What's new in UCAS for 2027 entry: what Indian families should know

Applying to UK universities for 2027 works much like last year, with a few changes that matter. The fee is £34.50, the main deadline is 13 January 2027, and students can now upload documents like passports and English test results into the application.

1. One fee: £34.50

The UCAS fee for 2027 entry is £34.50. It is the same whether your child picks 1 course or 5. It also covers Extra and Clearing later, so there is nothing more to pay UCAS.

This is only the application fee. Universities charge their own tuition fees, and some courses have separate admissions tests with their own costs.

2. New dates

• 13 January 2027: main deadline for most courses.
• 25 February 2027: Extra opens, for students holding no offers.
• 12 May 2027: last day for universities to decide on applications made by 13 January.

The Oxford, Cambridge and medicine deadline was 15 October 2026. See our UK deadlines guide for the full list in India time.

3. Upload documents into the application

For the first time, students can upload supporting documents into the right parts of the form. This includes passports, English test results, transcripts, visa details and name-change papers.

It is optional, and the upload option only appears based on certain answers. For Indian students it is worth using. Universities then have the mark sheets and English scores early, which can avoid delays later.

4. Real entry data to check your chances

The UCAS search tool shows the grades of students actually accepted on each course in past years. It now has a view that combines different qualifications.

One limit: this data is built around UK qualifications. It won't show CBSE or ICSE percentages directly. For Indian boards, the course page's "international entry requirements" section is still the place to check.

5. Parents can be given access

In the contact details section, your child can name you for "nominated access". UCAS and the universities can then talk to you about the application if your child can't call. Keep your child's Personal ID handy when you call, as they will ask security questions.

Without this, UCAS and universities will not discuss your child's application with you.

6. Honest predicted marks matter

The school's predicted marks shape which offers your child gets. UCAS warns against inflating them. Your child may get offers they can't meet, and a university can withdraw an offer if a prediction was far off. Ask the school for realistic predictions, not hopeful ones.

7. A few new questions in the form

The "More about you" section has been updated so students can share any condition, disability or learning difference in clearer terms. This is used to arrange support, not to decide offers. There is also a new question on sex at birth, with a "prefer not to say" option, for monitoring only.

What hasn't changed

• Up to 5 choices, sent to all universities at once.
• The personal statement is still three questions within 4,000 characters.
• The school reference must be in before the application can be sent.

Costs beyond UCAS, for Indian students

If your child needs a UK student visa, plan for:

• The visa fee.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge, paid upfront for the length of the visa.
• Proof of money for living costs, held in a bank account for a set period.

Check current amounts on gov.uk student visa. University scholarships are usually a cut in tuition fees, and some come with conditions. Read the terms before counting on one.