UCAS: Deadlines and 3 Ways to boost your UCAS Points

Applying for University can feel long! The problem with that is you think you have loads of time and then, you don’t. The last thing you need is to miss the deadline after putting all that hard work into your application. 

You apply for further education, including university, through UCAS. UCAS deadline dates change every year, but the month stays the same. Make sure you are ahead of the game by having your application in early. Don’t be tempted to leave it for 10 minutes before it closes.

If you are worried about the application process, we have specialist tutors who can help you.

What are UCAS Points?

Thought you just had to get grades and are now coming across UCAS points? Are you asking yourself what are UCAS tariff points? No worries, we have made a handy table to make the tariff points a little less confusing and we found 3 extra ways you might be able to boost your points bonus.

Know what you are looking for? Jump to UCAS Deadline timetable, What are UCAS Tariff points, UCAS Tariff points table, 3 ways to boost your UCAS points.

UCAS Deadline timetable

Put them in your phone, write them on a calendar or put them in your paper diary. Whatever you need to do to make sure you don’t miss these dates, do it.

Each course varies a little bit, so make sure you check the deadline of the course you are applying for on the UCAS website. 

January - March

End of January

• Applications for most undergraduate courses, and most conservatories dance/drama/musical theatre, need to be at UCAS by 18:00 UK time. 

End of February

• UCAS Extra begins. This gives you the opportunity to get a place at university, if you didn’t receive an offer from any of your five choices or have changed your mind and have declined any offers you did receive.

April – June

Beginning of May

• UCAS search tool will display the courses for the following academic year.

• The adviser portal on the UCAS website opens for the following academic year.

Middle of May 

• Undergraduate applications open for the following academic year.

• Decisions start to come back from universities for those who applied by the end of Jan.

Beginning of June

• You need to reply to offers by this time.

End of June

• Any applications that come in after the end of June will be entered into Clearing rather than being sent on to the universities.

July - August

Beginning of July 

• Applications to Conservatories open

• Application deadline for UCAS Extra

• Clearing opens and vacancies at the universities published on UCAS.

Middle of July

• University decisions due on applications submitted by 30th June.

End of July

• You need to reply to offers by the end of the month. You should have had all decisions by the middle of July.

September - December

Beginning of September

• Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS.

End of September 

• Last date for applications for the following academic year

Beginning of October

• Closing date for conservatories music applications

Middle of October

• Deadline for applications to Oxford, Cambridge and most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science. It should be with UCAS by 18:00 UK time. 

End of October

• Deadline for adding clearing choices.

What are UCAS tariff points?

Along with your grades and specific qualifications you might have done to secure a place on a course, some universities in the UK will ask for UCAS points as part of their entry requirements. These are a bit of a pain if we are honest as they aren’t that easy to work out. Hopefully our handy tariff table will take some of the boredom out of it for you.  If you can’t see your qualification on the table, don’t panic. Just look up the specific entry requirements of your course on their website, and if you are still worried, please contact the admissions departments at the universities you are applying to. They are always happy to answer your questions. 

How do you get extra UCAS points?

UCAS points aren’t just linked to what you are doing at school or college. You can get UCAS points in other ways too. Here are three ways we think are great for boosting those points.

1. Volunteer
   ASDAN offers community-based courses that can get you plenty of extra UCAS points, such as the CoPE (16 UCAS points) and Wider Key Skills (3 different qualifications available, 8 points each).  Your school or college should be able to help you with these courses and up your UCAS points.

2. Take an extra AS Level
   It may sound like a bit of a bore but taking an extra AS Level gives you the opportunity to study a subject because you like the sound of it. Make sure it works around your current timetable. You could even look at doing one in a different school or college if your school doesn’t offer it. Which is a great way to increase your confidence before heading off to university.

3. Get your grades…musically that is
   If you have been learning an instrument for a while but never taken your exams, now is the time to get graded. Any grade above 6 will get your some more points for your application. If you have a private music tutor you can get graded in a few weeks! Perfect with that looming deadline. Check out all the fantastic music tutors have available now. 

It won’t get you any points, but working as a private tutor is a great way to stand out to your chosen university, plus it will earn you some money for fresher’s week. Simply sign up to become an online tutor for your subject.