The Extra as UCAS Applicants’ Option

Unsuccessful and successful applicants in UCAS can use the Extra option. Those of them who were not given any offers, those who have received but did not like any of them and those who have decided that they no longer want the courses which decisions they have yet to receive can still make an extra choice or more. They are still eligible to receive an offer before results are published and before the start of Clearing.

• Circumstances – If an applicant have used up all of his or her five choices in the application but were given no offers, he or she can go the Extra route. It is also widely used among applicants who have received five offers but did not like any of them. Further, those who have decided that they are no longer interested in the courses from which they have not received any decision can cancel them in Track. After doing so, they will see the “Add Extra Choice” function appear. However, one should be make the decision carefully because the cancellation cannot be undone.
• Notification – There are no extra fees for this “additional” service. The payment you made during your submission of your application already includes this option. Applicants who are eligible to go the Extra route will be informed by UCAS. Any applicant can check whether he or she is eligible by using the Track function of his or her UCAS account where the “Add Extra Choice” option will become available.
• Course Selection – Eligible applicants can make their choices one by one starting the last days of February until the whole month of June and early July. They can look for the vacant courses on the UCAS website. Universities and colleges will inform UCAS which courses are already full. Applicants can identify the remaining courses through the Course Search function on their UCAS accounts because they are marked with a grey X. There is no limit to the number of choices an applicant can make. An eligible applicant selects the “Add Extra Choice” option to add an extra choice online. They will also receive conditional, unconditional and rejections and accept or decline them.
• One at a Time – An applicant has the option to make a referral for another university if he or she does not hear from a university within 21 days. Universities have until the middle of July to make decisions. Unsuccessful applicants and those who did not want what was offered them and, thus, decline can make one further choice or more if there is still time.
• Personal Statement – The courses you choose through Extra may be different from ones you originally chose. This means that the personal statement you have originally submitted is no longer applicable to the new choices you have made which are different. Contacting the university or college of your Extra course selection to inform them how you have changed your mind is highly advised. Tell them that you are eager to send them a version of your personal statement which is revised based on the changes of your choices.
• Commitment – If an applicant is offered a place through Extra, accepting it goes with a commitment to the offer. One will be placed with the university or college if he or she meets the conditions of the offer. Applicants who will not be able to meet the conditions of the offers given to them will be automatically eligible for Clearing.

Failure in receiving offers which you would like to accept or being unsuccessful in getting offers at all is not the end of the road towards university life. You can still make new choices from which you can get that one offer which in turn can be your key to a truly enriching academic life and a successful professional career in the future.