How UCAS works
One form, five choices, one statement.
Every UK undergraduate application goes through UCAS, the central admissions service.
Choices on one form
Up to five courses, usually the same subject at each, so your statement fits all of them.
Oxford or Cambridge
In most cases you can apply to only one of the two in the same year.
Statement questions
One personal statement, written as three questions, for all five choices.
Admissions tests and interviews
Many courses at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE and others add tests such as the TMUA, ESAT, MAT or LNAT, and some interview.
Key dates
Two deadlines that matter most.
Dates are for UK time. We confirm every course's deadline for your entry year.
- Mid-Oct
Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine
15 October at 18:00 UK time, for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
- Mid-Jan
Main deadline
13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time for most other courses for 2027 entry.
- Late Feb
UCAS Extra
A second chance if you've used all five choices and hold no offers.
- Aug
Results and confirmation
Conditional offers become firm when your final grades meet them.
The personal statement
Three questions, 4,000 characters.
It's about your subject, not your whole life. Tutors want to see curiosity, reading and real engagement beyond the syllabus.
Why this course?
Why do you want to study this course or subject? Show where your interest comes from and where it has taken you.
How school prepared you
How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare? Link what you've learned to the course.
Beyond the classroom
What else have you done to prepare outside education, and why is it useful? Reading, projects, work, competitions.
Each answer needs at least 350 characters; the three together can't go over 4,000. Applications also include predicted grades and a school reference.
Typical A Level offers
Where the bar sits.
Offers vary by course; competitive subjects such as medicine, law, economics and computer science sit at the top of each range.
IB, national and other qualifications are accepted at each. The University Match tool compares your grades with 36 UK universities.
What it costs
Plan the cost before you apply.
Full scholarships for international undergraduates are rare in the UK, so the budget decides the list.
About £24,000–£45,000 a year
For most courses at leading universities. Medicine and some lab-based courses cost more.
Show funds for your visa
For a student visa you must show living funds of about £1,483 a month in London, or £1,136 elsewhere, for up to nine months.
Mostly partial awards
Some universities offer partial scholarships or bursaries to international students. We find the ones you're eligible for.
Figures are approximate; tuition is set per course and visa amounts are set by UK Visas and Immigration. We confirm current figures for your course.
Applying to the UK and the US?
Different essays, different deadlines. We plan both in your free strategy session.