UCAS Application Timeline 2027: Every Key Date and Deadline You Need

UCAS 2027 Dates at a Glance

The UCAS cycle for 2027 entry runs for well over a year, from the moment courses appear in the search tool to the last day you can add a Clearing choice. Here is every date that matters, in order:

Date	What Happens
28 April 2026	Courses for 2027 entry appear in the UCAS search tool
May 2026	Applications open: you can register and start filling in your form
1 September 2026	Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS
1 October 2026	Conservatoire music application deadline (18:00)
15 October 2026	Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary deadline (18:00)
13 January 2027	Main “equal consideration” deadline for most courses (18:00)
25 February 2027	UCAS Extra opens for applicants with no offers
30 June 2027	Last date for applications to be sent to universities; later ones go into Clearing (18:00)
1 July 2027	Last date to add an Extra choice
2 July 2027	Clearing opens and vacancies appear in the search tool
August 2027	A-level results day: firm and insurance places confirmed
23 September 2027	Final date for any 2027 entry application (18:00)
18 October 2027	Last date to add a Clearing choice

Every deadline closes at 18:00 UK time, not midnight. Many students get caught out by this, so plan to submit at least a day early.

One more thing worth knowing: your school or college will almost certainly set its own internal deadline, often in November or December. That earlier date exists so your teachers have time to write your reference and add predicted grades before UCAS closes. Treat the school deadline as your real deadline.

15 October 2026: The Early Deadline

If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or to most courses in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine and science, your application must reach UCAS by 18:00 on 15 October 2026. You can only apply to one of Oxford or Cambridge in the same cycle, not both.

These courses often come with extra steps on top of the UCAS form itself. For example, many medical schools require an admissions test, and Oxbridge applicants frequently sit subject tests and attend interviews in December. As a result, the October deadline is less about rushing the form and more about having everything else lined up in time.

If you are applying to one of these courses alongside others with the January deadline, all five choices must still go in on the same application by 15 October. You cannot submit part of your application early and add the rest later.

13 January 2027: The Main Deadline

For the vast majority of undergraduate courses, the key date is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. UCAS calls this the “equal consideration” deadline, which means universities must give every application received by this point the same consideration.

Before you submit, make sure each of these is complete:

Your course choices. You can choose up to five. Not sure which ones fit your grades? Our UCAS points calculator converts your predicted grades into tariff points, so you can see which entry requirements you realistically meet. Our guide on how to choose a university also helps you balance ambitious and safer choices.

Your personal statement. The 2027 cycle uses the three-question format. Our UCAS personal statement guide explains what each question is really asking for.

Your reference and predicted grades. These come from your school or college, which is exactly why their internal deadline is earlier than UCAS’s.

The application fee. You pay this when you submit. If you apply through an adviser or centre, they will confirm how payment works.

What Happens After You Apply

Once your application is in, the waiting begins. Universities make their decisions at different speeds, so it is completely normal to hear back from one choice in November and another in April.

Each decision will appear in UCAS Hub as an unconditional offer, a conditional offer (usually based on your final grades), or unsuccessful. Some courses also invite you to an interview or audition before deciding.

When all your decisions are in, you will be given a date to reply. At that point, you pick a firm choice (your first preference) and, if you want, an insurance choice as a backup with lower entry requirements. Your reply date depends on when your last decision arrived, so always check the exact date shown in your UCAS Hub rather than relying on a general date online.

UCAS Extra and Clearing Dates

Not every application ends with a perfect offer, and UCAS builds in two second-chance routes.

UCAS Extra (25 February to 1 July 2027). If you used all five choices and are not holding any offers, Extra lets you apply to further courses one at a time. Competition is much lower than in summer, so it is well worth using. Our full UCAS Extra 2027 guide walks through how it works.

Clearing (2 July to 18 October 2027). Clearing matches students who do not have a place with courses that still have vacancies. It gets busiest on A-level results day, but it opens in early July. In fact, you can even apply directly into Clearing if you never applied earlier in the year. Our Clearing guide explains the process, and our results day guide covers what to do on the day itself.

What If You Miss a Deadline?

Missing 13 January is not the end of your plans. Here is what each missed deadline actually means:

If You Miss…	You Can Still…
15 October 2026	Apply to non-Oxbridge, non-medical courses by 13 January, or apply for the early-deadline courses next cycle
13 January 2027	Apply until 30 June. Universities do not have to consider late applications, but many will if they still have places
30 June 2027	Apply through Clearing from 2 July
23 September 2027	Look at a January 2028 start, apply directly to a provider, or prepare for the 2028 cycle

In practice, popular courses at competitive universities often fill up with on-time applicants, so a late application works best for courses that are less oversubscribed. If your grades or qualifications need strengthening first, a foundation year or an Access to HE course can be a smarter route than a rushed late application.

