For courses starting in 2025, you should apply to your dream university through UCAS. Before applying for university, please pay attention to UCAS deadline, and submit your uni applications on time. There are several key dates you need to add to your calendar. Do not afraid of forgetting or missing the UCAS deadlines. This article will list all key dates about apply for university. Let’s read on.
What is UCAS?
The whole name of UCAS is Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Almost all UK universities are members of UCAS, which is the institute for applying to universities across the UK. Both domestic and international students need to apply for university in the UK through UCAS. Of course, you can also apply through the universities’ official website. UCAS is funded by application fees paid by students and shared fees paid by universities and colleges. UCAS mainly focuses on undergraduate applications for UK universities. However, in recent years, UCAS has also added a number of graduate application channels. You can visit your dream schools’ official websites for detailed requirements.
UCAS deadlines 2025: key dates timeline
If you decide to apply to UK universities, remember to check UCAS deadline. Knowing all details and preparing in advance can make you feel more confident. Here is the key dates timeline for 2025 entry uni applications.
- 3 September, 2024 – The start date for submitting undergraduate applications through UCAS.
- 15 October, 2024 (18:00 UK time) – Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science.
- 9 January, 2025 (18:00 UK time) – Equal consideration date for applications for most undergraduate courses.
- 26 February, 2025 – UCAS extra opens for any applicants who received no offers, or who rejected all their offers.
- 4 June, 2025 – Reply to offers if you’ve received your decisions by 14 May, 2025.
- 30 June, 2025 (18:00 UK time) – Applications received after this deadline will automatically be entered into Clearing.
- 4 July, 2025 – Deadline for adding an Extra choice in your application.
- 5 July, 2025 – Clearing 2025 opens.
- 17 July, 2025 – Reply to offers if you get all your decisions by 17 July, 2025.
- 24 September, 2025 – Deadline for 2025 UCAS undergraduate applications.
- 20 October, 2025 – Clearing 2025 closes.
How to apply for university through UCAS
Is it complex to apply for university through UCAS? Of course not! If you have no idea what to do next, let’s take a look at the following guide.
Application checklist to prepare in advance
- Personal basic information: name, ID numbers, phone number, address, etc.
- Educational background and academic achievement: IGCSE, A-level, AP, IB, language proficiency certificate, and courses and exam plans in the final year.
- Personal statement PS: A personal essay of approximately 4,000 characters that explains why you are applying for this major and your strengths, characteristics and potential in this direction.
- University choice: five schools with the same or similar major. Please pay attention to some restrictions. For example, you can only choose one from Oxford and Cambridge.
- Internship or work experience: Filling in this part with you true experience.
- Recommendation letters: This part is submitted by the teacher of your recommendation letters, and is used by the third party to reflect the applicant’s learning situation, ability and future estimated scores.
UCAS apply process
- Create an account. Open UCAS’s offical website, and create your own account.
- Enter the application page. Click “start” to enter the application page. Please remember your own personal ID.
- Fill in your application. Each student can choose to add five schools. If you are applying for medical majors, you can only fill in a maximum of 4 applications. It is recommended that 5 universities you choose should be the same or similar majors.
Note:
It should be noted that starting from 2024, UCAS reformed recommendation letters’ model, by cancelling the free text format, and splitting the content of recommendation letters into three sections. The teacher submitting the recommendation letters should write the application according to requirements.
- Necessary: Enter a profile about your school/college. The teachers should write applications sent through the Registration Center.
- Optional: Enter extenuating circumstances that may have affected the applicant’s exam performance (such as a poor grade due to illness).
- Optional: Outline what special circumstances you think the university/college should pay attention to about the applicant.
Final thoughts on UCAS deadline
UCAS is an important platform for applying to study as an undergraduate in the UK. Every applicant pays much attention to UCAS’s key dates for uni applications. As the UCAS deadline approaches, every applicant is racing towards the final stage of the UK university application season with a sense of nervousness and anticipation. Applicants know that every time they click the “Submit” button, they are taking a brave bet on their future. Although the road is full of challenges, the desire and love for the dream school has become their driving force.
FAQ
- 15 October, 2024 (18:00 UK time) – Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science.
- 4 June, 2025 – Deadline for replying to offers if you’ve received your decisions by 14 May, 2025.
- 4 July, 2025 – Deadline for adding an Extra choice in your application.
- 24 September, 2025 – Deadline for 2025 UCAS undergraduate applications.
If you miss the main application for date, you can still apply through UCAS clearing. For more information, call each school or visit their websites. If they still have vacancies in some majors, you can try applying again.
If you have not received any offers from the previous five schools, or you have received offers but rejected all of them, you can apply to your desired schools through UCAS Extra. There is no limit to the number of Extra applications, but you can only apply to one university at a time until the Extra application channel closes.
- Deposit the guarantee money into the student account.
- Get a medical examination before applying for a visa.
- Change for your unconditional offer.
- Change for your CAS.
- Apply for the visa after receiving CAS.
- Apply for a UK phone card and bank account.
- Enrol.
If you have received an offer from your ideal university, but have not achieved the required IELTS score by the deadline, you can follow these solutions.
- Apply for entering language classes.
- Apply to transfer to a major with a lower IELTS score requirement.
- Request an extension of the offer.
