The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Analysis

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cheltenham. It was registered in August 1993, 33 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02839815). It says it provides services.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service reported income of £58.7m and spending of £57.1m, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £51.7m to £58.7m (+14%), an average of +3.2% a year. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Reigate Grammar School (£58.6m), St John's College Cambridge (£58.7m) and Rugby School (£57.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 55% and investments 2.7%. Charitable activities took 60% of spending and raising funds 39%. Reserves of £18.6m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 560 people.