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UCAS Application
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the centralised application system for undergraduate courses at universities and colleges across the United Kingdom.
If you're a student in the Republic of Ireland and want to study in the UK, UCAS is the platform through which you submit your application.
Unlike the CAO system in Ireland, UCAS operates as a pre-results admissions system. This means you receive college offers BEFORE receiving your final exam results. UK universities may make you a conditional offer based on predicted or pending grades. You will then need to meet these conditions once your results are issued.
UCAS allows you to apply to a maximum of five course choices through a single online application. As part of the application you will be required to write a personal statement and receive a reference from a teacher or guidance counsellor.
This guide outlines how to apply through UCAS as a Republic of Ireland student, including course restrictions, deadlines, and key steps in the application process—up to the point of submission.
Step 1: Research Your Courses and Universities
Before beginning your application, spend time researching:
- Courses you’re interested in (check entry requirements carefully)
- Universities/colleges offering them
- Tuition fees and living costs (note: tuition fees in England, Scotland and Wales are significantly higher than in Northern Ireland)
Use the UCAS course search tool and Ulster University's Course Finder to browse options.
Step 2. Register and Complete your UCAS Application
1. Register your Account
2. Sections to Complete
Personal details
Includes your contact information and nationality.
Course Choices
Up to 5 choices, as mentioned above.
Education
List all your qualifications to date and any pending results (e.g. Leaving Certificate).
Employment History
Optional – include paid jobs only.
Personal Statement
A written statement to support your application (see below for more details).
Reference
Usually provided by a teacher or school guidance counsellor.
When applying to UCAS, you will be first asked whether you wish to link your application to your current school/college. Doing so means that your school/college supports you by providing a reference, reviewing your application, and submitting it on your behalf. To link your application to your school, your school will give you a "buzzword" to enter when creating your application.
If you apply as an individual, you're responsible for everything; completing the application, arranging your reference, and submitting it yourself. This is common for those not currently in education.
| Individual Application | Application Linked to School / College | |
|---|---|---|
| Reference provided by school | Yes | You must arrange it yourself |
| Application checked by school | Yes | No, you're responsible |
| Submission | School submits it | You submit it yourself |
Disabilities / Additional Needs
Students with additional needs should include relevant information in the ‘More about you' section of their UCAS application. This helps universities understand any support or adjustments they may require during the admissions process or once they begin their course. It's important to be honest and specific. This information does not affect the academic assessment of the application, but allows universities to plan appropriate support in advance.
Step 3. Choose Your Courses!
You can apply to up to 5 courses, but there are some restrictions:
- Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine:
You can apply to only 4 courses in any one of these fields.- For example: 4 Medicine courses + 1 other non-Medicine course.
- Oxford and Cambridge:
You can apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, not both, and only for one course.
There are no course restrictions on programmes at Ulster University, so you can apply to as many as you wish!
Step 4. Write Your Personal Statement
Your personal statement is a key part of your application. It’s your chance to explain:
- Why you want to study your chosen subject(s)
- What makes you a suitable candidate (academic ability, skills, experience)
- Any relevant work experience, extra-curricular activities, or achievements
Word limit: 4,000 characters or 47 lines (whichever comes first)
You only submit one personal statement for all course choices, so avoid naming specific universities.
Check out UCAS' website on Personal Statement Guides. Find out what universities and colleges want to see in your personal statement and how to set yourself apart, with our subject-specific personal statement guides. Packed with relevant examples, and lots of ideas to start your research and make sure your answers are filled with great evidence to prove your suitability and interest in your course.
Step 5. Nominate a Referee
If you are applying individually (without the support of a school), you will be required to nominate a referee to write an academic reference supporting your application.
If you are applying via your school's registered UCAS Centre, they will automatically supply your reference once you submit your application.
If you are still awaiting the outcome of your qualifications, your referee will be required to supply predicted grades you are likely to achieve in that qualification.
Step 6. Submit Your Application!
Once you have all sections complete and your referee has completed their reference, you can submit your application. This is when you'll pay the £28.50 application fee.
Upon subitting your application, UCAS then send it to all the universities you have applied to for consideration. Some universities will make decisions as they receive completed applications, while others may wait until after the UCAS application deadline before replying to applicants.
Key Dates
Key Dates
A list of key dates in the UCAS Application calendar, including deadlines around submission, offer reply and acceptance.
Key Dates
UCAS FAQs
Yes, if you're applying for most undergraduate degrees in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you'll apply via UCAS.
No, your UCAS application will not affect your CAO application. They are completely separate systems for applying to universities in the UK and Ireland respectively. You can apply to both without any conflict.
Yes, you can apply to both UCAS and CAO in the same year and decide which offer to accept later. Many students use this approach to keep their options open for both UK and Irish universities before making a final choice.
Universities assess applications based on several factors, including your academic qualifications (predicted and achieved grades), personal statement, reference, and sometimes additional criteria such as admissions tests or interviews. They compare these against their entry requirements and the competitiveness of the course to decide whether to make an offer.
No, Ulster University does not use the personal statement, reference or predicted grades for offer-making for any programmes except Paramedic Science and Community Youth Work, where the personal statements are used for interview shortlisting. Ulster University will make conditional offers to applicants who can meet the entry conditions of the course on the basis of the minimum subjects required for entry to the programme. Where candidate selection is part of the applciation process (interview/ MSAT Ulster/ portfolio etc), applicants will only receive an offer for the programme if they pass candidate selection.
In this section
Key Dates
A list of key dates in the UCAS Application calendar, including deadlines around submission, offer reply and acceptance.
