UCAS is the central organization that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. In 2006, UCAS received university applications from 506,304 individuals, of which 74,108 were from non-UK domiciled applicants. Initial figures for 2007 (15 March) have shown further significant increases.

There are currently more than 300,000 international students studying at university in the UK. According to UCAS, "the UK has some of the best higher education programmes in the world and it provides an attractive, exciting and stimulating environment to study in." UCAS can assist those interested in studying in the UK in deciding where and what to study and how to apply. It enables you to access impartial, up-to-date information about more than 50,000 higher education courses and 325 universities and colleges, all recognised by the UK Government. Applicants complete only one application form for up to, currently, six different courses via the UCAS online Apply service and you are helped to monitor the progress of your application from start to finish.

Although UCAS deals with hundreds of thousands of applications each year, it recognises that requirements are always individual and provides specific information to international students and their parents, who might feel some anxiety about international study. The website www.ucas.com is an invaluable and clear resource for all students and their parents or advisers at every stage of considering studying at undergraduate level in the UK.

Source: This Newsletter item has been broadly based on information from the UCAS website.