Undergraduate applications for UK universities for 2027 entry are now officially open, giving students a first chance to start preparing for the next admissions cycle. But while the paperwork can be readied from May 2026, applications cannot actually be submitted to universities until September 2026.

That timing matters because students hoping to start university in September 2026 are already part of the current admissions cycle, not the 2027 one. For those planning ahead, the process now moves into the preparation stage, with Ucas setting out the key dates that will govern the year ahead.

The most urgent deadline is October 15 2026 for applicants to the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, medicine, dentistry or veterinary science courses. Those courses sit outside the more familiar autumn rush, and missing that date could close off an application before it has properly begun.

For most other applicants, the summer and autumn 2026 period is when universities are expected to show their campuses at open days. These events usually include campus tours, accommodation visits, subject talks, student finance guidance and chances to speak directly with current students and admissions staff. More dates may be added by individual universities as the year goes on.

The practical reason for opening the cycle now is simple: students need time to compare courses, visit campuses and work out where they want to apply before the submission window opens in September 2026. Ucas has separated the 2026 entry deadlines from the 2027 entry applications, so students need to keep the two tracks clear if they are not to miss a cut-off.

Not everyone will secure a place through their first round of applications. Students who use all five choices and do not receive any university offers may still be able to find a place through Ucas Extra between February and July 2027. After that, Clearing opens in July 2027 and allows students to apply for university places that still have vacancies available.

For students and families, the message is that the admissions cycle has begun, but the real work is still ahead. The opening of applications is the start of the planning phase, not the point at which offers are made or places are secured. For now, the best move is to use the months before September 2026 to narrow choices, check deadlines and make the most of open days before the system moves into the next stage.