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UK University Deadlines 2026 Entry | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

 

 

UK University Application Planning

Are you planning to apply and study your bachelor’s degree in the UK? It’s important to understand the key deadlines to plan ahead and stay on track when applying to UK universities!

 

Some universities or courses have different deadlines. Here at The UK Study Expert, we want to make sure you have all the deadlines, timelines and resources to plan ahead, apply on time and get the acceptance offer of your dreams so you can study in the UK!

 

 

What is UCAS?

 

We are going to mention a lot about UCAS in this article! Before we begin, UCAS (the Universities, Colleges and Admissions Service) is the central hub to apply to UK universities. Think of it as the UK’s version of the Common App. You can only apply up to 5 UK universities, and the fee to submit your application is £28.50 (roughly $37 USD) for up to 5 universities, which is very cost effective!

 

> Need help with your UCAS application? Get our UCAS Guide for $27

 

 

UK Bachelor’s Degree Application Deadlines

We have listed below the UK bachelor degree deadlines if you are applying for September 2026 entry. Here are the important deadlines to know before you apply:

 

  • May 13, 2025 – UCAS Application Opens for 2026 Entry
  • September 2, 2025 – You can submit your college application on UCAS.

Make sure your reference letter is attached. If not, even though you submitted, unlike US applications, it won’t be fully submitted until the reference letter is attached.  

 

  • October 15, 2025 (6:00pm UK time) – Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science
  • January 14, 2026 (6:00pm UK time) – Equal Consideration Deadline for most undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) courses.

This is probably the most important UK admissions deadline of them all. We recommend applying by this date if possible, even though US students can still apply after, since many UK universities offer rolling admissions for international students.

 

Universities and colleges do not guarantee consideration for admission after 14 January 2026, and some popular courses may no longer have vacancies. Also, most high-ranking UK universities adhere to this deadline, so it’s important to submit your application before this deadline. Please check with individual universities and colleges if you are not sure.

 

  • February 26, 2026 – Extra Opens

If you used all 5 UK university choices and didn’t receive any offers, you may be eligible to add an additional university.  

 

  • June 30, 2026 (6:00pm UK time) – Applications received by this deadline will be sent to universities and colleges

After this time, applications are automatically entered into Clearing.

 

  • July 5, 2026 (6:00pm UK time) – Clearing Opens

Clearing opens for eligible applicants, and vacancies are displayed in UCAS’ search tool. Applicants can release themselves into Clearing. Discover information and advice on our Clearing and results day pages.

 

 

How The UK Study Expert Can Help You

Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy UK University Search Engine. Or you can find your best university by taking our free  UK University Quiz Match.

 

You can also check out our Services Page to see what services we can support you!

 

 

Need help figuring out your UCAS application?

Check out our step-by-step UCAS Guide! Get the UCAS Guide for $27

 

UCAS 2025 Updates and Key Changes | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Planning to apply for a UK bachelor’s degree for fall 2025? UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) has recently announced new changes to streamline the application process, making it easier for international students to apply to UK universities.

 

Here’s a breakdown of the key updates:

  • No More Application Fee for in Need: Beginning in 2025, students receiving free school meals in their home country will be exempt from the application fee. This makes applying to UK universities more accessible for talented students from diverse backgrounds. If a student doesn’t qualify for a waived application fee, they will only pay £28.50 to apply up to five UK schools!
  • Contact Details and Residency: The application will ask a bit more about where a student has lived, which will allow universities to determine if the student will need to pay international or home tuition fees, regardless of their citizenship. Students will need to provide every address they’ve lived at for the past three years. (Not sure if you will need to pay home or international fees? Read this article.)
  • Nationality: Students will be asked their country of birth, nationality, and if they hold dual nationality with another country. This section will also ask students if they have ever held a visa, to study in the UK, details about their visa status (if necessary) and indicate if they will need a visa to study in the UK. Students will also be asked their immigration status, if applicable.
  • Clearer Education Details: Students will no longer have to specify whether your degree is below “Honors Level”. The application now provides simplified options for selecting international qualifications, such as a US high school degree or associate degree. UCAS is now able to connect to your school directly (with your permission) to automatically fill out your school details. Also, you are now able to elaborate on your personal school experience by explaining if you attended full-time, part-time, online, or in-person.

 

Trying to fill in the UCAS Application? Check out The UK Study Expert’s UCAS Guide for step-by-step support.

