A guide to higher education admissions through UCAS

There are six steps to follow when you’re looking to get a university or college place through UCAS

Step one: applying for a place

Applying late for 2012/13 courses

If you have missed the 15 January UCAS deadline, you can still apply up to 30 June 2012, but popular courses may already be full.

You usually apply in the academic year before you plan to go to college. The earliest you can submit a finished application is the September before you want to start your course (unless you are applying to defer your place until the following year).

If you haven’t done your exams by this stage, your application will be based on the grades your teachers or lecturers predict you will achieve.

To find out how to apply, and about the deadlines you'll need to meet, see 'Completing your UCAS application'

Completing your UCAS application

Health Professions Admission Test (Hpat)

The Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT) is a professionally designed and marked selection test developed to assess aptitude for study in the Allied Health Professions.

Step two: interviews

Once you’ve applied to UCAS, your application gets passed to the institutions you've chosen.

Each university or college has its own application procedure. Some may ask you to come for interview and you may also be asked to take a test. Others may offer you a place based on the information on your application.

Step three: applying for financial help

it's best to apply for finance as soon as possible

Once you've made your UCAS application, you can apply for financial help as soon as student finance applications open. You don't need to wait for an offer. To find out how much you could get - and how to apply online - see the 'Student finance' section.

Student finance

Step four: getting an offer

If you submit your UCAS application by the relevant deadline, you will usually receive offers from your universities by the end of March - although for popular courses, you may not hear until May.

If you get an offer from a place you haven’t visited, an open day could help you decide whether you want to study there.

If you don't get an offer

If you don’t get an offer from the universities or colleges on your list, or you turn down or cancel your choices, the UCAS Extra service could give you a second chance to secure a place.

If you don't get an offer through Extra, you can go through the Clearing system, where universities and colleges advertise - and fill - late course vacancies.

Step five: accepting an offer

Offers will either be conditional (dependent on getting certain grades on your current course) or unconditional (if you already have the qualifications required).

If you haven’t done your exams yet, you can accept one offer firmly and another as an ‘insurance’ back-up.

Getting an offer from a university or college

Step six: getting your results

If you get the grades you need for a conditional offer, your university or college will confirm your place. UCAS will send you a formal letter of confirmation.

If your results are better than expected

If you're holding a conditional offer as your 'firm' choice and you get better grades than you need' you can use 'Adjustment to look at other options. 'Adjustment' is a new service that lets you search for other courses for a short time while holding on to your original confirmed place

You register for 'Adjustment' using the Track service on the UCAS website.

Find out about 'Adjustnebt' on the UCAS website

If you don't get the grades you need

If you don't get the grades you need for a conditional offer, your university or college may not be able to confirm your offer. If this happens, your insurance choice may accept you. If not, then you have another chance to get a place through the Clearing system. For more information contact your nearest careers office.

Find a Careers Adviser

Clearing

Most Clearing activity takes place after the A level and Scottish Higher results come out in August and goes on until mid-September. It's the time when universities and colleges advertise outstanding course vacancies in the national press and on the UCAS website. UCAS will let you know if you are eligible for Clearing. Over 30,000 students find places this way each year.