Understand the commonly used words and phrases

Below is a list of commonly used words and phrases, together with a summary of their meanings.

Application number: a nine-digit individual number assigned to you once you have completed a UCAS application; it is printed on every letter we send and is displayed in the format 01-234567-8. You will be asked to provide this number if you contact our Customer Service Unit.

Apply: the online application system for applying for higher education courses. Apply and its supporting information can be accessed here.

Clearing: a system used towards the end of the academic cycle. If you have not secured a place, it enables you to apply for course vacancies.

Conditional offer: an offer made by a university or college, whereby you must fulfil certain criteria before you can be accepted on the relevant course.

Confirmation: when conditional offers that you have accepted become unconditional or are declined. Confirmation is dependent on your qualification/exam results.

Deferral: holding an offer until the following year.

Entry profiles: comprehensive information about individual courses and institutions, including statistics and entry requirements. Entry profiles are found on Course Search.

Extra: the opportunity to apply for another course if you have used all five choices and not secured a place.

Firm offer: the offer that you have accepted as your first choice.

Institution: a university or college offering higher education courses.

Insurance offer: the offer that you have accepted as your second choice, in case you do not meet the requirements for your firm offer.

Personal ID number: a 10-digit individual number assigned to you when you register to use Apply. The number is displayed in the format 123-456-7890.

Point of entry: your year of entry to the course, for example, 2 refers to the second year of the course.

Route A: the application system used for all UCAS applications except for Route B art and design courses (see below).

Route B: a sequential application system for specific art and design courses, where you can choose up to three courses and the order in which they are sent to your chosen institutions. Find out more about Route B

Track: a system where you can track the progress of your application online, reply to any offers received, and make certain amendments, for example, change of address or email.

Unconditional offer: an offer given to you by a university or college if you have satisfied the criteria and can attend the course.

Unsuccessful: you have not been accepted by the university or college concerned.

Withdrawal: either you or a university/college cancels a choice before a decision has been made - a reason will be included if the withdrawal was issued by an institution.