UK university deadlines for 2027 entry: a guide for Indian families
Facts checked 14/10/2026
If your child wants to start a UK degree in September 2027, two dates matter most. 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses. 13 January 2027 for almost everything else. Both close at 6 pm UK time, which is late evening in India.
The two main deadlines
15 October 2026, 10:30 pm India time. This is for any course at Oxford or Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science. These courses are very competitive, so universities rarely look at late applications.
13 January 2027, 11:30 pm India time. This is the main deadline for most UK undergraduate courses. Apply by then and every university you chose must consider you equally.
The India time changes because the UK moves its clocks back in late October.
"Submitted" means the school reference too
The deadline is for the complete application, including the reference from your child's school. The application can't be sent until that reference is in.
So plan to finish at least two to three weeks early. That gives the school time to write the reference and add predicted marks.
What if you miss 13 January?
You can still apply until 30 June 2027. Universities may consider you if they still have places, but they don't have to. Many UK universities do accept international students later in the year, so it is worth checking each course.
After 30 June, applications go into Clearing. That is a list of courses with places still open, from 2 July. The final date for any 2027 application is 23 September 2027.
After you apply: the dates people forget
Universities reply at different times, sometimes within weeks, sometimes months later. Once all replies are in, your child must answer by a set date. Miss it and UCAS declines all the offers.
| If all decisions arrive by | Reply by |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2027 | 5 May 2027 |
| 12 May 2027 | 2 June 2027 |
| 14 July 2027 | 21 July 2027 |
The exact reply date shows in the student's UCAS account. It may be different from a friend's.
Taking a gap year?
Your child can apply in this same cycle to start in 2028. The dates and rules are the same. Check first that each university accepts deferred entry for that course.
What to do now
- Applying for Oxford, Cambridge or medicine: check the reference is done well before 15 October.
- Applying for other courses: aim to submit by mid-December, before school holidays.
- Check each course's deadline in the UCAS search tool. A few differ.
See all UK dates on our key dates page, or read how UCAS works.