UCAS - Methods of communication

Application information is passed between us and you electronically

There are several methods for sending application information electronically. Please check with your UCAS Correspondent which method you use.

Data transfer

Two methods are available: odbc-link and xml-link. We make data available to you for downloading into your own admissions system.

Interactive connection

web-link enables you to make enquiries and update both application and course data. It is a web-based service of the kind familiar to PC users. It must be used, for updating application and course data, by all institutions that are not using a data transfer method.

Technical and user information for all methods is available on this website.

Copy forms

Copy forms are available should you require paper copies of applications. You can opt in or opt out of receiving copy forms on web-link. They show the application details printed on a single A3 sheet which is folded before despatch. If there is too much information to print on the paper copy form, we will print a ~ symbol at the end of the text to signify that we cannot print all the text. In these cases, the missing information can be viewed on web-link.

All applications are sent simultaneously to you.

Applicants may indicate that they want to be considered for entry with credit or advanced standing. We advise them to contact you before entering this on the application. Applicants may seek entry deferred by one year to some or all courses. They will indicate their intention beside the course details.

The following identifying information is printed on all copy forms:

Personal ID

institution code

course code

year of entry

point of entry.

If applicable, the faculty or campus or both will be printed on the copy forms.

Please note that your institution can completely opt out of receiving copy application forms. Please discuss this with your UCAS Correspondent if you think it would be beneficial.

Invisibility of choices

You cannot see details of any applications to other institutions until the applicant replies or has no live choices. Any decision you make is therefore made without bias based on reference to the applicant's other choices.

To ensure that this agreed 'principle of invisibility' is adhered to, you must not request information from applicants about their applications to other institutions, either during interviews, visits or open days or by any other means.