When can I start my UCAS application for 2023?

So, are you considering studying in the UK? If you are unfamiliar with the procedure, applying for a degree can be daunting. Well, most universities or colleges in the UK accept applications via UCAS at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels The United Kingdom is a famous study destination for international students. It has welcomed international students to its universities and colleges since its inception. Read this blog to learn all about UCAS 2023!

What is UCAS? 

UCAS is an abbreviation for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. UCAS has established in 1992 as a nonprofit organisation that offers admissions assistance, knowledge, and counselling. Its website provides a list of university courses and runs an application portal that most British undergraduate applicants use. It processes approximately 350,000 applications annually! UCAS provides many audiences with online UCAS application portals, search tools, and free information and guidance.

UCAS Application 2023

In September, UK and EU students submit a UCAS application to enrol in a full-time programme. Non-EU candidates for full-time study have the option of applying either directly to the university or through UCAS. Students should prepare for college applications and apply directly to the university if they want to enrol in part-time or postgraduate courses. Let's examine the application process for undergraduate studies. 

Requirements to fill out the UCAS 2023 Application Form

  1. UCAS Registration: This can be done via the UCAS Hub portal, student must fill in details on their official documents, like their passport and birth certificate, to get a username and create a password along with some security questions. Note: Students can start filling out 2023 applications but cannot submit them before September 6 2022. 
  2. Sign In: Students must use the login ID and password to complete other required personal details. They will have an interest in their email ID in this step.
  3. Provide Information: Students must answer a few questions and provide details, none of which can be skipped.
  4. Educational History: Students must provide details of all their academic qualifications starting from their secondary education onwards, including ungraded results or whether they are awaiting the results of some exams. 
  5. Employment History: Students must only fill in details about full-time or part-time paid jobs, not unpaid ones. Students can add unpaid job details in their statements.
  6. Choose Courses: Students can choose up to 5 courses without any specific order of preference. 
  7. Personal Statement: Students must explain their reason for pursuing a specific course, why they prefer that particular institution, and why the university should consider their application. It is an essential part of the application process where students can use their tone and style to write. Wanna know more? Click here.
  8. Proof of Finances: Students must provide evidence of their finances and bank statements to mention the funding for their education in the UK. Learn how to open a student bank account in the UK here.
  9. Check the Details: Students must check the details over and over before applying and ensure the details in the application are correct before saving it.
  10. Get References: A reference is a documented academic recommendation from a teacher or mentor. Students must submit a reference unless the selected institutions or universities specify otherwise; all candidates must furnish references.
  11. Pay Application Fee: This is the final process of the application. Students must pay an application fee for the course/courses they apply to before sending it through the UCAS 2023 portal. The UCAS 2023 application fee is £22.50 for applying to a single course and £27 for more than one course.  
  12. Send Application: After all the details are checked and finalised, and every piece of information is legally correct, students can submit their applications.

Late UCAS Applications and UCAS Clearing

Students have an opportunity to apply to their preferred programme even if they miss a crucial UCAS application deadline. If a student hasn't received an offer, has changed their mind and denied their position in a previously chosen programme, or has missed the primary deadline, UCAS offers an option called "UCAS Clearing". This option is open from July through October. Before the start of the academic year, UK universities use UCAS Clearing to fill any open spots in their programs. There is a possibility that if students apply through UCAS clearance, they will be approved as usual.  

  1. Consult with a college admission consulting service to determine the courses of your interest. 
  2. Go through the UCAS list of courses to check the vacancies.
  3. Contact the universities to confirm if they’ll consider you for admission. 
  4. Provide your clearing number from your UCAS profile.
  5. When the university accepts your application, you will receive an informal offer over the phone.
  6. Take your school’s permission, and add only one clearing choice to your UCAS application online. 
  7. The offer will confirm once the school accepts you through the UCAS site, at which point you can begin preparing for your studies.

When can I start my UCAS application for 2023?

Deferring a UCAS Application

For UCAS application 2023, deferred entries indicate that students want to delay starting their studies. If students wish to take a gap, have changed their minds about their studies, or need more time to think, they can delay starting their studies at a university for up to a year. Many students defer their post-secondary studies, take a gap year to travel, obtain work experience, or fulfil other obligations because they have other commitments that interfere with their studies.
Students must mark the deferring choice while sending their UCAS application 2023 if they choose to defer their studies. Then they need to confirm deferral approval directly with the universities that accept the students. 

Use of Conservatoires Application service

The UCAS conservatoires application service allows students to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate practice-based music, dance, and musical theatre courses in the UK, which are part of the UCAS Conservatoires scheme.

  • Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
  • Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
  • Leeds Conservatoire
  • Royal Academy of Music
  • Royal College of Music
  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • Royal Northern College of Music
  • Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
  • Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

How many Universities can Students Apply to through the UCAS Application 2023?

Students can apply to 5 universities or courses in their initial application, but there are a few exceptions. If they wish to choose two courses at the same university, it will be counted as two out of their five choices. UCAS explains to students how to accept or decline an offer. Students can select any two of their chosen courses when they've acquired replies from all of the courses or universities, and they can refuse the rest of their courses. 
Check out our blog to know some of the hardest universities to get into the UK.

UCAS Extra

Students could apply for an additional university course through UCAS Extra even if they submitted their five selections by the prior UCAS deadline 2023.If the students have declined all offers, changed their minds, or received no offers, they may use UCAS Extra. Through Extra, students can apply to as many courses as they choose. Students who accept an offer made through UCAS Extra are expected to enrol there and are not eligible for UCAS Clearing unless they fall short of the offer's grade standards. Students will be eligible to enter UCAS Clearing if they do not get any additional offers or do not accept any offers by the UCAS deadline 2023 in July.

How to Check Eligibility for UCAS Extra?

  • Students can check their eligibility in their own UCAS account in the UCAS Tracking section.
  • Students will notice "Add an Extra choice" under the "Your choices" area as soon as they are qualified to use UCAS Extra.
  • If this is missing from their page, it can be because they didn't meet the requirements outlined above.

When can I start my UCAS application for 2023?

How many courses can be chosen in UCAS extra?

A student may choose only one additional course at once. The following three outcomes are possible once they have done this:

  • They choose to accept an offer after receiving one.
  • They get an offer but choose not to accept it, so they start the Extra process.
  • They don't get an offer, so they start with Extra.
    Note:
    Students can choose multiple courses, but one at a time.

UCAS 2023 Entry Requirements

University and college admissions services have set standards for graduate and postgraduate courses depending on the subject, course, and administration. For these courses to fit in, students must have the necessary skills and knowledge to finish them effectively. Some requirements are

  • Most universities or colleges convert A levels, Advanced Highers or equivalent-level qualifications into UCAS Tariff points. Students will be expected to have pre-16 qualifications, such as GCSE English and maths or similar.
  • Applications can be pretty competitive, so students must check out the course descriptions where universities mention skills, interests, or experience needed for the course.
  • An admissions test depends entirely on the university, so students must check prior.
  • Students must be prepared for an interview or have a portfolio, and UCAS will let them know via UCAS Tracking if universities have invited them for the interview.
  • There is a possibility of health, financial, or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks to check a student's criminal record.

What happens if students lack the necessary credentials?

Students need not worry if they lack the necessary credentials. They can contact the chosen universities or colleges if they have relevant skills, experience and aptitudes to meet the entry requirements. Students can get accreditation for life and work experience:

  • Accreditation of prior learning (APL) is a credit awarded for self-directed study, work, or training that shows broader education.
  • (APEL) Accreditation of prior experiential learning is an extension of the accreditation of previous knowledge that includes assessed learning from life and work experience.

UCAS Fees for 2023 

Undergraduate Tuition fees by area for courses starting in 2023 to 2024

Student's home region Studying in England (up to) Studying in Scotland (up to) Studying in Wales (up to) Studying in Northern Ireland (up to)
 England  £9,250  £9,250  £9,000 £9,250
 Scotland  £9,250  No fee  £9,000  £9,250
 Wales  £9,250 £9,250  £9,000 £9,250
 Northern Ireland  £9,250  £9,250 £9,000 £4,395
 EU and other international  Variable  Variable  Variable Variable 

This won't apply to Irish nationals who reside in the UK and Ireland since, under the Common Travel Area agreement, the rights of UK and Irish citizens to study and access benefits and services will both be retained.
Universities and colleges in England that receive a Teaching excellence framework (TEF) award are allowed to charge a maximum tuition fee of £9,250 per year for full-time undergraduate courses. Those without a Teaching excellence framework (TEF) award can only charge up to £9,000.

Postgraduate Tuition fees by area for courses starting in 2023 to 2024

  • A PhD costs more than a master's degree, and an MBA costs more than a PhD. The average cost of tuition is about £11,000 per year, with annual fees ranging from about £4,900 to over £30,000.
  • On average, international students pay approximately £11,000 in tuition fees per year to study in the UK. However, some prices might range from £8,000 to £9,000 per year or even as high as £30,000.
  • The typical annual cost of living is between £8,000 and £11,000. Students' accommodation costs will be influenced by where their university is located.

Important Dates for UCAS 2023 Entry

The dates differ between courses and course providers.​

UCAS 2023 entry

  • April 19 2022: UCAS' search tool will display 2023 courses. 
  • April 26 2022: Adviser portal opens for 2023 entry. 
  • May 17 2022: UCAS undergraduate application 2023 cycle opens. 
  • 15 July 2022: UCAS Conservatoires 2023 application open.
  • September 6 2022: Completed 2023 entry UCAS Undergraduate applications can be submitted to UCAS.
  • October 3 2022: UCAS application deadline 2023 for most UCAS Conservatoires music courses.
  • October 15 2022 (18:00 UK time): UCAS 2023 entry deadline for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and most medicine, veterinary medicine/science and dentistry courses.
  • January 25 2023 (18:00 UK time): 2023 entry deadline for all UCAS Undergraduate and Conservatoires applications, except for courses with an October 15 deadline.
  • February 23 2023: Extra starts for eligible applicants. 
  • June 30 2023 (Selected Universities or colleges receive applications)
  • July 4 2023: The last date to add an extra choice to their application.
  • July 5 2023: Clearing opens for eligible applicants, and vacancies are displayed on UCAS' search tool.
  • September 21 2023: Applications must arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time) before the final application UCAS deadline 2023 courses.
  • October 17 2023: The deadline for adding UCAS Clearing choices.

When can I start my UCAS application for 2023?

UCAS Entry Deadline

UCAS Tariff Points

UCAS Points are primarily those tariff points that convert academic performance and credentials into numbers. Not all educational credentials have a UCAS tariff point value. However, it varies depending on the size or grade of a student's credentials. Higher education institutions utilise these factors to determine whether or not students qualify for specific course requirements. UK institutions use UCAS Tariff Points. However, applicants without them are still eligible to apply because they are not required. Students can use the tariff calculator to determine their UCAS points. You can also look for the most up-to-date list of qualifying points in the Tariff.

How can you track your UCAS Application?

After applying through UCAS, students can easily follow the UCAS tracking procedure. Here is a detailed description of the UCAS tracking procedure:

  1. Students must log in to their UCAS accounts.
  2. Research all the universities accepting offers for the programme of their choice and apply before the UCAS application 2023 deadline for admission.
  3. Students must wait for responses from the universities they have selected.
  4. They must respond to offers before the UCAS application 2023 deadline for admission while keeping a backup course available.
  5. Students must choose "track" to see if their application has been received or to request a backup.
    Students and aspirants can also use the UCAS Mobile App to apply for courses in the UK. It is a multi-language mobile app that gives students an overview of courses, universities, and their respective application processes. Students can click here to download the UCAS mobile app!

Types of UCAS Offers 

After students have applied, universities or colleges consider various factors while making decisions depending on the student's application. Students hear back from universities and their choices in the form of offers.

  1. Conditional offer: Students still need to meet the requirements through their exam results, scores or subjects to receive this offer and confirm their place.
  2. Unconditional offer: Students have a place, although there might still be a few things to arrange.
  3. Firm offer: It is the first choice of students. If they accept a conditional offer and meet the conditions, they'll have a real place there. 
  4. Insurance offer: This is the choice students would want if they didn't meet the needs of their firm choice. Students must meet the conditions to confirm their place if this is a conditional offer.

Other Services Offered by UCAS

Besides functioning as an undergraduate admission portal, UCAS offers additional services. 

  1. Conservatoires.
  2. UCAS Teacher Training
  3. Postgraduate
  4. Media
  5. Apprenticeships in the United Kingdom
  6. Internships and Volunteers 

Thousands of students apply to UK universities for their full-time graduate or postgraduate courses through UCAS each year. UCAS's services make it an all-in-one solution for students. We hope this blog has successfully provided the necessary information about the UCAS 2023 and UCAS application deadline 2023. All the very best!

When can I apply to UCAS for 2023 entry?

Applications for all 2023 entry UCAS Undergraduate courses, except those with a 15 October deadline, should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time) on 25 January 2023. This is our 'equal consideration' deadline, which means course providers must consider all applications received by this time equally.

When should I start applying for fall 2023?

Most applications will open August 1 for students applying for fall 2023 enrollment. College deadlines most often fall between November and February. Early admission means submitting your application sooner, usually by November. Applying regular decision gives you more time to work on application essays and take exams.

When should I apply for summer 2023?

Application Deadlines in US Summer Intake 2023-24.

What is the best time to apply on UCAS?

All applications that are received before January's main application deadline will be given 'equal consideration'. This means that it doesn't matter whether you applied at the start of September or right on the 25 January deadline day; your application will have an equal chance of success.