UCAS - How to apply

How to apply for higher education

All applications for full-time higher education courses are made using our online application system, Apply, which is available 24 hours a day. You fill in the application online when it suits you and it does not need to be completed all at once.

If you are applying through a school, college or other centre, you will be given a buzzword by your tutor or careers adviser. When you enter this buzzword during the registration process, it links your application to your school so that your tutor can write your reference.

Once you have completed your application, you can send it to your referee who will add a reference and send the application to us online.

If you are not applying through a school, college or centre, you do not require a buzzword. You will need to obtain the reference and enter it into the 'reference' section of the application. Once you have completed the application, you send it to us online.

Further information about the application service is available in the Applying section.

How much will it cost?

If you choose to apply to more than one course, university or college you need to pay £23 GBP when you apply (2013 entry). If you only apply to one course at one university or college, you pay £12 GBP (2013 entry).

If you are applying through your school, college or other centre, it will let you know how to pay. It will be either by credit or debit card online, or by paying your centre which will then pay us.

If you are not applying through a school, college or centre, you will need to make your payment online using a credit or debit card. The card need not be in your own name, but you will require the consent of the cardholder. If you use a credit or debit card that you do not have permission to use, we will cancel your application.

We accept UK and international Visa, Visa Debit, Delta, MasterCard, JCB, Maestro, and Electron credit or debit cards. At the moment we do not accept American Express or Diners Club cards.

If you have trouble paying with a credit or debit card, you should contact your local British Council who may be able to provide alternatives. In addition, you can pay by:

Cheque (payable to UCAS)
Postal order (payable to UCAS)
Direct payment to the UCAS bank account.

The bank account details are:

Bank name: Barclays Bank plc
Bank address: P.O. Box 11, 128 High Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1EL
Account name: UCAS International Account
Account number: 20802182
Sort code: 20-20-15
Swift code/BIC number: BARCGB22
IBAN number: GB52 BARC 2020 1520 8021 82

All payments must be in GB pounds. We do not accept Uniform Eurocheques. Write your name, address and Personal ID on the back of your cheque, postal order or other payment document and send it to UCAS, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, GL52 3LZ.

For more information on other forms of payment, please contact our Customer Contact Centre.

When to apply

Please see the When to apply page to check the dates by which we should receive your completed application.

View the application cycle and the important dates as a flowchart - 2013 entry.

Several countries require their citizens to complete mandatory military or national service. If this affects you, check with universities and colleges in advance to discuss when you should apply. You can defer through UCAS for a maximum of one year. It would be useful to include information on your military or national service in your personal statement.