Student Finance: The Timeline Running Alongside UCAS

Here is something many families only realise in August: your UCAS application and your student finance application are two completely separate processes. Getting a university place does not automatically sort your funding.

Applications for 2027/28 student finance usually open in spring 2027, with a priority deadline in late May. You do not need a confirmed place to apply, so you can enter your firm choice and update it later if things change. Applying by the priority deadline gives you the best chance of having your money in place when term starts. Our guide to the student finance deadline explains why the timing matters so much.

When the window opens, our step-by-step student finance application guide takes you through every screen. Meanwhile, our guide to student finance eligibility explains who qualifies, and our parents’ guide covers the household income evidence parents need to provide. Also, do not forget university bursaries and scholarships, which are free money on top of your loans.

Your Month-by-Month Action Plan

If you are applying for September 2027, here is a realistic plan from now until you start:

When	What to Do
October 2026	Shortlist courses, check entry requirements, draft your personal statement
November 2026	Finalise your five choices, polish your statement, request your reference
December 2026	Meet your school’s internal deadline and submit
13 January 2027	Final UCAS deadline if you have not already submitted
January to May 2027	Track decisions, attend any interviews or offer-holder days
Spring 2027	Apply for student finance as soon as the window opens
By your reply date	Choose your firm and insurance offers
Summer 2027	Sort accommodation, sit exams, prepare for results day
August 2027	Results day: confirm your place or use Clearing

If you are planning around living costs too, our guide to student accommodation costs helps you budget before you commit.

Missed September? The January 2027 Intake

January starts are especially common in business, computing, health and social care, and accounting. Some universities take January applications through UCAS, while others accept them directly. Entry requirements can also be a little more flexible than for September, and student finance works in exactly the same way.

This route suits students who came through Clearing without the right fit, finished an Access course over the summer, or simply decided later than everyone else. Popular January options include business management, computer science, health and social care, and accounting and finance. Our team can tell you which universities are still accepting January 2027 applications.

How NZ Associates Can Help (For Free)

Deadlines are easy to miss when you are juggling school, work, or family, and they are even harder to manage if you are applying without a school behind you. As a registered UCAS centre in Stratford, East London, NZ Associates helps students plan their timeline, choose courses, write their personal statement, submit their UCAS application, and apply for student finance. Every service is completely free.

We work with school leavers, mature students, and adults returning to education at 30, 40 or 50. If you are wondering whether support is worth it, our honest comparison of using an education consultant versus applying yourself lays out the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry?

For most undergraduate courses, the deadline is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. Oxford, Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses close earlier, on 15 October 2026 at 18:00.

What time does the UCAS deadline close?

Every UCAS deadline closes at 18:00 UK time, not midnight. Aim to submit at least a day early to avoid last-minute problems.

Can I apply to UCAS after the January deadline?

Yes. You can apply until 30 June 2027, and universities can consider your application if they still have places. After 30 June, applications go into Clearing, and the final date for any 2027 application is 23 September 2027.

When does UCAS Extra open in 2027?

UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027, and the last date to add an Extra choice is 1 July 2027. It is available if you used all five choices and are not holding any offers.

When does Clearing open for 2027 entry?

Clearing opens on 2 July 2027. The last date to add a Clearing choice is 18 October 2027.

Why is my school’s deadline earlier than UCAS’s?

Your school needs time to write your reference and add predicted grades before sending your application to UCAS. Internal deadlines are usually in November or December, so treat that date as your real deadline.

Can I apply to both Oxford and Cambridge?

No. You can apply to only one of Oxford or Cambridge in the same UCAS cycle, and the deadline for both is 15 October 2026.

Do I need a university place before applying for student finance?

No. You can apply for student finance using your firm choice and update it later if your plans change. Applying by the priority deadline in spring gives you the best chance of being paid on time.

Can I start university in January 2027?

Yes, several UK universities offer January starts, and many applications close in October or November 2026. Speak to our team to see which courses are still open.

Can NZ Associates submit my UCAS application?

Yes. NZ Associates is a registered UCAS centre, so we can help you build and submit your application, especially if you are applying independently or as a mature student. All of our support is free.

Further Reading

• UCAS Personal Statement Guide
• UCAS Points Calculator 2027
• UCAS Extra 2027
• UCAS Clearing Guide
• A-Level Results Day: What to Do Next
• How to Choose a University UK
• Foundation Year UK
• Access Courses to University UK
• Student Finance Deadline
• How to Apply for Student Finance England
• UK Student Finance Criteria 2026/27
• Parents’ Guide to Student Finance
• University Bursaries and Scholarships UK
• Student Accommodation Costs UK
• Mature Student University Guide
• Computer Science Degree UK 2027
• Education Consultant vs Applying Yourself
• Free UCAS Help in London