For full-time undergraduate courses you make one single application through a centralised service called the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) rather than to individual universities and colleges. UCAS monitors the progress of your application form from start to finish.

What do I need to know?

			You may apply to a maximum of six different universities (up to four if applying to courses in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science and a maximum of three if applying for Route B art and design).
			There are two different ways of applying to art and design courses: Route A and Route B.
			In the case of Cambridge and Oxford, you should apply through UCAS and also directly to the university. You cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge at the same time.

When should I apply?

You should apply a year before your course starts, in the following periods:

			1 September - 15 January - the application period for all courses except medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, Route B art and design, Oxford and Cambridge
			1 September - 15 October - the application period for medicine, dentistry or veterinary sciences and to Oxford and Cambridge
			1 January - 7 March - the application period for Route B art and design

How do I apply?

You can complete your application online with UCAS Apply.

Does it cost anything to apply?

Yes. It costs £15 pounds to apply to more than one course and £5 to apply to one course only. The application fee must be paid online using a credit or debit card.

What happens after I have sent my application form to UCAS?

			UCAS sends you a welcome letter confirming your details and the courses you have applied for. The letter provides your application number which you will need to access Track where you can follow the progress of your application, respond to offers and amend your personal details.
			UCAS sends a copy of your application form to each of the universities and colleges that you have chosen (Route B art and design is an exception).
			Universities and colleges decide whether or not to offer you a place and send their decisions to UCAS (by 9 May).
			UCAS informs you about their decisions and asks you to decline or accept the offers. These will be either unconditional (you have met all the entrance requirements) or conditional (you still have to get certain grades in your exams, for instance). You must meet the conditions of your offer by 22 August.
			UCAS sends you a replying to offers letter and you reply to UCAS, accepting or declining an offer. You must reply by the day printed on the letter.
			When UCAS informs a university or college that you have accepted the place, they will contact you directly.

I did not use all my six choices. Can I use the others now?

You can add further choices to your application using Track or by telephoning UCAS Customer Service Unit on +44 870 1122211 with all the relevant details (including Personal ID/application number). You can do this up to 30 June as long as you have not replied to any offers you received.

What if I miss the deadline?

Applications received between 16 January and 30 June will be treated as late and it will be up to the institutions you are applying to whether they consider them or not.

Any applications received after 30 June will be entered in the Clearing scheme.

What if I don’t receive any offers?

If you find yourself without an offer and you have used all six choices already, UCAS Extra enables you to have an additional choice through UCAS. This means you do not have to wait until Clearing to continue to find a place.

If you don't get the exam grades and your offer is not confirmed or if you apply after 30 June, you will be automatically put into the UCAS Clearing scheme.

If I decline my offers, will I be eligible for Extra or Clearing?

Yes. Clearing and Extra are for people who are not holding any offers, irrespective of whether they were turned down originally, declined the offers they received, or, in the case of Clearing, applied at the very end of the UCAS application process. To use Extra you must have already used all six choices.