University application deadlines: the national dates in 10 countries

When applications open and close in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and 4 more — the dates the national admissions body publishes, not an estimate.

Each date below was read from the body that runs that country's central admissions system, or from a university page restating it. A national deadline is the last date the system accepts an application; an individual university or programme can set an earlier one, and where a source publishes that, it is on the programme's own page.

Austria

the universities themselves, to a date set in law · the standard Austrian semester dates

Study in Austria, run by the OeAD on behalf of the federal ministry, states: 'At universities the closing dates for application for the winter semester are September 5, and for the summer semester February 5.' It adds, for applicants from outside Austria: 'As it may take longer to review foreign documents and process applications we recommend that you submit your application as early as possible so that you do not miss the start of the semester.' Foreign transcripts must be…

• Universities in Austria

Denmark

Optagelse.dk · the intake starting in the autumn

The Danish Agency for Higher Education states: 'The deadline for applications to most higher education programmes is 15 March, 12:00 noon.' It applies to bachelor's, professional bachelor's and academy profession programmes applied for through Optagelse.dk. Master's programmes and adult higher education are handled by the institutions directly and have no single national date.

• Universities in Denmark

France

Études en France (DAP) and Parcoursup, run by Campus France and the Ministry of Higher Education · academic year 2026/2027

France runs two routes. DAP (demande d'admission préalable) is the Études en France route for first-year undergraduate entry from the 73 countries where Campus France operates: registrations open 1 October 2025 and close 15 December 2025, universities answer before 30 April 2026 and the student accepts before 31 May 2026.

• Universities in France

Germany

uni-assist, the application service most German universities use for international applicants · the standard German semester dates

uni-assist states: 'The application deadline is often July 15th if the course starts in the winter semester' and 'The application deadline is often January 15th if the course starts in the summer semester.' It adds that many universities set earlier deadlines, particularly for master's courses and the Studienkolleg, that an evaluation usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from receipt, and advises applying 'at least 8 weeks before the deadline expires' so that missing documents can be…

• Universities in Germany

Ireland

CAO (Central Applications Office) · 2026 entry

Trinity College Dublin publishes the CAO cycle dates as: applications open 5 November 2025 at 12:00, the normal closing date 1 February 2026 at 17:00, late applications 1 May 2026 at 17:00 and change of mind 1 July 2026 at 17:00, adding that 'these dates are subject to change'. Late application is not open for every course, and the DARE and HEAR access routes and most mature applicants must apply by the February date.

• Universities in Ireland

Italy

Universitaly, the Ministry of University and Research pre-enrolment portal · academic year 2026/2027

Italy runs international admission through pre-enrolment on Universitaly, followed by a visa application at an Italian embassy or consulate. The official consular notice for 2026/2027 states that 'Pre-enrollment applications, which are preliminary to the subsequent enrollment phases, must be submitted through the Universitaly portal' and that 'The visa application deadline is November 30, 2026', covering bachelor's, master's and first- and second-level academic diploma…

• Universities in Italy

the Netherlands

Studielink · the academic year starting in September

Study in NL, the Dutch government's study portal, gives 15 January 23:59 CET for numerus fixus programmes and 1 May for all others. It calls these general deadlines and says to 'always check the exact deadline with the institution of your choice, as it may vary per institution and study programme' — many Dutch universities set an earlier date for applicants who need a visa.

• Universities in the Netherlands

Norway

Samordna opptak · the intake starting in the autumn

Samordna opptak, the Norwegian joint admissions service, gives 15 April as 'The application deadline for most applicants', 1 July as the 'Deadline for uploading the results of exams taken in the spring semester' — school leavers must submit their leaving certificate by then — and 20 July as the day 'The result of your application is posted to your account.' The page sets out no separate date for applicants with foreign qualifications.

• Universities in Norway

Sweden

universityadmissions.se (Universitets- och högskolerådet) · autumn semester 2027

Sweden runs two rounds. The first is the one international applicants are directed to, because it leaves time for tuition payment, a residence permit and relocation: it opens 16 October 2026 and closes 15 January 2027, with the application fee and supporting documents due by 1 February. Master's results are published 1 April and bachelor's on 8 April. The second round opens 15 March 2027 and closes 15 April, but has limited availability of English-taught programmes.

• Universities in Sweden

the United Kingdom

UCAS · 2027 entry

The University of Bristol states the UCAS dates as '13 January 2027 (6 pm, UK time) in your planned entry year' for equal consideration and, 'If you're applying for a medicine, dentistry or veterinary course, the deadline is 15 October 2026 (6 pm, UK time) for entry the following year.' Applications sent after the equal-consideration deadline are still accepted but providers do not have to give them equal weight.

• Universities in the United Kingdom