Applying through UCAS
Applications for all full-time foundation courses, HNC’s, HND’s and undergraduate degrees, including applications from mature applicants, are made via the UK’s Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
All applications made via UCAS are completed online at www.ucas.com. Their website also contains information on how to complete the application and the UCAS Customer Service team are also available on the phone if you have any problems completing your application.
How to apply through UCAS
Firstly, you need to research the various universities and courses that are available using the UCAS website and university websites.
Applying online with UCAS means that you can make up to five applications at the same time. That can be five applications to different courses at the same university or applications to five different courses at five different universities.
The UCAS application form will ask you to provide details of your qualifications and also information on any courses that you are currently studying. It will also require you to write a personal statement and provide a reference (normally your college tutor or teacher). You can also include work experience on the application too. You can save your application as you go which means you don’t have to complete your application in one go.
Deadline
The main UCAS deadline for getting your application completed is the 15th January but for design courses you have until the 24th March to complete your application.
Cost
The current fee for making an application through UCAS is £9 for applying to one course at one institution or £19 for up to five courses or institutions. You don’t pay for your application until you’ve completed it.
What happens next?
Once you’ve completed your application UCAS will pass it to all of the institutions you have applied to and UCAS will contact you when each institution has made a decision on your application. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application online on the UCAS Track system.
Each university will make a decision on your application. This will normally be either an unconditional offer, a conditional offer or an unsuccessful decision.
Unconditional offer
This is normally made if you have met all of the entry criteria and can be accepted straight onto the course.
Conditional offer
A conditional offer of a place is based on certain conditions, e.g. obtaining certain A-level grades.
Unsuccessful decision
This means the university has decided not to offer you a place on the course.
Once all the institutions have made a decision on your application you will be able to accept or decline any places you don’t want, and you can also pick an insurance choice which you can use as a back-up in case you don’t meet the conditions of your offer for your first choice. UCAS will give you time to make your decision – normally about 4 weeks.
UCAS Extra
If you’ve used all 5 of your choices and have either been unsuccessful in all of them or have decided to decline your offers, you can go in to UCAS Extra. This gives you one extra choice on your application which you can use to apply to another institution or course. UCAS Extra runs from February until June.
Late applications
If you decide after the 15th January (24th March for design courses) that you would like to make an application to us, you can do this as a late applicant through UCAS. Universities will normally consider late applications if they have places available. It’s always worth contacting us to check if we still have places available on the course you’re interested in before you apply.
What happens when I get my results?
If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, your place should become unconditional on the UCAS Track system. That means you have been accepted.
I didn’t get the grades!
If you have a conditional offer with us to obtain certain grades in in your A-levels or BTEC and you don’t achieve what we requested, don’t panic. You can check the UCAS Track system to see if your offer of a place has become uncondtional. If this has happened then you have got your place to study with us. If your place is still conditional, give us a ring to check the status of your application.
Clearing
If you haven’t secured a place at university after A-level results day in August, you can enter Clearing. This means you can approach institutions with your Clearing Number which UCAS will provide and the institutions will be able to look at your application online and make a decision if they’re able to offer you a place. Thousands of students find their place at university through Clearing.
