Compress a PDF for UCAS
UCAS takes PDFs up to 5 MB. PDF Desk shrinks yours to just under it, right in this tab.
Max 5 MBPDF / JPEG / JPG / PNG / DOC / DOCX / ODT
Files stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
UCAS upload limits
| Document | Max size | Min size | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate application document upload (per document) Max 30 documents per application, 5 at a time; password-protected files rejected; HEIC not accepted. Applies to 2027 entry and direct-to-Clearing 2026. | 5 MB | — | PDF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, DOC, DOCX, ODT |
Where this number comes from
“Uploaded document file sizes are restricted to 5MB.”
— Uploading documents to your application | UCAS. Checked October 2026.
PDF Desk aims at 4.8 MB, a little under the limit, because some portals count 1 KB as 1,000 bytes.
If the file will not get small enough
Scan in black and white at 150 DPI instead of colour. Remove blank and duplicate pages with Delete pages. If the portal allows several files, cut the PDF with Split PDF and upload the parts.
Other portals in United Kingdom
Limits of other portals
Questions
What is the maximum PDF size for UCAS?
Undergraduate application document upload (per document): 5 MB. Source: ucas.com, checked October 2026.
UCAS still rejects my PDF. Why?
Check that it is not password-protected, that the file name has no special characters, and that it is a few percent under the limit — some portals count 1 KB as 1,000 bytes.
Are my PDFs uploaded?
No. PDF Desk opens and writes the file with JavaScript inside your browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, so it is safe for contracts, IDs and bank statements.