UCAS Guidance

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) manages undergraduate applications to UK universities. Register at ucas.com, create your application profile, and add your personal details, education history and employment record. Luma's institution code is N65; course codes are listed on individual programme pages and in the UCAS search tool.

You may apply to up to five courses, either five different courses at Luma or a combination of Luma and other institutions. Medicine applicants may only choose four medical courses plus one alternative. There is a single application fee payable to UCAS when you submit.

Your personal statement is a maximum of 4,000 characters explaining why you want to study your chosen subject and why you would succeed at university. Admissions tutors at Luma look for genuine enthusiasm, relevant experience, and evidence of skills such as teamwork, communication and independent learning.

Avoid listing qualifications already detailed elsewhere in your application. Instead, reflect on reading, projects, work experience or extracurricular activities that shaped your interest. For vocational courses like nursing or teaching, demonstrate understanding of professional values and the realities of the career. Our widening participation team offers personal statement workshops at partner schools and during open days.

Your referee—usually a teacher, tutor or employer—submits a reference and predicted grades through UCAS. Inform your referee early and provide them with a draft personal statement and list of achievements. Predicted grades should reflect realistic expectations; inflated predictions can lead to offers you cannot meet.

If you are applying independently without a current academic referee, contact admissions@luma.ac.uk to discuss acceptable alternatives such as an employer or community leader who knows your academic potential.

After submission, monitor UCAS Track for decisions from each institution. Luma communicates offers through Track with email notification. You may receive a conditional offer (requiring specific grades), an unconditional offer, or an unsuccessful decision. If no decision appears after six weeks, contact our admissions team.

On receiving all decisions, reply by the deadline specified in Track—typically early June for applications submitted by January. Select a firm choice (your preferred offer) and an insurance choice (a backup with lower requirements). If you meet your firm choice conditions, your insurance is automatically declined. Missing both offers may lead to Clearing.