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Our new test, training, and development environment

This is a dedicated environment designed to allow you access, build, train, and test against our new services, some of which are live and some are still under development.

HEP3 is available from 08:00 on Monday until 18:00 on Friday, and functionality is released on a regular basis. We’ll keep you informed of what’s available via webinars and our bulletin

Go to the test and training environment

What can I use the HEP3 test, training, and development environment for?

You can use the environment for a range of admissions-related activity, including:

  • training
  • troubleshooting
  • submitting dummy applications to simulate the applicant experience for both UCAS Undergraduate and UCAS Conservatoires
  • testing
  • developing new functionality (currently available to providers developing in-house and software vendors only)

What services are available?

  • Explore – the search tool for UCAS Postgraduate, UCAS Undergraduate, and UCAS Conservatoires courses.
  • Our collection tool for UCAS Postgraduate, UCAS Undergraduate, and UCAS Conservatoires courses.  
  • xml-link for UCAS Postgraduate customers only.

Accessing the user interface

The user interface includes application management, user management, course management, and provider management – sign in to view your profile. If you have previously registered and used our beta environment, you will need to re-register and create a new password.

In the environment, you can also simulate the applicant experience by applying for courses and managing draft/submitted applications from your dashboard.

How do I sign in?

To access the user interface for the first time, you will need to register for the new environment.

  1. Click 'Register'.
  2. Enter your name and select Next.
  3. Enter your email address and select Next.
  4. Create a password and select Next.
  5. Pick a security question, supply an answer, and select Next.
  6. Read and agree to the T&Cs and privacy policy, and select Register.
  7. You will receive an email containing a link to activate your account.
  8. Once you’ve received the email, click the Activate account link to complete your registration.

Accessing xml-link (UCAS Postgraduate customers only)

Please refer to the 

 for details on connecting to xml-link in this environment.

If you need to request new credentials, please log a ticket in our ServiceNow portal.

Availability

The environment is available between 08:00 on Monday and 18:00 on Friday, and unlike HEP1 and HEP2, does not have scheduled maintenance windows.

If HEP3 is unavailable, we'll update our service availability page.

Creating and requesting test data

You can create your own data by setting up courses, or registering and submitting applications.

Courses can be created in the 'Course management' section of your dashboard. Please be aware that you must use the ‘Bulk actions’ function to set courses to ‘Published’ before they will display in the search tool. It is not possible to delete courses you have created, but you can set them to ‘Unpublished’ at any point.

Applications can be created either with your own email address or registering additional dummy applicant users (valid email addresses are required for these users). This method allows you to simulate the applicant experience and can be useful for training purposes. Alternatively, you can submit a request for test data via our ServiceNow portal, which may be more appropriate if you wish to create multiple data sets.

Technical support

If you need technical support, please use our ServiceNow portal to contact our support teams. For any other queries, please contact the HEP Team on 0344 984 1111.

Watch our how-to guides