UCAS Deadlines 2027: Key Dates for International Students

What are the UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry?

"Equal consideration" means universities must give every application that arrives by the deadline the same chance. After it, they can still accept you, but popular courses may already be full. Submitting a few weeks early also leaves time to fix problems, such as a missing reference, before the deadline passes.

Is there a separate UCAS deadline for international students?

No. The UCAS deadline for international students is the same as for UK students. UCAS does note that many universities keep accepting international applications later in the year, closer to the start of the course. That flexibility is real, but it is not a strategy: competitive courses fill early, and a late offer leaves little time for everything that follows.

You can choose up to five courses (four in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science), and the 2027 application fee is £34.50, however many choices you make. Each university also sets its own English language requirements for international applicants, so check every course page well before January.

Why international students should apply early

Your offer is only the first step. Before you can travel, you need:

• Your offer conditions met. If your offer depends on A-level results, you will not know until 12 August. IB results arrive in early July, which gives you more breathing room.
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university, which you need for a Student visa.
• A Student visa. You can apply up to six months before your course starts. The gov.uk Student visa page lists a fee of £558 from outside the UK, plus the immigration health surcharge.
• Proof of funds. In most cases you must show £1,529 a month for living costs in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to nine months, on top of any unpaid tuition.

Meeting the main UCAS deadlines in January means you hold your offers by spring and can prepare finances, documents and accommodation calmly. Some universities also ask for a tuition deposit before they issue a CAS, so read every offer letter carefully.

The 15 October deadline for Oxbridge and medicine: planning for 2028

If you are aiming for 2028 entry, start now. At the time of writing, UCAS has not published dates for the 2028 cycle, but if the usual pattern holds, applications will open in May 2027, with the 15 October deadline for Oxbridge and medicine falling in autumn 2027. Many of these courses also require an admissions test taken before that date, such as the LNAT if you want to study law.

Your personal statement takes longer than most students expect, so read our guide to the UCAS personal statement changes over the summer. If you are also considering medicine outside the UK, compare the entry requirements for medicine in Europe, where many deadlines fall later in the year.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss the 13 January UCAS deadline?

You can still apply until 18:00 UK time on 30 June 2027, but universities do not have to give late applications equal consideration, and some popular courses will be full. Contact each university first to check it still has places. Applications sent after 30 June go straight into Clearing.

What are the other UCAS key dates after I apply?

Universities aim to decide on applications received by 13 January by 31 March. If all your decisions arrive by then, you reply by 5 May 2027, or by 2 June 2027 if your last decision comes by 12 May. Extra runs from 25 February to 1 July 2027.

When can I add a Clearing choice for 2027 entry?

Clearing opens on 2 July 2027, and the last date to add a Clearing choice is 18 October 2027. Most activity happens around A-level results day on 12 August, when universities confirm places and list remaining vacancies in the UCAS search tool.

Applying from outside the UK means juggling UCAS, admissions tests and visa timing at once. Our counsellors build a month-by-month plan around your courses so nothing important slips. Apply for a Strategy Call