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UK Undergraduate Applications

The process of applying to universities in the UK for undergraduate programs is structured, and most applications are handled through the centralized system called UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Key Components of the UCAS Application

Personal details

Basic information such as name, address, nationality, and more.

Education history

List your qualifications, including predicted grades if you haven’t completed your current studies.

Employment History

If you have held any paid positions, whether full-time or part-time, provide details for up to five of them in this section. Be sure to include the company names, addresses, job descriptions, and your start and finish dates. Do not include any unpaid or volunteer work here; you can mention that in your personal statement. If you do not have any paid work experience, simply leave this section blank and mark it as complete.

Personal statement

A key part of your application, the personal statement allows you to

showcase your motivation, academic interests, skills, and experiences related to the course you are applying for. It now consists of three questions, each with a 350-word limit, and an overall character limit of 4,000 characters (including spaces).

Reference letter

You’ll need a reference, usually from a teacher or academic adviser who can comment on your academic ability, skills, and suitability for the course.

Course choices

You can apply to up to five courses. These can be at the same university or different universities, but they won’t know where else you’ve applied.

Application Timeline for 2026 entry

29 April 2025

UCAS’ search tool displays 2025 courses

13 May 2025

Undergraduate applications open for 2025 entry

02 Sept 2025

Completed undergraduate applications can be submitted to UCAS. You will need a reference before you can submit your application.

15 Oct 2025 (18:00 UK time)

Deadline for applications to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and for most courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine/science

14 Jan 2026 (18:00 UK time) 

Equal consideration date for applications for most undergraduate courses

26 Feb 2026

Extra opens. Applicants who have used all five choices and are not holding any offers may be able to add another choice in their application.

30 June 2026 (18:00 UK time)

Applications received by this deadline will be sent to universities and colleges. After this time, applications are automatically entered into Clearing.

Early July 2026

IB Results are announced.

04 July 2026

Last day for applicants to add an Extra choice in their application

05 July 2026

Clearing opens for eligible applicants, and vacancies are displayed in UCAS’ search tool

Mid-July 2026

AP Results are announced.

Mid-August 2026

A-Level results are announced.

24 September 2026 (18:00 UK time)

Final date for 2026 entry applications. 

19 October 2026

Last day to add a Clearing choice

Once your application is complete, you will submit through UCAS and receive an application number and confirmation.

 

You can log in to UCAS Track to monitor the progress of your applications. Universities will either make you:

  • An unconditional offer: You have met all the entry requirements.

  • A conditional offer: You’ll be offered a place if you meet certain conditions (e.g., achieving specified grades).

  • Rejection: If you are not accepted for that course.

 

Certain courses, like medicine, dentistry, and courses at Oxford and Cambridge, may require interviews. If selected, you will be invited to attend either in person or virtually. You can prepare by reading about common interview questions and understanding the subject in depth.

 

Once all universities have responded, you’ll need to respond by selecting:

  • Firm choice: Your first choice, which could be conditional or unconditional.

  • Insurance choice: Your backup option, in case you don’t meet the conditions of your firm choice.

  • Decline the rest: You must decline any other offers.

If you accept a conditional offer, you’ll need to meet the entry requirements to secure your place.

 

If you’ve applied with pending qualifications (like A-levels or IB), you’ll need to wait for your results. UCAS will automatically receive your results from exam boards and forward them to your chosen universities.

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Reply Dates

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UK universities do not release decisions all at once. Instead, each university gives offers individually. UCAS sets a reply deadline, not immediate response.

 

If you apply by 15 October 2025, universities must give decisions by end of January 2026 (Oxbridge) or by mid-May 2026 (for others).

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2026 entry applications

  • If you receive your last decision on or before 31 March 2026, your reply date is 6 May 2026 (except if you're using Extra to find a place).

  • If you receive your last decision on or before 13 May 2026, your reply date is 3 June 2026 (except if you're using Extra to find a place).

  • If you receive your last decision on or before 15 July 2026, your reply date is 22 July 2026 (including Extra choices).

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Clearing: If you don’t meet your conditions or haven’t received offers, you can apply for other courses through Clearing, where universities fill remaining places.

 

Once you’ve been accepted, the university will send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number, which you’ll need to apply for a student visa (if you’re from outside the UK or EU). For international students, you’ll need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. You must provide proof that you can cover tuition fees and living expenses as part of your visa application. Some applicants may need to attend a visa interview as part of the process.

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