Glossary
UCAS — explained for Turkish readers
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the central body through which almost all full-time undergraduate applications to UK universities are made.
UCAS is the charity that runs the central application system for undergraduate courses in the UK. An applicant submits one form with up to five choices, a personal statement and a reference, and each university decides independently whether to make an offer. UCAS does not set exams, rank students or allocate places; it collects, forwards and tracks applications. Postgraduate applications generally go direct to the university.
Turkish readers often compare UCAS with ÖSYM, and the comparison works only for the central form. ÖSYM sets the YKS and places students by score; UCAS makes no academic judgement at all. A Turkish student is therefore assessed on the lise diploması, transcript and any YKS result as each university sees fit.
UCAS asks for an English translation alongside any original that is not in English, and does not accept translations made by the applicant. Our guide for Turkish students applying to UK universities lists the documents commonly needed.