Applying to university through UCAS – everything you need to know...
Updated: 17 Mar 2025
The UCAS process can sometimes seem a bit daunting. Whether you're in the early stages of applying or you're looking to perfect that fiddly personal statement, it's sometimes hard to know if you're on the right track.
Luckily, we're here to help. We've prepared this ultimate application guide to make your UCAS journey - from the early stages of filling in your personal details to the end game of mastering your application - a whole lot easier.
Oh, and if at any point you find yourself needing a bit of a break, we'd recommend you check out our university reviews. They're written by current students, so they're good for getting the inside scoop at what life at uni is really like. A great place to start your research (and they often make for some entertaining reading).
To navigate through our guide, you can use the links on the right of the page (the ones below the 'Applying to Uni' heading – you can't miss them). To help you find what you're looking for, here's a quick breakdown of what each section covers...
Everything you need to know when filling in your UCAS form. The subsections include:
All the key dates and deadlines you need to know for your application (when you need to have your form in, when unis need to respond by with offers, etc.).
UCAS points / UCAS Tariff tables
What all the different qualifications are worth in UCAS points, plus some crucial info about whether or not certain points are valid when applying to university and to certain courses (there are a few special rules you'll need to watch out for)...
How to write a personal statement that will make universities desperate to accept you – find out how to start your statement and get the low-down on the kind of information you should be including.
Read tips and advice on how to get the most out of open day visits (they're a great way to find out more about what life is actually like at any given uni, you know).
You don't have to move miles away from home to get a good degree. This section explores the advantages of going to uni locally (saving money being one of the biggest factors).