Extra

What is Extra?

The Extra process is a way of applying to further universities or colleges. If you have already made six choices, received decisions from all these choices and you have declined any offers you may have received, you can use the Extra process to apply for other courses that still have vacancies. You can only apply for one course at a time in Extra.

The Extra process operates from mid March to the end of June. Course Search will tell you which courses have vacancies in Extra. You should also confirm with universities and colleges that they can consider you before you apply. You do not have to wait until Clearing to apply for other courses. You apply for courses in Extra using Track on our website.

Who is eligible?

You will be eligible for Extra if:

• you have used all six of your choices; and

• you have had unsuccessful or withdrawal decisions for all your choices; or

• you have cancelled your outstanding choices and hold no offers; or

• you have received decisions from all six choices and have declined all offers made to you.

How does it work?

From 1 October 2006 until 30 June 2007 we will inform you if you become eligible for Extra. From 13 March to 6 July you can apply for courses in Extra using a special button that appears on your Track screen.

Check on Course Search for the courses available through Extra, and then enter the details on your Track screen. We send your application electronically and on paper to the university or college.

What happens next?

If you are made an offer, you can then choose whether or not to accept it. If you are currently studying for examinations, any offer that you receive is likely to be conditional, on achieving certain examination grades. If you decide to accept a conditional offer, you will not be able to take any further part in Extra.

If you already have your examination results, you may receive an unconditional offer. Once you accept an unconditional offer you have that place.

If you decline an offer or the university or college turns you down, you will be given another opportunity to use Extra, time permitting. Your Extra button will be re-activated.

Once you have accepted an offer in Extra, you are committed to it in the same way as you would be with an offer through the main UCAS system. Conditional offers made through Extra will be treated in the same way as other conditional offers, when your examination results become available. If your results do not meet the conditions of your offer and the university or college decide they cannot confirm your place, you will automatically become eligible for Clearing.

If you are unsuccessful, decline an offer, or do not receive a decision within 21 days of making an application through Extra, you can apply to a different university or college.

Advice

Our advice to you is to do some careful research, and seek guidance on your Extra choice(s). If you applied for high demand courses in your original application and were unsuccessful, you could consider related or alternative subjects. Your teachers or careers advisers or the universities and colleges themselves can provide useful guidance. Entry profiles, which appear with many courses listed on the Course Search facility, are another important source of information. As with Clearing, be flexible. That is the key to success.

Further details

If you have any queries about Extra and how it works, please contact our Customer Service Unit on 0870 1122211.