UCAS institutes, parents and legal guardians of applicants, school and Further Education college staff involved in helping students apply and providers of higher education (universities and HE colleges). While UCAS is best known for its undergraduate application service (the main UCAS scheme), it also operates a number of other admissions services: UCAS is based near Marle Hill in Cheltenham at the junction of the B4075 ("New Barn Lane") and the A435 ("Evesham Road"), near Cheltenham Racecourse and a park and ride. It is situated just inside the parish of Prestbury, Gloucestershire. UCAS was formed in 1992 by the merger of Universities
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education called a university. No organisation may award degrees or call itself a university in the UK unless authorised to do so by the government. Applications are considered by a dedicated QAA committee, the UK Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers, enabling its board to offer advice to ministers. QAA is the regulator for the Access to Higher Education Diploma which enables adults without A-Levels or their equivalent to progress to higher education. Organisations known as Access Validating Agencies (AVAs) are responsible for validating and reviewing Access courses and awarding the Diploma to successful students. QAA licenses and monitors the AVAs