The consultation on the operation of the UCAS undergraduate admissions cycle – covering dates, deadlines, and choices – is now open. We invite you to take part and submit your response by 18:00 (UK time) on 22 April 2026.
The admissions consultation – covering dates, deadlines, and choices – is now open. We invite you to take part and submit your response by 18:00 (UK time) on 22 April 2026.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about the consultation, including key findings so far, the proposals and recommendations, and how to get involved.
Once you’ve reviewed the consultation documents below, please use the button to share your feedback and submit your response.
The deadline for responses is 22 April 2026, 18:00 (UK time).
– an in-depth look at the proposals and the supporting evidence underpinning these.
– a high-level overview of the consultation.
– providing a single-page overview of the consultation.
UCAS, the UK’s shared admissions service, was established over 30 years ago and our core aim remains true to this day – to bring efficiency, fairness, and transparency in how people progress to higher education.
UCAS launched this consultation in response to changing student behaviour and sector feedback. Following extensive, sector-wide engagement involving providers, advisers, and students, the following areas were identified for consultation:
Prior to launching this consultation, UCAS engaged with more than 500 representatives of schools, colleges, and universities, and undertook extensive student engagement, to inform its scope, and the recommendations included. We are now seeking further input via the consultation to shape the structure of the admissions cycle going forward, and to identify any areas or themes for future enhancements.
Our early engagement highlighted that the existing admissions model works well for the majority of applicants and providers, particularly up to the January Equal Consideration Date. This consultation therefore seeks to assess the extent to which these initial insights are shared across the wider population. A series of recommendations for refinements are made. These are intended to help support some of the challenges being faced by some providers and reflect the best interest of the wider sector and UCAS’ beneficiaries.
The consultation also outlines feedback received from the sector along two key themes: the need for increased efficiencies across the admissions process, and the growing appetite for a reformed and digital Clearing in the future.
Evidence gathering, analysis, and sector-wide engagement.
The consultation opens and we invite you to share your views.
Formal responses must be submitted by 18:00 (UK time).
Analysis and presentation of outcomes.
Earliest date for potential changes to be implemented.
The admissions consultation is now open and we welcome your feedback. Please review the consultation document and share your response by 22 April 2026, 18:00 (UK time).
To ensure the outcome of the consultation is representative of our key beneficiaries, we would like to engage with as many stakeholders as possible – students, providers, advisers and agents, parents and carers, charity groups, and public sector bodies. We recognise that a wide range of individuals and organisations hold valuable perspectives, and we warmly welcome all contributions.
Following the close of the consultation, UCAS will review and evaluate all responses. An independent third-party organisation will support the analysis to ensure rigour and impartiality.
UCAS will then publish a summary of the findings and outline any proposed next steps. Any changes to admissions processes will be communicated well in advance of implementation.
The consultation topics were informed by ongoing engagement with the sector, analysis of admissions data, previous research, and feedback from stakeholders. Together, these insights helped identify areas of the admissions process where there may be opportunities for improvement.
UCAS recognises that stakeholders care about many aspects of admissions. This consultation focuses on specific priorities within the current system where evidence and insight suggest focused discussion could have the greatest impact.
There is an opportunity to provide additional feedback and areas for future consideration in the consultation response. Any ideas raised outside the scope of this consultation will still be reviewed and may help inform future work.
All consultation responses, including any personal or organisational information you provide, such as your name, role title, and the organisation you represent, will be shared with an independent third‑party research organisation for analysis. This ensures the process is carried out with appropriate rigour, objectivity, and impartiality.
UCAS will not publish your name alongside your responses. However, we may reference the organisation or sector you represent when presenting aggregated findings.
Following completion of the independent analysis, UCAS will publish a summary of the findings and outline the next steps.
The consultation is designed to gather broad input from across the sector. When responding, you are encouraged to comment on the proposals and raise additional topics through the free text sections. All feedback will be reviewed and considered as part of the decision-making process.
We encourage respondents to submit feedback on behalf of the organisation or institution they work for, as this helps us understand sector-wide perspectives. However, we will also consider responses from individuals. Responses cannot be anonymous, and all respondents will be asked to provide identifying information when submitting feedback.
We encourage respondents to use the online consultation form, as this helps us review feedback consistently. If you are unable to use the online form, we will consider responses submitted in alternative formats, such as a Word document. In this case, please copy the consultation questions into your own document and send your response to consultation2026@ucas.ac.uk by 22 April 2026, 18:00 (UK time).
