UCAS Application for International Students: How It Works, Step by Step
TL;DR: A UCAS application is how international students apply for undergraduate degrees at UK universities, using one online form in the UCAS Hub. For 2027 entry the fee is £34.50 and covers up to five choices. The 15 October 2026 deadline has passed, but most courses have an equal consideration date of 13 January 2027 at 6:00 PM UK time, and 30 June 2027 is the last date for an application to reach your chosen universities.
Applying to UK universities takes one application, sent once, to every course you pick. Here is each stage in order. Not sure which courses fit your grades? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
How does a UCAS application work for international students?
UCAS is the admissions service for undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. You fill in one application on the UCAS website, add your course choices, get a reference, pay one fee and send it. Each university then decides.
| Stage | Who does it | When (2027 entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Register in the UCAS Hub | You | Open since 12 May 2026 |
| Fill in the sections and add choices | You | Before you send |
| Reference and predicted grades | Your school, college or referee | Ask once your education section is done |
| Pay £34.50 and send | You, or your school | By 13 January 2027, 6:00 PM UK time |
| Decisions and offers | Universities | After UCAS sends your application on |
| Reply: firm and insurance | You | By the reply date in your application |
| Results checked against conditions | Universities | After results; Clearing opens 2 July 2027 |
Registering in the UCAS Hub
Register in the UCAS Hub, confirm your start year and that you want undergraduate study, then select "Start" on the application tile. If you apply through a school or college, it gives you a buzzword, a short code that links your application to the school.
What goes into each section of the UCAS application
- Personal details: your name exactly as on your official documents, plus contact details.
- Nationality and residence: your nationality and where you have lived in the three years before your course. This helps decide your fee status.
- Finance: how you plan to pay. See UK tuition fees for international students.
- Education: every qualification from secondary school onwards, including pending results.
- Employment and extra activities: paid work only, then summer schools and short courses.
- Personal statement: up to 4,000 characters. See the UCAS personal statement questions.
- Reference: written online by someone who knows you academically. See the UCAS reference for international applicants.
How to enter international qualifications
Search for your qualification in the list, or choose "other" and type it in. UCAS says to use the actual qualification name and grade on your certificate, never a UK equivalent. English test results go here too.
You send certificates to each university yourself when asked. For UK comparisons, see the UK ENIC statement of comparability.
Choosing your courses and paying the UCAS fee
You can add up to five choices: different universities, or more than one course at the same one. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses are capped at four of your choices.
The UCAS application fee for 2027 entry is £34.50 for all your choices. Once every section is complete and your reference is added, you pay and send. Independent applicants pay online by debit or credit card. A school or college tells you whether to pay it or UCAS.
When are the UCAS deadlines?
The official UCAS dates for 2027 entry, all at 6:00 PM UK time:
- 15 October 2026: Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses. This date has passed; see the UCAS October deadline.
- 13 January 2027: the equal consideration date for most courses. See the UCAS January deadline.
- 30 June 2027: applications received by now go to your chosen universities. Later ones go into Clearing.
What happens after you submit your UCAS application
After your welcome email, you track progress by signing in to the Hub. Offers can be conditional or unconditional.
You reply once every university has decided. You accept one firm choice and can add one insurance choice as a back-up, ideally with lower conditions, then decline the rest. Your reply date depends on when your last decision arrives: if it comes by 31 March 2027, you reply by 5 May 2027.
Extra: from 25 February 2027, if you used all your choices and hold no offers, you can add another choice.
Clearing: from 2 July 2027, applicants without a place can look for courses that still have places.
Once your place is confirmed, the university issues your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) so you can apply for a UK Student visa.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- A/L and O/L results: enter your G.C.E. Advanced Level and Ordinary Level subjects and grades exactly as on your certificates. If A/L results are still to come, enter them as pending.
- Predicted grades: a teacher referee can add predicted grades for pending A/L subjects.
- Reference: ask your school for its buzzword. If you have left school, ask a former teacher for it, or ask an employer for an academic reference.
- Paying: pay the £34.50 by debit or credit card, and check first that your bank allows online payments in pounds sterling.
- Timing: 6:00 PM UK time on 13 January 2027 is 11:30 PM in Colombo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does UCAS cost?
The UCAS application fee for 2027 entry is £34.50, one fee for up to five undergraduate choices.
How many universities can I apply to through UCAS?
You can add up to five choices on one UCAS application. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses are limited to four of those choices.
When is the UCAS deadline?
For 2027 entry, most undergraduate courses have an equal consideration date of 13 January 2027 at 6:00 PM UK time. Applications received by 30 June 2027 still reach your chosen universities.
Do international students apply through UCAS?
Yes. International students apply for UK undergraduate degrees through UCAS on the same form as UK students.
Can I apply to a master's through UCAS?
No. UCAS says you apply directly to the university for postgraduate courses. See the documents required for a master's in the UK.
PS: A UCAS application rewards early, careful work: the right choices, a strong reference and the January date in your calendar. For help choosing courses that match your results, Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- Filling in your UCAS application, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/filling-in-your-ucas-application (checked 27/10/2026)
- What is the application fee for the 2027 cycle?, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/faqs/what-is-the-application-fee-for-the-2027-cycle (checked 27/10/2026)
- Dates and deadlines for uni applications, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/dates-and-deadlines-for-uni-applications (checked 27/10/2026)
- How to track your application, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/applying/after-you-apply/tracking-your-ucas-application (checked 27/10/2026)
- Replying to your offers, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/applying/after-you-apply/types-of-offers/replying-to-your-offers (checked 27/10/2026)
- How to get a UCAS reference, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-university/how-get-ucas-reference (checked 27/10/2026)
- How do I apply for postgraduate study?, UCAS, https://www.ucas.com/faqs/how-do-i-apply-postgraduate-study (checked 27/10/2026)
