The UCAS Application Process for International Students

The UCAS Application Process at a Glance

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (“UCAS”) is a centralised admission service for undergraduate admissions. Users can register for an account online and submit their applications with up to five course choices. Institutions will then make admission decisions of “unconditional offer”, “conditional offer” or “unsuccessful”.

Application deadline

The main deadline for UCAS usually falls in January in the year of entry while that for medicine, veterinary, dentistry and Oxbridge courses is even earlier in October the year before. However, international students can apply up to the end of June in the year of entry. That said, since places are limited, the later you apply the more competitive it is to get an offer. Therefore, it is advisable to apply as early as you can.

UCAS flowchart

What is a conditional offer?

If you receive a conditional offer, the offer will set out the conditions you have to meet (usually exam results) to get your place confirmed. If you receive more than one conditional offers, you can choose one as a firm choice and one insurance choice in case you cannot meet the conditions for your firm choice. The insurance choice can be a conditional offer or an unconditional offer.

What is an unconditional offer?

If you receive an unconditional offer, congratulations! You have met the entry requirements and secured your place. If you decided to accept the unconditional offer, you cannot make an insurance choice and can only apply for other courses via “Clearing”. Although you have met all academic requirements, you might still need to meet other requirements such as getting a DBS check so do check your offer very carefully.

UCAS Extra

If you did not receive any offer from all of your five chosen courses or have declined the offers received, then you might be able to add another choice through UCAS “Extra”. You may apply to one course at a time before the close of “Extra”, usually in early July.

UCAS Clearing

Clearing usually starts in early July and it is when institutions fill any places they still have on their courses. If you do not have any offer or fails to meet the conditions of your accepted offers, you can apply for courses which still have places available.

Sounds too complicated? Don’t worry! TopCourses offers free UCAS advisory service and our experienced education advisors will guide you through the whole application process from course selection until you have an offer in your hand!