When to Apply

Some courses have different deadlines, and many are a long time in advance of the start of the course. Find out which deadline applies to you, and what you need to do by that deadline. 

Deadlines for on-time applications

For courses starting in 2026 (and for deferred applications), your application should be with UCAS by one of these dates – depending on what courses you apply for. If your completed application – including all your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.

If you're applying through your school/college, please check their deadline, and follow this to get your application in on time. This gives them enough time to read your application, check you've entered your qualifications correctly, write and attach your reference, and submit your application to us.

• 13th May 2025 - Undergraduate applications open for 2026 entry: You can register and start your application in your UCAS Hub.

• 15th Ocotber 2025 - Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science

• 14th Jan 2026 - All applications to be sent to UCAS

Applying to study dance and drama at a conservatoire? Your application deadline is the 2nd October 2025. Find out more.

Some course providers require additional admissions tests to be taken alongside the UCAS application, and these may have a deadline. Find out more about these tests.

Check course information in our search tool to see which deadline applies to you.

Apply as soon as possible

Student funding arrangements mean that as offers are made and places fill up, some courses may only have vacancies for students from certain locations. It’s therefore really important that you apply for your chosen courses by the appropriate deadline as not all courses will have places for all students. Find out more.

All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing