UCAS Application Guide
Completing your UCAS application is the first step in joining Performers College
Applying before the UCAS January deadline
If you are looking to apply this year you should submit your application by Wednesday 14th January 2026. This is the equal consideration deadline set by UCAS, and we guarantee everyone who applies by this deadline will be considered on a fair and equal basis.
Applications submitted after this date are considered after all the January equal consideration deadline applications have been processed.
What are the benefits of applying by the equal consideration deadline?
- Guaranteed consideration for your chosen course.*
- More availability when booking your audition.
- Receive an offer sooner – the earlier you apply, the faster we can process your application.
- Be one of the first to confirm your place for September 2026.
- More time to organise your finances and accommodation.
- As an offer holder, you will also gain access to exclusive content, webinars and events.
Ready to launch your performing arts career? Apply by 6pm on 14th January and join one of the UK’s premier performing arts universities.
*subject to entry criteria being met.
When you apply to UCAS, you’ll be asked to submit up to five options for the courses you’d like to study at the institutes you’d like to join.
You’ll find all our courses listed on the UCAS website, along with our course and campus codes.
To make an application through UCAS, you’ll need to go to www.ucas.com and register before you can submit any choices.
If you’ve used all five choices on your application, and you’re not holding any offers, you could still find a place using UCAS’ free service, Extra. Find our more about Extra on the UCAS website or our helpful blog.
What your UCAS application will include:
- A list of all your academic achievements, including any pending qualifications
- A Personal Statement, split into three questions (minimum of 350 characters each)
- A reference from your teacher, tutor or employer
For more information about UCAS submissions and guidance, see our personal statement guide below.
If you’re applying to university for 2026 entry, there are some important changes to the way you’ll write your personal statement. Instead of one long text, UCAS is introducing a new structure: three shorter sections, each with a different question to help you shape your answer.
This new format is designed to give all students the same clear structure and support. Each section has a minimum character count of 350, and the total across all three sections must not exceed 4,000 characters (including spaces). You’ll see helpful character counters and guidance in the UCAS form.
The Three Questions
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This is your chance to show what excites you about the subject you’re applying for.
Think about:
- Specific areas of the course or industry that interest you
- Your personal journey and what led you here
- Where this course could take you in the future
- Books, blogs, podcasts, or articles you’ve explored
- Your career aspirations and how this subject fits in
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
Use this section to reflect on your education so far.
You could include:
- Relevant subjects, modules, or topics you’ve studied
- Dance, drama, or performance modules you’ve taken
- Assignments or projects you’ve enjoyed
- Independent research or reading you’ve done around the subject
- Skills you’ve developed through coursework or exams
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Here’s where you can show the bigger picture – your experience beyond the classroom.
For example:
- Work experience or volunteering
- Creative or personal projects
- Clubs, societies, or extracurricular activities
- Travel, languages, and leadership roles
- Challenges you’ve overcome or goals you’ve worked towards
What not to Include
Keep it honest, relevant and clear. Make sure you answer each question properly and use your own voice. Write a first draft in a separate document so you can plan, edit and proofread it before you add it to your application.
Check your spelling and grammar – and don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust to check your work before you submit it.
Top tips
Please don’t include any information about support or access requirements in your personal statement. There’s a dedicated section on the UCAS form for this, which ensures the right support teams at BIMM University can help you.
When we receive your UCAS application, we’ll invite you for an audition or interview. If it’s not possible for you to attend in person, other options available include a Zoom interview or a remote submission. If you meet the entry criteria for the course you’ve selected, we’ll offer you a place.
After you’ve applied via UCAS, you’ll be invited to attend an audition or interview. If it’s not possible for you to attend in person, other options available include a Zoom interview or a remote submission.
If your audition is successful, we’ll provide you with a ‘conditional offer’ (which means it’s pending until we receive your exam results and certificates) or an ‘unconditional offer’ (meaning you’ve met the entry criteria for the course and don’t need to give us any additional information).
Your offer will be announced via UCAS’s ‘Hub’ facility.
Once you have submitted and paid for your UCAS application, you will then be able to view any changes or updates made to your application via UCAS Hub. This is where you will be able to view any offers that you may have received and any conditions associated with this.
Your offer and conditions
If you are made a conditional offer on UCAS, it is important that you take the time to read the conditions of your offer carefully, as an offer from BIMM Institute could include any or all of the following- each of these will need to be met/evidenced before your offer can be made Unconditional:
- Academic qualifications- Level 3 (such as A Levels) and Level 2 (such as GCSE English)
- Passing an RPP Submission- this will be set for mature applicants in lieu of Level 3 qualifications or if Level 3 attainment does not meet requirements
- Passing RPL (Year 2 entry only)
- Attending an audition/interview and receiving a recommendation
- Passing a Level 2 English essay- if you do not hold GCSE English at a C or Level 2 equivalent, then we may ask you to complete a short, written task
- Copy of your UK passport
- Evidence of Immigration Status
- A reference- if you did not provide one on your UCAS application
Accepting your offer
You will only be able to accept your offer once you have received decisions from all of your choices. If you have applied to more than one institution and would like to accept an offer made by BIMM, but are unable to, then it is likely that you are waiting for a decision from another choice and it may be worth contacting them directly.
You do not have to have met the conditions of your offer before you accept it. Your offer will remain Conditional Firm (CF) until you have provided evidence that all conditions have been met. Often, this will be once you receive your exam results.
Depending on when you receive all of your offers, you will have a deadline to respond. This information will be available to view on your UCAS Hub.
There are a number of important dates to be aware of, if you are applying for an undergraduate course through UCAS. These deadlines are set by UCAS for all applicants using the service and we are unable to amend these.
You will receive correspondence from UCAS to remind you of any important dates and will also be able to view and deadlines that you might have, by logging into your UCAS Hub.
Some of the most important dates for you to be aware of for the 2026/27 cycle are:
- 14th January 2026 – UCAS Equal Consideration deadline. This is the deadline for applications to be considered ‘on-time’ and will guarantee that your application is considered before any applications received after this date.
- 3rd June – If you received replies from all of your choices by 13th May 2026, then you will need to reply to your offers by this date. If you miss this deadline, then your applications will Decline by Default (DBD).
- 30th June – UCAS main scheme closes for new applicants. All new applications received after this point will be made through Clearing.
- 2nd July – Clearing opens for applicants who did not apply during the main scheme
- 22nd July 2026, 18:00 – If you received replies from all of your choices by 15th July 2026, then you will need to reply to your offers by this date. If you miss this deadline, then your applications will Decline by Default (DBD).
Any questions?
For help with your UCAS application, call our friendly Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346, making sure you’ve got your UCAS Personal ID Number to hand. Alternatively, you can email them at [email protected].
