What Are the UCAS Deadlines for 2026 Entry?

What Are the UCAS Deadlines for 2026 Entry?

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What Is UCAS and Why Do Deadlines Matter?

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the system through which you apply to universities in the UK. Nearly every undergraduate course goes through UCAS.

Deadlines are extremely important because:

• Most universities do not consider late applications.

• Competitive courses (e.g. Medicine, Oxford, Cambridge) close early.

• Missing deadlines can limit your options to courses with remaining places via Extra or Clearing, which are not guaranteed to align with your goals.

1.1

Key UCAS Deadlines for 2026 Entry (At a Glance)

Date	Event
13 May 2025	UCAS applications open for 2026 entry
2 September 2025	Applications can be submitted to UCAS
15 October 2025	Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine/Science
14 January 2026	Main UCAS equal consideration deadline
26 February 2026	UCAS Extra opens
31 March 2026	Advisory decision deadline
6 May 2026	Decline by Default (DBD) deadline
13 May 2026	Reject by Default (RBD) deadline
30 June 2026	Final submission deadline before Clearing
4 July 2026	Extra closes
5 July 2026	Clearing opens
19 October 2026	Clearing closes

Let’s break down what each deadline means for you.

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Undergraduate Applications

2.1

When do Undergraduate Applications Open?

From 13 May 2025, you can register and begin your application on UCAS Hub. This is when:

• You create your UCAS profile
• Begin your personal statement draft
• Add your GCSE and A-Level subjects and predicted grades
• Start your course and university research

Why is this important?

Starting early gives you ample time to refine your personal statement and ensure your application is strong before submission opens.

2.2

When can UCAS Applications be Submitted?

Although you can create your application from May, you cannot submit it until 2 September 2025. From this date onwards:

• Schools/colleges finalise your academic reference

• You pay the UCAS fee and officially submit your application for universities to begin consideration.

Need guidance from the very first step? Book a consultation with our UK university experts today.

2.3

Deadline for Oxford, Cambridge & Medicine UCAS Applications

If you’re applying to:

• University of Oxford

• University of Cambridge

• Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine/Science anywhere in the UK

Your application must be submitted by 15 October 2025 at 6pm UK time.

Why is this earlier?

These courses are highly competitive. Early deadlines allow time for additional assessments and interviews.

Applying to Oxbridge or Medicine? Our consultants specialise in guiding students through these competitive applications. Learn more about Ivy Education’s support here.

2.4

What is the Equal Consideration Deadline and When Is It?

This is the most important deadline for most students.

• Submit by 6pm UK time on 14 January 2026 to be guaranteed equal consideration for your chosen courses.

• Applications submitted after this date are marked as “late” and may only be considered if places remain.

Tip: Universities are not obliged to consider late applications, especially for popular courses.

2.5

What is UCAS Extra?

If you used all five choices and do not hold any offers, UCAS Extra gives you a second chance to apply to additional courses, one at a time.

• Opens 26 February 2026

• Closes 4 July 2026

You can keep applying to courses in Extra until you receive an offer or it closes.

Worried about receiving no offers? Our team can help you strategise your UCAS choices and create strong applications to reduce this risk. Contact us here.

2.6

What is the Advisory Decision Deadline?

This is a UCAS advisory date by which universities are encouraged to have made decisions on applications submitted by the 14 January deadline.

Why is this helpful?

The earlier you hear back, the more time you have to:

• Attend offer-holder days

• Make an informed firm/insurance choice

• Organise accommodation and finances

2.7

What is Decline by Default (DBD) and when is it?

If you receive offers from universities, you must reply by a set date (your UCAS Hub will confirm your personal deadline). For most students who received offers by 20 March, your reply deadline is 6 May 2026.

You must choose:

• Firm choice (your first-choice university)

• Insurance choice (your backup, usually with lower entry requirements)

• Decline other offers

What happens if you miss the DBD deadline?

If you do not reply in time:

• All offers are automatically declined.

• Your application status changes to “declined” for all choices.

• You lose those offers permanently.

What can you do if your offers are declined by default?

