History of UCAS in Timeline

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK-based charity and private limited company that manages the application process for British universities and colleges. Founded in 1993 through the merger of the Universities Central Council on Admissions and the Polytechnics Central Admissions System, UCAS facilitates applications and provides educational support services. Its funding comes from applicant and university fees, along with advertising revenue.

1957: CVCP ad hoc committee formed

In 1957, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) established an ad hoc committee to review increasing University applications, leading to the formation of UCCA.

January 1961: UCCA Third Report

In January 1961, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) ad hoc committee's Third Report recommended setting up a central agency, which later became UCCA.

1963: UCCA pilot year

In 1963, the UCCA scheme underwent a pilot year, handling a subset of applications.

1964: UCCA uses computer bureau services

In 1964, UCCA began using the services of a computer bureau with a Univac machine for application processing.

1964: UCCA First Full Year of Operation

In 1964, UCCA managed admissions for the first full year of operation.

1965: UCCA handles 80,033 applicants

In 1965, UCCA handled 80,033 applicants.

1966: Oxford and Cambridge Join UCCA

In 1966, Oxford and Cambridge joined UCCA with slightly modified procedures.

1967: UCCA Installs its Own Univac Computer

In 1967, UCCA installed its own Univac computer to process applications.

1967: London medical and dental schools, Belfast and Stirling join UCCA

In 1967, the London medical and dental schools, as well as Belfast and Stirling, joined UCCA.

1968: UCCA moves to Cheltenham

In 1968, UCCA relocated its operations from London to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

1969: UCCA handles 114,289 applicants

In 1969, UCCA handled 114,289 applicants with an acceptance rate of just over 50%.

1972: Polytechnics discuss admissions with UCCA

In 1972, Polytechnics engaged in discussions with UCCA and the Central Register and Clearing House concerning potential future structures for admissions systems.

1977: Polytechnic admissions study

A study in 1977 found that between sixty and seventy per cent of those admitted to a polytechnic had only applied to that institution and forty percent of admissions resulted from applications made in August or September of the year of entry.

1983: Negotiations to share computing, technical and office facilities in Cheltenham

In 1983 the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics began negotiations with UCCA to share its computing, technical and office facilities in Cheltenham to establish a course entrance system, based on the existing model used by UCCA.

1985: PCAS System Comes into Effect

In 1985, the PCAS system came into effect, led by its first Chief Executive, Tony Higgins. It handled around 140,000 applications to polytechnic courses, with 40,000 a year going on to study at polytechnics.

1992: UCAS formed by merger

In 1992, UCAS was formed through the merger of Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) and Polytechnics Central Admissions System (PCAS). The name UCAS is a contraction of the former acronyms UCCA and PCAS.

1992: UCCA and PCAS combine under Tony Higgins's leadership

In 1992, following the change of status and name of most polytechnics to universities, UCCA and PCAS combined under Higgins's leadership. Initially the application form was branded jointly UCCA/PCAS.

July 1993: UCAS Formed

In July 1993, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) was formed through the merger of the Universities Central Council on Admissions and the Polytechnics Central Admissions System.

1994: UCAS Officially Renamed

In 1994, the new merged body was officially renamed UCAS.

1996: Art and Design Admissions Registry Absorbed into UCAS

By 1996, means of absorbing the Art and Design Admissions Registry into UCAS were found.

2015: Amsterdam Fashion Academy admitted to UCAS

In 2015, the Amsterdam Fashion Academy became the first non-UK educational establishment admitted to UCAS.

2019: UCAS accused of abusing its position

In 2019, consumer finance expert Martin Lewis accused UCAS of abusing its position after it allowed a private debt company to promote high interest commercial loans to school leavers.

2021: Scheme closed at the end of the 2021 entry cycle

In 2021, the scheme closed at the end of the 2021 entry cycle, with applications now being run through gov.uk in England, and through the UCAS undergraduate application scheme for courses in Scotland and Wales.

2022: Adjustment Cancelled

In 2022, the "Adjustment" scheme was cancelled and is no longer available. Adjustment allowed applicants who exceeded their firm offer conditions to search for a place at another university while retaining their original offer.

2025: Free School Meals application fee waived

From 2025 entry, student in receipt of UK government funded free school meals at some point during the last six years, are eligible to have the application fee waived.

2026: New Personal Statement Format Developed

In 2026, UCAS has developed a new format for the personal statement, replacing the free-form statement with three questions, for those completing an application for 2026 entry onwards.