# UCAS application step by step — a guide for international students

> UCAS lets you apply to up to five UK undergraduate courses in one application.

UCAS is the central application service for most UK undergraduate courses. International students register on the UCAS hub, add up to five course choices, complete personal and education details, write one personal statement, secure a reference, pay the fee and submit by the relevant deadline. Universities then respond with offers (conditional or unconditional), and you choose a firm and insurance choice. Medicine, dentistry and Oxbridge have an earlier mid-October deadline. Confirm current dates on UCAS.

## Quick facts
- **Choices:** Up to 5 (4 for medicine/dentistry)
- **Personal statement:** One, sent to all choices
- **Key deadlines:** Mid-October (med/dent/Oxbridge) · late January (most)
- **After offers:** Choose a firm + insurance choice

## Key takeaways
- You apply to up to five undergraduate courses in one UCAS application.
- One personal statement is sent to all your choices — make it count.
- Most courses use a late-January deadline; medicine, dentistry and Oxbridge are mid-October.
- After offers, you pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (backup) choice.

## The UCAS application, step by step
1. Register on the UCAS hub and start your application. 2. Add up to five course choices (you do not have to use all five). 3. Complete your personal details, education history and any qualifications and predicted grades. 4. Write one personal statement that works for every choice. 5. Secure an academic reference. 6. Pay the application fee and submit. 7. Track responses in the hub as universities make offers. International students should also prepare English-test results and, where relevant, admissions tests in good time.

## After you apply — offers and replies
Universities respond with conditional offers (dependent on results), unconditional offers, or an unsuccessful decision. Once you have your offers, you choose a firm (first) choice and an insurance (backup) choice with lower conditions. If you do not hold an offer, UCAS Clearing later in the cycle matches applicants to remaining places. Study UK Now manages your UCAS application end to end — shortlist, statement, references and replies — so deadlines are never missed and your choices are strategic.

## Frequently asked questions
### How many universities can I apply to through UCAS?
You can apply to up to five undergraduate courses in one UCAS application (four for medicine and dentistry). You submit a single personal statement to all of them. Choosing strategically across a range of selectivity matters — Study UK Now builds a balanced shortlist so you maximise your chances of a strong offer.

### What are the UCAS deadlines for international students?
Most undergraduate courses use a late-January deadline, while medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and Oxford or Cambridge use an earlier mid-October deadline. Late applications can still be considered for some courses, and Clearing opens later. Always confirm the current dates on UCAS, as they change each cycle.

## Sources
- [UCAS — how to apply](https://www.ucas.com/applying) — UCAS

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Verified: 2026-06-16