Year 13
UCAS & University
Applying to UK universities
UCAS is the central system for UK university applications. You can apply to 5 courses with one personal statement. The cycle runs from September of Year 13 to August of the gap before university.
What they want
- Strong predicted A-Level grades
- A focused, evidence-based personal statement
- Genuine supercurricular engagement in your subject
- An academic reference from your school
- For top courses: admissions tests (LNAT, UCAT, MAT, STEP) and/or interviews
Key UCAS deadlines
15 October: Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine. 29 January: most other courses. Late June: clearing opens. The application is one form — same 5 choices, same personal statement.
The new UCAS personal statement (from 2026 entry)
Three structured questions: (1) Why this subject? (2) How have your studies prepared you? (3) What else have you done outside school that's relevant? Around 4,000 characters total. Show, don't tell — every claim needs evidence.
Admissions tests
Medicine: UCAT (most unis) or BMAT (some). Law (Oxford, UCL, LSE): LNAT. Maths (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Warwick): MAT, STEP, TMUA. Most are sat in October/November of Year 13.
Interviews
Oxbridge interviews are subject-specific and academically rigorous — they want to see how you think, not what you know. Medicine uses MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews). Prepare by reading widely and practising thinking aloud.
Offers and Results Day
Universities make conditional offers (e.g. AAA). On results day in August, you'll be confirmed at your firm choice if you meet the conditions, or fall to your insurance. Clearing opens for those without an offer or who missed conditions.