UCAS 15 October ‘25 Deadline: Application Trends & Analysis by Amber Radar

Key Highlights

• International applicants surged by +12.57% as compared to the 2025 application cycle, driven by growing interest from global markets.
• Domestic applications increased by +5.51% in 2025 as compared to 2024, reflecting early signs of recovery across key UK regions.
• Male and female applications grew by +7.90% and +7.59%, respectively, as compared to the 2025 application cycle, indicating a balanced growth across all genders
• Youth applicants (17–19 year-olds) grew steadily, with 18-year-olds up +7.7% in 2025 as compared to 2024, reinforcing their continued dominance in the undergraduate pipeline.
• China and the US led the top source countries for applications, with Singapore, Hong Kong, and India following closely with higher number of applications YoY
• Overall trend points toward a strong applicant pool, with UK & international demand appearing strong for 2026.

Introduction

The UCAS deadline for applications to key courses, including medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine, as well as all select courses at the University of Oxford and Cambridge, closed on 15th October 2025.

UCAS has since released applicant figures for the 2026 cycle. This latest analysis by amber reveals early insights into applicant trends and their potential impact on future student mobility patterns. With international momentum gaining strength and domestic demand showing signs of recovery, the 2026 admissions cycle appears to be starting on a strong note.

UK vs International Student Applications Outlook

Applications from international students stood at 23,650, marking a strong surge of +12.57%, as compared to 21,010 international applicants for 2025. The growth suggests strengthened international recruitment efforts, strategic partnerships, and effective global marketing initiatives.

The UK segment improved by +5.51%, with domestic applications of 54,770 for 2026, compared to 51,910 domestic applicants for 2025. This marks a significant recovery and contributes more meaningfully to overall growth.

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

The 2026 application cycle showed a surge in applications from both male and female applicants. This momentum drove the overall total to a new high, reflecting a strong recovery in applicant engagement compared to the slower growth observed in previous cycles.

The latest figures confirm that both genders contributed substantially to the market expansion. The grand total of applications across all genders jumped +7.54% in the 2026 cycle.

• Male Applicants: Applications from Male applicants saw the highest proportional increase, rising by a robust +7.90% (34,840 applicants) in 2026, as compared to 2025.
• Female Applicants: Applications from Female applicants also showed vigorous growth, increasing by +7.59% (42,790 applicants) in 2026, as compared to 2025.

Domicile Distribution: Analysis & Insights

Application trends from 2025 to 2026 reveal a moderate increase. With overall applications standing at 78,420, marking a +7.54% increase indicating a stronger momentum.

Non-European international students continued to lead growth, rising +13.49% from 17,420 applications for 2025 to 19,770 for 2026. This underscores consistently strong international demand.

Applications from European countries excluding the UK exhibited a +8.08% healthy increase, with 3,590 applications for 2025, as compared to 3,880 applications for 2026, contributing significantly to the uplift.

Among domestic UK applications, England witnessed a rise of +5.96%, Scotland saw a +4.59% increase, and Wales applications remained stable, while Northern Ireland saw a dip of -4%.

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

In a striking reversal from earlier trends, the 2026 application cycle is defined by strong growth across nearly all age bands, with the most significant increases seen among mature and non-traditional student demographics. The overall applicant market is expanding year-on-year.

The overall applicants total increased by +7.54% in the 2026 cycle, indicating strong year-on-year growth and a thriving application market.

• Young Adults (18-19): The largest volume groups also saw expansion. 18-year-olds grew by +7.74% and 19-year-olds by +5.60%, ensuring these dominant cohorts continue to drive volume growth.
• Youngest Segment (17 & under): A marginal dip of -0.37% was observed in the 17 and under category, indicating a slight fall in school-leaver applicants.
• Mid-Range (21-24): The 21 - 24 age band also saw a significant surge of +11.59%, showing strong momentum among early-career individuals.
• Older Applicants (25 & above): The fastest-growing segments were among older applicants. The 35 and over group saw the largest proportional growth at an exceptional +22.50%. Both the 25 - 29 (+11.11%) and 30 - 34 (+9.09%) cohorts also increased notably.

International Student Mobility Breakdown by Source Country

Application trends for 2026 indicate a notable rebound following the 2025 plateau. Asia represents a strong position in the list of key source countries, with China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India in top 10 spots. US also takes its spot as a top country.

• UK regions remained stable, indicating domestic market maturity but stronger global diversification in the applicant base.
• This latest analysis by amber reveals China as the leading country by application volume, with 5,740 applicants for 2026, +15.49% higher than 2025.
• The US follows with 2,140 applicants in 2026, +14.44% higher than 2025.
• Standing at #5, 1,420 applications came from India, marking a +11.81% increase since last year’s applications.

Wrapping It Up

The early UCAS data for the 2026 cycle signals a pivotal moment for UK higher education. While overall growth reflects renewed global interest and a recovering domestic base, the composition of applicants points to a shifting competitive landscape.

Emerging markets across Asia and North America are driving fresh momentum. These trends underscore the importance of agility and foresight in navigating an evolving admissions environment, one that continues to redefine the future of international education in the UK.

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