Seven steps to apply through UCAS
Follow our step-by-step guide on applying for an undergraduate degree course through UCAS, including practical advice on what to do and when to do it.
Seven steps on how to apply
Step 1: Register with UCAS
If you’re applying to Manchester Met for a full-time degree, foundation year or foundation degree, you’ll need to apply online through UCAS.
UCAS is the official application service for the UK. It will send your application to each of your chosen universities.
Top tip: Choose an email address you have easy access to. School emails are sometimes hard to get into in the summer holidays. You don’t want to miss an important message.
Application fee
UCAS will charge you for processing your application. The fee is £27.50 for 2024/25, and £28.50 for 2025/26.
We do not charge for handling your application.
Step 2: Prepare your UCAS application
When you register with UCAS they will give you a password and username so you can access your application whenever you like.
You will need to complete the online application, including your personal statement.
And your school or college will add the reference and send the application on to UCAS. Check when their deadline is — it may be earlier than the official UCAS deadline, if they need time to process lots of applications.
Most people draft their applications in stages. You can log into your UCAS account at any time to make updates.
You can only send one UCAS application each year but can choose up to five courses. They can be courses at different universities, or more than one course at the same university.
Check you’re using the correct institution and course codes for each choice.
Top tip: Check you have correctly listed the qualifications you’re doing. Getting this wrong happens more than you’d think and could be the difference between getting an offer or being unsuccessful.
Mature students and independent applicants
If you’re not at school or college, you’ll need to apply as an independent applicant. You’ll need to get a reference from someone who knows you well and can write about why you are suitable for higher education.
Step 3: Apply by the January UCAS deadline
If you’re a UK student, you must submit your UCAS application by the January deadline to be guaranteed equal consideration.
Deadlines vary each year, so make sure you check the key dates.
You can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline. If we get your application by the end of June, we’ll consider it if there are places on your chosen course. Some of the most popular courses may already be full.
Applications made after June will have to go through clearing.
Step 4: Track your application
You can follow the progress of your application on your UCAS Hub.
We’ll also email you updates or to ask for more information if we need it.
For some courses, we make offers based entirely on the content of your UCAS application. For others, we may invite you to attend an audition or an interview, or ask you to submit a portfolio.
If you do not receive any offers from your initial UCAS application, you can apply to other courses through UCAS Extra.
You’ll be sent details of UCAS Extra if you’re eligible.
Step 5: Check your offers
You can check the progress of your application by logging into your UCAS Hub.
When you get offers, you’ll need to accept or decline them.
Your deadline for making a decision depends on when you applied and when the universities responded through UCAS.
Check your application to see your personal deadline on your Hub.
There are two different types of offer:
- Unconditional — You’ve already met all the entry requirements and have a confirmed place if you choose it as your firm choice.
- Conditional — Your place depends on meeting certain conditions, usually getting particular exam results. Details of your conditions will be in your offer.
Step 6: Accept your offer
You can accept offers from two courses:
- a firm choice
- an insurance choice
If you meet the requirements of your firm choice you’re expected to take that place. You need to be sure it’s the one you want to do.
If you do not get the grades for your firm choice and meet the requirements for your insurance choice, you will be expected to take up that place.
Once you are accepted by your firm choice (also known as being made unconditional), you will lose your insurance choice.
If you would prefer to go to your insurance choice, you must contact both universities as soon as possible to explore your options.
You’ll need to accept your offer through your UCAS Hub.
Step 7: Check your place is confirmed
You can check if your place is confirmed by logging into your UCAS Hub. We’ll also email you to let you know.
When your place is confirmed depends on the type of offer you have.
Conditional offers
Most applicants get conditional offers and need their exam results to meet all our entry requirements.
This means we can only confirm your place in August after A-level results are published.
Unconditional offers
If you’ve already met all of the entry requirements for the course, we can make you an unconditional offer. You’re more likely to get an unconditional offer if you’ve already got your exam results.
As soon as you accept an unconditional offer, we will confirm your place.
Next steps
