UCAS

In the next five years, over 80% of all applicants will use the online service. Joy Chamberlain investigates why

In 1996 the university application and clearing system went online and it is now one of the busiest sites on the Web. It’s also becoming the most popular way of finding information about university entrance. In fact, UCAS managers expect that in the next five years, over 80% of all applicants will use the online service. As it is roughly one third of all applications are electronic. ‘The future is on-line for us,’ said a senior manager.

The UCAS site has two aspects, one for general public and one for the universities. The part invisible to the public is an interactive site for universities and colleges to track applications and the availability of courses.

The part visible and usable for the rest of is a database of courses, over 45,000 of them. You also find advice on application forms, academic requirements, finance and just about everything else you need to know about applying for university. And, very helpfully, there are sections for parents.

The site is good to look at
The pages are uncluttered, with short, clear menus and links that lead to rapid downloads. But be warned, expect slower speeds on Sunday when the traffic (numbers of people accessing the site) is at its heaviest.