-based organisation that manages applications for higher education institutions.

They also offer loads of information on course choices, student life, finances, accommodation, city guides and much more.

UK students applying for full time undergraduate courses must apply through UCAS.

Registering with UCAS

Registering with UCAS gives you access to your UCAS Hub. Here, you can explore your options about what to study, where to study and how to apply. Once you’ve made your applications, you can track their progress through your UCAS Hub too.

Registering with UCAS is free. However, there is a fee of £28.50 (for 2025 entry) when you're ready to apply for courses.

Making your UCAS choices

The UCAS application allows you to choose up to five courses. They can all be at the same university or spread across different ones.

University course webpages are usually the best place to visit to learn everything you need to know about a course, including detailed module content. Our course pages include tabs at the top so you can quickly find information like entry requirements, accreditation and what you’ll study.

Search our courses

A quick guide to key terms

As you consider your study options, you may come across unfamiliar terms. Understanding these terms can help you make informed course decisions.

Accredited courses are officially approved by a professional body or organisation. This means they meet specific standards of quality, content, and teaching for a particular sector or industry. As a student, this reassures you that the modules and learning experiences you receive throughout the course meet the standards the profession needs, putting you in the best position to secure employment when you graduate.
Joint honours degrees let you study two subjects in one single qualification. For example, history and politics, or politics and international relations.
Common first-year courses let you study alongside students from similar courses, widening your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, you might be able to switch to a different course with the same first year.
A degree with a foundation year includes an extra year of study at the beginning of your course, so you can acquire the essential subject knowledge and study skills necessary for a degree. It’s often used as a pathway if you want to by those who don’t meet the entry requirements.

Once you’ve done your course research, we recommend attending Open Days to learn more about your chosen unis. Open Days are great for finding out more about your shortlisted courses, meeting lecturers and chatting with current students. You can also look around accommodation, facilities and the local area.

Open day information

Book an Open Day or take a virtual tour first.

Once you've made your choices, the order of your universities on your UCAS application doesn't matter. Your choices remain anonymous until you reply to any offers you receive.

Understanding the UCAS tariff points

As well as having a clear idea of what you want to study and where, we also recommend you check that your expected grades match a course’s entry requirements.

Entry requirements are often displayed in UCAS Tariff points. Your qualifications and grades are translated into a number or value. Most qualifications (not all) have a UCAS Tariff value, which depends on the qualification level and your grade. Universities use these points to decide if you meet their course entry requirements.

We’ve created this handy UCAS tariff points calculator to help.

Apply through UCAS

The equal consideration deadline (ECD) is Wednesday, 29 January 2025 at 6.00pm UK time.

Universities must give equal consideration to all applicants who apply before this deadline.

Once you’ve registered with UCAS and added your course choices, there are three more steps to complete before your application is ready to be submitted before the ECD.

Write a personal statement.
This is a short essay (between 1,000 and 4,000 characters) you need to include in your UCAS application. It is your chance to showcase your skills, successes and experience and explain why a university should choose you.
Think about how your interests and achievements align with the course. Write authentically, avoiding buzzwords, overused phrases and AI-generated content. Universities want to hear from you, not your avatar.
Include relevant details like work experience, travel, and volunteering – they all matter.
Get more top tips on how to complete your personal statement.
Add a reference
You need a reference to complete your UCAS application. It should come from someone who knows you and your academic work well, but isn't a family member. Usually, your application will go straight to your teacher or school requesting a reference for you. If you are currently in full time education, or have been in the past 3 years, your reference should be an academic one.
Pay the application fee
The UCAS application fee is £28.50 (for 2025 entry) for up to five course choices.

Once you’re happy with your application, you’re ready to hit ‘submit’.

What happens after you've made your UCAS application

All higher education course providers have until Wednesday, 14 May 2025 to reply to applications submitted before 31 January 2025.

As a general rule, we try to reply within seven working days because we recognise that the sooner you know, the sooner you can start to make firm plans.

You get an offer.

There are four types of decision you could get:

Unconditional. Congratulations, you’ve been offered a place on the course you chose, with no conditions attached! If you want it, the place is yours.
Conditional. You're in, if you meet the conditions set. These could be achievement of particular grades, or providing additional documentation.
Unsuccessful. This removes the course as an option, but you could add more courses. If you’ve used all five choices on your application and have either been unsuccessful at all of them, or declined all offers you've received, then you use 'UCAS Extra'
Alternative Offer. If you don't meet the conditions, the university may offer you an alternative, related course that is a better fit for your profile.

Time to confirm your choice and reply.

which universities have made you offers
the types of offers you've received
when you need to reply

UCAS will email you when they get the final decision from your universities. If you receive your last decision on or before 16 May, you’ll need to reply by 6 June.

Types of offers and replies

Unconditional Firm. This is a ‘yes’ from you and you’ve got your first choice.
Conditional Firm and Conditional Insurance. You've made a first and second choice. If you meet the conditions of the first choice, you'll be on that course. If not, you might meet the conditions of the second – if so, you'll be on that course instead.
Conditional Firm and Unconditional Insurance. You've made a first and second choice. If you meet the conditions of the first choice, you'll be on that course. If not, you'll definitely be on the second.

Interviews and Auditions

Some courses will require you to complete an interview or audition/portfolio showcase to make sure you and the university are a good match for each other. This will depend on the type of course you’ve applied for.

None of these checks are designed to catch you out or make you feel uncomfortable, but they are a necessary part of the application process and will require a good level of preparation. It’s an opportunity to bring your personal statement to life by demonstrating your personality and enthusiasm for the course.

Typically, creative courses involving art, music and acting will require you to showcase your skills (audition) and/or evidence your work (portfolio) to prove you're a good fit.

Other courses like nursing or midwifery may want to meet you face-to-face for a chat (interview) to assess your communication skills and ability to interact with people.

We’ve prepared some guidance notes, so you know what to expect and can start to prepare.

UCAS Key dates

Here are some key dates worth adding to your diary to ensure you don’t miss any part of the application or enrolment process.

29 January 2025

2025 entry: Equal consideration deadline.

26 February 2025

UCAS Extra opens.

4 June 2025

If you receive your last decision on or before 14 May, you must reply by this date, except if you’re using UCAS Extra.

30 June 2025

Late applications deadline. Applications made after this date will automatically be included in Clearing.

4 July 2025

UCAS Extra closes.

5 July 2025

Clearing opens.

23 July 2025

If you receive your last decision, including UCAS Extra choices on or before 17 July, you must reply by this date.

14 August 2025

A level results day.

September 2025 (TBC)

Start of term.