When to Apply to University
When to apply to university
Here at Apply to Uni we give you all of the information you need about university from which universities are top of the league tables to how to write the perfect personal statement.
In this article we look at when to apply to university as not all university and courses have the same application deadlines.
2023 Key Dates
- 25th January 2023 – deadline for UCAS applications for most undergraduate courses.
- 23rd February 2023 – UCAS Extra opens.
- 30th June 2023 – deadline for UCAS applications for all subjects and universities. Applications received after this date will automatically be entered for Clearing.
- 4th July 2023 – UCAS Extra closes.
- 8th August 2023 – SQA results are published. Scottish Clearing course vacancy lists are published.
- 17th August 2023 – A Level, GCE, Diploma, and Irish Leaving Certificate results are published. Clearing course vacancy lists will are published on UCAS Track and in The Daily Telegraph.
- 21st September 2023 – deadline for applications for 2023 entry.
- 17th October 2023 – Clearing closes for 2023 entry.
Applying through your school or college
The majority of students will be applying to university through their school or college. This usually means that they’ll be given earlier application deadlines to help ensure they have time to write references and send applications in time for the UCAS deadlines.
What happens if you miss those deadlines?
If your application is received after 30 June you will be automatically entered into Clearing. “Clearing” is the UCAS process of matching universities with course vacancies to students without university places.
We can give you all of the Clearing advice you need to get into university.
What if your course starts between January and May?
If you’re applying for a course that starts early, between January and May, then you may find that the application dates are different.
It’s best to contact the university you’re applying to and confirming the application deadlines if your course doesn’t start as usual in September or October.
What if you’re deferring your entry to university?
Deferring your entry is a great way to take a break but know that you’ve got an unconditional offer when you’re ready to go to university.
You’ll need to check with your university that they’re happy for you to defer your place.
What does the UCAS application involve?
The first part of applying to university is to decide which course is right for you and then to choose up to five universities to apply to.
Once you’ve done this you can then begin your application on the UCAS website.
The application has seven sections, all of which you’ll need to fill in before your application is complete. Here’s a brief overview of the application process:
- You’ll need to fill in your personal details, qualifications, and course choice(s)
- You’ll need to write a personal statement
- You’ll need to include your reference(s)
- You’ll need to pay your application fee
