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Every year, over 60,000 students with physical and/or mental health conditions and learning differences apply through UCAS to study at a university or college in the UK, and access a range of support to help them succeed with their studies, day-to-day activities, travel, and lifestyle.

Starting work or an apprenticeship can feel both exciting and daunting. There are lots of new things to get your head around, like managing your workload, communicating well, getting on with others, etc. So, it’s really important to look after your mental health and wellbeing at the same time.

Mental health issues can affect any of us at any time. But do you know how to spot the signs if you, or someone you love, is struggling?

On your UCAS application, you can share a mental or health condition with your university. This’ll help you get the information and help you may need while at university and help put you at ease.

Students can access a variety of support to manage their mental health and wellbeing in higher education - ranging from help with a specific condition through to ways they can look after their general wellbeing. Some students may be hesitant to tell their university, so we've worked with experts (including Student Minds and the University Mental Health Advisers' Network (UMHAN)) to explain the process of declaration to your students, and offer practical ways to help them manage the transition to independence. It's good to remember that other personal circumstances can create additional challenges and stress, so making sure students have the right support for their needs will offer them the best start to university.

Mental health nurses build trusting relationships with their patients and provide vital support to people experiencing mental health problems, so they can lead happy and healthy lives.

Making contact with the disability support team or mental health adviser early on is a really good idea.

It’s important to know what mental health and wellbeing support is available to you during your studies – and how to access it.

Learn how to support your mental health through stressful periods like exams.

A carer is anyone who has a commitment to providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without their support. This may be due to illness, disability, a mental health issue, or substance misuse.

Over the last decade there has been a significant shift in the willingness of students to talk about their mental health – the number of UK applicants to UCAS that shared a mental health condition has increased by 450% in this time, yet today’s report, 'Starting the Conversation: UCAS report on student mental health', shows there is still more work to do to smash the myths and stigma around mental health, and to highlight the support available to students in higher education.

Students who have spent time in care have high hopes about going to university or college, yet 60% receive no specific support relevant to their circumstances when deciding on their options, according to a new report from UCAS.

Who is Head Up?

Clearing is now open for eligible applicants, with over 27,000 courses available from over 300 providers.

As part of our ongoing commitment to widening access and participation for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, we are introducing two new sections in the application for the 2023 cycle, from 17 May 2022 onwards:

A record number of 18-year-olds applied to study nursing in England in 2021, with the COVID pandemic playing a significant factor in their decision to apply, according to a new UCAS report published today in collaboration with Health Education England (HEE).

LGBT+ students beginning university or college increasingly see higher education as an opportunity to be more open about their sexuality or gender, a new study finds, but more than 1 in 10 say they are unsure about how ‘out’ they can be when they start as freshers this autumn.

Dr Alex George, the online campaigner and recently appointed government Youth Mental Health Ambassador, is partnering with UCAS to support students make important decisions about university choices, apprenticeships, and careers as part of the new UCAS/Discovery events.

The UK’s 38 most selective universities would each only need to admit an additional 70 students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in England every year to close the collective equality gap in their admissions by 2030.

Degree courses training our next generation of health and social care professionals are continuing to accept applications, and new UCAS insight shows students from all walks of life will receive a warm welcome.

For the first time, over a quarter of 18 year old applicants from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales have received a ‘conditional unconditional’ offer for an undergraduate place. However, they are less likely than ever to accept this type of offer.