UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the centralised organisation through which students apply to undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. Rather than applying to each university separately, students submit one application through UCAS for up to five courses.
A UCAS application includes your personal details, your five course choices, your predicted (or achieved) grades, a reference from your school or college, and your personal statement explaining why you want to study your chosen subject. Universities then review applications and make offers — either conditional (dependent on achieving certain grades) or unconditional (a guaranteed place).
Deadlines change yearly, so always check the current UCAS dates. A strong personal statement and a realistic, well-balanced set of five choices are key to a successful application. Our free university application printables help you stay organised.