Step-by-Step Guide for UK Students

Choose your course(s)

Register to apply with UCAS

You’ll do this on the UCAS website, using UCAS Hub. Your school or college may have a ‘buzzword’ which is needed to register on the UCAS site.

If you are applying independently (not through a school or college) you won’t need to add a buzzword.

Your application

The UCAS online application system opens in September for entry to university the following year. Once you’re registered, you can log in and start your application.

You can complete the application form in stages, so there is no need to complete it all at once.

Your application will need to include:

• personal details and qualifications
• course choices (up to 5 options)
• personal statement
• a reference from a teacher, adviser or professional who knows you academically

Universities will consider your entire application, not just exam results, so if you’re a mature student, life experience and employment will also be taken into consideration. You’ll need to include the name and code of your chosen institutions. The Newcastle University institution name is NEWC, and the code is N21.

Application dates to remember

The following dates are applicable if you are applying to start
university in 2025:

• 15 October 2024 – Application deadline for Medicine and Dentistry courses
• 29 January 2025 – Application deadline for most courses (excluding Medicine and Dentistry)
• 26 February 2025 – UCAS Extra opens. If you've used all five choices on your application, and you're not holding any offers, you could still find a place using Extra
• 30 June 2025 – UCAS Application deadline. If you miss the January deadline you can still apply until 30 June, although some courses may be full – UCAS will show you which courses are available. After this date, applications are automatically entered into Clearing
• 4 July 2025 - Last date to apply for a course through UCAS Extra
• 5 July 2025 – UCAS Clearing opens

Other keys dates and info that may be helpful are shown on the UCAS website.

Deferred entry

You can defer your university entry until the following year. People tend to defer their entry to gain work experience, travel abroad or take part in GAP projects. You’ll need to show on your UCAS application how you expect to spend the year.

You can apply for deferred entry while you are still at school or college, or you can request deferred entry after submitting your UCAS application.

After you’ve applied

You'll receive a welcome email from UCAS with details of how to use UCAS Hub to see how your application is progressing.

When you apply to us, we’ll also send an email to invite you to register for our Apply to Newcastle Portal where you will be able to:

• upload supporting documents
• see how your application is progressing
• make enquiries

Our admissions tutors will review your application, taking into account your personal statement, references, evidence of relevant skills and any special circumstances which may affect your application.

Receive the outcome of your application

You'll be notified via email that there has been an update on your application, so you can log into UCAS and view any updates and offers.

If you applied by 29 January 2025 the deadline for universities to make their offers is 14 May 2025 – however your offer is likely to arrive before this date.

There are three possible outcomes:

• a conditional offer means you still need to meet the requirements – usually exam results
• an unconditional offer means you've got a place, although there might still be a few things to arrange
• an unsuccessful application means the university you have applied to hasn’t been able to offer you a place on your chosen course

If your application is unsuccessful and you have not been made any offers, don’t worry, you have the opportunity to apply through UCAS Extra (before 4 July), or apply though Clearing.

UCAS Extra

If you've used all five choices on your application, and you don’t receive any offers you could still find a place using UCAS Extra which opens 26 February 2025.

Replying to your offer(s)

Once all of your offers have been added to UCAS you'll receive an email telling you this.

You can log back into UCAS Hub and reply to your offers. You then select which university is your first choice (firm choice) and your second choice (insurance choice).

Consider your options carefully and ensure you respond by the specified dates. Deadline dates for responding to your offers will also appear in UCAS Hub.

Applying through Clearing

If you haven't secured a place at university by August 2025, you can also apply to Newcastle University through Clearing.

During Clearing, all universities with spaces available on their degree courses will advertise these vacancies – usually on their websites and on the UCAS website.

Find out more about how Clearing works at Newcastle

Provisionally registering

If you accept an offer from us, approximately 6 weeks before your course is due to start, we’ll ask you to provisionally register online.

You’ll receive an email with registration instructions, as well as information on how to access your Newcastle University email account.

Don’t worry if you can’t register online, as you can do this on campus when you arrive.

Arrival

Once you’re here you can join our Freshers’ Week. It’s run by our Students’ Union and has a full schedule of activities to help you settle in and make friends.

During this first week you’ll also need to complete your registration.

Paying your tuition fees

As part of the registration process you'll be asked to pay your tuition fees.

Home fee paying students can pay tuition fees in full to receive a 2% early payment discount.

Further details can be found on our fees pages

Get started on an amazing education

Now the work really starts as you make Newcastle yours.