Ark Education Centre is a registered UCAS centre supporting private candidates and home-educated students with the university application process. If you are applying to university without a school or college behind you, we can help with predicted grades, references, deadlines and UCAS submission — and we do this free of charge for candidates sitting their examinations with us.
Who this service is for
Private candidatesSitting GCSE or A Level exams without a school
Home-educated studentsApplying to university independently
Adult learnersReturning to education and applying through UCAS
Candidates sitting exams at ArkRegistered for GCSE or A Level at our centre
Please note: UCAS support is only available to candidates sitting examinations at Ark Education Centre. We do not offer this service to candidates who are not registered with us for exams.
How it works
Register to sit your exams with Ark
Tell us you want UCAS support on your application form
Sit mock exams if predicted grades are needed
We coordinate your reference and UCAS submission
What we offer
Full UCAS application support — from creating your UCAS Hub account to final submission
Our UCAS buzzword so you can link your application to our registered centre
Application tracking throughout the admissions cycle
Predicted grades based on mock examinations sat at our centre
Reference coordination — we request references from your tutors, assessors, or previous school or college
Guidance on personal statement preparation and key deadlines
Ready to apply to university?
Register with us for your exams and indicate on your application that you wish to use our UCAS service. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Key UCAS Deadlines — 2027 Entry
Missing a UCAS deadline can mean your application is not given equal consideration by universities. Plan well ahead — if you need predicted grades, you must sit mock examinations before the relevant deadline.
Oxbridge & Medicine
15 October 2026
Oxford, Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses. Contact us immediately if this applies to you.
Main undergraduate deadline
13 January 2027
At 18:00 UK time. Applies to most undergraduate courses for 2027 entry. Equal consideration guaranteed by universities.
Applications open
1 September 2026
You can register and prepare your application before this date, but submissions are not accepted until 1 September 2026.
How to obtain predicted grades
Predicted grades are an estimate of the grades you are likely to achieve in your forthcoming examinations. Most universities require predicted grades as part of a UCAS application, particularly when you are applying before your results are available. At Ark Education Centre, predicted grades are based on your performance in mock examinations sat at our centre.
Register for your exams
When completing your examination registration form, indicate that you wish to use our UCAS service and require predicted grades.
Pay the mock examination fee
An invoice will be raised for the mock examinations. Payment must be made in full before mock exam dates are allocated. Please contact us for current mock exam fees.
Choose your mock exam date
We will provide available mock examination dates for you to choose from. Select a date that gives enough time before your UCAS deadline.
Sit your mock examinations
Your mock exams are marked by our team. We then arrange a feedback meeting to discuss your performance and grade expectations.
Receive your predicted grades and buzzword
Once your predicted grades are finalised, we confirm them in writing and provide you with our UCAS buzzword. You enter this buzzword on your UCAS application to link your application to our registered centre.
Reference for your UCAS application
Every UCAS application requires a reference from a teacher, tutor, or assessor who can comment on your academic ability, work ethic, and suitability for higher education. As a private candidate, arranging this reference is your responsibility — but we make it straightforward.
We coordinate the reference on your behalf. We will contact your existing tutors, assessors, or previous school or college and request a reference to include in your UCAS submission. To use this service, you must have taken mock examinations with us or be registered with Ark Tuition.
If you do not currently have a tutor or assessor who knows your academic work, we strongly recommend arranging tuition before applying. Universities expect the reference to include substantive commentary on your academic performance and potential.
Personal statement
Your personal statement is one of the most important parts of your UCAS application. It is your opportunity to explain why you want to study your chosen subject, what relevant experience you have, and what you can contribute. As a private candidate, you will need to write this independently.
We recommend beginning your personal statement several months before the deadline — particularly if you are applying for Oxbridge or medicine, where the 15 October 2026 deadline leaves very little preparation time. UCAS provides guidance on writing a personal statement on their website at ucas.com.
UCAS application fee
The UCAS application fee for 2026–27 entry is £28.50, covering up to five course choices. This fee is paid directly to UCAS by the candidate at the time of application submission. Ark Education Centre does not charge any additional fee for the UCAS application service itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UCAS buzzword and how do I get one?
A buzzword is a code that links your UCAS application to our centre. Once you are registered with us and your mock examinations have been completed, we will provide you with our buzzword so you can add Ark Education Centre as your UCAS centre on your application. Without completing this step, we cannot submit your reference or predicted grades to UCAS.
Do I need to sit my exams at Ark Education Centre to use the UCAS service?
Yes. Our UCAS application service is available exclusively to candidates who are registered to sit their examinations at our centre. We do not offer UCAS support to external candidates who are not sitting exams with us. If you would like to use our UCAS service, please register for your examinations with us first.
How much does the UCAS application cost?
Ark Education Centre provides UCAS application support free of charge to all registered candidates. The only cost is the standard UCAS application fee of £28.50 (2026–27), which you pay directly to UCAS at the time of submitting your application. If you require predicted grades, you must sit mock examinations at our centre — please contact us directly for current mock examination fees.
Can you provide a reference if I am not registered with Ark Tuition?
We coordinate the reference on your behalf by requesting it from your existing tutors, assessors, or previous school or college. You do not need to be registered with Ark Tuition to use this service, but you must have taken mock examinations with us. Having a tutor or assessor who can provide a substantive academic reference will significantly strengthen your application — universities expect the reference to include specific commentary on your academic performance and potential.
What is the deadline for Oxbridge and medicine applications?
Applications to the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses must be submitted by 15 October 2026 for 2027 entry. This is significantly earlier than the main January deadline. If you are applying to any of these courses, you must contact us as early as possible — ideally before the summer — to allow sufficient time to sit mock examinations and receive predicted grades before the October deadline.
Ready to apply to university?
Register for your exams and include your UCAS requirements on the application form. Call us on 020 3441 7272 or WhatsApp 07311 920941 if you have any questions.