Applying via UCAS: Undergraduate
Here's Some Useful Information About Applying Through UCAS
The majority of applications to study for a full-time undergraduate degree programme or Higher National Diploma at the University are made online through UCAS. UCAS helps streamline the application process for prospective students looking to go to university.
Your UCAS application will include the key details a University will need to offer you a place, including your personal details, course options, education and employment history as well as a personal statement from yourself as to why you wish to study the particular course with the university. You will also need to provide a reference and pay for your application online.
The application process for full-time Undergraduate courses is entirely online, where you are able to pick a maximum of 5 choices (some restrictions may apply). These can be 5 different universities of 5 different courses within one university or a combination of both.
Here's Some Useful Information About Applying Through UCAS
Next Steps...
As a current school student, your school or college will be registered with UCAS and will be able to manage your application. Make sure to obtain your ‘buzzword’ from your tutor or careers adviser, as you’ll need this when you register with UCAS. This will link your application to the organisation from which you are applying and allow your referee to attach your reference.
If you are not currently in education and are looking to return to higher education, you are responsible for completing your own application. You will be responsible for paying the correct application fee, requesting your academic reference and submitting the completed form.
Your reference should be from a former teacher or professional who knows you well enough to write about you and your suitability for higher education.
Applicants looking to commence their studies in September can apply through UCAS for up to five programme choices to be considered simultaneously. All applications for the September 2024 intake that are received by the UCAS deadline of 31st January 2024 will be given equal consideration. Applications made after the UCAS deadline will be considered providing that places are available.
Applicants who are not holding any offers, having used their 5 application choices (either because they have been unsuccessful or because they have withdrawn or declined their offers), may apply for a further choice through UCAS Extra between 28th February and 4th July 2024. This Extra choice may be used to apply to programmes, one at a time, until an offer of a place is secured.
Applicants who fail to secure a place through UCAS Extra, may apply through UCAS Clearing which begins at the start of July 2024 and continues through September. To secure a place through Clearing, applicants must contact the University’s Admissions Team to discuss their suitability for their chosen programme. If a place can be offered, the applicant will be asked to add their Clearing choice via their UCAS Hub account. Applicants must meet the entry requirements for their chosen programme before adding their Clearing choice. Please visit UCAS website for further details.
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UCAS applications will begin to be processed for the new academic year as early as September. But not to worry the deadline for the majority of full-time undergraduate programmes is the 31st of January. However, we recommend you check the application deadline for your chosen course(s) on the UCAS website.
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Before submitting your application you should ensure all fields on UCAS are correctly filled out and triple-check your application. Once you’ve submitted your application UCAS will send your application to your chosen university. Then each university will review your suitability for the course and decide whether to make you an offer, you can keep an eye on your application by using UCAS Hub.
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If you miss the January UCAS deadline the first thing is to know it’s never to late. You still have options available to you like UCAS Extra and Clearing.
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Using UCAS Hub you will be able to see the progress of your offers from your chosen courses. Universities have a few different options when reviewing applications, this could include inviting you to an *interview*, making you an offer which could be a conditional or unconditional offer or reject your application.
Conditional offers are offers made by the university to study that particular course provided you meet the requirements set out in the offer. This will usually be in the form of UCAS Tariff points. UCAS Tariff is a points score system which gives numerical values to qualifications. Points can be accumulated from different qualifications e.g A level or AS. Check out the Entry Requirement section on each course page for a typical entry requirement guide.
Unconditional offers are made by the university when the university is already satisfied you’ve met the requirements to study the course.
Some courses require applicants to undergo an interview process before an offer is made. Head over to our preparing for a University Interview section to find out more on this.
The university also holds the right to refuse any application. But don’t worry this doesn’t mean the end of your higher education dream, you’ll be able to apply to further universities through *UCAS Extra* and *Clearing*.
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UCAS can be tricky to understand and engage with. UCAS has come up with this handy jargon buster to allow potential student to fully understand what it is all about.
Adviser – someone who provides you with information, advice, and support with your application. This could be a teacher, tutor, counsellor, or agent.
Apply – the name of our online application system. (For postgraduate courses, Apply is combined with UCAS Hub.)
Bachelor’s degree – a three or four year course you can take in undergraduate higher education after you’ve finished further education – also known as a ‘first degree’ or ‘undergraduate degree’. Most courses are either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
Buzzword – for UCAS Undergraduate applications, your school, college, or centre will give you a buzzword so you can link your application to them. It’s a word you add to your application when you register to make a UCAS Undergraduate application (unless you’re applying independently).
