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Search our Applying to study – application questions frequently asked questions.
Where do I enter or link my buzzword for an undergraduate application?
Once you have registered, completed the onboarding steps and created your Hub account, you can then add your buzzword once you start your application to link your self to your school or centre..
If you have not yet created a Hub account then click here to go to the sign in/register page, register your email, follow the on screen instructions and you will land on the Hub.
If you are already on your Hub, then follow these easy steps...
Step 1
Find and click on the start application tile (it will be the top left tile on your hub).
Step 2
Click on the undergraduate tile.
Step 3
You will then be taken to a page where you will need to confirm you are applying from a school, college or centre.
Step 4
Read the terms, and click agree if you are happy to proceed.
Step 5
Enter your buzzword, check the details are correct and proceed.
Step 6
You will then be taken to your application landing page where you can complete the sections and submit when ready.
What is a similarity report?
When you submit your application to UCAS we run your personal statement through sophisticated software which compares it to other sources, such as previously submitted personal statements, websites, and books.
If we detect any similarities between your statement and these sources, we alert you and the universities or colleges you have applied to. We produce a report showing the passages of text we have identified as being similar, and pass this on to the universities. It is then up to them how they respond, and they may contact you to discuss the report.
If you have previously applied and used the same personal statement, our software will highlight this – but it will recognise you are applying again and discount any similarities with your previous statement. We will not contact you or the universities or colleges about this. So, if your have been sent a similarity report it means your statement has matched other sources.
For general enquiries about similarity reports, please contact us or email similaritydetection@ucas.ac.uk.
How do the universities get my exam results?
We receive exam results for some qualifications direct from the examination boards, and send these to the universities and colleges. See the list of exam results we receive.
If your qualification is not listed, you need to send your results to the universities and colleges yourself. Universities and colleges may have a preferred method for you to do this (usually by emailing a photocopy of the certificate) – check their websites or contact them to discuss this.
Once they have your results, they will check whether you have met the conditions of your offer or not, and then let us know if you've been accepted.
I need to update the qualifications section of my application – how do I do this?
You need to tell your universities and colleges, as well as UCAS.
Complete the qualifications amendment form with the relevant details.
Check our making changes page for more information.
Can I change my personal statement?
No, you cannot update your personal statement.
If you have additional information relevant to your application which you think the universities and colleges would find useful, please contact them direct. They may ask you to send a new personal statement to them, if they want to see it.
What happens if I withdraw a choice, then change my mind later?
If you withdraw a choice it will not be available to you later and the university or college won’t be able to access your application. So you need to be absolutely sure you no longer want to be considered for this place.
It's also important to know that if you withdraw a choice, you will not be able to replace it with another.
Withdrawn by mistake
If you accidently withdrew a choice and still want to be considered by the university, you must contact us immediately for advice.
There are no guarantees they will still be able to consider your application, as the course may be full or the place offered to another person.
Can I cancel or withdraw my entire application?
Yes, if you’ve changed your mind about applying to higher education, you can cancel your application.
We will refund your application fee if you cancel it within 14 days of sending your application to us. Please check the date in your welcome email to verify when you sent your application. You can either contact us to arrange the refund, or complete the cancellation form, if calling us is difficult.
If it’s more than 14 days since you submitted your application, you can withdraw it at any time; but no refund will be given.
Once your application has been completely withdrawn, the universities and colleges you have applied to will no longer be able to see your UCAS application.
Why can't I see my reference?
Your reference is not normally available for you to see; the easiest way to see it is to ask your referee for a copy.
If this isn't possible, under the Data Protection Act, we can provide a copy of your application.
Contact us to request a copy.