How to apply

UCAS application cycle

Applications to full-time degree courses at the University of Bristol must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS). Further information about applying to university is available from our how to apply page.

All UK schools and colleges (and a few overseas establishments) are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Your child/dependant can speak to their teacher or careers adviser to find out more about the application process; international applicants can get advice from the local British Council office.

The table below summarises what your child/dependant will be expected to do and how you can help them stay ahead of deadlines.

Please visit our key dates page for specific dates for the application cycle.

UCAS application cycle
When	Activities
Year 12 and beginning of Year 13 (24 to 18 months ahead of entry)	Research and choose courses and universities Encourage your child/dependant to attend higher education and careers fairs - here's a list of the fairs the University of Bristol will be attending. Talk about the decision making process, such as which subjects they want to study and at which institutions based on their preferences and priorities. Encourage them to visit universities and narrow down which institutions to apply to. Encourage them to discuss their predicted grade and plans for higher education with school/college tutors ahead of making their application.
October - the deadline for Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science and applications to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. (12 months ahead of entry) January - the deadline for all other universities/courses. UK applicants should apply by this date to guarantee equal consideration. (12 to 9 months ahead of entry) June - international applicants can usually apply up until this date for all other universities/courses. (12 to 4 months ahead of entry)	Complete applications Your child/dependant should draft, edit and finalise their application. You'll find useful tips on completing university applications on the UCAS website. Encourage your child/dependant to ensure that their tutors have completed academic references and ensure that they complete the online UCAS form ahead of the deadline. Do they need to sit any admissions tests that their selected universities ask for (for example LNAT, UCAT)? Remind them to register for any that are required. The University of Bristol asks law applicants to sit the LNAT.
October - May (12 to 6 months ahead of entry)	*Wait for all* decisions Your child/dependant should have their applications confirmed by UCAS; they might also get an acknowledgment email from the universities they've applied to. Any offers they receive will appear on UCAS Track, so encourage them to check the website regularly. They should attend any interviews or offer holder days during this time, these are a good opportunity for your child/dependant to see if the university is right for them ahead of making it a firm or insurance choice. When they've received all their decisions** Ensure your child/dependant chooses a firm and insurance choice on UCAS Track. The deadline for this will depend on when they receive all their decisions; UCAS will let them know their date. Applications for student finance can usually be made from January. Find out more about fees and funding.
Results day (1 month ahead of entry)	If your child/dependant has met the terms of their offer they do not need to contact the university; this will be confirmed on UCAS Track. If they have missed the terms of their offer they should check UCAS Track to see if a final decision has been made for them yet. If not, they should contact their firm choice immediately to see if they are still able to offer a place. They may then need to contact their insurance choice. If they have not made the terms of either their firm or their insurance choice, they will automatically be entered into clearing. If they have exceeded the terms of their offer they are eligible to enter adjustment although places are often limited. More information about what to do on results day can be found on the UCAS website.

Further information about applying

Is it in my child/dependant's interests to apply as soon as possible?

Equal consideration is given to all those who apply by the January deadline, or by the earlier October deadline for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science, so there's no need to worry about getting in ahead of other applicants. Some departments may begin making offers earlier than others, but all applications received by the deadline will be assessed fairly. Therefore, some applicants won't receive decisions until March/April/May, when we've had time to assess all the applicants who met the deadline.

Can you see where else my child/dependant has applied?

UCAS operates an invisibility policy. This means that each university that your child/dependant applies to can't see which other institutions have also received an application from them. We will only be able to see this information after the applicant has made their firm and insurance decisions.

Will an application be affected if Bristol isn't put as my child/dependant's first choice?

Applicants do not rank universities on their UCAS form; they are processed alphabetically. Whether we are first or fifth on your child/dependant's own shortlist, the secret's safe with them!

Can my child/dependant apply for a gap year?

If your child/dependant plans to take a gap year, they should consider what experiences and skills they will gain and explain their reasons for taking a gap year in their personal statement. Each course entry in our undergraduate course finder will show whether deferred applications are welcomed - some departments may limit the number of deferrals they can accept to ensure fairness to those applying in the following application cycle, but will still consider them. It's worth remembering that even if your child/dependant applies for deferred entry and is unsuccessful, they can make a fresh application in the next UCAS cycle for entry that year.

What happens after applying?

As applications are received, members of the admissions team consider them according to criteria set by each department. All departments publish admissions statements, which are included in our online course finder entries.

Following an application, your child/dependant will receive an acknowledgement email and will be updated on the progress of their application while they wait for a decision.

The University of Bristol receives UK applications on a rolling basis from September to January, and international applications up until June. Some applicants will receive a decision very soon after applying, and others may not have one until later; this happens every year and is nothing to worry about. Even if your child/dependant receives some decisions months before others, they do not have to decide their firm and insurance choices until they have received all their decisions.