When Should I Start Applying to Uni?

Not all universities or courses have the same deadline. This can often be confusing for university students, so we’ve compiled a list of all of the dates you need to be aware of when applying to university.

When should I start my university application?

This depends on the course and the university you are applying for. Typically, students begin their applications in November or December, while international students can usually wait until a bit later in the year.

Some courses and universities have earlier deadlines. The University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford both require applications by the 16th of October 2023. This is also true of veterinary medicine courses, veterinary science courses and dentistry courses.

Registering with UCAS

In order to apply to university, you will need to register with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). It is possible to apply directly to the university or college of your choice, who will then submit the application to UCAS on your behalf as well.

UCAS is generally considered to be the primary hub for your university application. This is where your UCAS application, personal statement and UCAS references will be. When you receive your A-Level or BTEC results, you will then need to upload the results to UCAS so as to calculate your UCAS tariff points.

You will need:

• All personal details, qualifications and courses selected.
• UCAS application fee.
• Written UCAS references.
• Your written personal statement.

When applying through UCAS, the UCAS Hub will be the home of your application. You will need to pay £22.50 for a single course choice and £27 for two or more choices.

Key university dates timeline

There are several key dates for the 2024 academic year. All dates are subject to change in certain circumstances, so keep an eye on these dates on your UCAS Hub.

The key dates for 2024 are:

• 2nd May 2023: 2024 courses released.
• 16th May 2023: Undergraduate applications for 2024 begin.
• 5th September 2023: Earliest UCAS submission date.
• 16th October 2023 (18:00pm (GMT)): Deadline for the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. Also the deadline for veterinary medicine, veterinary science and dentistry courses.
• 31st January 2024 (18:00pm (GMT)): Deadline for the majority of other courses.

International students can apply later in the year if they wish.

University entry requirements

The university entry requirements will vary depending on where you are applying. Those studying specific courses, such as childcare courses or healthcare courses will also be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Universities will allow students to apply with the following qualifications:

• A-Levels
• BTEC
• Access to Higher Education Diplomas
• International Baccalaureate (IB) (for international students)

This is not the be all and end all though. It is worth remembering that not meeting the entry requirements does not necessarily mean that you cannot still get a place on the course.

Results day and Clearing

Results day is the day you will have more clarity over your future. A-Level results day and BTEC results day are the days in which you will receive your exams results. These will then be converted into points, which will then determine whether you have met the necessary entry requirements for the university you are applying to.

Clearing is the process of allowing students to apply for other courses. Typically, this is for students who have not achieved the necessary grades for their firm choice and so need to apply to a different university. UCAS did also offer Adjustment, which was a service for students to apply for better courses than their firm, but this has now been rolled into the Clearing process.

What if I missed my deadline?

Missing the deadline is not ideal, but not catastrophic. There are still plenty of options open to students who miss the UCAS deadline.

The best thing to do is to contact the university directly. When you have done this, ask them whether they have any vacancies available, you may get lucky. It is also possible to defer a year and apply again next year. If a deadline has passed for a specific course or university, you can always apply elsewhere.