UCAS Undergraduate: getting started

Undergraduate degree courses offer many benefits. Find out about university courses and get started with help from UCAS.

Undergraduate higher education is a world of fascinating subjects that help you reach new careers and higher earnings. With a huge range of courses available, it's important to research what's right for you. We’ll show you all the options – including the alternatives to university – to help you see the best way forward. Then, if you’d like to apply for a course, we’ll show you how.


What does a successful applicant look like?

We asked university admissions staff what the main features of a successful applicant are.

UCAS newsletters


One of the best places to start is to sign up for our monthly newsletter. You can also follow us on social media, watch ‘how-to’ videos on our video wall, and read what our student bloggers have to say. This will ensure you don’t miss any deadlines and give you tips on applying and writing your personal statement.

Are you a parent or guardian? Get updates and information you need to know about, along with timely explanations of the application process, by signing up for our monthly parent newsletter. 


How UCAS can help you

If you’re thinking about uni it’s hard to know where to start gathering information for that important decision.

If you decide university or college is right for you, there's still a lot of decisions to make about locations and courses, so here are a few ideas to get you started with your research:

  1. Read about what to study and different types of course.
  2. Find out more at events and open days.
  3. Check when you should start your application.
  4. Learn how you can meet course entry requirements.

Not sure what to do?

We asked university admissions staff what advice they have for students who aren't sure what to do.