What is UCAS?

The Universities and Colleges Admission Services (UCAS) is an independent charity acting as the national shared admissions service for students, universities and colleges. All UK-based university applications are run through UCAS, meaning all students wanting to complete an undergraduate degree in the UK must complete a UCAS application. 

What are UCAS points?

UCAS tariff points translate your qualifications and grades into a numerical value, which higher education course providers use to assess whether you meet particular entry requirements. Most universities, colleges, and conservatoires in the UK refer to UCAS tariff points in their entry requirements; however, some qualifications don’t refer to the tariff system. 

The UCAS tariff system allows higher education institutions to compare a wide variety of qualifications they assess, encouraging faster decision-making and a smoother application process for students and providers. 

How does the UCAS application process work?

There’s a lot to consider when completing your UCAS application, like how to register, when to complete the application form and making sure not to miss the UCAS application deadline. Follow the steps below to get started. 

Registration

To get started, you need to register in the UCAS Hub and complete the registration questions. These questions confirm the year you want to start your studies and that you’re interested in undergraduate studies. 

Once this is complete, you’ll be able to see ‘your application’ in the UCAS Hub dashboard. This is where you start your official UCAS application and fill in all your personal details as listed below. 

• Personal details like name, birth date and gender
• Nationality details 
• Address
• Contact details
• Other supporting information
• Finance and funding
• Diversity and inclusion 

Next, you’ll need to fill in your current educational qualifications, including GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs, or the international equivalents. You’ll also need to include qualifications from secondary education onwards. For international students, this is when you’ll also fill in your English Language Test (ELT) numbers. 

Personal statement

The personal statement is a chance to show your passion for your chosen subject, demonstrate your skills and experience, as well as explain why you’re a great fit for a specific university or course. The UCAS personal statement word limit is 4,000 characters, including spaces. 

From 2026 onwards, the personal statement is changing from one long piece of text to three questions. 

References

Any UCAS uni application requires a reference from someone other than a family member, friend, partner or ex-partner. You can also ask a school, college or UCAS-registered centre for a reference if you’re applying independently. 

Tip: Make sure to ask your referee if they’re happy to give you a reference and remind them to complete it before the UCAS deadline for applications approaches.  

Course selection

You can add up to five course choices from the same or different universities or colleges. Make sure to include the relevant course codes, campus locations, when you plan to start each course and whether you’re staying at home or in student accommodation. 

Submission

Submit your application as soon as it's complete. Applications can only be sent once they have been completed without any missing fields, references have been attached and the adviser portal has approved them. 

When the application is fully complete, it will show as ‘Ready to send’ in the application management section. 

Key UCAS deadlines to know

It’s really important that you keep track of the UCAS application deadline. Visit the official UCAS deadline page for all the details. 

The 2025 entry application deadline timeline is as follows:  

• 3rd September 2024: Completed undergraduate applications can be submitted to UCAS
• 15th October 2024: Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine
• 29th January 2025: Equal consideration date for applications for most undergraduate courses
• 26th February 2025: Extra opens
• 30th June 2025: Applications received by this deadline will be sent to universities and colleges. After this time, applications are entered into Clearing
• 4th July 2025: Final day to add an extra choice in your application
• 5th July 2025: Clearing opens
• 20th October 2025: Last date to add a Clearing choice 

The 2026 entry application deadline timeline is as follows: 

• 29th April 2025: UCAS’ search tool displays 2026 entry courses
• 13th May 2025: Undergraduate applications open
• 2nd September 2025: Completed undergraduate applications can be submitted to UCAS
• 15th October 2025: Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine
• 14th January 2026: Equal consideration date for applications for most undergraduate courses
• 26th February 2026: Extra opens
• 30th June 2026: Applications received by this deadline will be sent to universities and colleges
• 4th July 2026: Last day to add an extra choice in your application
• 5th July 2026: Clearing opens
• 19th October 2026: Last date to add a Clearing choice

How to accept an offer on UCAS

Before making your decision, it’s good to understand what each reply to your application means. 

• Unconditional firm (UF): You’ve been accepted
• Conditional firm (CF): You’re accepted if you meet the conditions
• Conditional firm (CF) and conditional insurance (CI): You've made a first and second choice and you’ll be accepted if you meet the conditions. If not, you might have to meet the conditions of the second
• Conditional firm (CF) and unconditional insurance (UI): You’ve made the first and second choice but if you meet the conditions of the first, then you’ll be on that course. If not, you’ll be on the second 

If you have an unconditional offer, you can confirm your place. If your offers are conditional on exam results or other requirements, you can pick two, so you have an extra one as a backup. You must also decline the ones you’re not choosing. 

UCAS Clearing

The process of Clearing is how universities and colleges fill additional places they have on their courses. 

If you don’t already hold an offer from a university or college and the course is still available, you can apply for it using Clearing. This is possible in cases where you didn't receive any offers, didn't meet the conditions of your offers or declined your firm placement. 

Read our ‘Guide to UCAS Clearing’ for more information on how the Clearing process works. 

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FAQs

Do you need GCSE for UCAS?

Yes, GCSEs (or their equivalents) are required for UCAS applications, especially in English and Maths.

Can I apply to university without UCAS?

You can apply to a UK university directly for certain courses; however, some higher education institutions only allow you to apply via UCAS, so make sure to check. 

How do I find my UCAS number?

Your 10-digit UCAS number (also known as your application number or personal ID) can be found when you log in to your UCAS account. 

How do I add a Clearing choice on UCAS?

Navigate to the ‘Your choices’ section of your application, select ‘Add Clearing Choice’ and then fill in the details of the course. Remember, you can only add a Clearing choice if you’ve been given permission by the relevant university or college.