UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the central system for applying to undergraduate courses at UK universities. For 2027 entry, you can apply to up to five courses through one application for a flat fee of £34.50, and the main deadline is 6:00 pm UK time on 13 January 2027. The earlier 15 October 2026 deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses has already passed. Since the 2026 entry cycle, the personal statement is three structured questions within a 4,000-character total. UCAS is for undergraduate courses, and most postgraduate courses are applied for directly to the university. Last reviewed on 11 November 2026.
UCAS can change dates, fees and rules, so check the official UCAS website before you submit.
UCAS 2027 Entry: Key Facts
| Item | For 2027 entry |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £34.50, whether you apply to one course or five |
| Choices | Up to five courses, at the same or different universities |
| Applications opened | Registration from 12 May 2026; submission from 1 September 2026 |
| Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary deadline | 15 October 2026, 6:00 pm UK time (passed) |
| Main deadline for most courses | 13 January 2027, 6:00 pm UK time |
| Personal statement | Three questions, 4,000 characters in total |
| Last date to apply for 2027 entry | 23 September 2027 |
Applications received by the main deadline are guaranteed equal consideration. After it, universities may still accept applications if they have places, until the final date in September, when remaining places move into Clearing. School leavers can apply to only one of Oxford and Cambridge in the same year.
How to Apply Through UCAS as an Indian Student
- Create your UCAS account. Register on the UCAS website and complete your personal details.
- Research courses. Use the UCAS course search and each university’s own page to compare entry requirements for Indian qualifications such as CBSE, ISC and state boards. Our guide to top UK universities is a good starting point.
- Add your education. Enter your schools, subjects and results, including predicted or completed Class 12 marks, as the form asks.
- Choose up to five courses. Include a mix of ambitious, realistic and safer options, and check each course’s English language requirement.
- Write your personal statement. Answer UCAS’s three questions: why you want to study the course, how your studies have prepared you, and what else you have done to prepare outside education and why it is useful.
- Add a reference. A teacher or adviser who knows your work writes your reference, usually including your predicted grades.
- Pay the £34.50 fee and submit before your course’s deadline.
- Track your offers. Respond to offers in UCAS Track by the dates shown, and choose a firm and an insurance choice if you receive offers.
The Personal Statement: What Changed
Many online guides, including older versions of this one, still describe a single free-form essay. Since 2026 entry, UCAS uses three questions with a total limit of 4,000 characters, and each answer must meet a minimum length. The questions ask:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course or subject?
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Be specific. Name a project, a book or a competition and say what you learned, and avoid generic statements about wanting to study in the UK. If you apply to different subjects, each answer should still fit all of your choices.
A Plan if You Are Applying for the January 2027 Deadline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| This week | Shortlist universities and check entry requirements and English tests for your marks |
| Over the next three weeks | Draft the three personal statement answers and ask your reference writer for a reference and predicted grades |
| Early December | Finalise your five choices and have your statement reviewed |
| Before the Christmas break | Complete the form and pay, so you are not racing the deadline |
| By 13 January 2027, 6:00 pm UK time | Latest submission for equal consideration |
After You Apply: Offers, Clearing and Your Visa
- Offers. Universities send conditional or unconditional offers, or decline, through UCAS Track. You choose a firm and an insurance choice.
- Clearing. If you have no offers or miss your conditions, Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027, lets you apply for courses with remaining places.
- Visa. After you accept an offer and meet its conditions, your university issues a CAS, and you can apply for a Student visa. See our UK student visa guide.
- Scholarships. UCAS does not provide funding. Universities offer their own awards, which you apply for after you receive an offer. See our guide to UK scholarships for Indian students.
UCAS for Indian Students: FAQs
£34.50 for 2027 entry, which covers up to five course choices. Fee waivers exist for some UK students, such as those who received free school meals or have care experience, but they rarely apply to applicants from India.
The main deadline is 6:00 pm UK time on 13 January 2027 for most courses. The deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses was 15 October 2026.
No. Since 2026 entry, it is three structured questions with a total limit of 4,000 characters.
Mostly no. UCAS is the main route for undergraduate courses. Most postgraduate courses are applied for directly through the university’s website.
Up to five choices in one application. You can apply to the same course at different universities or to different courses, and only one of Oxford and Cambridge for school leavers.
Yes. Our counselling is free for students and covers study in the UK and elsewhere. Start with the free profile assessment.
Get Help With Your UCAS Application
With the 13 January 2027 deadline close, it helps to shortlist early. Eduvisor’s counselling is free for students. We are paid by partner universities and colleges once a student enrols and pays tuition fees, and we still show you options that suit your profile, including ones that are not with our partners. Start with the free profile assessment or contact us.
Sources: UCAS 2027 entry dates, fee and personal statement guidance, as reported by UK university-admissions and student-recruitment sites. Dates and fees change, so confirm them on the UCAS website before you apply.
