2026 cycle applicant figures – 30 June deadline

This release presents the latest data on applicants to UK undergraduate courses at the 30 June application deadline for the 2026 cycle. It provides a view of demand across the higher education sector, including trends by age, domicile, and other applicant characteristics.

 

Comparisons are made with previous application cycles at the same point in the cycle. In Scotland, a substantial proportion of higher education is not included in UCAS figures, primarily full-time undergraduate study delivered in further education colleges, which accounts for around one third of young full-time undergraduate provision.

 

Data in the dashboard is available for application cycles from 2017 to 2026. Data using CAH groupings is available from 2019 onwards, when this classification was introduced.

 

Proportional changes are calculated using unrounded data.
 

When filters are applied, some figures may be calculated using values that have been rounded to the nearest 10.
 

Prior to 2015 applicants were asked to state their sex as part of their application. This was changed in 2015 with applicants asked to declare their gender. In the 2024 cycle an extended classification for gender was introduced. For the purposes of enabling a timeseries, and consistent with HESA’s treatment of these values, the values used in these data refer to sex prior to 2015, and gender subsequently.