Applying for HE

UCAS

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Applications

Most applications for full-time higher education courses are made through UCAS. You usually apply in the autumn before you plan to start your course, so you need to start researching during Year 12. All applications are made online. You will need to register in the UCAS Hub to make an application. 

The most difficult part of the UCAS application is the personal statement. The Writing your personal statement page on UCAS has lots of useful information, hints and tips.

You can apply for up to five courses (or up to four in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science/medicine). Your application is sent to all of your chosen places - they only know about your application to their course, they are not sent details of the other courses you've applied for.

The closing date for applications to most courses is Wednesday 14 January 2026. 

Applying to medicine, dentistry or veterinary science/medicine

You can only make four applications for your chosen course - your fifth can be for an alternative course. This is because these are very competitive courses and you are encouraged to have a Plan B.

There is an earlier deadline - 15 October - for these courses.

Applying to Oxford or Cambridge

Follow the same procedures as for other courses, but note the earlier closing date of 15 October. You can apply to only one course at either Oxford or Cambridge - you cannot apply to both universities.

Filling in the UCAS Apply form

UCAS has several video guides to help you with completing your UCAS application to universities or colleges.

Find out information on Key Dates for applying on the UCAS website.

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What happens next?

  • You may be invited to attend an interview, but this is not always the case.  Institutions will either offer you a place (usually conditional on achieving certain exam results) or reject your application.
  • You can follow the progress of your application and reply to offers via your UCAS Hub- you'll get information on how to do this when you apply.
  • You should hear from all of your choices by the end of March.
  • If you don't get any offers you will be able to enter UCAS Extra to apply to some more places - this operates from the end of February to early July.
  • If you don't hold any offers or don't meet the conditions of your offers, you'll automatically be entered for Clearing - you'll be informed of this through your UCAS Hub.

 

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