UK admissions process FAQs
The admissions process when you apply to study in the UK can seem like there’s a lot to do. Here you can find answers to some of the most common questions, but don’t worry; you can always speak to an adviser too!
Application and entry requirements
It really depends – sometimes it can take as little as a few days, but it could also take up to a year. One thing that can slow down the process is not having all the required documents ready to submit with your application. The sooner you send us these documents, the sooner you can move on to the next stage of the admissions process.
You’ll need to submit copies of three documents with your application:
- your passport(s)
- your academic results
- your IELTS UKVI results
You can start the admission process with only a copy of your passport, but you’ll need to submit copies of your academic and IELTS UKVI results later. We may also ask you for additional documents.
Yes, you can apply to up to three universities, but you will need to do a separate application for each one. If you have a Kaplan advisor or an agent, they can add more university options to your application for you. You can also submit one application and mention in the comments section that you’re interested in other universities.
Each university will have different entry requirements for their degrees. When you apply, our admissions department will check to see if you meet the requirements for the degree you’ve chosen.
Maybe. You can ask to change your progression university after you enrol on your pathway course, but we can’t guarantee that you will be able to go to that university. We can only give you guaranteed entry to your chosen degree — once you complete your pathway course at the required level with good attendance — at the university that you chose when you accepted your offer.
Fees and scholarships
Both international and home students pay the same tuition fee for pathway courses.
If you’re a home student, which will be determined by the admissions department, you may not be able to apply to some universities through Kaplan. The good news is that we partner with several universities that accept home students, and your agent or Kaplan advisor will talk to you about your different study options if you are assessed as a home student.
Your progression university will also check if you’re a home or international student to make sure you’re paying the right fees.
We don’t offer full scholarships for our pathway courses. However, we do offer partial scholarships, and some universities offer partial scholarships when you progress from your pathway course to your degree. Universities might also offer their own scholarships, but you would need check with universities directly to find out what they offer and their criteria.
You must meet certain criteria to be eligible for any scholarships.
Enrolment and offers
By law, most countries require a SELT, and you must supply one when you apply to study in the UK. There are some exceptions, and you can find this information on the UK government’s website.
We have a list of accepted alternative English tests that cover the 2024–25 academic year.
If there are no SELTS test centres in the country that you live in, you’ll need to take a test in another country.
No. If you apply and get an offer, you can either accept or decline it.
If you meet the conditions of your offer letter, we will then issue you a new offer letter with an unconditional offer. The admissions team will review any documents that you send through to confirm you meet the conditions. The review can take up to 24 hours, but we may have to get feedback from the university directly, so this could take longer.
No, there’s no deadline to accept your offer. However, some courses have a limited number of spaces available, and we take students in order of when they accept their offer. This means that once these courses are full, your offer won’t be valid anymore, and your agent or Kaplan advisor will give you alternative options.
We also have enrolment deadlines, so we recommend you accept your offer as soon as possible. This will give you enough time to go through the process of getting your student visa, if you need one, and securing your accommodation before your course starts.
To confirm your place on your pathway course, you need to meet the conditions of your offer letter, sign your offer acceptance form and pay your deposit. Deposits vary at each university, and your offer letter will tell you the exact amount, but it’s usually around £5,780.
If your government is sponsoring your studies, you will need to provide a financial guarantee.
Borderline academic scores will need to be reviewed and may still be accepted, so you should still send us your documents. We will also talk to you about other universities that may accept you based on the scores you have.
If you ask for a refund within 14 days from the day that you paid your deposit, you can get your deposit back, but the £260 admin fee will not be refunded. If you ask for a refund outside of these 14 days, you could still get a refund. Check the terms and conditions for more information.
You’ll need to be at least 16 when you enrol at your college. You can still apply and receive an offer for a pathway course when you are 15, as long as you will have your 16th birthday before you start your studies.
Confirmation of acceptance of studies (CAS)
Before you get your CAS, you need to meet the conditions of your offer letter, sign your offer acceptance form and pay your deposit. This will move you to the visa / pre-enrolment stage of the process, and you will then be sent your CAS.
No, you will have to meet all the conditions on your offer letter as well as sign the offer acceptance form and pay the deposit (or provide a financial guarantee if you are being sponsored by your government) before you get a CAS.
It usually takes 1–5 working days for Kaplan to issue a CAS. For some courses, such as the University of Bristol International Foundation Programme and the University of Birmingham foundation pathways, the university issues the CAS. In these cases, it could take longer.
Kaplan doesn’t have any control over how long it takes for universities to issue their own CAS.
Accommodation
Yes, we offer students accommodation during their pathway course. You can review your accommodation options on the Kaplan Living website, or check availability using the live availability tracker.
You can book your accommodation once you have accepted your offer and paid your deposit. When you have done this, you will receive an email inviting you to book your accommodation by logging into your Kaplan student portal. Booking is easy — you can find full instructions here!
