The company is funded by fees charged to applicants and universities as well as advertising income it was formed by the merger of the former university admissions system Universities Central Council on Admissions and the former polytechnics admissions system Polytechnics Central Admissions System. Incorporated on 27 July 1993, the company's main role is to operate the application process for British universities and colleges. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service ( UCAS / ˈ j uː k æ s/) is a private limited company based in Gloucestershire, England, which provides educational support services.
