By Jenny Mollon
Updated:
13th May 2026
Undergraduate applications for UK universities for 2027 entry are now officially open.Students can now register with UCAS, begin researching courses and start preparing their applications ahead of submissions opening in September 2026.
Students and parents looking for more advice on preparing applications can also read our guide: UCAS Applications for 2027 Entry Are Now Open: What Students Should Do Next.
Key UCAS Dates for 2027 Entry
Date Event 28 April 2026 UCAS search tool displays 2027 entry courses. 12 May 2026 UCAS Undergraduate applications open for 2027 entry registration. Students can register and begin building their application in the UCAS Hub. Applications can be started but not submitted until September 2026. 7 July 2026 UCAS Conservatoires applications open for 2027 entry. Students can register, pay and submit applications. Some conservatoires work to their own deadlines, so applicants should check individual websites carefully. 1 September 2026 Completed UCAS Undergraduate applications can begin to be submitted. All sections must be complete, including references and fee payment. 1 October 2026 6pm (UK time) application deadline for conservatoire music courses. Students should check specific conservatoire websites for dance, drama and musical theatre deadlines. 15 October 2026 6pm (UK time) deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses. Applications submitted after this date may not receive equal consideration. 13 January 2027 6pm (UK time) deadline for most undergraduate courses. Universities and colleges must consider all applications received by this deadline equally. 25 February 2027 UCAS Extra opens. This gives students another chance to gain a university place if they have used all five choices and are not holding any offers. 30 June 2027 6pm (UK time) final date for applications with choices. Applications submitted after this point automatically enter Clearing. 4 July 2027 UCAS Extra closes. This is the final date students can add another choice through Extra if they have used all five choices and do not hold an offer. 5 July 2027 Clearing opens. University vacancies become available through the UCAS search tool. 18 October 2027 Final date to add a Clearing choice.
What Happens When UCAS Opens?
One of the biggest points of confusion for families is that students can begin preparing applications from May 2026, but applications cannot actually be submitted to universities until September 2026.
The opening of the UCAS cycle is therefore the beginning of the preparation stage. Students can:
- create a UCAS account,
- research universities and courses,
- draft personal statements,
- organise references,
- and prepare for admissions tests and interviews.
Students hoping to start university in September 2026 should note that they are already part of the current admissions cycle.
Families looking for information on 2026 entry deadlines, university offers, UCAS Extra, exam results and Clearing can read our separate guide to UCAS key dates for 2026 UK university applications.
Applying to Oxbridge or Medicine?
Students applying to the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, medicine, dentistry or veterinary science courses should pay particular attention to the October 15 2026 deadline.
Many of these courses also require:
- admissions tests,
- interviews,
- additional written work,
- or evidence of wider reading and work experience.
Students are therefore encouraged to begin preparing applications as early as possible.
University Open Days 2026
Most UK universities will host undergraduate open days throughout summer and autumn 2026 for students hoping to start university in September 2027.
Open days usually include campus tours, accommodation visits, subject talks, student finance guidance and opportunities to speak to current students and admissions staff.
Some major university open days already confirmed for 2026 include:
University of Oxford
- Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Thursday 2 July 2026
- Friday 18 September 2026
University of Cambridge
- Thursday 9 July 2026
- Friday 10 July 2026
- Friday 11 September 2026
University College London
- Friday 26 June 2026
- Saturday 27 June 2026
Imperial College London
- Wednesday 24 June 2026
- Thursday 25 June 2026
University of Manchester
- Saturday 27 June 2026 (in person)
- Saturday 4 July 2026 (in person)
- 6 to 10 July 2026 (virtual)
- Saturday 3 October 2026 (in person)
- Saturday 10 October 2026 (in person)
- 16 to 20 November 2026 (virtual)
Students should check individual university websites regularly, as many additional dates are released throughout the year.
UCAS Extra and Clearing Explained
Students who do not receive any university offers after using all five choices may still be able to secure a place through UCAS Extra between February and July 2027.
Clearing then opens in July 2027 and allows students to apply for university places that still have vacancies available.
This process is used by students who did not receive offers, students who changed their minds and students whose exam results differed from expectations. For many students, Clearing provides another route into university and should not automatically be seen as a negative outcome.
