UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry: every date that matters

Applying to start university in 2027? The main UCAS deadline is 18:00 (UK time) on 13 January 2027 for most courses. If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine/science, your deadline is much earlier: 18:00 on 15 October 2026. All dates below are from UCAS, checked on 20 September 2026.

Missing a deadline does not always end your application, but it changes how universities treat it. Here is the full timeline, plus what each deadline actually means.

The complete 2027 entry timeline

The 15 October deadline: who it applies to

The early deadline applies to any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and to most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science, wherever in the UK they are taught. Your complete application - including your academic reference - must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time on 15 October 2026 to be guaranteed equal consideration.

Two things catch people out:

• Your reference has to be attached before submission. If you apply through a school or college, they set an earlier internal deadline so they have time to write it. Ask your school for their date now.
• Medicine applicants can only use four of their five choices for medicine. Your fifth choice has to be something else, and it can have the later January deadline. More on that in our guide to choosing your five UCAS choices.

If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, remember admissions tests and interviews sit between October and December, so the 15 October date is the start of the process, not the end.

The 13 January deadline: what "equal consideration" means

For everything else, 13 January 2027 at 18:00 is the big one. Universities must consider every application that arrives by this deadline equally - they are not allowed to favour earlier submissions. After the deadline, they can still consider you, but they do not have to, and popular courses may already be full.

Equal consideration does not mean decisions arrive together. Some universities reply within weeks; others wait until spring. UCAS sets reply deadlines for universities, and you will see your own reply-by date in your Hub once decisions come in.

Missed the deadline? Your options

Extra (25 February - 1 July 2027). If you used all five choices and are holding no offers - whether you were unsuccessful everywhere or declined everything - Extra lets you add one more choice at a time.

Late applications (up to 30 June 2027). You can still submit a fresh application after 13 January. Many courses keep accepting, but check with the university first, especially for competitive subjects.

Clearing (from 2 July 2027). Applications received after 18:00 on 30 June 2027 automatically enter Clearing. Clearing also serves applicants who missed their grades or changed their mind. Our UCAS Clearing guide for 2027 covers how it works step by step.

What it costs

The UCAS application fee for the 2027 cycle is £34.50, covering up to five choices. You may not have to pay it: applicants who received free school meals during secondary school, and care leavers, can apply for a fee waiver.

How to use this timeline

Work backwards from the deadline that applies to you. If you are a medicine or Oxbridge applicant in Year 13 right now, your personal statement (three questions, 4,000 characters - the format changed for 2026 entry onwards) and reference need to be ready within weeks, not months. Everyone else should treat the Christmas holidays as the real deadline, because schools need time to attach references before 13 January.

Want to see which courses are realistic for your predicted grades before you commit your five choices? Start your free Tansiky match preview - it maps your grades against real entry requirements, and the full £9.99 report builds you a balanced five-choice shortlist with the deadlines for each course.

Further reading: How to choose your five UCAS choices · UCAS Clearing guide 2027 · Browse entry requirements on our course pages and university pages.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry?

The main equal consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses is 18:00 (UK time) on 13 January 2027. Oxford, Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses require applications by 18:00 on 15 October 2026.

When can I submit my UCAS application for 2027 entry?

You can register and start your application from 12 May 2026. Completed applications - with your reference attached - can be submitted from 1 September 2026.

What happens if I miss the January deadline?

You can still apply, and many universities will consider late applications where they have space, but equal consideration is no longer guaranteed. Applications sent after 18:00 on 30 June 2027 go straight into Clearing.

What is the UCAS application fee for 2027 entry?

£34.50 for up to five choices, with fee waivers for applicants who received free school meals and for care leavers.

When is Clearing for 2027 entry?

Clearing opens on 2 July 2027 and peaks on A-level results day, Thursday 12 August 2027. The last date to add a Clearing choice is 18 October 2027.

Sources: UCAS dates and deadlines page, UCAS 2027 entry event pages, UCAS application fee FAQ, and AQA results-day calendar - all checked 20 September 2026. Dates can change; confirm against ucas.com before you act.