Are you planning to study your bachelor’s degree in the UK starting in fall 2027? There are a few important UK university application deadlines you’ll want to know so you can plan ahead and get your application in on time.
For most undergraduate courses, the big date to remember is January 13, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time. This is the UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline.
But that’s not the only deadline!
If you're applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or to most medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine/science courses, your application is due much earlier. And if you end up applying later in the year, there are also important dates for UCAS Extra and Clearing.
Here at The UK Study Expert, we want to make sure you have the deadlines, timelines and resources you need to plan ahead and stay on track.
Let's look at the full timeline for the September 2027 entry.
2027 UK University Application Deadlines at a Glance
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| May 12, 2026 | UCAS applications open for 2027 entry |
| September 1, 2026 | Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS |
| October 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. UK time | Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science courses |
| January 13, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time | Equal Consideration Deadline for most undergraduate courses |
| February 25, 2027 | UCAS Extra opens |
| June 30, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time | Applications received by this deadline are sent to universities and colleges |
| July 1, 2027 | Last day to add a choice through UCAS Extra |
| July 2, 2027 | UCAS Clearing opens |
| September 23, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time | Final deadline for 2027 UCAS applications |
| October 18, 2027 | Last date to add a 2027 Clearing choice |
Keep in mind that individual universities and courses can have their own requirements and deadlines, so always check the specific program you're applying to.
What Is UCAS?
We’re going to mention UCAS a lot in this article, so let’s start there!
UCAS, or the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is the centralized application system used for undergraduate applications across the UK.
Think of it as the UK's version of the Common App.
For 2027 entry, the UCAS application fee is £34.50, and that single fee allows you to add up to five university and course choices to your application.
One important difference for US students is that you're applying to a specific degree rather than simply applying to the university. Your five choices are therefore university and course choices, rather than necessarily five different universities.
If you're applying to universities in both the US and UK and aren't sure which application system you should use, read our guide to Common App vs UCAS: Which Should US Students Use for UK Universities?
Now let's get into those deadlines!
May 12, 2026: UCAS Applications Open for 2027 Entry
UCAS applications for 2027 entry officially open on May 12, 2026.
This means you can create your UCAS application and begin working through the different sections.
You don't have to have everything completed on May 12! This simply gives you the opportunity to get started.
Use this time to begin working on your application, researching universities and courses, preparing your personal statement responses and making sure you understand the academic requirements for the programs you're considering.
September 1, 2026: You Can Submit Your UCAS Application
Starting September 1, 2026, completed undergraduate applications can officially be submitted to UCAS for 2027 entry.
Remember that completing your part of the application isn't necessarily the end of the process.
Your application needs a reference before it can be sent to UCAS.
If you're applying through your high school, your school may also set its own internal deadline that is earlier than the official UCAS deadline. This gives your counselor time to review your application, complete the reference and make sure everything is ready before it is sent.
So don't wait until the official UCAS deadline to ask your counselor about your school's process!
October 15, 2026: Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Deadline
This is a big one.
If you're applying to the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, or to most courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science, your application deadline is:
October 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. UK time.
That's almost three months earlier than the main January deadline for most undergraduate programs.
If one of these universities or courses is on your list, make sure you're planning for the October deadline from the beginning.
You can add other UCAS choices that have a later deadline afterward, but remember that you can still only have five choices in total.
January 13, 2027: The UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline
For most students applying to UK universities, this is probably the most important deadline of them all.
The UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline for most undergraduate courses is:
January 13, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time.
What does "equal consideration" mean?
Universities and colleges must consider applications received by this deadline equally. In other words, submitting your application earlier doesn't automatically give another student an admissions advantage simply because they applied before you.
If you submit after January 13, universities can still consider your application if they have spaces available, but they are no longer required to give it equal consideration.
Some popular programs may also have fewer or no spaces remaining.
That's why we recommend getting your application in by the January deadline whenever possible.
If you'd like a deeper explanation of how this works, read our guide to the UK Undergraduate Equal Consideration Deadline.
Do US Students Have the Same UCAS Deadlines?
