At a glance
- Oxford, Cambridge, medicine
- 15 Oct 2026, 18:00 UK time
- Most other courses
- 13 Jan 2027, 18:00 UK time
- Choices
- Up to 5 on one UCAS application
- Personal statement
- 3 questions, 4,000 characters
- Student visa
- £558 plus £776 a year health surcharge
UCAS dates for 2027 entry
From UCAS's dates and deadlines page, checked on 6 October 2026. All times are 18:00 UK time. On 15 October (UK summer time) that is 20:00 in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain and 21:00 in the UAE and Oman; on 13 January it is 21:00 and 22:00.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | Equal consideration deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses |
| 30 June 2027 | Last date for applications to go to universities; later applications go into Clearing |
| July 2027 | Clearing opens for eligible applicants |
Schools usually set an internal deadline weeks earlier so teachers can write the reference and add predicted grades. Ask your child's school for its date.
What qualifications Gulf students apply with
Cambridge's published guidance is a useful benchmark because it covers each Gulf country and school system.
| Curriculum | How UK universities read it | Cambridge example |
|---|---|---|
| A Levels (Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, UK boards) | The standard route; offers set in grades | A*AA to A*A*A depending on the course; international A Levels accepted as comparable to UK A Levels |
| IB Diploma | Offers set as a points total plus Higher Level grades | 41 to 42 points with 7, 7, 6 at Higher Level |
| American high school diploma | Usually needs AP exams plus SAT or ACT alongside the diploma | Five or more AP scores of 5 in relevant subjects, a high SAT or ACT and a high GPA |
| Saudi or UAE national secondary certificate (Tawjihiyah) | Often needs further study first | Not competitive on its own; A Levels, the IB or 5+ APs at 5 suggested |
Cambridge pages checked 6 October 2026. Other universities set lower offers; always read the course page.
The personal statement and reference
Since 2026 entry the personal statement is three separate questions sharing 4,000 characters including spaces, with at least 350 characters per answer: why do you want to study this course or subject; how have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for it; and what else have you done to prepare outside education, and why are those experiences useful. The same statement goes to all five choices, which is one reason students usually apply for closely related courses.
The school provides a reference and predicted grades. For Gulf students those predictions, made in the autumn of Year 13 or Grade 12, are what offers are based on, so mock results and coursework in Year 12 matter more than many families expect.
Visa and living costs to plan for
From GOV.UK, checked on 6 October 2026. Tuition fees are set by each university and are higher for international students.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application from outside the UK | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 per year of the visa |
| Money to show for living costs, London | £1,529 per month, for up to 9 months |
| Money to show for living costs, outside London | £1,171 per month, for up to 9 months |
A timeline from Year 12 (Grade 11)
- Year 12 autumn: confirm subject choices match the courses: maths for economics and engineering, chemistry for medicine.
- Year 12 spring and summer: research courses, attend virtual open days, and register for any admissions test (UCAT, ESAT, TMUA, LNAT) the courses need.
- Year 12 summer: draft the three personal statement answers.
- Year 13 September to October: finalise the application; Oxford, Cambridge and medicine close on 15 October.
- Year 13 January: main deadline on 13 January; offers arrive through the spring; final exams in May and June decide whether offers are met.
Where tutoring helps
The grades that decide UK offers are predicted grades first and final results second, so the most valuable support comes in Year 12 and early Year 13. A tutor who teaches your child's exact A Level or IB course can lift the subject closest to a higher prediction, prepare for an admissions test, and read personal statement drafts for clarity. LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes and online.
Common questions
When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 at 18:00 UK time for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses, and 13 January 2027 for most other courses.
Can my child apply to UK universities with a Saudi or UAE secondary certificate?
Some universities accept it, sometimes after a foundation year, but the most selective do not treat it as enough: Cambridge suggests A Levels, the IB or five or more APs at grade 5.
How many universities can you apply to through UCAS?
Up to five choices on one application, with one personal statement for all of them.
How much does a UK Student visa cost?
£558 from outside the UK, plus the immigration health surcharge of £776 per year, according to GOV.UK in October 2026.
How much do A Level lessons cost with LiveTutor?
Each one-to-one 60-minute lesson is $15, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.
- UCAS, dates and deadlines for university applications
- UCAS, how to write your personal statement for 2026 entry onwards
- University of Cambridge, accepted qualifications (A level, IB)
- University of Cambridge, international entry requirements by country
- GOV.UK, Student visa: fees and how to apply
- GOV.UK, Student visa: money you need
- GOV.UK, immigration health surcharge: how much you pay