UCAS Application Form 2023

UCAS Application Form In The 2024 Entry

If you want to study in the UK, you have to fill out a UCAS application form. You do this by accessing the UCAS online portal. You can only apply to five universities maximum with an undergraduate application - or only four if you’re applying for medicine courses.

Understanding UCAS Applications

The UCAS application process is quite simple. Everything is done online through the portal.

If you are applying for 2023 entry or deferred entry for 2024, you need to have started to think about your university application form. This starts with adding your personal details.

If you want to submit your university admissions, you will have to pay the application fee. This is £20 for a single course and £26 for multiple courses.

You will be expected to submit a reference with your application. The earlier you can get your reference, the better.

If you are a student from the UK, you need to apply for student finance early. As part of your application, you need to provide any qualifications or exam results you have obtained, as well as predicted grades. If you are submitting an application as a mature student and you don’t have the correct qualifications, contact your chosen university because you may still be able to apply.

If you need help with your application, there is a UCAS application form PDF you can use as a guide.

When to Submit an Application

Your application deadline will depend on which course and university you are applying to. Research the deadline for your chosen course so you don’t miss it.


The first UCAS deadline is the 15th of October. This is for Oxford and Cambridge applications.

The deadline for most courses, and the one you’ll likely encounter, is the 15th of January. You will probably be expected to take admissions tests in some courses; this is part of the application.

You should apply early to avoid missing the deadline for your UCAS form. However, if you do miss the application deadline, your chosen university doesn’t have to offer you a place.

Picking Your Subject

There are thousands of prospective courses that you can choose from. Therefore, many mature students struggle to choose only five.

It’s best to think about your goals and what you want to achieve by studying. You may want to give some consideration to a future career.

As you’re going to be spending the next three to four years at university, it’s worth picking a subject that you’re going to enjoy. If you don’t know what you want to do for a career, the best thing you can do is follow your passions.

If you’re still not sure, then take a look at the subject guidance provided by UCAS because they will tell you what kinds of courses are available and the type of career you could have afterwards.

You should also keep entry requirements in mind when submitting an application - be realistic about your chances.

How Many Courses Can You Apply For?

To give yourself the best chance at getting into university, UCAS lets you apply for five different courses at once. However, if you try to study medicine, you are restricted to only applying for four courses at once.

If you are an undergraduate submitting an application, you can choose to apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, but you cannot apply to both at once.

You should keep in mind that you will be expected to submit a personal statement for your qualification. Your personal statement will be a reflection of everything you want to tell the university outside of your grades, so it’s an important part of your application.

The Types of Graduate Courses Available

There are different types of graduate courses available for you to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones:

The Bachelor’s Degree

  • A bachelor's degree is the most common undergraduate degree.

  • You’ll be expected to study for three or four years full-time. If you are studying a language, you may have to go abroad for a year.

The Foundation Years

  • Foundation year degrees are one-year programs which have been designed to build up your skill set.

  • This type of degree is a precursor to a bachelor's degree.

The Graduate Level Apprenticeship Degree

  • This type of degree is relatively new but is gaining popularity all the time.

  • If you complete this degree, then you will get practical experience alongside your qualification. This means you will be doing a lot of work experience.

What Qualifications Do I Include in My Application?

As part of your application, you should include all of the exams that you’ve taken since secondary school. If you are completing a subject for the second time, you need to include both grades.

If you are an international student, then you should look on the UCAS website to find your qualification and skill level through the database. Be prepared to submit official exam results at the same time.

Adding Your Employment History

As part of your application, you will be invited to submit your employment history. You should use this to talk about any paid work you have participated in. You need to provide full information about the company that you worked for.

If you have any voluntary or work experience placements, talk about them in your personal statement, not in this section.

How to Write a Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement is often one of the most difficult parts of submitting an application. However, if you allow yourself plenty of time and work with professionals, it’s much easier to handle.

You only have 4000 characters, including spaces, so every word needs to count. If you’re not comfortable writing a personal statement, we are more than happy to do it for you.

Adding References

The only part of your application that you can’t write for yourself as a reference. They should come from a teacher. However, you can use anybody who knows you on an academic or professional level. Essentially, they are vouching for your character and your ability to cope with the course.

Make sure that you get your reference sorted out early because it does make a big difference.