PURPOSE.

UCAS

The UK's university admissions service, a Cheltenham charity that runs undergraduate applications and helps young people explore study and apprenticeships.

About UCAS

UCAS runs the UK's undergraduate admissions service. It provides information, advice, admissions and data analysis for students, teachers and the higher education sector, and runs an apprenticeships hub and career finder. Its employer page says over one million young people register on UCAS Hub each year.

Its core purpose is described as providing an 'accessible and trusted undergraduate admissions service', and its vision as being at the heart of connecting people to higher education. It is a registered charity whose aim is advancing education.

UCAS is based at Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham. A charity record shows 560 employees for the year to July 2025, down from 583 the year before. A 2019 board brief says the board meets mainly in Cheltenham or London.

The 2019 board brief stresses equality, diversity and inclusion, and gives no formal list of values. We did not find a recent culture page.

UCAS has taken on its own apprentices in Cheltenham. A 2019 article profiled three, in HR, procurement and operations, on apprenticeships of about 18 months with a college assessor. It gave no pay or entry requirements. We found no current round, so check the UCAS Join our team page.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Runs the application process for UK universities and colleges.', 'title': 'Undergraduate applications'}
• {'desc': 'Lists apprenticeship opportunities with employers.', 'title': 'Apprenticeships hub'}
• {'desc': 'Guidance for students and teachers.', 'title': 'Information and advice'}

Key facts

• Based in Cheltenham, UK
• Registered charity (England and Wales)
• 560 employees in year to July 2025 (charity record)
• Apprentices employed in Cheltenham (2019 article)

Website: www.ucas.com