ucas contact number

Right—deep breath. Phone’s in hand. UCAS portal’s glitched *again*. You’re whispering sweet nothings to your laptop, begging it to just *accept your personal statement*, and somewhere, a kettle’s whistling like it’s auditioning for the Royal Opera. Before you yeet your phone into the bin: yes, the ucas contact number is *absolutely* real. And yes, actual humans *do* answer—eventually. But here’s the secret no one tells you: timing’s everything. Call at 9:02 a.m. on Results Day? You’ll be listening to *that* synth loop (you know the one) till tea. Call at 3:45 p.m. on a Tuesday in February? Boom—you’re through in 90 seconds, speaking to someone named Dave who *also* once submitted his reference 12 minutes past the deadline. We’ve been there. We’ve got the stress-eating receipts to prove it.

Here’s the golden ticket: for UK applicants, the main ucas contact number is **0371 468 0468**. (Yep—no “0845” rip-off charges. It’s *03*, so it costs the same as phoning your nan in Leeds.) Lines are open **Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.**—but pro tip? Avoid 8:30–10:30 a.m. like soggy chips. That’s when every sixth-former in Britain panics about predicted grades. After 4 p.m.? Staff are tired but *kind*, and weirdly more likely to say “Tell you what, love—I’ll escalate that.” For international callers? Try **+44 330 333 0230**—same hours, same patience (bless ‘em).

Look—UCAS advisors aren’t psychics, nor are they uni admissions tutors (though they *do* know more about tariff points than most A-level examiners). So don’t ring up asking, “Why did *Oxford* reject me?” They’ll sigh, politely, and say: “We can’t speak to uni decisions.” But? Ask “Can I add a fifth choice after submitting?” or “My referee hasn’t uploaded their reference—can I *nudge* them?”—and suddenly, you’re golden. Best use of the ucas contact number? Clarifying *process*: deadline extensions, Clearing codes, UCAS Adjustment (RIP, but we miss you), or how to withdraw a choice without crying in public. Oh—and if the website’s down? They’ll *tell* you. No Googling required.

Results Day hits. Your grades are… *creative*. You’re in Clearing, heart pounding like you’ve just sprinted up Arthur’s Seat. You’ve got three unis on speakerphone. Your mum’s Googling “can you retake A-levels in *one week*?” This? This is when the ucas contact number becomes your emotional support hotline. They won’t pick your course for you—but they *will* walk you through: how to add a Clearing choice, what the “*C*” status *actually* means, and—critically—how to *not* accidentally accept two offers. One advisor told us: “We’ve had lads try to juggle *three* unis. Mate—it’s like dating. One at a time.” Wise words.

Alright, let’s crack the code. That classic combo—**A\* A\* A\*** at A-level? In 2025’s UCAS Tariff, it’s **168 points**. (Yes, *not* 180—A\* is 56, not 60, since the 2017 recalc.) But hold up—tariff isn’t gospel. Some unis (looking at you, Oxbridge, med schools, and that architecture course in Glasgow) care more about *specific grades* than the sum. Others—especially newer unis or creative degrees—go full tariff and *love* a Level 3 BTEC Distinction\* (\* = 56 pts, same as A\*). Confused? Ring the ucas contact number. They’ve got a live tariff calculator *and* the patience of a primary school teacher during Ofsted week.

Let’s bust a myth: your sixth-form’s UCAS advisor isn’t the *only* lifeline. True—their reference matters, and their deadline nagging is *chef’s kiss*. But lost in a personal statement spiral? The **Samaritans of UCAS** include: - National Careers Service (free one-to-one guidance—0800 100 900) - The Scholarship Hub (for funding panic) - UCAS’s own YouTube channel (yes, really—search “UCAS Personal Statement Do’s”) And if you’re care-experienced, estranged, or from a low-income background? UCAS has a *dedicated* support line: **0371 468 0488**. Shorter queue. Bigger hearts. All while the main ucas contact number hums along in the background.

Short answer? **Yes—but with caveats thicker than a Sunday roast Yorkshire pud.** – Before 18:00 on 31 January: tweak *anything*—personal statement, choices, references. – After 31 Jan but before offers come in: swap *one* choice (max), but only if still open. – Post-offer? You can’t edit your app—but you *can* decline offers, add Clearing choices, or—crucially—*change your firm/insurance* up to 19 June (2025 cutoff). And if you’ve submitted to five unis and *all* reject you? You can add *sixth* and *seventh* choices *during Clearing*. The ucas contact number team will guide you through the “UCAS Adjustment” equivalent (now folded into Clearing), no judgement—just tea and tactical advice.

Not everyone’s doing three A-levels—and thank *goodness* for that. The ucas contact number crew field calls daily from students going, “But my *BTEC National Extended Diploma* is worth *how* much?!” Here’s the 2025 cheat sheet:

UCAS Points Snapshot (2025)

Fun fact? A **T Level Distinction\*** = A\*A\*A\*—and the ucas contact number team *adores* explaining this. They’ve seen T Level grads get into Russell Group unis and still get side-eyed at open days. “It’s *not* ‘easier’,” one rep told us. “It’s *different*. Like comparing a sonnet to a symphony.”

We’ve done the fieldwork (and the stress-sweat). Here’s the **Unofficial UCAS Call Strategy™**: ✅ **Call on Wednesdays, 3:30–4:15 p.m.**—lowest call volume (schools are in lessons; offices are post-lunch slump). ✅ Say “*I’m a teacher supporting a student*” if you’re stuck—staff prioritise advisors. ✅ Have your **UCAS ID** and **date of birth** ready—skip the security dance. ✅ If on hold >5 mins: hang up, wait *exactly* 3 mins, redial. System resets. And if all else fails? Email **help@ucas.com**. Less instant, but replies come *with screenshots*. Sometimes, that’s worth the wait.

If you’ve rung, Googled, and still feel like you’re decoding Linear A—don’t panic. Start at the source: Jennifermjones.net for plain-English guides that don’t assume you know what “tariff” means. Need deeper context on how institutions handle applications? Dive into our curated hub: Institutions. And if you just want the *number* plus 5-minute troubleshooting? Our lightning guide’s ready: UCAS Phone Number: Quick Application Help. Because sometimes, you don’t need a novel—you need a postcode, a phone, and someone who *gets it*.

References

• https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/how-apply
• https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/ucas-undergraduate-tariff/calculator
• https://www.gov.uk/call-charges
• https://www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/contact-us