Understanding the key dates in the UCAS cycle can help you plan ahead and stay on track throughout the application process. Our month-by-month timeline ensures you can see exactly what happens when, from the moment applications open through to results day and final decisions.
UCAS key dates
September 2025, 2 September
- Students can submit their UCAS applications from this date. Our direct application form will also open from this date.
January 2025 14 January 2026, 6pm
- Equal consideration date for all courses. Applications received by this date will be given equal academic consideration.
- Beyond this date, courses may close depending on spaces available; most of our courses are likely to remain open. Course webpages will be updated to highlight when courses are closed.
February 2026, 26 February
- UCAS Extra opens. Applicants without any offers following decisions from their original five course choices can use Extra to apply to another choice by adding another to their application.
March 2026, 31 March
- We expect to have responded to most applications received by the Equal Consideration Date in January.
May 2026, 6 May
- This is the deadline for applicants to respond to their offers, by selecting their Firm and Insurance choices, if all responses from universities are received by 31 March.
May 2026, 13 May
- We expect to have responded to all applications received by the Equal Consideration Date in January.
June 2026, 3 June
- This is the deadline for applicants to respond to their offers, by selecting their Firm and Insurance choices, if all responses from universities are received by 13 May.
June 2026, 30 June, 6pm
- This is the final date that students can apply to start a course for the following academic year. Applications received after 30 June will be made in Clearing.
July 2026, 5 July
- Clearing opens. Students can submit applications for places available through Clearing if they are not currently holding offers. Often, students will need to have their results in hand to apply or for their place to be confirmed.
July 2026, 15 July
- We expect to have responded to all applications received by the 30 June deadline. This includes applications made through UCAS Extra.
July 2026, 22 July
- This is the deadline for applicants to respond to their offers, by selecting their Firm and Insurance choices, if all responses from universities are received by 15 July. This includes offers made for UCAS Extra choices.
August 2026, 13 August
- A-Level Results Day. Once students have their Results confirmed, they can make applications through Clearing, which can be done regardless of whether they have a place confirmed, if they are still considering their options.
September 2026, 3 September
- Deadline for students to meet any outstanding academic offer conditions, unless otherwise stipulated in their offer letter.