Centre – a school, college, or organisation that can help students apply to higher education.
Changed course offer – in your application, you might get one of these if you haven’t met your conditions, or if the university or college has made changes to the courses they run. It might involve a different start date or point of entry, or a different course altogether.
Choice – a choice is a course you apply for on your application – many students make multiple choices to increase their chances of getting a place.
Clearing – in a UCAS Undergraduate application, Clearing is another service you can use to look for alternative courses. If you didn’t get a place on a course – whether you didn’t receive offers, declined your offers, or didn’t get the grades you needed – Clearing allows you to apply for courses that still have vacancies.
College – a provider of further and higher education. When we use the term ‘uni’ or ‘university’, this is often a generic reference that incorporates colleges too. For example, when we say ‘applying to university’, we mean ‘applying to university or college’, but in a more concise way.
Conditional offer – in your application, an offer of a place on a course subject to conditions. To be accepted on the course, you’ll need to meet the conditions – usually related to your exam results. This is a common type of offer for students applying directly from further education.
Confirmation – in your application, the outcome of a conditional offer you’ve accepted. If you meet the conditions, your place will be made unconditional (meaning you’ve got a place on the course) – if not, the offer will be declined.
Conservatoire – a provider of performance-based music, dance, screen, and drama courses.
Course – there are many different courses across different levels, subjects, and locations – from foundation degrees to PhDs.
Course and training providers – a university, college, conservatoire, School Direct school, or other provider offering higher education courses.
Deferral – in your application, this is what you do if you’d like to carry an offer over to start it in the following academic year.
Entry requirements – this is what the course provider recommends you need to do/have to get on the course – from qualifications and specific subjects or grades, to interviews, admissions tests, and medical requirements. You aren’t guaranteed an offer if you meet or already have these.
Extra – in a UCAS Undergraduate application, Extra is a service you can use to apply for alternative places if you do not hold an offer from your first five choices.
Fresher – slang term for students in their first year of university.
Firm choice – in your application, an offer you accept as your first choice.
Graduate – a student who has completed and graduated from an undergraduate course – they can now apply for postgraduate courses if they’d like to.
Higher education (HE) – the level of education we can help you apply to – from undergraduate courses when you’ve finished further education, to postgraduate courses you can move on to after graduating from an undergraduate degree.
Insurance choice – in your application, an offer you accept as your second choice – just in case you don’t meet the conditions of your firm offer.
Personal ID – the ten-digit number you get when you register to Apply – displayed in 123-456-7890 format on every email we send you. You’ll be asked for this if you get in touch with our Customer Experience Centre.
Personal statement – a piece of text applicants write to show why they’re applying and why they’d be a great student for a course provider to accept.
Predicted grades – the grades a teacher, tutor, or other adviser qualified to remark on a student’s academic suitability believes they will achieve when they complete their secondary qualification.
Referee – in your application, someone who provides a reference for you.
Sandwich course – a course with an additional year where you work in the profession you’re studying for.
Tariff – the UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points to the different qualifications you can use to get into undergraduate higher education. Not all qualifications will be included in the Tariff. It is for use in admissions only and is not transferable to the job market.
Track – the name of our online tracking system where you can see how your application is progressing. Here you can reply to offers and make amendments, like changing your email address etc. (For postgraduate courses, Apply is combined with Hub.)
UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service in the UK. This includes the main UCAS Undergraduate application service, as well as the other services UCAS runs, i.e., UCAS Conservatoires, UCAS Teacher Training, and UCAS Postgraduate. UCAS also help students from 13 years old onwards with UCAS Progress.
Unconditional offer – in your application, an offer of a place on a course with no conditions – the place is yours if you want it.
Undergraduate – the first level of study in higher education. If you graduate from an undergraduate degree, you can move on to postgraduate study.
University – (or ‘uni’ for short) – a provider of higher education.
Unsuccessful – in your application, either you haven’t been made an offer or you haven’t met the conditions of a conditional offer.
Withdrawal – in your application, before the decision has been made to make you an offer or not, either you or the university or college can withdraw a choice.
Next Steps
A personal statement is your unique opportunity to delve into your aspirations, experiences and qualities that you think make you the perfect fit for your course and university.
Chat to Our Students
You’ve submitted your application to the University, what happens next you may be asking? Depending on the course you may be invited to an interview before an offer is made. This pivotal moment is your chance to bring your application to life and showcase your enthusiasm, personality and potential in person.
