Applying to study through UCAS
The UK has a considerable advantage over many other study destination countries as it offers a very effective ‘one-stop-shop’ undergraduate online application service.
This service is provided by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which coordinates applications to full-time first degree, foundation degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate (HNC), Diploma of Higher Education and Certificate of Higher Education courses offered by the universities and colleges.
Before applying
Before applying, all international applicants should check that they have the qualifications (or predicted grades) required by their preferred institutions. These are shown in university and college course pages as ‘minimum entry requirements’. Entry requirements may vary for each type of course and subject.
The UCAS application process
One application form, that contains multiple choices, can be accepted in any one year.
Students may, if they wish, apply to just one university or college, but if they later decide to apply to other institutions or for other courses at the same institution, they may do so up to a maximum of five choices. This is limited to four choices for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science/medicine.
It should be noted that students cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge.
The method of applying to only one institution (RPA)
International students who want to apply to one institution only, and who already meet the entrance requirements unconditionally of the institution concerned, can now apply at any time in the annual cycle. They should contact UCAS or their intended university/college for advice first though as there is an alternative application form called the Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA), which requires specific authorisation from the institution concerned.