UK or US University: When to Apply?
Are you applying to university for an undergraduate degree in the UK or the US? Applications to study at many of the most popular university countries in the world are due before the end of January. Here are some of the key dates to be aware of.
UCAS: 2022 undergraduate entry
You can apply to UCAS for 2022 entry from September 7, 2021. The deadlines for application are:
October 15, 2021 – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. (You can add choices with a different deadline later)
January 26, 2022 – for the majority of courses for UK and EU students
June 30, 2022 – for the majority of undergraduate courses for international students. Applications received after June 30 are entered into UCAS Clearing
If you miss the January deadline, then many universities and colleges continue to accept applications from international students until later in the year, by June 30 at 6pm. All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing.
Many schools and colleges will encourage students to apply well before the January 26 deadline for good reason, with November a common school/college deadline. This allows the school to add things such as references, and check personal statements and choices.
US Ivy League: 2022 undergraduate entry
The most prestigious universities in the US include: Brown University (Providence); Columbia University (New York City); Cornell University (Ithaca, New York); Dartmouth College (New Hampshire); Harvard University (Massachusetts); University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania); Princeton University (New Jersey); and Yale University (Connecticut).
November 1, 2021 – deadline to apply for Early Action admission
January 1, 2022 – Regular Decision application deadline
However, Princeton University has announced that it will only offer one application deadline for the 2021-2022 cycle, which is January 1, 2022; this will allow students more time to take standardised tests in the autumn. Other US universities are expected to follow Princeton’s lead and cancel early decision applications.
