What to Do If You Miss Your UCAS Deadline?

Applying to a university for undergraduate courses can be stressful for everyone. If you are considering applying through UCAS, the deadline to register for undergraduate courses was January 25, 2023 (6 PM). UCAS must receive your application by one of these dates for 2023-starting courses (or later for delayed applications): If your application is comprehensive (containing your contact information and academic references) and received by the cut-off date, it will be reviewed. However, do not worry about missing the UCAS deadline, as most universities will still let you apply and join after this deadline. The catch is that instead of being equally weighted, the universities may prefer those who have applied to them first.

Don’t have much time to read? Watch this short video instead–

Try to keep calm

The sooner you apply, the more likely you will be accepted. although they will still make sure that applications are weighted equally. Some universities will start offering as early as October, while some applicants might receive their offers later. Most modules will still accept late applications. However, the popular courses might already be filled by the time you join and get your offer. There are still many courses that will have the capacity to accept more students, regardless.

So, what happens if you miss the deadline? Do not worry; we have assembled a guide to help you with the next steps. If you submit your UCAS application late, you do not need to get stressed out or panic. Although the deadline ends in January, most universities will still accept your admission applications for much longer. Some even extend their application and acceptance periods until June! Therefore, do not stress yourself out, as you still have time. However, it is worth remembering that the early bird catches the worm, so do not wait till the last minute to apply. Applying early will help you get acceptance earlier and eliminate the risk of you missing the deadline again, so make sure you get it completed and submitted on time. Applications received after the end of June are transferred to Clearing, so if you wish to avoid that, apply as soon as possible.

Focus on Finalizing Your Application

If you haven’t completed and finished your application, it is time to put it at the top of your to-do list. Since you have already missed the deadline, you must get it done and dusted. If you haven’t finished your application because you don’t know what to write in it, do not worry, as we have got you covered. There are many essential tips that we have compiled to help you with your statement and to help you finalize your application. You can review our checklist to ensure you have ticked all the boxes necessary to help you get accepted to the university of your choice.

Talk to an Expert

If you are worried about not being up to date with your applications, then school career and university counsellors can give you some great advice to steer you in the right direction. Counsellors know the university application process and what universities are looking for in applicants, so consulting them will help immensely. We also recommend comparing and asking your peers and teachers at school to look at your applications to help make them strong. There is nothing wrong with asking those around you to help and even proofread your work; it might help you understand what to add or subtract.

Complete your Application

Once you have finalized your application, check it once, and ask someone you trust to review it and double-check it. Once this is done, and everything is ready, it is time for you to submit your university applications and be done with this whole process.

Now that the stressful part is over, it is time for you to relax and be glad that it is over. Remember that many other students missed the deadline, and it is okay as mistakes happen. However, you can learn from this, be better organized, and manage your time more efficiently. Now that you have done your part, it is time to sit back and plan the start of your university journey.

How will universities respond?

Once the deadline has passed, universities will likely review applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, they will still consider applications, so you must wait for them to respond to you. There is no specific time when the universities will respond, as they may send you your offers earlier or later, depending on when they review your application. If you wish to inquire specifically about university acceptance periods, we recommend you contact the university and ask them or check their website.

Current Situation This Year

Due to COVID-19, results were given out for the past two years based on teacher-evaluated grades. However, this year, students will be required to sit for in-person examinations and be given admission based on the results of those examinations, as has usually happened in the past. Although some universities might conduct online sessions for orientations, information, and open days, some might have physical ones. This is all dependent on individual universities.

Results for Scottish students will be announced on August 8, 2023, according to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Scottish students will also receive their certificates on August 8, and if they have signed up for MySQA, they will receive their results by text or email on the same day.

UCAS Entry deadline for 2023

Any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as the majority of courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry, must be submitted by October 15, 2022, for entry in 2023 at 18:00 (UK time). Remember that you can only select five options; you can add more choices with different deadlines afterward. For most courses, entrance is at 18:00 (UK time) on January 25, 2023. Some course providers have deadlines for supplementary admissions examinations that must be taken in addition to the UCAS application. Learn more about these examinations.

Deadlines for Replying to Offers 2023: 

These dates depend on when the UCAS has the final decision from the student’s university or college. You also need to check your application to find your personal deadline. 

• When you receive your last decision on or before 18 May 2023, your reply date is 8 June 2023 (unless you use Extra to locate a home).
• Your reply date is 17 July 2023 (including Extra choices) if you receive your last decision by 12 July 2023 or earlier.

What other options are available?

If you are confused about where and when to apply, do not worry, as there is no rush. You can always take a gap year and then apply to universities when you are more sure about what path you want to take and where to go. This year off will also give you time to ensure a stellar application, as you will have plenty of time to work on it. Another advantage of this is that you will be applying with your actual confirmed grades rather than predicted grades, which can help determine which universities are a suitable choice for you to use. There is no rush, as everyone follows a different path and has a different timeline for graduating, so there is nothing wrong with taking time off to be more assured of what you want.

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide will help make your university application journey smooth. The application period can be extremely stressful and anxious, so we hope this guide will help you and make this process more organized and easier for you. Remember not to wait until the absolute last minute to apply, and keep an eye out for all the deadlines mentioned above. We wish you the best of luck in this process! Contact us for more details.

FAQs