The best place to start with any sort of decision about your future, is to do your research. If you're not sure what you want to do, we'll show you all your options to help you make an informed decision.

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There's lots to think about when considering higher education. Doing your research will help you make the right decision for you.

The important thing is to choose a subject you'll enjoy that will help you reach your goals. Think about what you enjoy doing day-to-day - maybe this could be part of a future career.

How to find out more about course providers to see if you’d enjoy studying and living there.

There are some key dates you need to know – when to apply, when you'll receive decisions on your application, and when you need to reply to those decisions.

First you need to decide which courses you want to apply for. Then you can register and make an online application. There are different applications depending on what type of course you want to study.

Sign in to Track at any time with the Personal ID we'll send you in your welcome email, along with the password you used when applying. Whenever there's an update, we'll email the address you supplied in your application.

With so many types of courses in so many subject areas on offer, narrowing down your choices can be difficult. Make sure you choose a course or training programme that matches your interests and aspirations, and that you'll be happy studying.

Some courses require applications almost a year in advance of the start date, so it’s worth doing your research and getting started early.

Course providers can set a combination of entry requirements. These are a guideline of the recommended academic ability you’ll need for the course. Each course has different requirements – usually a mix of qualifications, subjects, or exam grades they recommend you have or be working towards when you apply.

The Tariff was developed to allow for broad comparisons to be made about a wide range of qualifications by course providers. Some course providers use Tariff points in their entry requirements.

You make your application in our online system Apply. There’s quite a bit to fill in, but you don’t need do it all at once – you can save your progress and sign back in anytime.

A personal statement is your chance to show course providers why you want to study the course and why you’d make a great student. Tutors read personal statements to compare applicants, so this is where you should describe your ambitions, skills, and experience that will make you suitable for the course.

You will need to provide a reference on your application. This should be written by a referee who knows you academically and can talk about your suitability for higher education.

Once you've sent your application to us, we process it and send it on to your chosen course providers. We take you through what happens next, step-by-step.

If you applied through the UCAS Undergraduate scheme, you might be able to add another choice if you've received decisions from all five unis or colleges and weren't accepted, or if you declined the offers you received.

Interviews and auditions help course tutors to compare applicants before deciding who to make offers to. Whether you're invited to an interview or audition varies across courses and course providers.

You can change your address, phone number, and email address in Track. Other changes, such as course choices, can only be made by contacting either us or the course provider. Some changes have a time limit too.

Once a course provider has considered your application, it will make a decision which will be shown in Track. Find out about the different types of decisions you may get and what they mean.

You'll need to decide which of your offers to accept and which to decline. There are different types of offers and different replies you can make to them.

If your offers are conditional on results, it's now that you see if your exam results are high enough for the course provider to confirm your place on their course. If you've met and exceeded the conditions of your offer, you could use Adjustment. If you don't have any offers, use Clearing.

You can use Clearing to find a place at university if you didn't receive any offers, declined any offers you did receive, didn't meet the conditions of your offers, or applied after 30 June.

You could take a gap year, do an apprenticeship, traineeship, study overseas, work, or volunteer.

If you’re not sure how to pay for your studies, don’t worry – there’s a wide range of options available to help you. UCAS only manages the application fee, but we’ll explain all the other costs here.

There are a few productive things you can be doing right now to prepare for starting your studies.

Higher education is a big investment, so you may need a student loan. You might be eligible for extra funding from other organisations too.

You could get financial support and advice, and help settling in to higher education and accommodation, all year round.

UK universities, colleges, and conservatoires are diverse, multicultural, creative, and welcoming, with top quality teaching, improved English language skills, and great career prospects. Over 430,000 international students study here every year, from over 180 countries. We give you all the information you need to apply for higher education in the UK, and explain the different rules for UK, EU and international students.

Every year, thousands of adults go into higher education. It's a great chance to develop new skills and career options – at any age. Mature students are anyone over the age of 21 who didn't go to university after school or college. Some might have taken gap years to volunteer and travel, while 40% of mature students are over 30 and have had work, mortgage, or family responsibilities. There are many ways you can experience higher education. Around a third of undergraduates are mature students – of all ages and backgrounds.

Course providers welcome tens of thousands of disabled students each year, meaning there's already lots of on-campus support available. Contact your chosen course provider as early as possible to discuss what you might need.

Gall astudio addysg uwch yn y Gymraeg gynnig nifer o ddewisiadau gyrfa i chi – yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Mae mwy a mwy o sefydliadau’n sylweddoli manteision cyflogi graddedigion sy’n gallu cyfathrebu yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg, ac os mai’r Gymraeg yw eich iaith gyntaf neu eich ail iaith, mae digonedd o bosibiliadau ar eich cyfer.

If you have any problems, don’t worry – there will be plenty of people you can talk to.

There are so many variables – it’s all about studying in a way that suits you. Explore the different options, then search for the different kinds of study you're interested in. Some courses you can search for on ucas.com alongside the full-time courses, while others you’d discuss directly with the course providers you’re interested in.

Come and speak to universities, colleges, UCAS, and many other interesting organisations at our exhibitions. They’re big events and we hold over 50 all over the UK. They're a great chance to help you figure out what to study, or to find student deals and careers info. Attend university open days to really get a feel for where you could be living and studying, and get answers to any questions you may have.

You could get a part-time or full-time job, take on voluntary work, or set up your own business.

We provide advice, guidance, and all the information you'll need to help your child through their application journey and beyond.