Hit or missed the UCAS deadline? What's next?

If you're applying for university, the UCAS deadline was 6pm on 14 January 2025. Here, we share advice on what to do if you made (or didn't make) that deadline.

I made the deadline

Congratulations! You’ve got your application in on time!

You can follow your application with UCAS’ Hub. Once the deadline has passed, you’ll receive a welcome email with some instructions on what to do.

The universities you applied to will start to receive your applications and will begin going through them. They'll be making sure you have the right predicted grades for your chosen degree and that you’re a good fit. This will result in them deciding whether or not to offer you a place. If they decide to make you an offer, it'll be one of the following:

Offer type

What it means

Unconditional Firm (UF)

You've met the requirements and have a guaranteed place.

Conditional Firm (CF)

If you get your predicted grades, you're in.

Conditional Firm (CF) and Conditional Insurance (CI)

If you've made more than one choice, you're in with your first choice and if not, you have to meet the conditions of the second.

Conditional Firm (CF) and Unconditional Insurance (UI)

You've made more than one choice. If you've met the conditions of the first, you'll be on that course. But if you don't, you'll definitely be on the second.

If you're not accepted by any of your university choices, you can still apply through UCAS Extra or Clearing.

Once you’ve received your offers, you need to reply by specific deadlines (see our UCAS key dates guide). And you'll need to select a firm choice; this will be your number one option - the course you really want to study at the university you really want to go to.

If your firm choice is conditional, you'll also need to choose an insurance choice, just as a back-up in case you don't meet the requirements. Then you must decline all your other offers.

Next you’ll find out if you’ve got a place. The UCAS Hub will tell you if your place has been confirmed.

I've missed the deadline

Getting your application in by the deadline can mean you have the best chance of finding a place on your dream course. Some courses fill up fast so the earlier you can apply the better.

But, if you have missed the deadline, don’t panic! You can still apply to university for September 2026 through UCAS Extra or Clearing.

UCAS Extra

If you've used all five choices, and you're not holding any offers, you can add another choice using Extra. This year, UCAS Extra opens 26 February 2026.

If you did not use all your choices in your initial application, you don't need to use Extra, you can just sign in to your UCAS application and add another choice, as long as it’s before 30 June, and you’ve not accepted or declined any offers.

Clearing

All applications received after the 30 June 2025 will automatically be entered into Clearing. So, you'll need to begin/finish your applications as soon as possible. Clearing officially begins on 2 July 2026 and finishes in September.

If you’ve not started your application, you can check out our guide to registering with UCAS.

The majority of universities will have courses available in Clearing, but they are typically offered on a first-come-first-served basis, so you’ll need to get in quick.