UCAS

• The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the only central application system for all UK undergraduate degree courses.
• It is a one stop resource of information for students, parents, and teachers. 
• UCAS allows applicants to keep track of their application progress and prevents them from missing any deadlines.

Buzzword 

• A “buzzword” in the context of a UCAS application is a unique code, often provided by the applicant’s school or center, that links their application to a specific institution or organization.
• This “buzzword” enables the institution to access and manage the student’s application, including adding references and checking its progress before it’s submitted to UCAS. 

Entry Requirements

• Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements for higher education courses, and these vary widely depending on the subject, the specific course, and the course provider.
• They set the entry requirements for each course to ensure you have the right skills and knowledge to successfully complete the course.

Equal Consideration Deadline

• All UCAS applications submitted before this date (14 Jan 2026) must be considered equally by universities.
• Once the ECD has passed, universities can close a course if they think it is fully subscribed. 
• Any students who wait until after the deadline might miss their chance to apply, especially if it’s a popular subject or one with limited spaces.

Foundation Year

• A university foundation year, also known as a foundation course, is usually a one-year programme designed to help applicants develop their skills and knowledge needed to progress to an undergraduate degree at a university or college.
• The foundation year covers academic areas such as mathematics, science, and English, as well as study skills, academic writing and research skills.

Personal Statement 

• A personal statement is a chance to get noticed for the unique talents, passions and experiences applicants have, outside of their grades. 
• From this year, applicants will answer three structured questions instead of a single personal statement. Each question will have a minimum of 350 characters and will focus on motivations for the chosen course, academic preparedness, and experiences outside of education.

Predicted Grade

• A UCAS predicted grade is the grade of qualification an applicant’s school believes they’re likely to achieve in positive circumstances.  
• These predicted grades are then used by universities and colleges, along with a range of other information, as part of the admissions process to help them understand an applicant’s potential. 

Conditional Offer

• The applicant needs to meet some conditions in order to secure their place on the course.
• If they accept a conditional offer as their firm choice, they are committed to taking up the place if they meet the conditions.

Unconditional Offer

• With an unconditional offer, applicants have already met the entry requirements and their place is secured if they want it. 
• If they accept an unconditional offer as their firm choice, they are committed to taking up the place, regardless of what grades they get.

Unsuccessful Application

• The University has not given an offer.

Track 

• UCAS Track is the UCAS application once it is submitted. 
• It turns into the Hub for applicants to be able to track their progress on their application, accept or decline offers and even defer or switch their university course details.

Firm Choice

• This is the applicant’s first choice. 
• If it’s an unconditional offer, the place is theirs and that university will expect them as their student.  
• If it’s conditional, the place is theirs if they meet the offer conditions. So just in case they don’t, they can pick a second offer as a backup – their insurance acceptance.

Insurance Choice 

• This is the applicant’s back-up choice to a conditional firm acceptance. 
• When choosing an insurance choice, applicants are encouraged to go for something with lower offer conditions and somewhere they’d still be happy to go through. 
• That way, if their results are lower than expected, they might still meet the conditions at their insurance choice.  

Extra 

• Extra is a way of making a further choice after an applicant has applied, between 26 February and 4 July 2025. 
• Applicants are eligible for Extra if they’ve used all five choices on their application and have either been unsuccessful at all of them, or declined all offers received.

Clearing 

• Running from 5 July to 18 October, clearing is a way to get a university place if a student:
  • Doesn’t get the grades for their firm or insurance choice
  • Hasn’t received any offers
  • Has changed their mind and no longer wants to go to their firm choice
  • Applies after 30 June

CAS

• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic document that generates a reference number you need to be able to apply for a visa.
• A CAS number confirms to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that we wish to sponsor your study in the UK.