You are still eligible for:

• UCAS Extra (until 4 July 2026) if you used all five choices

• Clearing, which opens 5 July 2026

Avoid this situation by planning your decision strategy early with expert advice. Book your consultation here.

2.8

What is Reject by Default?

Universities have a deadline to respond to your application. If you applied by the 14 January equal consideration deadline, they must make a decision by 13 May 2026.

If they do not respond, UCAS changes your application status to “rejected” for that university automatically.

What happens if you’re rejected by default?

• You lose that choice

• If you still hold other offers, you can proceed as normal

• If you have no offers left, you become eligible for UCAS Extra or later Clearing

Tip: Don’t panic! If you’re rejected by default, review your course options and use Extra or Clearing strategically with guidance.

Final Submission Deadline – 30 June 2026

• Applications submitted after 6pm UK time on 30 June 2026 will not be sent to universities automatically.
• Instead, they enter Clearing directly.

Always aim to apply by this date to be considered in the standard admissions process.

2.9

UCAS Extra Deadline

UCAS Extra ends on 4 July 2026. After this, you must wait for Clearing to open if you still need a university place.

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Clearing

3.1

What Is UCAS Clearing?

UCAS Clearing is a process that allows students who don’t hold any university offers to apply for courses with remaining places. It is often seen as a “last chance” option but is increasingly used strategically by students to find courses that better suit their goals, especially if they exceed their predicted grades or change their preferences after results day.

3.2

Who Can Use Clearing?

You can use Clearing if:

• You didn’t receive any offers from your original UCAS applications.
• You declined all your offers (by choice or by missing reply deadlines – Decline by Default).
• You didn’t meet the conditions of your firm or insurance offers (e.g. missed A-Level grades).
• You applied after 30 June 2026 (all applications after this date automatically go into Clearing).

3.3

When Does Clearing Open and Close for 2026 Entry?

Date	Event
5 July 2026	Clearing opens – you can see available courses and contact universities.
19 October 2026	Clearing closes – final date to add Clearing choices on UCAS.

3.4

How Does Clearing Work?

1. Check your UCAS Hub status.
   On results day (or earlier if eligible), if you’re in Clearing, your UCAS status will show ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’.
   
2. Search for courses.
   

3. Use the UCAS Clearing search tool to find available courses. Universities update vacancies regularly.
   

4. Contact universities directly.
   Call the admissions office, provide your UCAS ID, and discuss your grades and interest. If they verbally offer you a place, it is usually conditional on you adding them as a Clearing choice on UCAS.
   

5. Add your Clearing choice.
   Once you have permission from the university, you add that course as your ‘Clearing choice’ on UCAS. They will then officially confirm your place.

3.5

What Types of Courses Are Available in Clearing?

Clearing offers:

• Courses that were under-subscribed

• Courses at top universities where applicants missed grades

• New courses or additional places released after results day

Important: Popular and competitive courses (e.g. Medicine, Dentistry, Oxbridge) do not go into Clearing. However, strong Russell Group universities often have places in sciences, humanities, business, and social sciences.

3.6

Should You Wait for Clearing?

While Clearing provides great opportunities, it should not replace your main UCAS application strategy. Use it as a backup plan, not your first plan, because:

• Courses in Clearing are limited and vary by year.

• Accommodation options may be reduced.

• You have less time to research and prepare.

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Final Thoughts

Navigating the UCAS application process can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time applying to university or supporting your child through the journey. The key to success is understanding each deadline, its purpose, and how it fits into your timeline.

Start early – Begin researching courses, drafting your personal statement, and understanding entry requirements well before applications open in May 2025.

Don’t miss critical deadlines – Especially the 15 October deadline for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary courses, and the 14 January 2026 equal consideration deadline for all other courses.

Stay organised with decision deadlines – Decline by Default (DBD) on 6 May 2026 and Reject by Default (RBD) on 13 May 2026 ensure you and universities act on offers efficiently.

Ready to build a strong application plan for 2026? Contact Ivy Education today to begin your journey with expert guidance.

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UCAS Deadlines 2026 FAQs

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