UCAS 14 January ‘26 Deadline: Application Trends

Key Highlights

• Total applicants reached 618,620, +3.1% YoY, compared to 599,790 in 2025.
• International applicants up by +5.23% as compared to the 2025 application cycle, representing a total of 124,050 of the total applications.
• Domestic applications also increased by +2.63% in 2026 as compared to 2025, with a total of 494,570 applicants from UK.
• Male and female applications grew by +3.29% and +3.41%, respectively, as compared to the 2025 application cycle, indicating a balanced growth across all genders.
• The age segment of 18-year-olds grew by 5.83%, 19-year-olds by +1.76%, while the age band of 17 and under saw a slight dip of -0.79%.
• China and India led the top source countries for applications, followed by the USA and Ireland, with a higher number of applications YoY.
• Overall trend points toward a strong applicant pool, with UK & international demand appearing strong for 2026.

Introduction

The UCAS equal consideration deadline for most 2026 undergraduate courses concluded on 14 January 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the UK higher education admissions cycle. 

With UCAS now releasing the first set of applicant figures for the 2026 intake, early signals are beginning to take shape. In this latest analysis, amber unpacks emerging application trends and shifts in course demand.

UK vs International Student Applications Outlook

The total number of applicants for the UCAS 14 January cycle increased by +3.1% YoY, reaching 618,620 applications in 2026, up from 599,790 in 2025.

• Applicants from the UK segment increased from 481,910 in the 2025 cycle to 494,570 in 2026, a surge of +2.63% YoY. 
• The international cohort also exhibited similar patterns of improvement, with a strong rise of +5.23%, reaching 124,050 applications in the 2026 cycle, up from 117,880 in 2025.

‍

Analysis of Applications by Gender (‘25 vs ‘26)

The 2026 application cycle exhibited an upward trend for both male and female applicants, the momentum confirming that both genders contributed substantially to the continued growth of the higher education sector.

The total of applicants across all genders stood at 611,130 in 2026, up +3.14% from 591,280 in 2025:

• Male Applicants: This cycle, there were 260,280 applications from male applicants, a +3.29% increase from 251,990 applications in 2025.‍
• Female Applicants: This cohort saw a +3.41% rise, reaching 350,850 applications in 2026, as compared to 339,290 in 2025.

Domicile Distribution: Analysis & Insights

Non-European international applicants stood at 103,550, a +5.50% increase from 98,150 applicants in 2025, marking a consistently growing global demand.

Applications from European countries excluding the UK witnessed a +3.90% rise from 19,730  in 2025 to 20,500 in 2026.

Among the UK applicants:

• The highest number of applicants came from England, rising +2.60% to 415,190 applications.
• This was followed by Scotland (42,230 applicants), up +1.71%. 
• There were 19,280 applications from Wales, a rise of +2.39% YoY.
• Northern Ireland saw a rise of +5.86%, to 17,870 applicants.

‍

UCAS Applications by Age Group ('24 v. '25 v. '26)

The 2026 application cycle reflects measured overall growth, driven primarily by 18-year-olds, with older age groups reflecting a downward trend:

• 18-year-olds: This segment showed a continued growth, rising +5.83% to 405,990 applications in 2026, up from 383,630 applications in 2025.
• 19-year-olds: This section also shows an upward trend of +1.77%, with a rise from 96,780 in 2025 to 98,490 in the 2026 cycle.
• Youngest segment (17 & under): This cohort witnessed a slight dip of -0.79%, reaching 14,980 in the 2026 cycle.
• Mid-range (21-24): This age band saw a drop of -3.73%, with 37,450 applications in 2026, compared to 38,900 in 2025.
• Older applicants (25 & above): The group of 25-29 reached 12,900 applicants in the 2026 cycle, a drop of -3.87% from 13,420 in 2025, while applications from the 30-34 age band were 6,140 in 2026, a -10.76% drop. The 35 and over age group showed a downward trend of -10.68%, reaching 11,790 applications in 2026.

International Student Mobility Breakdown by Source Country

Application trends for the 2026 cycle reveal Asia as the key source region for the UK, with China and India leading this list.

• China experienced a strong surge of +10.37%, with 34,390 applicants in 2026, up from 31,160 in 2025.
• The number of Indian applicants reached 8,880 in the 2026 cycle, compared to 8,760 in 2025.
• The United States of America stood at #3, with an increase of +2.98% YoY, rising to 6,920 applications in 2026, from 6,720 in 2025.

‍

Wrapping It Up

The UCAS 14 January data for the 2026 cycle marks a defining checkpoint for UK higher education. Steady overall growth, combined with faster expansion in international demand, reflects strengthening global confidence alongside a stabilising domestic base.

Rising momentum from key Asian markets, continued interest from North America, and broad-based regional gains across the UK reinforce the sector’s international depth. Together, these shifts highlight the need for strategic agility as institutions respond to changing demographics, evolving mobility flows, and a more competitive admissions environment shaping the next phase of UK higher education.

For detailed analysis on city-wise demand insights in UK, reach out at supply-operations@amberstudent.com or list your portfolio for maximum visibility.