University deadlines are generally front of mind throughout the academic year. They're particularly prominent as new academic years begin - so, too, does university application season!
Whatever stage your students are at in their university application journey, it's safe to say that this year will be filled with more of the following:
There are a lot of dates for your diary, so here’s our updated round-up of the key dates and university deadlines for 2021-22, with links to useful resources to help you plan your year in guidance.
And as with last year, we’ve also included some additional late application and spring entry deadlines, in case you have 2021 graduating students who have had their plans changed or delayed due to COVID-19.
Stay on top of deadlines and requirements for applications all over the world with our free university guidance platform.
August marks two key milestones for the most popular destination countries, the US and the UK.
While many US universities open for 2022 applicants during August, in the UK it’s time to focus on 2021 graduates - as many UK universities closely align their decision-making with the publication of A-Level results in the middle of the month.
On August 1st, Common App opens its doors for 2021-22 applicants. Students can now create their account, add colleges, and start work on their essays and applications.
A-Level results are published today, meaning that students will find out whether they have gained entry to universities where they have a conditional offer. This year, there might be some additional stress for students as A-Level exams were cancelled due to COVID-19, and the results instead rely on teacher assessments, mock and predicted grades.
If students don’t achieve the necessary grades to get into their chosen course, then they can enter what is known as Clearing, and apply to other universities.
Students have until October to add Clearing choices to their list, and for universities to make their decisions.
For any international students looking to take the SAT admissions test, this is the first of several anticipated test dates for the 2021-22 academic year.
September is a watershed month for university admissions in a number of countries. If everything has gone well, your 2020-21 students will hopefully be on their way to the university of their choice. If they have been unsuccessful, then they may be considering alternative university destinations, or re-applying in the next year.
In many countries, it will now be the turn of the next cohort of students to start gearing up for applying to potential post-secondary destinations.
This is a popular day for university deadlines for 2021 graduating students applying in France, if they want to start in the spring semester.
The absolute final university deadline for any UK applications for 2021 entry. UCAS stipulates that any applications must reach them by 6pm (UK time).
For students taking the UCAT exam to study Medicine in the UK, registration to take the test will close today.
For students who hope to apply to university in Spain, this is the university deadline for degree courses beginning in the autumn/fall semester (starting in October).
If you have students with any aspirations to study a medicine, dentistry or veterinary degree in the UK in September 2022, then they will need to have begun work on their UCAS Personal Statement by the beginning of September.
Students applying to Oxford or Cambridge must also be preparing their UCAS applications.
Likewise, students who are applying to US universities and are thinking about Early Decision/Early Action deadlines should be thinking about their Common App, Coalition and supplemental essays where relevant.
Universities in Australia will be taking applications for entry to university in February, with many application deadlines culminating October-December.
For students applying in the 2021-22 application cycle, October is the first of the major university deadlines for students applying to the UK.
This is the UCAS Conservatoires deadline for music courses. Applications must reach UCAS by 6pm (UK time).
For students applying to the UK, the first of the major application deadlines for 2021-22 arrives today. As we mentioned above, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary degrees, as well as Oxford and Cambridge, ask that students submit their applications in October.
This means that all aspects of the UCAS application – Personal Statement, school reference and student’s university choices- need to be sent to UCAS by this date.
Universities in Australia will be taking applications for February, with many application deadlines culminating October-December.
Students taking the IB will be working hard this month, with exams taking place during the last week of October and the first week of November.
November is another early application deadline, this time for students who are submitting applications for the US. Meanwhile, UK students who have submitted their UCAS applications to Oxford and Cambridge can expect to be notified as to whether they’ve been invited for an interview.
November 1st is one of two Early Decision and Action deadlines for students applying to the United States.
Because Early Decision applications are binding, students working towards the November Early Decision deadline must have done the necessary research and preparation prior to submitting. November is one of the first of two major Early Decision deadlines – Early Decision II deadlines are early in 2022.
This is the new date to take the BMAT test, used by some UK and international universities for entry to study a medical degree. The test usually takes place in October but this year was rescheduled due to COVID-19.
This is the second of the two Early Decision/Early Action deadlines for students applying in the USA.
November 1st to November 30th is the application window for students applying to college through the University of California state system.
Expect this month to be another busy one for students applying for the February intake at a range of Australian universities. Depending on the institution, some students can also start to receive Confirmation of Enrolment letters if their application has been successful.
UK Oxbridge applicants can expect to begin receiving invitations to interview in November, and interviews will continue to be held through December and into early January. It’s worth noting that this year, both Oxford and Cambridge are planning to conduct video interviews instead of inviting students to interview in person.
If you have any students who are submitting applications to Spanish universities, then the first week of December is the final deadline for commencing a degree course in February 2022.
For US and UK applicants, students should be finalising their applications over the Christmas/winter break, in preparation for meeting January deadlines.
Interviews for Oxbridge applicants in your school will continue through December.
A number of Norwegian universities may close their university applications in December, so students should check universities’ entry requirements carefully.
