UCAS
The UK admissions service for universities and colleges with course search and applications.
UCAS at a glance
UCAS is an education website and one of the most visited sites in United Kingdom, currently ranked #165 in the country. It was founded in 1993 by UK higher education sector and is headquartered in Cheltenham, UK. Today UCAS is owned by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 25 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through application fees, advertising. Its closest rivals include thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk, whatuni.com, gov.uk.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 23.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 24.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 25 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 26.5 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Organic search44%
- Direct36%
- Referral10%
- Social6%
- Paid4%
Audience & demographics
- Women51%
- Men49%
- Age 18-2434%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4419%
The audience is concentrated in United Kingdom, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United Kingdom86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 7.5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United Kingdom
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ucas | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| exam results | Top 10 | High | — |
| past papers | Top 10 | High | — |
| online courses | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United Kingdom web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 66% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading education apps in United Kingdom
Company information
- Website
- ucas.com
- Sector
- Education
- Owner
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
- Owner type
- Nonprofit
- Founders
- UK higher education sector
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Cheltenham, UK
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $90 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- organic search, direct, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $90 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Nonprofit
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
UCAS operates an education platform focused on United Kingdom. The UK admissions service for universities and colleges with course search and applications. Revenue comes mainly from application fees, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Application fees
- Advertising
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United Kingdom
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United Kingdom)
- #165 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading education site in United Kingdom
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk | ≈ 15 million / month | #166 class competitor | — |
| whatuni.com | ≈ 11.2 million / month | #167 class competitor | — |
| gov.uk | ≈ 7.5 million / month | #168 class competitor | — |
What is UCAS?
UCAS (ucas.com) is an education platform serving users in United Kingdom. The UK admissions service for universities and colleges with course search and applications. It ranks #165 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the education category.
Who owns UCAS?
The site is operated by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, founded by UK higher education sector. The company was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Cheltenham, UK. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place UCAS at roughly 25 million visits per month, about 0.8 million per day. Around 66% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 5.2 pages per visit with an average session of 9 min.
How UCAS makes money
Revenue comes primarily from application fees, alongside advertising.
Competitors in United Kingdom
Its closest rivals include thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk, whatuni.com, gov.uk.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1993
UCAS is founded in Cheltenham, UK.
- Growth phase
Expands its education offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #165 among the most visited websites in United Kingdom.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free or low-cost access to study material
- Content aligned with the national curriculum
- Works on low-end devices
- Exam and result services in one place
Cons
- Peak-period slowdowns around exam dates
- Uneven content quality between subjects
- Limited personalised feedback
- Some features locked behind subscriptions
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns UCAS?
UCAS is operated by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Nonprofit structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is UCAS headquartered?
UCAS is headquartered in Cheltenham, UK.
When was UCAS founded?
UCAS was founded in 1993 by UK higher education sector.
How many employees does UCAS have?
UCAS employs approximately 500+ people.
What is UCAS's revenue?
UCAS's revenue: ≈ $90 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are UCAS's competitors?
Main competitors in United Kingdom include thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk, whatuni.com, gov.uk.
How does UCAS make money?
Mainly application fees, advertising.
Is UCAS publicly traded?
No — UCAS is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.
How many visitors does UCAS get?
Third-party estimates place UCAS at roughly 25 million visits per month, mostly from United Kingdom, with 66% mobile traffic.
Is UCAS safe?
UCAS is an established education site founded in 1993 and ranked #165 in United Kingdom; use the official domain ucas.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsucas.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited Kingdom and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos