Current University Applicants 2026
We are now entering a key period with your university applications.
Here are things you should have done/ should be doing in April to June EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE EXAMS complete with some links to key information on the UCAS website to read/ consult if you're not sure of the correct processes.
Be checking regularly to see if you've had all your offers. How to track your application
If you have had all your university offers OR you've had offers from the Firm (top) choice and your Insurance (backup) choice then you should be completing the process on the UCAS website to make those two choices official with those universities. This then frees up spaces in the universities you are saying no to that they can offer in Clearing
The deadline for universities to have completed all offers is May 13th and your deadline to confirm you are taking up offers June 3rd so it's easily missed and if you've not done it, universities can then withdraw offers as they will assume you're no longer interested. How To Accept Or Decline University Offers & Deadlines For Your Replies.
IF YOU ALREADY HAD ALL YOUR OFFERS THEN YOUR DEADLINE TO ACCEPT OFFERS MAY WELL BE EARLIER THAN JUNE 3RD. DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT.
Once you have your top choice and back up confirmed, you should apply to SAAS for your funding to be arranged so it's ready to go when you start university. This will expect you to input the 1st choice university so cannot be done until you've done the steps above. If you didn't attend the SAAS talk we arranged just before the holidays then the info was shared on S5 and S6 year group but the links are here too
Talk with commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89U2BwmYbY&t=218s
Slide from the talk with links etc https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FPXmXeaSuf_5P3fkKv0cm3qzl-O_1gRASb9pM3RVk0s/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1
If you haven't had any offers, then you are eligible for Extra which is the option to add a 6th course on as the original 5 said thanks, but no thanks. If they say no as well you can add options one at a time. As offers are accepted in June, you then enter Clearing
If you are left "floating" on results day because you haven't done as well as we hoped/ you actually did better than expected and want to reject your place to look for something even better, then you can also enter Clearing.
Clearing Plus . This is the system UCAS offer to match you to available courses who are seeking suitable applicants. You can look at your matches as they will make suggested matches based on your subjects/ application you already have.
You may have come up with an alternative plan before results day but forgotten to let universities know. In this case then Reject My Place is the thing you should be logging in and working through whenever that's convenient.
How to use UCAS Clearing: Step-by-step guide
Your pocket careers adviser: Results day and Clearing support
This might not be relevant right now but it's worth saving this page for results day should it become necessary.
We wish you all the best in your exams and in your results