Guides
Guides to UK and US university applications
Plain answers to the questions students ask most, each built from the official pages and dated, so you can see exactly where every fact comes from.
Applying to UK universities
- UK admissions tests for 2027 entry: TMUA, ESAT, TARA and LNATWhich Oxford and Cambridge courses need which test for 2027 entry, the January 2027 TMUA, ESAT and TARA sitting, and LNAT deadlines by university.Updated 6 November 2026
- Oxford and Cambridge interviews, December 2026: what to expectFor 2027 entry: Oxford’s online interviews on Microsoft Teams, Cambridge’s 7–18 December 2026 interview period, shortlisting, timetables and decision dates.Updated 26 October 2026
- UCAS application for 2027 entry: deadlines, choices and stepsHow the UCAS application for 2027 entry works: the Wednesday 13 January 2027 deadline for most courses, five choices, the £34.50 fee, references and next steps.Updated 26 October 2026
- UCAS personal statement 2027: the three questions and limitsFor 2027 entry the UCAS personal statement is three questions, up to 4,000 characters in all and at least 350 per answer. What UCAS asks, from its own pages.Updated 26 October 2026
- UK medical school interviews for 2027 entry: MMIs and panelsHow UK medical schools interview for 2027 entry: MMIs and panel interviews explained, eleven schools’ formats, interview dates, the UCAT and how to prepare.Updated 26 October 2026
Applying to US colleges
- US college application deadlines for fall 2027: ED, EA and RDEarly Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision deadlines for fall 2027 entry at 23 US colleges, with decision dates and what binding means.Updated 7 November 2026
- Common App essay prompts 2026–27: all seven, word for wordThe seven Common App essay prompts for 2026–27, word for word, plus the 250–650 word range, activities limits, deadline times and fee waivers.Updated 26 October 2026
- SAT or ACT for fall 2027: which US colleges require scoresWhich US colleges require the SAT or ACT for fall 2027 entry, which are test-optional, what international students can send instead, and the test dates.Updated 26 October 2026
- UC application for fall 2027: deadline, PIQs, fees and testsOne application covers all nine University of California campuses. The fall 2027 deadline, personal insight questions, fees and tests, from UC’s own pages.Updated 26 October 2026
Student visas
- F-1 student visa costs 2026: fees, I-20, timing and interviewWhat a US F-1 student visa costs in 2026: the $185 visa fee, the $350 SEVIS fee, where the visa integrity fee stands, plus the I-20, timing and the interview.Updated 26 October 2026
- UK Student visa costs 2026: fee, IHS, funds and Graduate visaWhat a UK Student visa costs in 2026: the £558 fee, the £776-a-year health surcharge, money for living costs, the CAS, timings and the Graduate visa after.Updated 26 October 2026
Paying for university
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