Uploading documents to the application

What's on this page?

Uploading documents to the application
Who uploads documents?
How the process works
What documents are accepted?
Key document upload information for advisers
Document upload and transcripts
Uploading documents to the application: FAQs
Need additional support?

Applicants applying direct to Clearing for 2026 entry, or all students for 2027 entry, will be able 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 scanned by UCAS for UCAS' systems and will not be added if they fail these checks. Applicants will be able to upload the following evidence 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*)
Visa and passports

These are the most commonly requested documents 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.

Please note that post submission changes are not permitted. Applicants can amend uploads until their application is submitted to UCAS, however once the application has been submitted, applicants are unable to add or amend the documents attached. Applicants can amend uploaded documents if the application is returned by their linked school, college, or centre prior to submission.

Admissions Guide Appendix D - Contextual Data

Uploading documents is designed to support efficient and inclusive admissions by:

Minimising administrative time lost by universities and colleges to requesting and chasing documents so they can focus their time on making admissions decisions
Ensuring under-represented students receive timely information about eligibility for additional financial and accommodation support
Enabling universities and colleges to easily choose which documents they want to receive and when, helping to avoid potential confusion and delays for applicants

Who uploads documents?

Designed for undergraduate applicants, the option to upload documents supports inclusive admissions by allowing applicants to upload supporting information directly with their application. To highlight the following key information:

Applicants must enter all information on their UCAS application; uploading supporting 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 upload documents will not be disadvantaged. Universities and colleges will continue to request information directly if needed.

UCAS will collect and retain a copy of the documents submitted with the application, but it does not undertake any checking process on these documents; therefore will not verify or validate documents uploaded by applicants.

In exceptional circumstances, UCAS will remove inappropriate or illegal documents as per request by the applicant, adviser (by proxy), or university or college.

How the process works

Applicants upload documents when asked within the application

The option to upload documents 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 scan

Every document the applicant uploads is security scanned by UCAS for UCAS' systems. 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 and applicants will instead need to send documents directly to their choices when requested.

Documents are stored securely

UCAS securely stores the applicant's uploaded documents and makes them available to the applicant's chosen universities and colleges when they need them. Documents may not be accessed at the same time as the application is sent – this depends on each university or college’s admissions process.

Applicants should avoid uploading extra documents

If a university or college needs additional information, they will contact the applicant directly with clear instructions on what to provide and how to send it.

Post submission changes are not permitted

Applicants can amend uploads until their application is submitted to UCAS. Once the application has been submitted, applicants are unable to add or amend the documents attached. Applicants can amend uploaded documents if the application is returned by their linked school, college, or centre prior to submission.

Uploading documents is optional

Please ensure your students understand that adding documents to their application is optional.

Applicants will not be disadvantaged if they choose not to provide supporting information. However, submitting documents upfront may help universities and colleges process applications more efficiently.

If applicants choose not to upload supporting information, universities or colleges may later request specific documents to be sent directly to them, as is current practice.

What documents are accepted?

These are the most commonly requested documents by universities and colleges:

Application section	Official 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 the applicant's circumstances Letter/email from the local authority or school confirming the applicant's name, date of birth and dates they were cared for by the local authority Care experience supporting information	UK only
Education section: Qualifications	Official qualification certificates (uploading documents is 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.e. 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

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

Documents uploaded will be used only for admissions purposes by universities and colleges in the UK. UCAS will not share them with any third-party organisations outside of this context.

Key document upload information for advisers

Advisers have visibility within the Adviser portal, but no access to the documents
The "Return application to student" functionality is available for the applicant to amend, add, or remove documents prior to submission
Advisers do not undertake any checking process on the documents

Key document upload information for applicants

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

Key document upload information for providers

Providers must self-serve to access documents as and when required
Applicants who do not use the document upload feature must not be disadvantaged - providers should continue to request information directly if needed
Imported documents are subject to the providers own data policies
Providers must ensure documents are utilised only for the admissions process and in accordance with any guidance issued by UCAS
Providers are to complete their own due diligence to authentic documents
Providers are advised to carry out their own security checks on the documents the download

Key document upload information - UCAS

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

Document upload and transcripts

Transcripts are optional documents that can be uploaded as part of a UCAS application. We understand that supporting transcripts can add to your workload, so we encourage applicants to speak with their school or college for assistance.

Uploading a full academic transcript is highly beneficial, as it provides admissions teams with a complete and accurate view of an applicant’s educational background. This is especially important for international applicants, where subjects, course content, and grading systems can vary significantly between countries. A transcript helps universities and colleges assess qualifications and academic readiness fairly.

If your students have consistently been asked to provide transcripts in previous application cycles, it may be easier to prepare them to upload these documents with their application. Otherwise, universities and colleges will continue to request copies directly from you.

Please note applicants will not be able to add password protected documents to their application.

What should be included in the official transcript?

A transcript should include essential information such as:

Full name of the student
Student identification number
Name of the institution issuing the transcript
Dates of attendance (start and end dates)
Programme of study (e.g. Advanced Placement (AP), High School Diploma, IB Diploma, BA History, etc)
Level of study (e.g. undergraduate, postgraduate, secondary education)

Academic details listing the courses or modules taken, including:

Grades or marks received for each course
Credit hours or units (if applicable)
Cumulative GPA or overall grade (if used by the institution)
Degree or qualification awarded (including classification, if relevant)

The transcript must be authenticated by the institution, including:

Official stamp or seal of the institution (only final and complete transcripts need an official stamp or signature of registrar)
Signature of registrar or authorised official (only final and complete transcripts need an official stamp or signature of registrar)
Date of issue

Please note: UCAS cannot accept password protected documents. If the official transcript is password protected, we recommend applicants send it directly to the universities or colleges when requested.

Uploading documents to the application: FAQs

What type of documents should we encourage students to upload?

It may help universities and colleges make a decision about a students’ application if they upload supporting documentation to their application. Please view the table above for a full list of the type of documents accepted.

What will advisers be able to see in the adviser portal?

Advisers will be able to see document titles that students have uploaded for 2027 entry (not for those applying direct to Clearing for 2026 entry), but will not be able to access or view the documents themselves.

More information and guidance about the adviser portal

Why has a university or college requested additional documents that aren't possible to upload to the application?

We collect the documents that universities and colleges most commonly request as part of the application process. However, depending on an applicant’s individual circumstances, a university or college may require additional information that cannot be submitted through the application.

If a university or college contacts an applicant to request additional documents, it’s important to respond directly and as promptly as possible. Ignoring these requests may delay their consideration of the application or affect the admission decision.

When to upload information of proof of name change?

When filling out their UCAS application, applicants should enter their first name and middle name(s) exactly as they are stated on official documents, such as their passport, birth certificate, or driving licence. If their qualifications were awarded in a different name to that used on their UCAS application, they should upload proof of their previous name to help universities and colleges verify any qualification results the applicant may have.

If the applicant has changed their name in the past but their qualification certificates will be in the same name as they have registered on their UCAS application, they do not need to add information of their previous name.

Documents applicants upload will be used only for admissions purposes by universities and colleges in the UK. UCAS will not share them with any third-party organisations outside of this context.

Need additional support?

Ahead of the 2027 cycle we will be sharing more information to help you support your students with uploading documents. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the Customer Success Team: