Analysing the 2026 UCAS October deadline data

The October deadline provides the first insight into how the 2026 UCAS undergraduate application cycle is shaping up. This early deadline covers applications to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as all courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine or science. As such, it reflects demand for some of the most competitive and high-profile courses in the UK higher education system. Here, we unpack the data, exploring how demand has evolved by domicile, country, and age group to provide an early indication of patterns emerging in the 2026 cycle.

Source: UCAS

Applications to courses with an October deadline have reached a record high in the 2026 cycle, with 79.2k applicants - a 7.4% increase year-on-year (YoY). This growth marks a significant rebound across all domiciles. UK applicants rose by 5.6% to 54.8k, the first annual increase since 2022. Demand from outside the EU also continues to expand strongly, with non-EU applicants up 12.9% to 20.4k. Even EU applicants have grown for the first time since 2018, increasing by 4.8% to 3.9k. The rise in early applications builds on the momentum seen in 2025’s overall undergraduate acceptances, suggesting continued strong demand for UK higher education from both domestic and international undergraduate students.

Source: UCAS

Looking at applicants by country, China continues to drive growth, with applications up 15.7% YoY to 5.8k, extending the significant rise seen since 2024. This aligns with the broader increase in Chinese undergraduate acceptances seen in 2025. US applications have also risen sharply, up 15.0% YoY to 2.2k, marking the fourth consecutive year of growth. Applications from Hong Kong saw a modest 5.5% increase and have remained around the 1.5k level since 2021. Indian applicants also increased for the second year in a row, up 10.9%, reinforcing the sustained international interest in UK higher education.

Source: UCAS

Examining UK applications by age group, the number of 18-year-old applicants has reached a record high of 41k, up 5.3% YoY. This continues the upward trend seen in undergraduate acceptances among UK 18-year-olds over the past few years. Older age groups have also seen increases, though their smaller share of total applicants makes these rises less pronounced. Applications are up 2.5% among 19–20-year-olds, 10.5% for those aged 21–24, and 4.3% among applicants aged 25 and over.

Together, these trends point to a strong and broad-based continuation in undergraduate demand ahead of the 2026 cycle. With record interest from UK 18-year-olds and renewed momentum from international markets, early signs suggest universities can expect another competitive year for high-demand courses.

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