UCAS 2008 - How to Apply 

At a school or college: Fill in an online application and submit it to a member staff. After checking your details, and having added the academic reference, your school or college submits the completed application online to UCAS.

When you apply via UCAS you can make a maximum of five choices of degree programme around the UK, although only four of them can be for medicine, the remaining choice may be used for alternative programmes.

You do not need to use all five choices if you don’t want to and you can make more than one application to a single university if you wish. You do not give any indication on the application form of a preference, just list the universities and colleges alphabetically. In fact universities cannot see where else you have applied.

For entry in 2008, you should apply to UCAS between 1 September 2007 and 15 January 2008. 15 October 2007 if including Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or applying to Oxford or Cambridge.

Applicants are advised to apply early, but only after making a careful and considered choice of the universities, colleges and courses that are available. UCAS accepts late applications, but there is no guarantee that these can receive the same level of consideration from universities and colleges as those that meet the deadline. 

There are two pathways for applicants seeking places on Art and Design programmes. Each is of equal status, and they are referred to as Route A and Route B. The deadline for Route A is 15 January 2008. The deadline for Route B applications is 24 March 2008.

Be sure to consult the UCAS Directory carefully for guidance regarding these pathways. 

The UCAS booklet ‘How to Apply’ gives all the information you need to complete the application form. It also gives details of the application fee and tells you how to pay it. 

In most cases universities make an offer based on your application form alone. If you live in the UK and receive an offer you will normally be invited to visit before replying to the offer.

However, an interview forms a significant part of the selection process in: Medicine; Dentistry; Veterinary Medicine; Music; Education; Technological Education; Design; Fine Art; and Architecture. Offers for these areas are normally made only after interview. The interview will be organised to allow you to explain what you know about that study area, and for universities to get additional information about you and your suitability for your chosen course.