UCAS: How
to apply?

Read our advice below to help you through the UCAS application process, step by step. 

• 1. Register with UCAS

  Register in the UCAS Hub and complete the registration questions – confirming the year you want to start your studies and that you're interested in ‘Undergraduate’ level of study.

  You’ll then be taken to your UCAS Hub dashboard, where you’ll see a tile called ‘Your application’. Simply click ‘Start’ to begin your application.

  When completing your application – make sure you enter your first name and middle name(s) exactly as they're stated on official documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, or driving licence. If you only have one name, enter it in both the first name and last name fields on the application.

  UCAS HUB

• 2. Add the college buzzword

  When you start your application, you will then be taken to a page where you will need to confirm you are applying from a school, college or centre. If you are a West Herts College student click yes, read and accept the terms and then enter our college buzzword.

  Buzzword for 2025 applications: Westherts2025

  Buzzword for 2026 applications: Westherts2026

  This will link your application to the college, permitting us to view and track your application. This is a very important step you as you must link your application to the college to allow your tutors to complete your student reference and proofread your personal statement.

• 3. Complete your details

  Now you have created your account, the next step is to fill out all the sections on the application form. You do not have to complete your UCAS application in one sitting, you can save your progress and continue where you have left off at a later date.

  Key information you will need to know:

  1. Make sure your email address is always up-to-date– so you don’t miss important updates on your application. You can change your email address at any time, but only your primary email address will receive email communications from UCAS and your chosen universities and colleges.
  2. Your ULN (Unique Learner Number) – if you are a West Herts College student this has been emailed to you
  3. BTEC Registration Number – if you are a West Herts College student this will be emailed to you
  4. Centre Details – West Herts College Centre Number is 40132
  5. Student Support Arrangements – This will be your county/local authority - (e.g. Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire/Greater London etc).

• 4. Add your education history

  Enter all your qualifications from secondary education onwards

  Whether you have the result or you’re still awaiting exams and results add all your qualifications from secondary/high school onwards. If you are retaking GCSE Maths and/or English Language this year, you will need to put each one in under the College centre as GCSE (Grade: 9-1). The exam board for Maths is Edexcel, for English it is AQA. Put the dates as June 2025 and the grades as pending (leave blank).

  Add your college modules

  Add all your modules for both years. For your first-year modules, put the end dates as June 2024 and put the grades you achieved for each. For this year’s modules, put the date as June 2025 and leave the grades as pending (leave it blank).

  Double-check your modules/grades with your tutor if you don’t know them or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. from your College/Student email account to enable the Exams team to release your results via email.

• 5. Complete your employment history

  If you've had any paid jobs – full-time or part-time – here's where you can enter details for up to five of them. Include company names, addresses, job descriptions, and start/finish dates.

  Any unpaid or voluntary work shouldn’t be included here – mention that in your personal statement. If you’ve not had any paid work experience, just leave this section blank, and mark it as complete.

• 6. Finance and funding

  You need to add your Fee Code which is:
  02 - If you’re applying for a loan
  01 - If you’re financing yourself
  05 - If you’re applying for an NHS bursary as a student nurse/midwife/allied healthcare professional.

  Please note: that the NHS bursary is means-tested and if you are eligible, it will not cover all tuition fees, so you will still be required to apply for a student loan in addition to the NHS bursary grant (at least £5,000 annually)

• 7. Select your course choices

  You can choose up to five courses (all now or some later). There’s no preference order and your universities/colleges won’t see where else you’ve applied until after you reply to any offers you get.

  We have a offer a range of degree-level courses at West Herts College browse our Higher Education courses and find out more.

  Browse our Higher Education courses

• 8. Write a personal statement

  This is the only part of the application where you can write in your own style – it’s your chance to tell universities and colleges why you’d like to study with them, and what skills and experience you have. This is where you get to shine and sell yourself to universities. Displaying your passion for the subject area you are applying for.

   It’s got to be at least 1,000 characters long – but you have up to 4,000 characters/47 lines – whichever comes first.

  We recommend you start in Microsoft Word (or something similar) and paste it into your application as the application doesn’t have a spell check – while you’re in your application, hit save regularly to avoid losing your work. As you would with any important piece of work read and re-read and preview it before you mark this section as complete. Click the button below for advice on how to write your personal statement.

  How to write your personal statement

• 9. Submit your application

  Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll be shown your full application – make sure you review it and make any edits.

  You’ll then be asked to read and agree to the declaration – which allows us to process your info and send it to your chosen universities/colleges.

  If you are a West Herts College student please ask your TPA tutor or the Careers and Progression team to check before you send.

• 10. Pay your application fee

  For 2025 entry, the application fee will be £28.50 for up to five choices. You can pay for your application online by card on the UCAS website.