UCAS - When to apply

When to apply

There are different application deadlines

There are three application deadlines for courses through UCAS - 15 October, 15 January and 24 March - it is important for your students to check the deadline for their chosen course(s). If they are applying from the UK, they should submit their application by the relevant deadline below.

15 October - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all professional medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses, and for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
15 January - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for all courses except those listed above with a 15 October deadline, and art and design courses with a 24 March deadline.
24 March - application deadline for the receipt at UCAS of applications for art and design courses except those listed with a 15 January deadline.

View a list of courses with the 24 March application deadline (PDF)

If an applicant applies for art and design courses with different deadlines, they can submit their application before 15 January for courses with that deadline, then add further choices before the 24 March deadline using Track (as long as they haven't used all five choices).

Applications received by the above deadlines are guaranteed to be considered by the universities and colleges. Applications received at UCAS after the deadlines, up until 30 June, will only be considered by the universities and colleges if they still have vacancies in the course(s) selected.

View a list of important dates

Course start dates

Not all courses start in September or October - some start between January and May. Your students should check the start dates for the courses they are interested in on the 'Course information' screens in Course Search. For courses that start between January and May, they may need to apply before the three application deadlines above, as the universities and colleges will need time to consider their application.

Your students should contact the university or college for advice about when they need their application. Although some will be happy to receive applications right up to the start of the course, your students need to be prepared to send their application early.

Please remember, your students do not have to apply for all their choices at the same time. They can add further choices until 30 June as long as they have not used up all their choices and have not accepted a place.

International applicants

If your students are applying from outside the UK or EU, whatever their nationality, they need to be aware of the three application deadlines, although many universities and colleges will consider their application up until 30 June. This does not apply to applications for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science. For all of these, they must apply by 15 October.

Universities and colleges do not guarantee to consider applications they receive after 15 January, and some popular courses may not have vacancies after that date. Please advise your students to check with individual universities and colleges if they are not sure. They should apply as early as possible.

Please remind your students that they must allow enough time for entry clearance or immigration; also travel and accommodation arrangements, which can take longer during the summer when immigration departments are busy.

If any applicants think they may be assessed as a 'home' student (UK or EU) for tuition fees, they should apply by the relevant deadline at the top of this page.

Application flowchart

View deadline dates for the 2013 entry cycle.

Taking a year out?

If any of your students want to take a year out before starting their course, they should check with their universities and colleges that they will accept a deferred entry application. If they apply for deferred entry in 2013, they must still apply by the relevant deadline above, and meet the conditions of any offers by 31 August 2012 (if applying in the 2013 cycle for deferred entry in 2014 conditions of offers must be met by 31 August 2013). If they accept a deferred entry place they cannot reapply through us in the same cycle, unless their original application is withdrawn.

Each student can only send us one application in each year's application cycle. If they send a second application, it will be cancelled and they will not receive a refund.