Application dates and deadlines for Cambridge

Are you planning to start an undergraduate course at Cambridge in 2026? We’ve listed the main activities, dates and deadlines for Cambridge. Other deadlines apply for Music Award applicants.

You will need to meet all relevant deadlines for your application to be considered.

If you're looking to apply to a postgraduate course at Cambridge, view postgraduate application dates and deadlines.

29 April 2025

• Search for courses on the UCAS website. 2026 entry courses will be live on UCAS from this date.

13 May 2025

• You can start your UCAS application from this point, but you can’t submit it until September.

2 June 2025

• Applications open for bursary vouchers and access arrangements for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests. You'll need to take the ESAT if you want to study Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences or Veterinary Medicine, and the TMUA if you want to study Computer Science or Economics.

17 June 2025

• Booking for the UCAT admission test opens, if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

7 July 2025

• UCAT admission testing starts, if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

31 July 2025

• Booking for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests opens.

1 August 2025

• Registration opens for LNAT admission test if you want to study Law (date TBC).

2 September 2025 onwards

• Submit your UCAS application for Cambridge from this date. Make sure you submit your application by the relevant deadline. You can start to complete your UCAS application from May.

8 September 2025

• ESAT and TMUA test booking deadline for candidates with access arrangements.

16 September 2025

• Deadline to apply for access arrangements for the UCAT admission test if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine. 
• Deadline to register for the LNAT admission test if you want to study Law (date TBC).

19 September 2025

• Deadline to register for the UCAT admission test if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

26 September 2025

• Take the UCAT admission test by this date if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.  

29 September 2025

• Deadline to register for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests.

9 October 2025

• Take the ESAT admission test on 9 or 10 October if you want to study Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences or Veterinary Medicine. Applicants from China, Hong Kong and Macau must take the test on 10 October.

13 October 2025

• Take the TMUA admission test on 13 or 14 October if you want to study Computer Science or Economics. Applicants from China, Hong Kong and Macau must take the test on 14 October.

Please note: earlier deadlines will apply for registration, access arrangements and bursary vouchers for the ESAT and TMUA. Dates will be confirmed in April.

15 October 2025

• Deadline to submit your UCAS application (6pm UK time). If you’re a mature student (21+) you can apply to one of the mature Colleges for some courses in January.
• Take the LNAT admission test by this date if you want to study Law (date TBC).

22 October 2025

• Deadline to submit My Cambridge Application (6pm UK time). This is an extra application form that you need to complete if you want to study at Cambridge. If you’re applying for the graduate course in Medicine, you won’t need to complete My Cambridge Application.
• Deadline to provide your transcript, if you’re an international student.
• If you applied for the graduate course in Medicine, this is the deadline to submit your additional application form. This is an extra form that you need to complete if you want to study Medicine (Graduate Course).

November 2025

• The College you applied to will invite you for an interview, if you’ve been shortlisted. Find out how to prepare for an interview. Most invitations will be sent in November, but some might be sent in early December.

December 2025

• Most College interviews take place in the first 3 weeks of December. The core interview period in 2025 will run from Monday 1 December to Friday 19 December.

January 2026

• The College you applied to may be impressed by your application, but not have a place for you. If this happens they may share your application with other Colleges to consider. Find out more about how we make a decision on your application.
• If you applied in October, we will let you know whether we have decided to offer you a place. Find out what to do when you are told the outcome of your application.

14 January 2026

• Deadline to apply if you want to study the Foundation Year (6pm UK time).
• Deadline to apply for some courses if you're a mature student (6pm UK time).

21 January 2026

• Deadline to submit My Cambridge Application (6pm UK time) if you apply by the January deadline for mature students.

March to April 2026

• Students who have applied to one of the mature Colleges in the January round will normally be interviewed between Monday 23 March and Friday 3 April.

May to June 2026

• You take your A levels, IB and other examinations.
• Take the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) if you’ve applied for a course where it’s required.

August 2026

• Exam results are released. Find out what to do when you get your exam results.
• We will confirm our final decision on your application. Find out how we make application decisions and what you need to do when you are told the outcome of your application.