 

Another general update: The deadline for applications to be considered equally against UK students has been pushed back to January 29, 2025, at 18:00 UK time. While most US students can still apply after this date (make sure you check each university/program to see if there is a deadline!), we suggest trying to apply by this date if possible. Not sure if you should? Read this article to learn more.

 

Additional Resources:

 


Overall, UCAS believes that these changes will help make the process easier for international students.

 

Are you searching for UK universities that best match your academic profile? Take our FREE UK University Match Quiz!


About the Author:


Kelsey Grode

After Kelsey studied abroad in London for a semester in college, she fell in love with the UK and returned to earn her master’s degree in history at King’s College London. Since then, she has worked in international education helping US students earn their degrees in the UK. Kelsey currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

UK Universities with January 2023 Intake | UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Did you miss the 2022 deadline? If so, don’t worry. There’s options to apply for January 2023 entry!

 

January entry is not as common compared to US universities, however, there are a selection to choose from. We have listed below which universities will accept January 2023 entry. Click the university links to find out what their specific entry requirements are:

 

 

These universities also have January 2023 intakes available:

 

  • Anglia Ruskin University

  • Aston University

  • Bangor University

  • Bedfordshire University

  • Birmingham City University

  • Birkbeck University of London

  • Bolton University

  • Brunel University

  • Bradford University

  • Brighton University

  • Buckinghamshire New University

  • University of Central Lancashire

  • Canterbury Christ Church University

  • Chester University

  • Chichester University

  • Cranfield University

  • Cumbria University

  • Derby University

  • De Montfort University

  • Durham University

  • East London University

  • Edinburgh Napier University

  • University of Essex

  • Glasgow Caledonian University

  • Hult International Business School

  • Huddersfield University

  • Keele University

  • Kingston University

  • University of Leicester

  • Leeds Beckett University

  • Liverpool Hope University

  • Liverpool John Moores University

  • Liverpool University

  • Manchester Metropolitan University

  • Northumbria University

  • Northampton University

  • Nottingham Trent University

  • Queen Mary University London

  • Queen University Belfast

  • Reading University

  • Richmond The American International University in London

  • Regents University London

  • Robert Gordon University

  • Southampton Solent University

  • Southampton University

  • Royal Holloway University of London

  • Staffordshire University

  • Sunderland University

  • Swansea University

  • Ulster University

  • University College Birmingham

  • Teesside University

  • University for the Creative Arts

  • University of Dundee

  • University of Gloucestershire

  • University of Greenwich

  • University of Huddersfield London

  • University of Law

  • University of South Wales

  • University of Suffolk

  • University of West London

  • The University of West of Scotland

  • West of England University Bristol

  • London South Bank University

  • Coventry University

  • Greenwich University

  • University of Hertfordshire

  • Sheffield Hallam University

  • Portsmouth University

 

Ready to apply? The UCAS application is now open!

What Is Clearing? A Complete Guide | The UK Study Expert

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

Clearing can be confusing and stressful, but it does not need to be. It is an opportunity for you to still get a place at the university of your choice during the Summer prior to September entry start!

 

 

What is Clearing?

Clearing is a system offered by UCAS, which is a UK based organization that helps you to apply for study in the UK. Clearing opens on 5 July 2022, after which point all applications made automatically go into Clearing. There is a myth that clearing only offers courses that no-one wants but that is not true. Lots of highly popular courses are still available. Each university will publish a list of courses available on the website, that will allow you to review each course and decide what you would like to study, then you can contact the university. If you have already made an application through UCAS, please keep your UCAS ID number handy with your academic results and your contact information when speaking to the universities.

 

The great benefit of this is you can receive guidance on how to apply, support with university information, qualification acceptance and equivalencies. UCAS is there to help you figure out what the next step in your education might be, and to support you when you take that step.

 

 

Why Apply through Clearing?

This process can support you if:

 

  • you already applied through UCAS and have not yet received an offer (or none you wanted to accept)

  • hold a conditional offer but have not met the required grades

  • declined their offers

  • you’re applying after June 30th

 

 

How to Apply

As an international applicant wanting to apply to a university in the UK, you will first need to contact the university directly to make sure that the degree is still available before submitting your choice on UCAS. Each university will have a dedicated clearing support team available from the 5th of July to answer all your questions. It’s easier to call them. If calling isn’t an option, you can email your US university manager or officer to assist you through the process. Don’t forget to ask if they have available housing for international students on campus too. After speaking with them, they will work to provide you with a decision on your clearing application as quickly as possible.

