How can we help?

For the 2025 cycle, if you have been in receipt of free school meals at some point during the last six years (during your secondary education) up until the end of your final year, you will be eligible to have your application fee waived if you're applying for a UCAS Undergraduate course. Find out more.

We know that some students will be experiencing difficulties when they make their application, and their circumstances may have changed by the time they start their course, or even during their studies. You can use this question to flag your circumstances but the support you can access will depend on the individual university or college.

We strongly recommend contacting them to discuss your individual circumstances, and to keep in touch if anything changes.

It may also be helpful to keep your school or college informed where relevant, as they will be able to support you getting the help you need to go to university, and also to support through exams if needed.

Yes – even if you are not providing physical support, you may find yourself providing emotional support while at university.

Additionally, it may be useful for your university to know how caring might impact other elements of your time at university (e.g. work placements, practical issues around getting to and from campus, or needing to go home in an emergency).

The help available at university or college is usually only available to students who have no communicative relationship with either of their living biological or adoptive parents. If you are still in contact or supported by one parent, you would not normally be considered to be an estranged student.

Read more advice and information about applying to a university as a student who is experiencing estrangement.

• When creating an account with UCAS via the UCAS Hub and selecting the school, college or centre and ticking the consent box, this enables UCAS to link you to that school, college or centre. 
• This allows UCAS to show teachers and advisers what you are researching within the UCAS Hub to enable them to support you.   
• Your school, college or centre can see your name, last logged on dates, and your research activity.  For example: subjects you are interested in, your preferences (for example undergraduate study, conservatoire study, or apprenticeships). 

What if I change my mind?

If you no longer want to share your UCAS Hub activity with your school, college or centre, you can log on to your Hub account and untick the box in the preferences section.  It will mean that your teacher or adviser will no longer be able to see your Hub activity.

 

What is the Buzzword?

The Buzzword is a unique word set by a school, college or centre and given to students to enable them to link their UCAS undergraduate application with them and is separate from your Hub activity.

• When creating an account with UCAS via the UCAS Hub and selecting the school, college or centre and ticking the consent box, this enables UCAS to link you to that school, college or centre. 
• This allows UCAS to show teachers and advisers what you are researching within the UCAS Hub to enable them to support you.   
• Your school, college or centre can see your name, last logged on dates, and your research activity.  For example: subjects you are interested in, your preferences (for example undergraduate study, conservatoire study, or apprenticeships). 

What if I change my mind?

If you no longer want to share your UCAS Hub activity with your school, college or centre, you can log on to your Hub account and untick the box in the preferences section.  It will mean that your teacher or adviser will no longer be able to see your Hub activity.

 

What is the Buzzword?

The Buzzword is a unique word set by a school, college or centre and given to students to enable them to link their UCAS undergraduate application with them and is separate from your Hub activity.

No, you can’t swap your firm and insurance choices.

If you now want to go to your insurance choice, you need to go through Clearing. You need to check with your insurance choice uni/college that they can accept you in Clearing.

Your application will update once the uni/college makes a decision. If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, your place will be confirmed soon.

Yes. If you change your mind you mind and no longer want to go to your firm choice, you can use the ‘decline my place’ button in your application – find out more.

Go to the ‘Your choices’ section of your application and click 'Add Clearing choice.’ Then enter the details of the course.

Only add a Clearing choice if you’ve been given permission by a uni.

All Clearing vacancies are listed in our search tool from July. They are updated regularly by the unis until mid-September.

• It's available July to October each year.
• If you already have your exam results but you have no offers, you can use Clearing from July.
• If you had conditional offers but your exam results didn't go to plan, you can use Clearing from results day, when Clearing vacancies will be listed in our search tool.
• If you're eligible, you can add a Clearing choice on results day. 
• If you are holding a firm unconditional place but have changed your mind, you can decline your place in your application.

There is no additional cost for Clearing – for 2025 entry you pay a one-off application fee of £28.50.

Free school meals application fee waiver: For the 2025 cycle, if you have been in receipt of free school meals at some point during the last six years (during your secondary education) up until the end of your final year, you will be eligible to have your application fee waived. Find out more.

If your application doesn't say ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’ it might just be waiting for your results to update. Get in touch with the universities/colleges if it's taking a while – they might still be considering you, even if your results are a bit lower than required.

If you’re eligible for Clearing, your Clearing number will show under ‘Application status’ in your application.  

You'll know you're in Clearing if your application status says 'You are in Clearing' or 'Clearing has started. Or, you follow the on-screen prompts to decline your firm place, and your application status then says ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’.

• Please complete our update my details form and we'll do this for you. 
• For name and date of birth changes, you need you to attach a clear photo or scanned copy of an official document showing these – such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, driving licence or passport.
• As long as we’ve got everything we need, we’ll update your details and the changes will display in Track.
• It's important you also let your conservatoires know.

Your assessment will vary depending on the conservatoire you’re applying to and the course you have chosen to study.

Each conservatoire will let you know in advance what they expect you to do, but check out our assessment advice to find out what it might involve.

To be able to pay and send your application, every section must be ticked as complete. If you're applying independently, that includes your referee submitting their reference online.

If the payment isn't going through, please double check all details have been entered correctly, you have funds available, and the card has been registered for online payments.

If you're outside of the UK, you may need to let your bank know you're trying to make the payment as well.

Please avoid clicking multiple times as this can also cause problems. If it locks your payment attempts, this will reset automatically after two minutes.

• Please complete our update my details form and we'll do this for you. 
• For name and date of birth changes, you need you to attach a clear photo or scanned copy of an official document showing these – such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, driving licence or passport.
• As long as we’ve got everything we need, we’ll update your details and the changes will display in your application.
• It's important you also let your your universities and colleges know.

You can select a ‘deferred’ start date for your chosen course when you apply, but it’s important to contact the uni or college before submitting your application to make sure they are happy to accept a deferred application.

Find out more about deferred entry

No – you don't need to ask a teacher to verify your eligibility or provide evidence to UCAS if you answer yes to this question. However, the university or college may contact you for more information or to discuss how they can support you.

Don’t worry if the options given here don’t exactly match your status, or if your status changes after you apply. This question is not used to establish your fee status, it is only used to assess what support you might be eligible for at the university or college. 

The university or college will contact you separately to discuss your circumstances so they can decide your fee status later in the process. 

Whatever your status, it is important that you talk to the university or college before applying to discuss your circumstances, and contact them immediately if there is any change to your status. They will be able to provide you with more detailed information and advice. 

No, this question is optional, whatever status you have. However, we recommend that you do, so they can understand the context of your achievements. This question aims to make sure you are given the right support to access higher education and succeed in your studies - we recommend you share this information so your university or college can arrange this support. Even if you don’t feel you need any extra support now, you may feel differently later on.

If you prefer, you can contact the university or college directly to discuss your circumstances and talk about the support you need. If you have any questions or if your status changes, they will be happy to give you more detailed information and advice at any time before or after you apply. 

No – it is entirely optional to give this information – you do not have to let the university or college know if you don’t want to. However, we recommend that you do, so they can understand the context of your achievements and make sure you know about any support that can help you during your studies. Even if you don’t feel you need any extra support now, you may feel differently later on. 

If you prefer, you can contact the university or college directly to discuss your circumstances and talk about any support you might need. If you have any questions, they will be happy to give you more detailed information and advice at any time before or after you apply.