Ucas deadline 2020: When is the application day and what do I do if I miss it?

Applicants have less than a week to meet the January cut-off date

Thousands of students are expected to apply for a place through Ucas this week (PA)

Prospective students have just a few days to submit their applications to British universities.

The universities admissions service Ucas said applicants should make sure they have entered their qualifications and reference correctly and leave plenty of time to complete the application.

Here is our guide on everything you need to know ahead of Ucas deadline day.

When is the deadline?

The deadline for the majority of undergraduate courses starting this autumn is Wednesday, 15 January at 6pm (UK time).

The deadline has already passed for courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as for most veterinary, medicine and dentistry courses. The deadline was 15 October 2019 for these courses.

What do I need to do before the deadline?

Applicants must ensure they have registered on the Ucas website before they send off their application.

Prospective students must fill in their personal details, qualifications and course choices as part of the Ucas application.

They are also required to submit a personal statement where they should set out why they would be a good candidate for the course. This must be no longer than 4,000 characters.

Applicants must also include a reference – which will usually be a tutor, teacher or headteacher – and they need to pay the application fee.

What if I miss the deadline?

Prospective students who miss the January deadline can still apply for courses – but some may be full.

The final deadline for late Ucas applications is 6pm on Tuesday, 30 June.

Can I get a university place through clearing?

If you apply after the June deadline, you will be entered into clearing. Applying directly through clearing means that as opposed to having five choices, you will be applying for a single university at a time.

You can be entered into clearing if you submit an application to Ucas before 6pm on Monday, 21 September.

The process, which runs between July and October, is available to those who have not received any offers or have not met their offer conditions, as well as for those applying after 30 June.