Applying to University 2013
Applications to UCAS can only be made online. To register an application through a school, college or careers organisation you will need their 'buzzword'. If you are applying as an individual you do not need one. After registering you will be given a username and asked to enter your own password.
You can register in the summer before you plan to make your online application. The earliest you can submit a finished application is the September before you want to start your course, unless you are applying for deferred entry (for example, applying in the 2013 cycle for 2014 entry).
If you choose to defer your place until 2014, you will still need to meet any conditions (for example, qualification grades) by the end of August 2013, unless otherwise agreed with the university or college.
Completing your application
There are seven sections on the application: personal details, additional information (for UK applicants only), choices, education, employment, personal statement and reference. In the choices section, you can list up to five courses.
The application has an A to Z list of universities and higher education colleges, and also course codes, so you just have to click and select.
More on how to apply from UCAS
Personal statement and employment sections
Your personal statement should cover why you are interested in the courses you've applied for, and what you hope to do after your studies.
In the employment section, you can list your part-time or summer jobs.
Personal statements: more from UCAS
Referees
Once you've completed all sections of your application, click 'Send to referee' so the person who's acting as a referee can check your details and add their reference. If you're not at school or college and are applying independently your referee sends their reference directly into your application through the UCAS secure website. You'll need to give your referee's contact details and then ask them by email to provide a reference online.
Getting a reference: more from UCAS
Application deadlines for 2013
Make sure you're aware of the application deadlines
Different courses have different UCAS deadlines. If you are opting for a course in medicine, veterinary medicine, veterinary science or dentistry, or you want to apply to Oxford of Cambridge, you need to get your UCAS application in for October 15 2012.
Most other courses at other universities have an application deadline of January 15 2013.
Quite a few art and design courses have a later UCAS deadline –24 March 2013. You need to check this carefully with your chosen uni as some courses have the earlier deadline in January.
Late applications for 2013
If you miss the above deadlines, you can still apply for courses up until 30 June 2013 but only if there are places still available.
Important dates for your diary from UCAS
UCAS Course Search
Personal ID and password
Once UCAS has processed your application, you get a Personal ID. You can use this, in combination with your username and password, to track the progress of your application. You also get a welcome letter in the post.
What happens next?
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.
See Student Loans for more on financial support.
When to Apply
Timetable for applications for September 2013 start. Please note this is a general guide; you should check with UCAS or directly with your chosen course and university for any special requirements.
Applications to UCAS from mid-September 2012 for September 2013 start.
More about applications for UCAS courses [link to http://www.ucas.com/documents/ucasguides/appflow2013.pdf
Deadline for UCAS receipt of applications to Oxford or Cambridge (any course), and to all universities for courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science.
Deadline for UCAS receipt of applications for all courses except those listed with a mid October 2012 deadline and art and design courses with March 2013 deadline.
If you are eligible to use UCAS Extra, you can refer yourself to another choice.
More about UCAS Extra
Deadline for UCAS receipt of applications for art and design courses (except those listed with a January 2013 deadline).
If you have sent your UCAS application by mid January, the universities and colleges you have chosen should have sent their decisions back to UCAS by this date.
If the decisions from your chosen universities or colleges were received by UCAS by the end of March, you need to reply to any offers by this date (unless you are applying through Extra). If you don't reply then UCAS will decline those offers on your behalf.
What if you applied by mid January and are still waiting for decisions from your chosen universities and colleges and they haven't sent those decisions to UCAS by the specified date in May? In this case, UCAS will mark any outstanding choices as unsuccessful on behalf of the universities concerned.
If UCAS receive all decisions from your chosen universities or colleges by early May, then you need to reply to any offers by this date (unless you are applying through Extra). If UCAS don't receive any replies from you, they will then decline your offers on your behalf.
Deadline for all 2013 applications; if you apply after this date, your application is entered into Clearing.
If UCAS receives all decisions from your chosen universities or colleges by early June 2013, you need to reply to any offers by this date (unless you are applying through Extra). If UCAS doesn’t receive replies from you, they then decline the offers on your behalf.
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Late June 2013
If you send your application to UCAS by this date UCAS will then send it to your chosen universities and colleges. If UCAS receives your application after this date, you'll be entered into Clearing.
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Early July 2013
This will be the last date to apply through Extra.
If you applied by 30 June and are waiting for decisions, your chosen universities and colleges need to send their decisions to UCAS by this date. If they don't, UCAS will make any outstanding choices unsuccessful on their behalf.
If UCAS receives all decisions from your chosen universities/colleges by the mid July date, you need to reply to any offers by this date (this includes if you are applying through Extra). If UCAS doesn’t receive your replies, it will decline your offers on your behalf.
SQA results are published and the Scottish Clearing vacancy information service starts.
GCE and Advanced Diploma results are published and the full Clearing vacancy information service starts. Adjustment opens for registration.
More about Adjustment.
Adjustment closes on this date.
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Mid to end of September 2013
This will be the last date that UCAS will accept applications for courses starting in 2013.
The Clearing vacancy search closes after this date. You should contact universities direct to discuss any remaining vacancies. Clearing choices can still be added in Track.
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Mid to end of October 2013
This is the last date to add a Clearing choice and the last date a university or college can accept an applicant in Clearing.
20th May 2013
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20th May 2013
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30th April 2013
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4th April 2013
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3rd April 2013
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3rd April 2013
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21st March 2013
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20th March 2013
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20th March 2013
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20th March 2013
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20th March 2013
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20th March 2013
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11th March 2013
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31st February 2013
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31st January 2013
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31st January 2013
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17th January 2013
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16th January 2013
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15th January 2013
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14th December 2012
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12th December 2012
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10th November 2012
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13th November 2012
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13th November 2012
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12th November 2012
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12th November 2012
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07th November 2012
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22nd October 2012
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21st October 2012
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09th October 2012
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02nd October 2012
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28th September 2012
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4th September 2012
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3rd September 2012
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13th August 2012
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12th July 2012
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29th May 2012
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29th May 2012
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29th May 2012
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29th May 2012
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21st May 2012
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21st May 2012
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21st May 2012
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18th May 2012
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18th May 2012
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18th May 2012
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