How and when to apply
This page contains information on:
How to apply
When to apply
How to apply for full-time courses, including Foundation Degrees and sandwich courses and Cambridge and Oxford University
Q
What is the application process?
A
The application is made by filling out an electronic form that is sent to UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, which processes the applications for higher education in the UK, including full-time courses, Foundation Degrees and sandwich courses. After receiving the application form UCAS sends it to all the institutions that are indicated on it. The institutions respond via UCAS.
Find out more about responses to your application by consulting the UCAS student site index in 'After you apply'.
Q
Do I fill in the form for each course or just one for all the courses?
A
To apply, you should only complete one electronic UCAS form (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), which you will find in 'Apply' on the UCAS page.
If you include Cambridge or Oxford University among the institutions that you choose, apart from the UCAS form, you will have to fill in a specific form for those universities, which can be obtained from their web pages or via direct application. Both forms should arrive at their respective destinations by 15 October of the academic year before the first year of the course.
Q
How do I fill in the form?
A
Before filling in the form you will have to 'register as an individual'. Find out how to register on the UCAS page in 'Apply | Registration'.
You will find more information and instructions on how to complete the form by consulting the UCAS student site index on 'S | Starting your application'.
Find out more about how to apply by consulting the UCAS page in 'Apply | FAQ'.
How to apply for part-time and Foundation courses
Q
How do I apply for a part-time course?
A
Applying to any part-time course is done directly to the institution and deadlines should be checked on the individual web pages.
Q
How do I apply for a full-time ‘Foundation year/course’ in areas excluding Art and Design?
A
Please consult our page about Access courses.
Q
How do I apply for a Foundation course in Art and Design?
A
Please consult our page about Access courses.
When to apply for full-time courses, including Foundation Degrees and sandwich courses and Cambridge and Oxford University
Q
Are the deadlines the same for all courses?
A
For the majority of courses, the application form that you will find in 'Apply' on the UCAS web page – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, should arrive at UCAS, between 1 September and 15 January of the academic year before the year of the start of the course you want to study. For courses at Cambridge and Oxford University, the application period is between 1 September and 15 October of the academic year before the year of the start of the course you want to study.
When to apply for courses in the areas of Art and Design, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science
Q
What is the deadline for courses in the area of Art and Design?
A
For Art and Design there are two application periods: from 01 September to 15 January of the academic year before the year of the start of the course on Route A. UCAS recommends that for courses on Route A the application be sent by the middle of November. The application period for courses on Route B runs from 01 January to 24 March of the academic year before the year of the start of the course. UCAS recommends that for courses on Route B the application be sent by the beginning of March.
Find out more about applications for Art and Design by consulting the UCAS student site index in 'Art and design'.
Q
What is the deadline for courses in the areas of Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science?
A
For Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Science, as well as for the majority of undergraduate courses at Cambridge and Oxford University, the application period is between 01 September and 15 October of the academic year before the year of the start of the course you want to study.
Q
Can I apply after the stipulated deadlines?
A
The institutions consider all applications that are received within the stipulated deadlines. After the stipulated deadlines the institutions reserve the right to consider them or not (for the majority of courses there is no problem if the applications are sent by 30 June). However, before you fill out the section for courses and institutions on the UCAS form, we suggest that you check with the individual institutions whether they are still considering applications for any course(s) that you are interested in, especially in the areas of Art and Design, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Science and any course at Cambridge and Oxford University. When contacting the institutions you should indicate the course code.
If, after applying, you have not received any sort of offer you can use the UCAS Extra service, which will give you information on how to proceed. Find out more by consulting the UCAS student site index in 'E | Extra'.
Find out more about specific application dates on the UCAS student site index in 'W | When to apply' and 'D | Deadlines'.
Q
How do I apply after 01 July for a course starting in the same calendar year?
A
Applications received by UCAS after 01 July for course starting in the same calendar year automatically pass to UCAS 'Clearing'. This is the last opportunity for potential students to apply for full-time courses starting the following September/October. Find out more on the UCAS student site index in 'C | Clearing'. Please check application deadlines for part-time courses with the institutions you have chosen. More than 30,000 people gain a place during Clearing every year.
Find out more about specific application dates on the UCAS student site index in 'W | When to apply' and 'D | Deadlines'.
When to apply for part-time courses and foundation courses
Q
When can I apply for part-time courses?
A
Given that the application is sent directly to the institutions, you should find out about application deadlines on the web sites of the institutions in question.
Q
When can I apply for a full-time foundation year/course (excluding Art and Design)?
A
Find out when to apply by reading our page on Access courses.
Q
When do I apply for a foundation course in Art and Design?
A
Find out when to apply by reading our page on Access courses.
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