For 2027 entry, the main UCAS deadline is 6pm on 13 January 2027 for most undergraduate courses. Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses closed earlier, at 6pm on 15 October 2026. After January you can still apply until 30 June 2027, then Clearing opens on 2 July 2027 and runs until 18 October 2027.
If you are applying to start university in autumn 2027, this is the only calendar you need. Every date below comes from UCAS itself, and every time is 6pm UK time unless stated otherwise. Missing a UCAS deadline does not just mean a late form. It can mean losing your first choice course completely.
The UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry at a glance
| Date | What happens | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 28 April 2026 | UCAS search tool shows 2027 entry courses | Everyone researching courses |
| 12 May 2026 | Applications open in the UCAS Hub | Everyone applying |
| 1 September 2026 | Completed applications can be sent to UCAS | Everyone applying |
| 1 October 2026, 6pm | Deadline for conservatoire music applications | Music applicants |
| 15 October 2026, 6pm | Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses | Applicants to those courses |
| 15 December 2026, 6pm | Application date for PGCE teacher training in Wales | PGCE Wales applicants |
| 13 January 2027, 6pm | Equal consideration date for most undergraduate courses | Almost every applicant |
| 25 February 2027 | UCAS Extra opens | Applicants with no offers |
| 30 June 2027, 6pm | Last date applications are sent to universities | Late applicants |
| 1 July 2027 | Last day to add an Extra choice | Extra applicants |
| 2 July 2027 | Clearing opens | Applicants without a place |
| 22 July 2027, 6pm | Last day for undergraduate reply swaps | Applicants changing replies |
| 12 August 2027 | A level results day | Most UK applicants |
| 23 September 2027, 6pm | Final date for 2027 entry applications | Everyone still applying |
| 18 October 2027 | Last date to add a Clearing choice | Clearing applicants |
UCAS can change dates during the cycle, so check the official UCAS dates page before you make any big decision. The link is at the end of this article.
Which UCAS deadline applies to you?
There are two main deadlines, and which one applies depends on your course, not on when you feel ready.
15 October 2026: Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses
This deadline passed on 15 October 2026 at 6pm. It covered applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine or veterinary science. If you wanted one of those courses for 2027 entry and did not apply by then, that route is closed for this cycle. UCAS itself says it is unusual for these courses to consider late applications, because they are so competitive. Your realistic options are a different course, or applying again for 2028 entry.
13 January 2027: the deadline for almost everyone else
For most undergraduate courses, your application should reach UCAS by 6pm UK time on Wednesday 13 January 2027. UCAS calls this the equal consideration date. If your completed application, including your academic reference, arrives by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered on an equal basis with every other on time application. It does not matter whether you sent it in September or on 13 January itself.
If you are applying through a school or college, your real deadline is earlier. Schools set their own internal deadlines so they have time to check your qualifications, write your reference and send your form to UCAS. Ask your school for its date and treat that as your deadline. You can still apply after 13 January, but universities do not have to give it equal consideration, and popular courses fill up from on time applications.
What you need before you send your application
The UCAS application fee for the 2027 cycle is £34.50, which covers up to five course choices. You cannot send your application without a reference in place, so ask your referee early. Before you press send, check that every qualification and grade is entered correctly, that your personal statement answers the three structured questions UCAS now uses, and that your five choices mix ambitious and safer options. Our guide to the UCAS Personal Statement 2026: How to Answer the Three Questions explains the new format in full. If any of your courses interview applicants, read University Interview Tips: How to Prepare and What to Expect before you apply.
What happens after you apply: decisions and reply dates
Once your application is with UCAS, universities start sending decisions. Your reply date depends on when your last decision arrives. UCAS shows your personal reply deadline in your UCAS Hub, and you should follow that date rather than anyone else’s.
| Your last decision arrives on or before | Reply by |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2027 | 5 May 2027 |
| 12 May 2027 | 2 June 2027 |
| 14 July 2027 | 21 July 2027 |
The first two reply dates do not apply if you are using UCAS Extra to find a place. The 21 July reply date includes Extra choices. When you reply, you pick one firm choice and, if your firm choice is conditional, one insurance choice. Every other offer is declined. If you miss your reply date, UCAS declines your offers for you automatically. This is called decline by default, and it leaves you without a place, so put your reply date in your calendar the moment it appears. Universities aim to decide on applications received by 13 January by 31 March 2027, but the firm cut off is 12 May 2027: any choice still waiting then becomes unsuccessful automatically.
