How to apply for a higher education course
How and when you apply for higher education depends on where you wish to study and what type of course you’re applying for. Whichever route you use, it’s worth starting your preparations early.
Applying for a higher education course
You can search and apply for most higher education courses.
You usually have to be 18 or older to take a higher education course. They’re usually taught in:
- universities
- further education colleges
- specialist institutions like art schools or agricultural colleges
Higher education qualifications include:
Undergraduate
- diplomas
- foundation degrees
- bachelor degrees
Postgraduate
- Master's degrees
- PhD's or doctorates
- postgraduate diplomas
- postgraduate certificates
How to apply for a full-time undergraduate course at university
Institutions based in Northern Ireland
| Institution | Application method | Institution website |
|---|---|---|
| Queen's University Belfast | University and Colleges Admissions Service | Queen’s University |
| Ulster University | University and Colleges Admissions Service | Ulster University |
| Stranmillis University College | University and Colleges Admissions Service | Stranmillis University College |
| St Mary's University College | Direct to the university college | St Mary’s University College |
| Open University | Direct through the website | Open University |
Further Education Colleges
You can check with individual further education colleges to see what higher education courses are on offer, and how to apply for them.
Institutions based in the Republic of Ireland
| Institution | Application method | Institution website |
|---|---|---|
| Universities based in the Republic of Ireland | Majority use the Central Applications Office (CAO); however there may be exceptions for some – further information available here |
Further information on studying in the Republic of Ireland is available here |
Institutions based in Great Britain
| Institution | Application method | Institution website |
|---|---|---|
| Universities based in Great Britain (GB) | University and Colleges Admissions Service |
Further information on universities in GB can be found at the relevant sites: |
| University of Oxford |
University and Colleges Admissions Service Also through 'The Oxford Application' on the university website |
University of Oxford |
| University of Cambridge |
University and Colleges Admissions Service Also through 'My Cambridge Application' on the university website |
University of Cambridge |
Specialist UK based institutions
| Institution | Application method | Institution website |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist music, dance and drama | Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Conservatoires | N/A |
Timing of applications
UCAS and CAO will each have set timeframes/ deadlines for each part of the application process, and key dates will vary year to year.
In general, the UCAS application window opens in mid-May and closes at the end of January, with offers and acceptances taking place before admission in September. The CAO application window opens in November and closes in February with admissions taking place in September/October (the CAO does have a late application facility which is more expensive – further information is available on the CAO website).
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the key stages and timings of the relevant applications process. This information is available on the relevant website – UCAS publishes a valuable toolkit for student applicants; CAO also publishes a very useful application guide/handbook.
How to apply for a part-time undergraduate course at university
To apply for a part-time undergraduate course, you must apply directly to the university or college. You can search Discover Uni for UK-based part-time undergraduate courses by course name, provider name or location. For Republic of Ireland based providers, you can search Education in Ireland.
How to apply for a postgraduate higher education course
Each institution has its own application procedure so you'll need to pay attention to deadlines, as they may be different for each course. You can search and apply for postgraduate courses online. Like undergraduate courses, most postgraduate courses can be taken on a full-time or a part-time basis.
Finding a course
University and college postgraduate prospectuses list research opportunities and taught courses.
If you're not sure which postgraduate course you want to do or which institution you want to study at, online resources such as Prospects are available to help. If you're interested in a research opportunity, sign up on the Prospects website to get research vacancies emailed to you.
For postgraduate study in the Republic of Ireland, universities set their own criteria for admission and you apply directly to the institution. Some institutions might ask you to apply via the Postgraduate Application Centre (PAC). The PAC is a separate organisation which acts as the online registration and application portal for most Irish universities. They have all the information you need about the process, from making the application to the final decision and provide support at every step.
Applying for financial help
Once you've made your application, you can apply for financial help through Student Finance. Find out how much you could get and how to apply online.
Further information about financial support is available from: