- Undergraduate
- Almost always via UCAS (up to 5 choices)
- Postgraduate
- Directly through each university
- Medicine/dentistry
- Via UCAS — special earlier deadline applies
- Confirmation
- Always verify with the university directly
Key takeaways
- Undergraduate degrees almost always require a UCAS application — up to five choices.
- Postgraduate (Master's, PhD) programmes are applied to directly via each university.
- Medicine and dentistry have special UCAS rules — separate deadlines and choice limits.
- International students should confirm the exact application route with each institution.
UCAS: the undergraduate route
UCAS is the central admissions service for the vast majority of UK undergraduate courses. As an international student, you apply through ucas.com, selecting up to five courses (fewer for medicine and dentistry), and submit a single personal statement alongside your academic qualifications and predicted grades. UCAS has fixed annual deadlines — missing them significantly reduces your options. Study UK Now manages your UCAS application from course shortlist to submission.
Direct applications for postgraduate study
For Master's degrees and PhDs, there is no equivalent central portal — each university has its own application system, deadlines and requirements. This means you may be managing several simultaneous applications with different supporting documents, reference requirements and funding deadlines. Starting early and keeping a structured tracker is essential. Study UK Now coordinates multiple applications simultaneously so no deadline is missed and every document meets the university's specific requirements.
How Study UK Now helps with this
Get expert, end-to-end help — from university matching to your visa.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to more than five UK universities as an international undergraduate student?
No — the UCAS system allows up to five choices for most courses (fewer for medicine and dentistry). Choosing strategically across a range of selectivity is important. If you do not receive any offers, UCAS Clearing opens later in the year as an additional route, but planning carefully upfront is always preferable.
Are there postgraduate courses that use UCAS?
A small number of postgraduate teacher training (PGCE/QTS) courses use the UCAS Teacher Training portal, and some other specific programmes may have different routes. For the majority of Master's and PhD programmes, however, you apply directly to each university. Always confirm with the institution.
Sources — verified May 2026
Visa, fee and policy details change. Always confirm the latest on the official source before you rely on it.