UCAS enabling GCSE students to search and apply for post-16 work and education-based training courses – including academic and vocational courses (such as A levels and BTECs), as well as Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes. The scheme is free for students to use and is implemented as a national service – listing post-16 opportunities from all across the UK. UCAS Progress also helps schools, colleges and local authorities address recruitment issues and statutory obligations resulting from raising the age of participation in secondary education; an initiative which legally obliges students to remain in full-time education or work-based training until the end of
UCAS before paying the fee and submitting the form themselves. For most current applications, the cost per student is £18 to apply for a single course, or £24 for two or more courses. Depending on the subject and on the university that they are applying for, candidates must submit their application by the relevant submission deadline to ensure their application is given equal consideration by the higher education providers they are applying to. It is possible for students to submit applications up until 30 June each year; but a late submission may not be given the same consideration as those submitted