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Document Management - provider guidance

Applicants will be able to upload supporting information to their application using Document Management. Learn more about how this document upload feature works and the type of documents that are accepted.

What is Document Management?

Document Management is a new document upload feature that will enable applicants applying direct to Clearing for 2026 entry, or all students for 2027 entry, to upload supporting information to specific sections of the application. Adding documentation will be optional and is designed to support efficient and inclusive admissions.

All documents will be security checked and not added if they fail. Applicants will be able to upload the following information to support their application: 

  • Change of name (only required if different to the name on the qualification certificate)
  • Care experience
  • International qualifications:
    • All relevant achieved qualifications
    • English Language certificates
    • Transcripts
    • Translated qualifications
  • UK qualifications (uploading documents is not required for those still in formal education*)
  • Visas and passports

These are the most commonly requested documents requested by universities and colleges. UCAS provides a secure and efficient way to collect and store these documents until universities and colleges request to view them. 

*applicants who are still in full-time education and have not taken any gap years away from school/college

Admissions Guide Appendix B - Applicant Statements Including Declaration

Benefits of Document Management

Document Management will enable universities and colleges to:

  • Easily choose if and when you download documents
  • Significantly reduce administrative time lost to requesting and chasing for documents
  • Spend your time making the right admissions decisions

Keep up to date with the latest Document Management updates - as well as an overview of other products and tools - via our provider developments page:

 

Provider developments at UCAS

Who is Document Management for?

UCAS is introducing Document Management, a feature designed for undergraduate applicants. It supports inclusive admissions by allowing applicants to upload supporting information directly with their application. To highlight: 

  • Applicants must enter all information on their UCAS application. Uploading supportive documents does not replace the need to complete details on their application.  

  • Uploading supporting information is an optional step in the UCAS application process - therefore applicants who do not use the document upload service must not be disadvantaged. You should continue to request evidence directly if needed.

  • UCAS will collect and retain copies of the documents submitted with the application. Every document uploaded is security checked by UCAS, but UCAS does not undertake any checking process on the documents. Therefore, UCAS will not verify or validate documents uploaded by applicants

  • In exceptional circumstances, UCAS will remove inappropriate or illegal documents as per request by applicant, adviser, or provider.  

How Document Management works

Upload documents when asked within the application

The document upload feature is available in specific parts of the UCAS application, based on how applicants answer certain questions. Applicants should only upload the documents listed in the relevant section. 

Security checks are applied automatically

Every document uploaded is security checked by UCAS. This includes scanning for viruses, checking the file size and file type, and making sure the document isn’t password protected. If a document fails these checks, it won’t be uploaded. In this instance, applicants will need to send documents directly to you. UCAS advises universities and colleges to carry out their own security checks on the documents you download.

Documents are stored securely

UCAS securely stores uploaded documents and makes them available to universities and colleges when needed. Applicants are advised that documents may not be accessed at the same time as the application is sent – this depends on each university or college’s admissions process. 

Avoid uploading extra documents

If you need additional information, you should contact the applicant directly with clear instructions on what to provide and how to send it. 

When will Document Management be available?

Document Management will take a phased approach:

 

PhaseCycleSystemLaunch date (student)Consume data (provider)
Phase 1: Applicants applying direct to Clearing only2026Consume data via Web-Link only2 July 20262 July 2026
Phase 2: All applicants2027Consume data via Web-Link and UCAS-LinkMay 2026From September 2026

 

NB: Documents will not be available via XML-Link.​


 

What types of documents are accepted?