What if you miss the January deadline?
Missing 13 January is not the end of your application, but your options narrow.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You miss 13 January but it is before 30 June 2027 | You can still apply, but universities only have to consider you if places are left. Ask the university first whether the course still has vacancies. |
| You used all five choices and hold no offers | Use UCAS Extra from 25 February 2027. Add one choice at a time until 1 July 2027. |
| It is after 30 June 2027 | New applications go straight into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027. |
| You have no place after results day | Use Clearing to find a course with vacancies. The last date to add a Clearing choice is 18 October 2027. |
UCAS Extra is a free service for applicants who used all five choices and hold no offers. Read UCAS Extra Explained: How to Apply for Another Choice for the full process. Clearing is how universities fill places still open after the main cycle, and most activity happens around A level results day on 12 August 2027. Our guide UCAS Clearing Explained: How It Works and How to Prepare explains how to prepare before results day so you are ready to act fast.
Results day, Clearing and common mistakes
A level results day for 2027 is Thursday 12 August 2027. Scottish results are released earlier in August, so check the Scottish Qualifications Authority site for the exact date if that applies to you. On results day, your firm and insurance choices are confirmed or declined based on whether you met the conditions of your offers. If you miss your grades, contact your firm choice university first, as many still accept students who narrowly miss their grades. If you exceed your grades, you can look at other courses, but note that UCAS Adjustment no longer exists. Clearing stays open until 18 October 2027, and the final date for any 2027 entry application is 6pm on 23 September 2027.
Most missed deadlines are avoidable. Do not trust the wrong deadline: your school deadline, the UCAS deadline and the course deadline can all differ, and the UCAS date is the last possible moment, not the date to aim for. Do not leave the reference until the last week, because your application cannot be sent without it. Do not forget the deadline is 6pm UK time: an application sent at 7pm on 13 January is late. Do not ignore your reply date, as students lose offers every year by never checking the UCAS Hub after applying. And do not apply to five identical courses: mix ambitious choices with realistic ones, and keep an insurance choice you would genuinely be happy to accept.
Your UCAS deadline checklist
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Now | Check which deadline applies to your courses, and confirm your school internal deadline |
| December 2026 | Finish your personal statement and ask your referee to complete your reference |
| Early January 2027 | Send your application well before 6pm on 13 January 2027 |
| February to May 2027 | Watch for decisions and note your personal reply date in the UCAS Hub |
| 25 February 2027 | Use Extra if you hold no offers |
| 30 June 2027 | Last chance to apply with choices before Clearing |
| 12 August 2027 | A level results day: confirm your place or enter Clearing |
| 23 September 2027 | Final date for any 2027 entry application |
Once you have your place, the next step is getting ready for university itself. Read How to Prepare for University: Academic and Practical Steps for a practical plan covering money, accommodation and study skills.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry?
The main UCAS deadline for 2027 entry is 6pm UK time on 13 January 2027 for most undergraduate courses. Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses had an earlier deadline of 6pm on 15 October 2026, which has now passed.
Can I still apply to university after the January UCAS deadline?
Yes. You can apply until 6pm on 30 June 2027, but universities do not have to give late applications equal consideration, and popular courses may already be full. After 30 June, new applications go straight into Clearing.
What is the UCAS equal consideration deadline?
The equal consideration deadline is the date by which your completed application, including your reference, must reach UCAS to be guaranteed equal consideration with all other on time applications. For 2027 entry it is 13 January 2027 for most courses.
When does UCAS Extra open for 2027 entry?
UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027. It is for applicants who used all five choices and hold no offers. You can add one choice at a time, and the last day to add an Extra choice is 1 July 2027.
When does Clearing open for 2027 entry?
Clearing opens on 2 July 2027. It is how universities fill remaining places, and the busiest day is A level results day on 12 August 2027. The last date to add a Clearing choice is 18 October 2027.
What happens if I miss my UCAS reply date?
If you miss your reply date, UCAS declines your offers automatically, and you lose your place. This is called decline by default. Your personal reply deadline appears in your UCAS Hub, and the last day to swap replies is 6pm on 22 July 2027.
Conclusion
The UCAS calendar for 2027 entry has one date that matters most: 6pm on 13 January 2027. Everything before it is preparation, and everything after it is a backup plan. Get your reference sorted early, send your application with time to spare, and write your reply date in your calendar the moment it appears. Do those three things and the deadlines will work for you rather than against you.
Check every date against the official UCAS page before you act: Dates and deadlines for uni applications, UCAS.
