Submitting your UCAS application will be one of the biggest things you do at college. If you want to further your education journey, you need to submit an application to the university of your choice in order to study there. To do this, you have to use the UCAS system, which handles all the applications made from colleges to universities.

So, when is the application deadline for a UCAS? If you want to be able to submit your application to your chosen university and get a chance to study the course you want, when should you submit one? Let’s take a look at the different UCAS application deadlines because there is more than one depending on what you want to study.

UCAS Application Deadlines

So, if you want to participate in a course that starts in 2023, or if your application is deferred, then you need to submit a UCAS application by one of the following dates. The date that you have to submit your application depends on what course you are applying for.

If you submit a completed application which has all of your personal details and an academic reference by the deadline, then it will be considered by the university.

Students who are applying through a school or college need to check their deadlines to get the application in on time. This gives them enough time to read the application, make sure that you have put your qualifications into the application properly, right and then attach your reference, and finally submit the application form.

So, any student who wishes to submit a UCAS application to study at either Oxford or Cambridge for any reason or a course in dentistry, veterinary medicine or science, or human medicine should submit their application by the 15th of October 2022 at 6 pm UK time.

You are allowed to add university choices with a different deadline at a later date, but it’s important to remember that you can only have five university choices in total.

Most of the UCAS application deadlines are on the 25th of January, 2023. This is for any course that you want to study in September 2023. It’s important to note that there are some course providers who have an additional admission test that has to be taken alongside your application, and this can have a specific deadline. However, you will be informed about this test in advance if it is applicable to you.

You should always apply to university as soon as you can. There is only a finite amount of student funding arrangements that are available, which means that as offers are made to students and course places fill up, there are some courses that only have vacancies for students who come from certain locations. Therefore, you need to apply as soon as possible

Any application which is received by UCAS after the 30th of June is entered into what is called Clearing.

What is Clearing?

So, if for any reason you did not meet the UCAS application deadline, your application may be submitted into what is called Clearing. This is a process that universities and colleges use to fill any unclaimed places that they have on their courses. From the 5th of July to the 18th of October, you can apply for a course using the Clearing process if you are not already currently holding an offer from a college or university, and that course still has places available.

If you find yourself using the Clearing process, UCAS personally matches you up with courses that they think you will be interested in, using the information provided in your application and matching you to what certain colleges and universities are searching for.

If you don’t have a placement at this point, then a button will appear in your application process called “my matches”. If you click on it, you will be taken to the top 50 course matches based on your application.

If you register interest in any of the courses on the list, you may be contacted by that university if you meet the entry requirements and they still have places available.

Apply ASAP!

When you are filling out a UCAS application to apply to a university or a college, you need to do it quickly. The application process is rather short in the grand scheme of your time at college or higher education, but it’s a very important process nonetheless. You need to make sure that you have successfully applied for a place well before the deadline.

After all, this is a deadline - as in the last opportunity you have to guarantee consideration from the University. This is not the date you should leave your application to. The earlier that you can apply, the better the chance you have of getting a place on your course, receiving that conditional offer, and being able to secure student funding.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to keep the UCAS application deadline in mind when submitting an application to higher education facilities.

If you are in a school or college, then your lecturers and tutors will be persistent in reminding you of the deadline and often block out time during your college day to sit down with you and make sure you have submitted an application.

Being ready to submit your application will be your best chance at securing an offer to study at the university you want. The process is quite straightforward, and you will be receiving help from your tutor if you are in college or school. Make sure that you get a good reference and that you have your personal statement planned out because this is often the hardest part to sort out. However, if you put the time in and make sure to fill out your application slowly and carefully, you can have it submitted and approved well before the deadline. Please do not leave it until the last minute; this is incredibly reckless and could put your entire future education plan in jeopardy.