 

Once you have permission from the university, then they will give you instructions on adding the degree to your UCAS application. You will select ‘Add Clearing Choice’ with the course details by the date the university/college gave you on the phone. You can only choose one degree/university and this will count as you accepting their offer. It’s important to do a thorough research of degrees and universities prior to accepting.

 

So, consider joining a university with rich academic heritage, that is thought provoking and challenges thinking, whilst also been part of a close-knit community.

 

 

Below is a link to further information on Clearing for International applicants:

 

International students and Clearing | Goldsmiths, University of London

 

My name is Nicola and I’m an International Recruitment Manager for Goldsmiths, University of London. My job is to support students and agents with applying to the University as well as been a supportive member of the International recruitment team. My main area of responsibility is the Americas and I am keen to promote the fantastic reputation of Goldsmiths University of London to potential students.

 

 

UCAS vs. Direct UK Applications

Posted on by Jackie Christopher

When you start your research on how to apply to UK universities for your undergraduate degree, the UCAS Application is the main resource and platform to start your journey.

 

? Need help with your UCAS application? Get our UCAS Guide for $27

 

What is the UCAS Application?

 

The UCAS Application is the centralized application system for all UK universities. In the application, you can only apply up to 5 UK universities. Therefore, it’s important to do your research and narrow your list on where you would like to apply. Plus, there’s fees associated depending on how many you apply to (£20 for a single course, or £26 for more than one course). It’s not only a centralized application system, but it also offers helpful tools such as a university course finder, student life, interviews, etc.

 

What you may not be aware is that many UK universities are also offering their own online direct applications outside of UCAS. Applying through their own system instead of going through UCAS can be beneficial and have many advantages including:

 

  • Quicker response time on the decision of your application

  • More affordable (Most are free!)

  • Easier to complete compared to UCAS – many students have trouble inputting the correct information into the qualifications section, etc.

  • Able to upload all of your documents instead of submitting them directly to the admissions department. Sometimes you may be waiting until the admissions department reaches you. With the UCAS application, you cannot upload documents.

 

The benefits are great but what happens if you apply to direct university applications and the UCAS application? What are the precautions when applying to both?

 

DISCLAIMER: Applying to both could ultimately impact your offers if you do not read the following below:

 

If you know a university has a direct application, we recommend you check their policy before applying. For example, University of Brighton recommends applying through their direct application only if you do not intend to apply to other institutions.

 

If that is the case, I would respect their requirements and choose wisely. With other universities, if they do not state this type of policy on their website, then it’s OK if you apply through UCAS and the university’s direct application. There’s no penalty or issues when applying to both. Plus, this could actually widen your pool of offers because you could potentially apply to more than 5 if you add the direct applications!

 

The biggest takeaway that you need to be aware of is when you accept an offer. We highly recommend that you accept only 1 offer between the direct app and UCAS.

 

Here’s the issue: If you accept two offers (one from UCAS (firm) and another from a direct app) you will jeopardize and risk losing both offers.

 

Why? When you accept an offer from a direct application, the information goes directly back to UCAS. Once the information is populated in the system, UCAS can notify both universities and reject your decision.

 

Overall, it is possible to apply both through UCAS and direct applications, but just be careful when accepting! You don’t want to risk jeopardizing your chance of admittance.

 

*If you are applying to Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science – due to the competitiveness of these programs, some universities may recommend applying through their direct application or only through UCAS. We recommend checking with the universities before applying.

 

UK Universities that offer direct applications for international students:

Aberystwyth University

Falmouth University

Northumbria University

London Metropolitan University

Oxford Brookes University

Queen’s University, Belfast

St. Andrew’s University

University College Birmingham

University of Brighton

University of Bolton

University of Buckingham

University of Cumbria

University of Dundee

University of Essex

University of Greenwich

University of Hertfordshire

University of Kent

University of Manchester

University of Roehampton

University of South Wales

University of Stirling

University of Strathclyde

University of the West of Scotland

York St. John

How The UK Study Expert Can Help You

 

Looking to find your best match UK university? Lucky for you, the UK Study Expert has taken the guesswork out of figuring out what each university requires with our handy dandy search tool. Or you can find your best university by taking our free UK University Quiz Match.

 

Need to speak to an advisor about studying in the UK? Check our Services webpage to see what the best available options are for your needs. 

 

 

 

Need help figuring out your UCAS application? Check out our step-by-step UCAS Guide!

Get the UCAS Guide for $27