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Who can cancel an application and how they are cancelled

Cancellation by the applicant

The consumer protection regulations provide applicants with the 'right to cancellation' of their contract with UCAS. Under the terms of the regulations a period of time must be allowed for applicants to change their minds about the initial choices made on their application and about replies made to offers. The regulations specify a minimum period of seven days for consideration but until 2012 entry UCAS has allowed 14 days from the date of the welcome letter. This extended period dated from when cheques were the main payment method for applications. As the vast majority of transactions are now carried out using our web services, with effect from the 2012 entry application cycle, the period for applicants to contact us with changes was reduced to seven days.

Although not legally required, this change will also apply to applicants who want to change their replies. After making their replies, applicants will have seven days to contact UCAS if they want to change them.

Applicants can also choose to completely withdraw their application at any time throughout the application cycle, but they will not be able to reclaim their application fee.

Cancellation of course choices

Applicants who wish to cancel all choices where there are outstanding decisions, so that they can reply to other offers, should use Track to do so.

Cancellation of an applicant's record

Apart from the above, we will otherwise cancel an applicant's record in the following circumstances only:

  • Death of applicant.
  • Receipt of fraudulent application.
  • Receipt of duplicate application.
  • Applicant has chosen to cancel their application.

You must not communicate directly with an applicant whose record has been cancelled. Our Customer Contact Centre will be able to provide reasons for the cancellation if required.