This is a question we hear a lot!
As an international student, you may see some UK universities accepting applications later in the year. That doesn't mean US students should ignore the main UCAS deadlines.
Many universities will continue considering international applications after January 13 if they still have spaces available.
However, once the Equal Consideration Deadline has passed, universities are not required to consider your application in the same way as applications that arrived on time.
If you already know where you'd like to apply, don't assume you can wait simply because you're an international student.
Our recommendation?
Aim for the official UCAS deadline whenever possible.
That gives you the widest range of university and course options and avoids finding out later that a program you wanted has already filled its available spaces.
Getting Ready to Submit Your UCAS Application?
Knowing when your application is due is one thing. Figuring out what goes into the application and making sure everything is completed correctly is another!
Our 2027 UCAS Guide walks you through the application step by step so you know what to prepare, how to complete each section and what to check before you submit.
February 25, 2027: UCAS Extra Opens
What happens if you've used all five UCAS choices and you aren't holding any offers?
You may be able to use UCAS Extra.
Extra opens on February 25, 2027 and gives eligible applicants another opportunity to apply to a university or course.
Instead of adding another group of choices, you apply to one additional choice at a time.
If you don't receive the offer you're hoping for through Extra, you may still have another option later through Clearing.
June 30, 2027: Last Day Before Applications Enter Clearing
Another important date to know is June 30, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time.
Applications received by this deadline are sent to universities and colleges as regular applications.
Applications submitted after June 30 are automatically entered into Clearing.
This doesn't mean June 30 should become your target application date!
If you already know where you want to apply, it's still best to work toward the appropriate October or January deadline for your course.
July 1, 2027: UCAS Extra Closes
July 1, 2027 is the last day to add a choice through UCAS Extra.
If you're eligible for Extra and haven't found a university place by then, Clearing opens the following day and gives you another opportunity to explore courses that still have spaces available.
July 2, 2027: UCAS Clearing Opens
UCAS Clearing opens on July 2, 2027.
Clearing is how UK universities and colleges fill spaces that are still available on their courses.
It can also give eligible students another opportunity to find a university place if they aren't currently holding an offer.
Universities list their available courses through UCAS, and students can search for programs that still have openings.
If you're getting closer to this stage and aren't sure how it works, read our guide to What Is UCAS Clearing and When Should You Consider Applying?
Clearing isn't something you necessarily need to plan on using from the beginning. Think of it as another route that may be available if your original university plans don't work out the way you expected.
September 23, 2027: Final Deadline for 2027 UCAS Applications
The final date to submit a UCAS application for 2027 entry is:
September 23, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. UK time.
This is very late in the admissions cycle, and by this point many courses will already have started filling their places.
So while this is technically the final application deadline, we wouldn't recommend waiting until September if you already know you want to study in the UK.
Your options will generally be much broader earlier in the application cycle.
October 18, 2027: Last Day to Add a Clearing Choice
The final date to add a Clearing choice for 2027 entry is October 18, 2027.
At this point, the 2027 admissions cycle is coming to a close.
Again, most students won't need to wait this long. But it's helpful to know that options may still exist later in the year if your plans change or you haven't secured a university place earlier in the cycle.
One More Thing: Don't Wait Until the Deadline!
We know we've given you a lot of dates. But if there's one thing we want you to remember, it's this:
The deadline should not be the day you plan to finish your application.
Give yourself time to research universities, check your academic entry requirements, complete your personal statement responses and coordinate with your counselor or referee.
This is especially important if you're applying through your high school because your counselor may have an internal deadline that comes before the official UCAS deadline.
The earlier you understand what needs to be done, the easier it is to plan ahead and avoid a last-minute scramble.
Find UK Universities That Fit Your Academic Profile
Now that you know when you need to apply, it's time to figure out where you want to apply!
The UK Study Expert has taken some of the work out of figuring out what individual universities require with our UK University Search Tool.
Use the tool to explore UK universities, compare US entry requirements and start narrowing down the universities that may be a good fit for you.
Just remember to check the specific requirements and application deadline for the degree you're considering before you submit.