Application sectionOfficial and relevant documents could include:Applicants
Personal Details section: Change of Name
  • Marriage certificate 
  • Civil Partnership certificate 
  • Deed Poll certificate  
  • Change of Name certificate 
UK/international
Diversity and Inclusion section: Care experience
  • A signed letter from a professional third party (e.g. teacher, doctor, charity, care worker, personal adviser, social worker, young carers association) confirming your circumstances 
  • Letter/email from the local authority or school confirming your name, date of birth and dates you were cared for by the local authority
  • Care experience supporting information
UK only
Education section: Qualifications
  • Official qualification certificates (Uploading documents not required for those still in UK formal education)
UK (mature)
Education section: Qualifications and English language
  • Official qualification certificates
  • Official translated qualification certificates
  • Official qualification transcript (e.g. High School, SAT, ACT)
  • English Language certificates (e.g. TOEFL, IELTs English Language certificate, Pearson PTE, LanguageCert, PSI, Trinity College Dublin)
International only
Nationality section: Passport and visa
  • An official and current visa or immigration status document with applicant name on it 
  • A copy of the photo page of your official and in-date passport with applicant name on it 
International only

 

Information about file types accepted can be found in the Admission Guide

How do I access documents submitted by an applicant?

You can access documents for each applicant within their individual record in Web-Link.

If your student record system (SRS) supports UCAS-Link you will be able to import documents into it. Please check with your SRS development team and/or vendor for more details. If your SRS does support this functionality you will need the following:

  • UCAS-Link access - if you do not have it already (e.g. for MCDS or Personal Statement) then it can be requested via the Halo support portal. You will be supplied with a client ID and secret that will need to be used to access UCAS-Link
  • Your SRS IP address needs to be added to an access control list. You may need to consult with technical teams to in order to establish this. Once you have it, you can request it be added (or updated) via the Halo support portal

If you need any support with this please contact our Service Delivery Management team on sdmtech@ucas.ac.uk

Student parents chatting in uni communal area

Key information for providers

  1. Universities and colleges must self-serve to access documents as and when required
  2. Applicants who do not use the document upload service must not be disadvantaged - you should continue to request evidence directly if needed
  3. Imported documents are subject to your own data policies
  4. You must ensure documents are utilised only for the admissions process and in accordance with any guidance issued by UCAS
  5. Universities and colleges are to complete their own due diligence to authenticate documents
  6. You are advised to carry out your own security checks on the documents you download 
Admissions Guide - Results

Key information for advisers

  1. Advisers have visibility within the Adviser portal, but no access to the documents
  2. The "Return application to student functionality" is available to amend, add, or remove documents
  3. Advisers do not undertake any checking process on the documents
two students working together on laptop

Key information for applicants

  1. Enabling applicants to upload supporting documents is an optional feature
  2. Applicants must enter all relevant information on their UCAS application
  3. Applicants can amend uploads until it is submitted to UCAS. Post submissions changes will not be permitted
  4. Applicants can amend uploaded documents if their application is returned by their school/college/centre
  5. Applicants can upload five documents at a time, up to a maximum of 30 documents per application
  6. Uploaded document file sizes restricted to 5MB
Students walking on campus

Key information for UCAS

  1. UCAS' document upload service is a repository service only
  2. UCAS does not verify the authenticity or accuracy of the documents submitted
  3. All documents will go through UCAS security checks and assigned a unique filename
  4. UCAS will monitor applicant and provider usage. UCAS has restricted access to documents
  5. UCAS may delete documents in exceptional circumstances only
  6. UCAS will delete all documents uploaded by applicants at the end of the cycle

Need to report an issue?

If you need to report a problem with a document (e.g., it has failed your university or college security checks, or you need to request deletion of an inappropriate document), please use the 'Report an issue' option in the UCAS Halo support portal.
 

Before submitting your ticket, ensure you have the following details ready:

  • PID
  • Document unique filename e.g. <cycle code>_<personal id>_<application scheme code>_<section id>_<category id>_<uploaded at timestamp>.<original filename extension>
  • Applicant’s full name
  • Applicant's date of birth
  • Any relevant context or error messages

 

Verification Team

This team is responsible for the prevention and detection of fraud in applications and similarity in personal statements. Please stay alert to possible fraudulent activity and if you identify anything that needs our investigation, get in contact with us.

 

Customer Success Team

The Customer Success Team supports you in all areas relating to our application processes and operational policy. They can also support technical issues, escalate problems and deal with frontline enquiries relating to UCAS campaigns.