Families who start late usually lose options rather than places: the school they liked has closed registration, the test date has passed or the visa appointment falls a week before term. Each type of UK study has its own rhythm, and the lead times are very different.
Here is a practical timeline for each route. Dates for 2027 entry come from UCAS and GOV.UK, checked in October 2026; the other timings are a planning guide, so always check each school's or university's own deadlines.
Boarding school and sixth form: start 18 to 24 months ahead
- 18 to 24 months before entry: decide on the entry point (11+, 13+ or 16+), research schools and build a shortlist. Popular schools can close registration well over a year before entry.
- 12 to 18 months before: visit schools in person or online, register, pay registration fees and gather recent school reports.
- 9 to 15 months before: entrance assessments, often UKiset, the school's own tests and an interview. Some schools assess 13+ candidates two or more years in advance.
- 6 to 12 months before: offers, acceptance and deposit; arrange a guardian.
- Up to 6 months before: the school issues the CAS and you apply for the Child Student or Student visa.
Keep the Turkish school calendar in mind as well. Leaving in the middle of an important year, such as the LGS year, needs a clear plan B in case the UK place does not work out. If you are thinking of September 2027, you are already behind this timeline, so contact schools without delay.
Undergraduate degrees: the UCAS calendar
For 2027 entry, the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses was 15 October 2026. For almost everything else, applications should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027 to be guaranteed equal consideration. After that, some courses still accept late applications until 30 June 2027, and Clearing follows in the summer.
For students aiming at 2028 entry, the useful work happens now:
- Two years before: choose subjects and qualifications that keep the right doors open. If your child is in the Turkish system, check how universities treat Turkish qualifications.
- 18 months before: research courses, attend open days, and plan an English test and any admissions tests.
- The summer before applying: draft the personal statement and agree who will write the reference.
- Autumn of the final school year: submit the application, earlier for courses with the October deadline.
Our article on UCAS deadlines and the application calendar goes into more detail.
Postgraduate study: 9 to 12 months ahead
Many master's programmes accept applications on a rolling basis, but popular courses can fill early and some have fixed deadlines. Scholarships and funding usually close well before the course itself. Aim to apply 9 to 12 months before the start, with a degree transcript, references and an English test result ready or booked. Students graduating in Türkiye usually apply in the autumn of their final year, before final results are known, and receive a conditional offer based on their transcript so far.
Summer schools and English courses
Places on popular summer programmes, particularly for certain age groups and specialist courses, can go early in the year. Booking in winter or early spring gives you a wider choice. Turkish citizens need a Standard Visitor visa even for a short course, and GOV.UK allows you to apply up to 3 months before travel. Summer is a busy time at visa centres, so apply as soon as you can.
Many language schools have frequent start dates, so the course itself is rarely the bottleneck; the visa is. Courses of up to 6 months need a Standard Visitor visa, and longer courses of up to 11 months need a Short-term study visa, available from age 16. Allow at least two to three months for documents, appointments and a decision.
The visa stage for longer courses
For Student and Child Student visas, you can apply from outside the UK up to 6 months before the course starts, and GOV.UK says a decision usually takes about 3 weeks. Two things often catch families out. First, the CAS usually arrives only after all offer conditions, and any deposit, have been met. Second, the money for the financial requirement must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days before you apply. Put both in your calendar, and check passports early: renewing one in the middle of the process can delay everything.
How YES can help
The earlier we meet a family, the more choices we can keep open. We build a personal timeline for each student, whether the plan is a boarding school or a university place, and keep track of the dates with you. If you are not sure where to start, send us a message.
Questions families ask
Is it too late to apply to a boarding school for September 2027?
Not necessarily, but it is late for some schools. Contact schools now, because registration rules vary and some may still have places or waiting lists.
When should my child take an English test for university?
Ideally in the year before applying, leaving time for a retake. Check which tests and scores each university accepts, and whether the course needs a test approved for visa purposes.
Can we apply for the visa before we have the CAS?
No. For Student and Child Student visas you need the CAS reference number to apply, and you must apply within 6 months of receiving it.
Sources and further reading
This article is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change; always check the official sources before you apply.
