How do I apply to an Institution of Higher Education in the UK?

Applications to the vast majority of UK Institutions of Higher Education are made through a computerized national system, known as Universities and Colleges Admission Service, or UCAS (www.ucas.com).

In some cases, and for certain courses, applications are submitted directly to the respective institution (i.e. Foundation courses in Art and Design, Architectural Association School etc.)

In other cases, there may also be specific additional forms to be filled in (i.e. the My Cambridge Application for Cambridge, the Applicant Supplementary Form for RVC etc.).

Universities reserve the right to ask for additional work as part of their assessment of your application (i.e. sample work for Oxford, the Assessment Task for The Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), a minimum number of hours of work experience (paid or voluntary) for Veterinary Science courses, health-related or other volunteer work for Medicine etc.).

How many Universities and courses can I apply to in the UK?

A UCAS form allows you a choice of five university courses in a given year.

Four choices are allowed for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine. In this case, a fifth choice is still allowed but for a field other than Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine.

When do I apply?

Ideally, your UCAS application form should be submitted by the school’s advisory deadline which is set around the middle of December of the year preceding your proposed year of entry. UCAS’ equal consideration deadline is mid-January of the year you intend to begin your University studies.

If applying to Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science, you must submit your application before 15th October of the year preceding your year of intended entry.

Can I apply to both Cambridge and Oxford in the same academic year?

No. As an undergraduate you cannot apply to both Oxford and Cambridge in the same academic year.

What does a UCAS application contain?

Other than your personal details and University course choices (max. 5), a UCAS application contains your achieved and predicted grades, the school recommendation letter and your Personal Statement.

Starting from the 2025-2026 admissions’ cycle, a UCAS Personal Statement must answer these three questions:

1)    Why do you want to study this course or subject?

2)    How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

3)    What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

The new Personal Statement is still 4,000 characters maximum; this includes spaces. The expectation for what you need to cover within the new Personal Statement format is mostly unchanged from current guidance - it will just be split across three sections rather than one longer piece of text. There is a minimum character count of 350 characters per section.

Are internships necessary if I wish to apply to a UK Institution of Higher Education?

Whilst Universities understand that it may not always possible to find an internship in the field of your interests, you are encouraged, where feasible, to show some related professional experience. Should this not be possible, you are expected to present alternative engagements, in lieu of a work placement (i.e. virtual internships, on-line courses, summer school, extracurricular reading etc.). If interested in studying Medicine, work placement in healthcare or humanitarian settings is strongly recommended. For students who are interested in studying Veterinary Medicine, experience with large animals (horses, cattle, sheep etc.) is essential.

Can I write a different Personal Statement for each one of my five UCAS choices?

The Personal Statement is common for all of your five UCAS choices, as the assumption is that you are applying to the specific course you are most interested in. This is the reason you are discouraged from making unrelated course choices in your UCAS application.

Are there admission tests I must take in order to be eligible for consideration?

Yes. Depending on your course and institution, there may also be compulsory admission tests you must take either prior to applying or after you have applied. These tests are typically required for most courses at Oxford (Oxford Admissions Tests), Cambridge and Imperial (ESAT), and UCL (TARA) for its theoretical courses. Some UK Law courses require the (LNAT), all Medical courses the UCAT and some Mathematics/quantitative courses, the MAT, TMUA, or STEP.

Certain institutions also interview prospective candidates.

Are there any specific English language requirements I must fulfill?

Yes. If applying with Greek Curriculum credentials (Apolytirion with or without Pan-Hellenics), Universities typically require proof of English competency in the form of a specific IELTS (academic) band grade. If you will be studying on a student visa in the UK, it is advisable that you take the UKVI version of the IELTS (academic). On line English tests are not typically accepted.

The Michigan ECPE does not meet the language requirements for the vast majority of UK/European institutions. The SAT does not meet the language stipulations for University admission.

Students who are presenting the IB Diploma automatically meet the English language requirements for all UK and European Universities, provided they offer English (A or B) in their subject combination.

As a student at a UK Institution of Higher Education, am I guaranteed University-managed accommodation?

Provided you apply for accommodation by the set deadline, UK institutions guarantee accommodation for the first year at a fee. For any subsequent years, you would typically live in private accommodation.

What are the tuition fees for attending a UK Institution of Higher Education?

UK Universities charge tuition fees. Following Brexit, all applicants from the EU are treated as International Students for fee purposes. Applicants with settled/pre-settled status are chaged Home Fees. Based on information to date, UK Nationals who have been living in the EU will still be eligible for Home Fees until 01 January 2028.

Can I apply to both the UK and other European institutions in the same year?

Yes. The maximum of five UCAS choices only applies to Universities in the UK. You can apply to additional European institutions, beyond the five in the UK, if you wish. Individual European institutions implement different application procedures and timelines. As university applications can be time-consuming and labor intensive, you are strongly advised not to exceed the total of three destinations (e.g. UK+US+Italy=3 destinations; UK+Italy+Spain=3 destinations), to secure quality and efficiency.