September - May (Year 12)

Pre-application research

• Find out about courses and decide which subject area is for you
• Decide what you want from a university by researching different institutions
• Attend UCAS exhibitions to meet representatives from different universities and ask questions
• Read prospectuses and visit websites from a range of universities to get a sense of what they’re all like
• Attend open days
• Discuss predicted grades with teachers
• Choose which five courses to apply to

May - January (Year 12 - Year 13)

Research and Apply

• Attend open days
• Write your personal statement
• Have a reference written by a teacher to support your application
• Take any additional admissions tests
• Complete and submit your UCAS application forms

Important dates

1 September: UCAS applications open

26 January: deadline for UK/EU applications

30 June: deadline for international applications

September - March (Year 13)

Begin to receive offers

• Receive offers, declines or invitations to interview for the courses you applied to
• Be given a personal deadline by UCAS for when you have to accept or decline your offers

February - April (Year 13)

Finance and applicant days

• Apply for student finance
• Attend applicant days to help you decide which university is right for you
• Reapply via UCAS Extra if you did not receive any offers

April - May (Year 13)

Deadline for accepting place

• Decide on your firm and insurance choices
• Accept or decline your offers
  Remember if you do not do this by the deadline UCAS has given you, UCAS will automatically decline all of your offers

August (Year 13)

Results and confirming your place

• Confirmation of your place at your first choice university from UCAS
• If you did not quite meet the conditions of the offer, contact your first choice university - they may still be able to offer you a place in some cases
• Contact your insurance choice if you have not been accepted by your first choice

Adjustment and clearing

Exceeded your first choice offer conditions? Decide whether to go through adjustment

Did not meet your first choice offer conditions or changed your mind? Decide whether to go through clearing

Mid-September

Congratulations!

• Start university