Deadlines for on-time applications
For courses starting in 2021 (and for deferred applications), your application should be with us at UCAS by one of these dates – depending on what courses you apply for. If your completed application – including all your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.
If you're applying through your school/college, please check their deadline, and follow this to get your application in on time. This gives them enough time to read your application, check you've entered your qualifications correctly, write and attach your reference, and submit your application to us.
Applying through UCAS Conservatoires? Your application deadline will be different – find out when to apply.
- 15 October 2020 for 2021 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don’t forget you can only have five choices in total.
- 15 January 2021 for 2021 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – for the majority of courses.
Some course providers require additional admissions tests to be taken alongside the UCAS application, and these may have a deadline. Find out more about these tests.
Check course information in our search tool to see which deadline applies to you.
Apply as soon as possible
Student funding arrangements mean that as offers are made and places fill up, some courses may only have vacancies for students from certain locations. It’s therefore really important that you apply for your chosen courses by the appropriate deadline as not all courses will have places for all students. Find out more.
All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing – find out more about Clearing.
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Missed your deadline?
If you don’t meet the main application deadline, you can still apply for many courses.
We recommend you ask the universities whether they have vacancies first – especially for courses with a 15 October deadline, as it’s unusual for them to consider late applications because their courses are really competitive.
- 30 June 2021, 18:00 (UK time) – the final deadline for late applications with course choices
- 21 September 2021, 18:00 (UK time) – you can still apply until this date, but instead of choosing courses, you’ll be entered into ‘Clearing’ – the process universities and colleges use to fill any places they still have on their courses
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International students
While the 15 October deadline is usually inflexible, don’t worry if you miss the January deadline.
Many universities and colleges will continue to accept applications from international students until later in the year, nearer the beginning of the course.
Don’t leave it too late though, because if you do get a place, you’ll still need to arrange a visa and your accommodation.
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Part-time students
Because part-time study options vary by duration, study mode and location, you'll need to contact course providers direct to apply. This way you can discuss your requirements and your experience to see which course provider will be the most suitable for you.
Flexible and part-time study
Applying for an apprenticeship?
You can apply for as many apprenticeships as you like, on top of your university applications. It’s more like applying to a job – positions can start at any time of year and application deadlines differ between employers. Head to Career Finder to find vacancies – next to each will be the closing date.
What needs to be done by these dates?
You'll need to leave enough time to complete your application, resolve any queries and make sure it reaches us by the deadline.
After you find courses and you’re ready to apply, we’ll explain everything in more detail, but here’s a brief overview:
- Fill in your details, qualifications and course choices.
- Write a personal statement to demonstrate you’ll be a good student.
- Include your reference and pay your application fee.
The application fee is £20 if you’re applying to just one course, or £26 for multiple courses and for late applications sent after 30 June.
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Independent applicants (not through a school)
If you're applying as an independent applicant (not through a school), we recommend you ask your referee to complete your reference well in advance of the deadline to avoid any delays.
Remember to look into student finance too. If you need a loan or financial support, you can apply to a student finance organisation.
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Does your course start early between January and May?
A few courses start between January and May, rather than the more typical start dates of September/October.
- This kind of variation in course start dates can affect deadlines, so if you’re interested in one of these when you search for courses, check the application details in the course listings or by contacting the university or college.
- Please note, you can still add further choices with more typical start dates to your application later on, (as long as you haven't yet accepted any offers), but if you're interested in any courses with earlier start dates, make sure you don't miss any of the earlier deadlines.
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Are you deferring your application until the following year?
This way you can get your results confirmed and hopefully receive an unconditional offer for the following year.
- If you're applying in the 2021 cycle for deferred entry in 2022, you need to meet offer conditions by 31 August 2021. However, make sure you check with the university or college that they're happy to consider an application for deferred entry – otherwise your choice might be wasted.
- Make sure you’re sure about the course though, because if you secure a place you’ll be committed to it, and could only be released from the course if the course provider agrees to let you.
Find out how to defer your application
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International and EU students
Most students apply independently – all the advice and help you need can be found here on ucas.com, or by asking us questions on Facebook or Twitter.
Alternatively, you could choose to seek help from a local adviser – a member of staff at a school, college, university, advisory service or agency that provides information about studying in the UK.
- They can sometimes help you with your UCAS application or visa application.
- It’s your choice whether you use an adviser or not – they can offer valuable support, but if you don’t use an adviser you’ll not be disadvantaged in any way.
- If the adviser is registered as a UCAS centre they will have access to the best advice and can oversee your application through UCAS’ online system. These centres are widely considered as a trusted source of applications by universities and colleges.
- Please note some advisers may charge for their services if they are agents.
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Siaradwyr Cymraeg
Os ydych yn cyflwyno cais i ddarparwyr cwrs drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, gallwch wneud eich cais i gyd yn y Gymraeg.
- I gofrestru yn Gymraeg, pan fyddwch yn mynd i’r gwasanaeth Ymgeisio, (Apply), dewiswch ‘Cymraeg’.
- Pan fyddwch wedi mewngofnodi i’ch cais, gallwch newid yr iaith i Gymraeg neu Saesneg ar y dudalen Opsiynau.
- Mae’r testun help ar gael yn y Gymraeg yn Ymgeisio hefyd.
- Yn y gwasanaeth Ymgeisio, gallwch ddewis derbyn gohebiaeth gan ddarparwyr cyrsiau a gennym ni yn y Gymraeg.
How to meet entry requirements
Each course has different requirements you should have or be working towards in school or college – usually a mix of qualifications, subjects and/or exam grades.
As such, many applicants apply during their final year at school or college.
- When you go to find courses, you’ll need to check the entry requirements so you can apply for courses you have a good chance of getting a place on.
- This is where the option to apply for up to five courses comes in handy – you can choose courses with higher and lower requirements so that you’ll have a backup.
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International and EU students
You can use equivalent international qualifications that you’ve already completed, or that you’re still studying now.
This allows you to apply earlier in the year, to give yourself more chance of getting a place on a course you want.
You’ll also need to demonstrate your English language skills.
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Mature students (over 21)
Don’t worry if you don’t have the right qualifications.
You can discuss alternatives with course providers, such as taking an Access course, or getting accreditation for prior learning, life experience or work experience.
How to defer your uni or college application
There are two ways to defer your application to university or college, depending what stage of the application process you’re at.
- When making your application – you can select a ‘deferred’ start date for your chosen course in Apply, but it’s important to contact the uni or college before submitting your application to make sure they are happy to accept a deferred application.
- After you’ve applied – contact your chosen uni or college and ask if they’d be happy to change your course start date to the following year.
Find out more about deferring your application