All undergraduate UK university applications must be made through the University and Colleges Admissions or UCAS. UCAS is an independent charity and the UK’s shared admissions service for higher education. The organisation processed over 3 million student applications worldwide last academic year.
When researching what and where to study in the UK, you may come across some previously unheard-of terms. If you are confused about what a campus university is, who the Russell Group is, or if you need to do an LNAT to be successfully admitted to a specific UK university course, read below.
UCAS is strict about its application deadlines, and the deadlines depend on the university and the course chosen. The final UCAS deadline for each intake is changed every year. While applying through UCAS, you can submit five applications in an academic year.
SI-UK can help you submit a high-quality application ahead of the upcoming academic year. Begin your journey by arranging a free consultation with SI-UK London today.
Popular UCAS Key Terms While Applying to UK Universities
Admissions team
Each university has its admissions team that handles your application and answers your queries on the university, course, or events such as Open Days.
BMAT
The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is an aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for medicine, veterinary medicine, and related courses at universities in the UK. Applicants typically take the test in the final year of secondary school (or equivalent). It is intended to assess their potential for the demands of a biomedical or related course.
Campus university
A campus university is a type of UK university that is physically located on a single property, often with various faculty buildings and facilities such as residence halls, lecture halls, cafes, libraries, and sports facilities.
City university
From accommodation to lecture halls and student facilities, everything will be spread over a much wider area at a city university than at a campus university.
Clearing
If you can't find a place for the course you applied for when the results are rolled out, you can wait for Clearing, where you may find a place on a different course. Details on Clearing day are available on the UCAS website or the University’s website.
Conditional and unconditional offer
A conditional offer guarantees your admission after meeting the university's requirements. An unconditional offer means that your place at the university is secured no matter your grades or whether you have met the requirements.
Firm choice and insurance choice
Your firm choice is the final choice of the university you need to make once you get your offers back. If you meet the conditions, you’re definitely on their list of students they want to take.
Your insurance university is your second choice, upon which you can fall back on it if you don’t make the conditions of your firm choice.
Gap year
You can choose to take a gap year before university starts. This is a year when you may choose to travel, work or volunteer but stay out of conventional education.
Halls of residence
Living in a university hall of residence means that you’ll live with lots of other students. Halls are especially popular with first year students because they can easily meet new people, and you won’t have the hassle of finding independent housemates. Most halls are owned by their respective universities, but independent companies own some private halls.
LNAT
The LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) is a test used as part of the admissions process for certain undergraduate law programmes at UK universities. The test is typically taken by applicants who have applied to a university that requires the LNAT as part of its admissions process and is intended to assess their aptitude for the demands of studying law.
Open day
Universities host Open Days, where students can go and look around the university to feel what it would be like to live as a student at the university. SI-UK also host Open Days online and at our central London office, where you can meet universities one-to-one.
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is an amalgamation of Oxford and Cambridge universities often used when referring to both universities at once.
Personal statement
Your UK university personal statement is crucial to your UK university application. A personal statement is an essay to explain why you want to study your chosen course, what makes you a great applicant, and your future ambitions.
Reference
Your reference is part of your UCAS application. Whoever you ask to be your referee – often a teacher – will upload a statement describing your academic abilities and suitability for a course.
Russell Group universities
The Russell Group is a collective of 24 research-intensive UK universities with a shared commitment and focus on research and outstanding teaching and learning experiences.
The Russell Group was originally founded in 1994, and in the QS World University Rankings 2023, four of the top 10 universities in the world - Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London - are Russell Group members.
UCAS Extra
UCAS Extra gives you a second chance to secure a place at a university if you haven’t received offers from universities or declined the offers you received.
UCAS Tariff points
The grades you get in each qualification will earn you UCAS points. These points are later summed to finalise your total UCAS points. For example, when applying for a particular course, the requirement could be for AAB in A-levels or 136 UCAS points.
Applying through UCAS
To apply through UCAS, you must create an account and submit your application, including your details, qualifications, and a personal statement. You can apply to up to five universities or colleges at once through UCAS.
It is important to check the application deadline and remember that the universities you are applying to may have different application deadlines. Additionally, it is important to check the entry requirements for the institutions and courses you are applying to.
Apply with SI-UK
SI-UK is an official UCAS centre, and applying with us means you will get free, independent advice on submitting a strong UCAS application to maximise your chances of securing an offer. Book your free consultation with SI-UK today to learn more.
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