WHEN it comes to applying for a place in higher education there are a number of deadlines and dates to keep in your diary.
From the important UCAS deadlines to how to track your application – here’s everything you need to know.
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What is UCAS?
UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK’s shared admission service for higher education.
The service provides information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or a degree apprenticeship.
In 2022, the undergraduate admissions service handled over 3 million applications from 761,740 UK, EU, and international students.
UCAS also helped 563,175 students secure a full-time place at one of over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
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When is the UCAS application deadline?
The 2023 entry deadline for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry has already passed.
Similarly, the 2023 entry deadline for all UCAS Undergraduate and Conservatoires applications, except for those courses with a October 15 deadline has also passed.
For courses starting in 2024 (and for deferred applications), your application should be with UCAS by one of these dates:
Today (October 16, 2023) for 2024 entry at 6pm – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry.
January 31, 2024, for 2024 entry at 6pm – for the majority of other courses.
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All applications received after June 30 are entered into Clearing.
When will universities begin to offer places?
Each university in the UK will make its decision on applications at different times.
It all depends on when you applied and how that university course chooses to make offers.
These are the deadlines UCAS has given universities for making offers for 2024 entry, but you could also hear back before these dates:
Thursday, May 16, 2024 – if you send your application by the January 31, 2024 deadline.
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – if you send your application by June 30, 2024.
What are the different types of offers made?
Universities and colleges can make the following decisions on student applications:
Conditional offer – you still need to meet the requirements – usually exam results.
Unconditional offer – you’ve got a place – although arrangements might still need to be made, such as providing paperwork to confirm academic grades.
An unsuccessful or withdrawn choice – a withdrawn application means a course choice has been withdrawn by either you or the university/college. An unsuccessful application means they’ve decided not to offer you a place on the course.
How to track your application
Tracking your UCAS application is a simple and straightforward process thanks to the services online hub.
It’s important to remember that you will need the Personal ID given in your welcome email, along with the password you used when applying.
Once you have the required details, you can sign in to your personal hub to check your application’s progress at any time.
What happens if I miss the UCAS university application deadline?
If you’ve missed the UCAS application deadline don’t panic – you can still apply after this date but universities may now treat applications on a first-come, first-served basis rather than apply equal weighting.
Prospective students are advised to contact the universities to ensure they have vacancies first – especially for courses with a 16 October deadline, as it’s unusual for them to consider late applications.
How can I defer for a year?
If you’re unsure what deferring is the good news is we have everything you need to know.
Deferring simply means delaying – so in terms of UCAS, a deferred entry means applying for a course and then taking a year out before starting it.
You have right up until your start date to decide whether to defer or not.
It is important to note that usually, you can only defer your entry by one year – and it is up to the university or college to decide if they accept the deferred entry for your course.
To do this you can select a ‘deferred’ start date for your chosen course when you apply.
However, it is important to contact the uni or college before submitting your application to make sure they are happy to accept a deferred application.
If you have applied for 2024 but would like to defer now, UCAS recommends contacting the educational institution to check if this option is possible – so be ready to explain your reasons.
If you have been offered a place for 2024, but would now like to defer, this could be considered as a late deferral and you may be asked to reapply.
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