For those students applying to Australia, a number of notable universities will most likely have their deadlines this month.
It’s safe to say 2022 hits the ground running. January is the month with the highest volume of application deadlines for some of the most popular university countries in the world.
Specifically, applications to study at university in the UK, United States, Canada, Hong Kong and in various EU countries are due before the end of January.
US university applications are due for students applying through Regular Decision. A number of highly ranked US universities will also have deadlines throughout January.
Any students who sat IB exams in October/November will be receiving their results today.
This is a significant deadline for a number of universities in the US and Canada.
In the US, this includes a number of state universities such as Florida, Oregon, Denver, Delaware and Georgia.
If you’re an international applicant looking to study in Canada, then McGill, Sherbrooke and University of Columbia have deadlines on January 15th.
This is also the deadline for applications to Swedish universities.
January 15th is also deadline day for universities in the Netherlands for programmes which fall under ‘numerus fixus’ – these are courses with a limited number of places available.
For 2021 graduating students applying to German universities, this is also the deadline to apply for March entry.
French universities require their students to have submitted their DAP – “Demande d’Admission Préalable” (a request for admission for students of nationalities outside the EU). French university applications are accepted until April.
This year, students have a little bit longer to apply to the UK. Applications for all UCAS undergraduate courses (except those with an October deadline) should be sent by 6:00pm UK time.
Students applying to university in Finland have until the end of the month to finish their applications.
A number of institutions in Hong Kong and Canada also have deadlines this month.
UCAS applicants to Oxford and Cambridge can also expect to receive decisions on their applications by the end of January.
If you have students who applied to a US university through Early Decision, then several institutions will be sending out notifications across January.
February brings more global university deadlines, especially for a large majority of US and Canadian institutions. Highlights in February include:
These are two more dates where large numbers of US universities require prospective students to submit their final applications. Specifically, there are deadlines for a number of private and state institutions, including Ohio State and University of Michigan.
February 1st & 15th are also deadline days for a number of Canadian universities.
Students wishing to study in Ireland need to submit their applications by February 1st.
UCAS Extra opens in the UK. This allows students who have received no offers from their initial five choices to apply for a further course. UCAS Extra is open until July.
Teachers and counselors with students applying to Canadian universities be aware – this is another notable deadline day.
Many US and Canadian universities have deadlines on this day.
March 1st is also deadline day for EU/EEA students looking to apply for university in Norway.
If you have students applying for a Bachelor’s programme in Denmark, then this is the final day to submit applications.
Students who have applied to university in the UK can expect to receive most of their offers this month (if they met the 15th January deadline).
Similarly, if you have students applying to US universities, they can expect to start hearing back from their chosen destinations starting in March.
For students applying to university in Singapore, several Singapore institutions have final deadlines this month.
Once again, the first of the month is a popular deadline day for a number of US and Canadian universities.
It’s also a popular deadline for universities in France and the Netherlands. It’s worth bearing in mind that many Dutch universities have extended their deadlines due to COVID-19, so remember to check their websites.
April will also see results from US applications continuing to roll in.
For your students who may wish to apply for July entry to an Australian university, April and May are the two months where they should be finalising their applications.
Applications open for students wishing to study in Latvia. The majority of Latvian universities are accepting applications through to June.
Any late paper applications for students applying in Ireland must be sent by today.
Another common deadline for students applying to the Netherlands. Regardless whether the application deadline for their chosen university has been delayed, all students must have set up their StudieLink account by this date.
Another important milestone for your UK students – all UK universities should have replied to students who submitted their applications before the 26th January deadline. Any applications still outstanding will be deemed unsuccessful.
For those of you teaching the IB curriculum, IB summer exams continue throughout the month of May.
The first week of June is the deadline for students who are applying for a university in Spain.
German university applications also open for October entry.
This is an important cut-off date for students applying through UCAS. If students apply to any university after this date, UCAS will automatically put these applications into Clearing.
June is the month wherein most A-Level exams are sat.
For European university applications, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are three countries with final deadlines across June.
For students who may have chosen to apply to a UK university through UCAS Extra (see February), this is the last day that UCAS will accept submissions.
If your students took IB exams in the May session, then their results are released today. This is a crucial time for IB students, as these results of course affect students’ eligibility for their chosen universities and courses. IB students are able to access their results a day later, on the 6th July.
The publication of IB results also ties in with the opening of UCAS Clearing. UK universities will start to release any places they have left on their courses.
If your students are applying in Germany, then this is the final deadline for submission.
Don’t forget to keep checking our website as we publish more in-depth guides to some of the different national university systems, as well as a whole host of hints and tips to help you prepare your students as they research and apply to universities all over the world.
And if you really want to organise supercharge your guidance, make sure you create a free BridgeU account for your entire school. Getting set up is quick and easy - just click here to get started.
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I am looking out to pursue Medicine course for 2021 December or early 2022 intake. I have passed IB Diploma with 42 score and passed the BMAT, ISAT test.
Chirag Vikram Ramchandani
Monday 6th September 2021