Applying to UK universities, by the official sources.
UCAS, Discover Uni, and the admissions test bodies all publish the information you need for free. Skip the £40 e-books — start here.
Official sources
UCAS — official applications
The single source of truth. Application portal, course search, deadlines, fee information.
Open →Discover Uni (Office for Students)
Government-run course comparison tool. Real graduate outcomes, NSS satisfaction scores, salary data.
Open →Unifrog
University and apprenticeship search. Free if your school subscribes — most do.
Open →The Student Room
Forum-based but useful for course-specific questions and current applicant threads. Take individual posts with salt.
Open →Russell Group — informed choices
Russell Group guidance on subject combinations and "facilitating subjects" for top universities.
Open →Office for Students fee data
Regulator of UK higher education. Useful for understanding tuition fees, financial protection, and provider performance.
Open →Admissions tests
UCAT (medical/dental schools)
Required for most UK medical and dental schools. July–September test window.
Open →LNAT (Law)
Required by Oxford, UCL, King’s, LSE, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, Nottingham, SOAS for Law.
Open →Cambridge admissions tests
Subject-specific tests (ESAT, TMUA etc.) — check the specific course requirement.
Open →Oxford admissions tests
MAT, PAT, HAT, CAT etc. Each course specifies which test applies.
Open →UCAS 2026 cycle — the dates that matter
Confirm exact dates with UCAS — these are the typical milestones each cycle.
| When | Milestone | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-May (year before) | UCAS Hub opens | Create your UCAS account. Start drafting your personal statement. |
| Early September | Applications open | You can submit from this point. References must be in place. |
| Mid-October | Oxford / Cambridge / medicine deadline | Your application must reach UCAS by this date for these courses. |
| Late January | Equal-consideration deadline | Most undergraduate courses. Apply by this point and universities must consider you fairly. |
| End of January | UCAS Extra opens | For applicants who used all 5 choices and have no offers. |
| Mid-August | A-Level results day | Firm/insurance offers confirmed. Clearing opens for unfilled places. |
Course → admissions test mapping
Some courses require an admissions test in addition to the UCAS form. Check your specific course — this list shows which test typically applies.
| Course / area | Test | When sat |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine, dentistry | UCAT | July–September of application year |
| Law (Oxford, UCL, KCL, LSE, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, SOAS, Nottingham) | LNAT | Sept–January |
| Cambridge Maths / Computer Science | STEP / TMUA | June (after offer) |
| Cambridge Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering) | ESAT | October |
| Oxford Maths, Computer Science | MAT | October–November |
| Oxford Physics, Engineering, Materials | PAT | October–November |
| Oxford History | HAT | October–November |
| Oxford Classics | CAT | October–November |
| Oxford English | ELAT | October–November |
Personal statement — what we tell our students
- Open with what you’re doing right now — a project, a problem, a book — not a Roosevelt quote.
- 80% subject, 20% wider — admissions tutors care about academic interest first, extracurriculars second.
- Show your reading — name two or three texts beyond the syllabus and what you got from them.
- End with direction — what you want to study and why this course specifically. Not "this prestigious institution".
Need a hand with the application?
UCAS-specialist tutors on TheTutorLink: personal statement, admissions tests, interview prep.