Country guide
Study in United Kingdom
Student visa, Chevening and university awards. A decision in about three weeks from outside the UK.
Overview
To study in the UK you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor, enough money to support yourself and pay for the course, and English language skills. Undergraduate applications go through UCAS and postgraduate applications usually go directly to the university.
Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship. The Pakistan page said applications for 2027-2028 were closed when we checked, so follow its timeline for the next round.
Admission steps
- Choose courses and universities. Check that the university is a licensed student sponsor.
- Apply through UCAS for undergraduate study, or directly to the university for most postgraduate study.
- Accept an offer and receive the confirmation of acceptance from the sponsor.
- Prepare funds, English proof and documents, then apply online for the Student visa.
Documents you usually need
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- English test (the university states which tests it accepts)
- Personal statement or statement of purpose
- References
- Passport
Student visa
- Apply online from outside the UK, up to 6 months before the course starts.
- Pay the visa fee of £558 and the healthcare surcharge, which is paid separately.
- Provide your documents and complete the biometric steps shown in your application.
- Decisions usually take 3 weeks from outside the UK. A faster decision may be available for an extra fee.
- Once approved, set up your UKVI account to access your eVisa.
Documents
- A confirmed course place from a licensed student sponsor
- Proof of enough money to support yourself and pay for the course
- Proof of English language skills
- Identity and supporting documents
- TB test result, if required
- ATAS certificate for some Master's level and above subjects, if required
Funding and scholarships
- Chevening: apply through the official online system. Check the application timeline for the next round.
- Chevening partner awards and university scholarships: see the partners page and each university.
UK deadlines for upcoming intakes
The UK has more than 160 universities and most postgraduate deadlines are set course by course, so no single table can list every one honestly. Below are the national UCAS dates and the university deadlines we verified on official pages. Send us your shortlist and we confirm the exact course deadline for each choice.
UCAS undergraduate: 2027 entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 28 April 2026 | 2027 entry courses appear in the UCAS course search |
| 12 May 2026 | UCAS applications open (start your UCAS Hub account) |
| 1 September 2026 | Completed applications, with a reference, can be submitted |
| 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time | Equal consideration deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses |
| 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time | Equal consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses |
| 25 February 2027 | UCAS Extra opens, for applicants with five choices used and no offers |
| 30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time | Last date for universities to receive on-time applications. Later ones go into Clearing |
| 2 July 2027 | Clearing opens |
| 23 September 2027, 18:00 UK time | Final date to apply for 2027 entry |
University deadlines we verified
| University | Level and intake | Deadline (international applicants) | Other dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London | Undergraduate, 2027 entry | 15 October 2026 for medicine; 13 January 2027 for other courses (both 18:00) | Admissions tests ESAT and TMUA: 12 to 16 October 2026 and 4 to 8 January 2027. UCAT for medicine: 13 July to 24 September 2026 |
| University of Cambridge | Undergraduate, 2027 entry | 15 October 2026 (UCAS, 18:00). My Cambridge Application and transcript: 22 October 2026 | Interview invitations from November, most interviews in the first 3 weeks of December 2026, outcomes 27 January 2027 |
| University of Birmingham | Postgraduate taught, January 2027 | 30 October 2026 | Deposit 7 December 2026. Conditions met by 14 December 2026. CAS issued 14 to 18 December 2026 |
| University of Birmingham | Postgraduate taught, September 2027 | 2 July 2027 for most courses | Deposit 30 July 2027. Conditions met by 30 August 2027. CAS by 3 September 2027 |
| University of Sheffield | Postgraduate taught, February 2027 (selected courses) | 15 January 2027, 17:00 GMT | Visa applicants must apply by 4 January 2027. CAS applied for by 18 January 2027 |
| University of Sheffield | Postgraduate taught, September 2027 | Opens 15 September 2026, closes 3 September 2027, 17:00 BST | Visa applicants must apply by 26 August 2027. CAS applied for by 6 September 2027 |
| University of Leeds | Masters, 2027/28 | Opens 1 October 2026. International students typically by 30 July 2027 | Some courses close earlier. Check the course page |
| University of Oxford | Graduate, 2027-28 | Set course by course. Check your course page | Official graduate admissions |
| University College London | Graduate taught, 2027-28 | Set course by course. Check your course page | Official graduate admissions |
Sources: UCAS key dates for 2027 entry; Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Birmingham, University of Sheffield and University of Leeds official admissions pages. Last checked on 10 October 2026. Deadlines can move, so confirm on the university page before you apply.
Official links
Last checked on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and deadlines change, so confirm on the official site before you apply. We do not guarantee admission, scholarships or visas.
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