All students applying for third-level undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland use the UCAS system – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. This is a centralised service that deals with over two million applications a year on behalf of all the universities and colleges in the UK.

The UCAS system takes into account the student’s capabilities and personality, but is not involved in choosing students, instead it assists colleges or universities with their decisions. All UCAS applications are now submitted online through the UCAS web site. The UCAS system can be intimidating and complex at first glance; so have a look through these sections for a basic understanding of what goes on and when…