UK university admissions run to a fixed annual calendar, and most of the important dates fall a year or more before a student starts. Missing one rarely closes every door, but it can narrow the choice considerably. This article sets out the UCAS dates for 2027 entry, as published by UCAS, and what they mean for students in Türkiye.
UCAS deadlines are at 18:00 UK time. Türkiye is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two hours ahead in summer, so 18:00 in January is 21:00 in Türkiye, and 18:00 in mid-October is 20:00. In practice, aim to submit several days early: a payment problem or a reference that is not yet finished on the last evening can cost the deadline.
The two main deadlines
15 October 2026 was the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine or science courses. It has now passed for 2027 entry. Students hoping to apply for these courses for 2028 entry should expect a similarly early deadline and confirm the exact date with UCAS once it is published. Our guide to applying to Oxford and Cambridge explains why preparation for these courses starts in the summer.
13 January 2027 is the equal consideration date for most other undergraduate courses. Applications received by then must be considered on an equal basis. After it, universities can still consider applications if they have places left, and UCAS notes that many continue to accept international applications later in the year. Popular courses, however, may already be full.
The full 2027 entry calendar
- 12 May 2026: applications opened in UCAS Hub.
- 1 September 2026: completed applications could be submitted.
- 15 October 2026: early deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
- 13 January 2027: equal consideration date for most courses.
- 25 February 2027: Extra opens for students who have used all five choices and hold no offers.
- 30 June 2027: last date for applications to be sent on to universities; later applications go into Clearing.
- 1 July 2027: last day to add an Extra choice.
- 2 July 2027: Clearing opens.
- 22 July 2027: last day for reply swaps.
- 23 September 2027: final date for 2027 entry applications.
Reply dates after offers
Once all decisions are in, students must reply by a personal deadline that depends on when the last decision arrived. For 2027 entry, a student whose last decision arrives on or before 31 March 2027 must reply by 5 May 2027; if it arrives on or before 12 May 2027, the reply date is 2 June 2027. The exact date appears in the student's application. Offers not answered in time are declined automatically, so this date belongs in the family calendar. We explain how to choose in firm and insurance offers.
Dates that are not on the UCAS calendar
Several deadlines sit outside UCAS but matter just as much:
- School deadlines. Schools that send applications through UCAS usually want the final version weeks before the official date, so the reference can be written.
- Admissions tests. Tests such as the UCAT for medicine and the tests used by Oxford and Cambridge have registration windows in the summer and early autumn, before the October deadline.
- English tests. Leave time to retake if the first score falls short of the offer.
- Visas. Students applying from outside the UK can apply for a Student visa up to six months before the course starts, once a licensed university has offered them a place.
- Accommodation. Many universities link their accommodation guarantee to an application deadline in the summer.
- Offer conditions. Final results, diplomas and transcripts must reach the university by the date stated in the offer, which may be earlier than you expect.
Planning for 2028 entry
If your child is now in 11th grade in Türkiye, or in Year 12 in the UK, the 2028 cycle is the one to plan for. UCAS consulted in 2026 on possible changes to deadlines, the number of choices and the firm and insurance system, and said any change would apply from the 2028 cycle at the earliest. Until the confirmed 2028 dates are published, a sensible working plan is:
- by spring 2027: a long list of courses and a clear view of each one's entry requirements
- summer 2027: admissions tests booked, a first personal statement draft written and a referee agreed
- September 2027: final checks and submission, especially for early-deadline courses
- by December 2027: all other applications sent, well before the January date
How YES can help
We can help you turn these dates into a personal plan for your child, with school deadlines, test windows and visa steps in one place. Find out more about our university application support or send us a message.
Questions families ask
Can my child still apply for 2027 entry?
Yes, for most courses. The equal consideration date for most undergraduate courses is 13 January 2027 at 18:00 UK time. The early deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses passed on 15 October 2026.
What happens if we miss the January date?
Universities can still consider the application if they have places, and UCAS notes that many accept international applications later in the year. Competitive courses, however, may already be full.
Are UCAS deadlines in Turkish time?
No. UCAS deadlines are in UK time, at 18:00. In January that is 21:00 in Türkiye.
Sources and further reading
This article is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change; always check the official sources before you apply.
