How to Apply

Applying to university is actually quite a straight-forward process. Unlike college applications, you don’t need to apply to each university individually. Instead, you’ll use an online system called UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) to apply to all your chosen courses at once.

Universities want to know that you:

Meet the entry requirements for their course

Are enthusiastic about studying their course and will be well suited to the work it involves.

This information will be passed on to the universities you apply to via your UCAS application form.

The UCAS website allows you to:
1. Search for courses
2. Apply for up to FIVE courses
3. Track your application and receive offers from universities
UCAS has detailed information on every course you can study at university in the UK. That means you can search for and compare courses. Read our tips on Assessing Your Options.

Once you’ve decided what courses you’re interested in, you can register an account on UCAS and begin completing an online application form.
You’ll need to include:
- Your personal details (address etc.)
- Information on any finance arrangements you’ve made, for example student loans. (See Student Finance)
- Your course choices
- Your school qualifications (Nationals, Highers etc.)
- Details of any jobs you’ve had
- A Personal Statement explaining why you’re interested in and well suited to your chosen courses
- A reference from a teacher
- You can apply for up to FIVE different courses at once.
- This could be the same subject at five different universities, or you could apply for two or more different subjects.
- Remember, you’re given five choices so that you can include at least 1 or 2 courses that have lower entry requirements. You need a back-up plan in case your Higher results fall a bit short.
- As well as entering all the qualifications you’ve gained so far, you’ll enter all the Highers/Nationals that you’ll be taking exams in.
- Often, once you’ve submitted your application, a university will give you something called a ‘conditional offer’. That means they agree to give you a place on their course if you gain the grades required in your final exam results. That’s why they need to know in advance what exams you’ll be taking.

What is the deadline for submitting my UCAS Application?

The deadline for most courses starting in September is January 31st in the year that you would be starting university.

However, some courses have earlier deadlines including:

Some music courses at RCS: October 1st

Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Medicine: October 16th

Any course at Oxford or Cambridge: October 16th

After submitting your application, you'll be able to track its progress on UCAS Track.

Universities will look at your application and decide whether to offer you a place on their course. Usually you'll hear back from universities within 3 months of submitting your application.

There are three types of response you could receive:
- Unconditional offer: This means you've already met all the entry requirements so the place is yours if you want it!
- Conditional offer: This means you'll get a place if you meet certain conditions. Usually that means waiting until the summer to see if you get the exam results you need to meet the entry requirements.
- Unsuccessful: This means the university has decided not to offer you a place.
You have to wait until you've received all your offers before you can reply.

If you've been offered a place on your first choice course, you can reply with a firm acceptance:
- If it's an unconditional offer, the place is yours.
- If it's a conditional offer, you'll also be able to select a second choice that has lower entry requirements. This is your insurance acceptance. In other words, this is a back-up plan in case you don't get the exam results you need for your first choice.

How to Apply

How does UCAS work?

What does the application form involve?

How will I choose and enter my course choices?

What about qualifications I haven't sat the exam for yet?

What happens once I’ve submitted my application?

How do I accept an offer?

Subject Chooser