When Are College Applications Due? (2026)

In this article, we've gathered all the important college application deadlines in the following countries:

• US
• UK
• Canada
• Germany
• Australia
• Italy
• Netherlands
• France
• Spain
• Luxembourg

What do you need to apply for college?

Usually, a college application includes:

• Application form: Information about you.
• High school transcripts: An official academic record with your grades and courses.
• Standardized test scores: SAT or ACT scores, and sometimes SAT Subject Tests or AP exam scores.
• Letters of recommendation: At least 1 letter from your teacher, counselor, or other mentors.
• Personal statement or essays: Your unique story, experiences, and why you want to attend that particular school.
• Extracurricular activities list: Your involvement in sports, clubs, volunteer work, and other interests.
• Application fee: A fee to process your application (which is required by most colleges).

If you're applying for a Master's, you'll need to take different exams (like GRE or GMAT, for example) and often provide your Bachelor's diploma and transcripts.

Where to apply

Many countries use centralized application platforms to manage the college enrollment process. For instance:

• Common Application (Common App): Used by almost 1,000 colleges and universities in the US.
• UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service): An application system for UK schools.
• OUAC: For applying to Ontario universities in Canada.
• Uni-Assist: Used by many German universities.
• UAC: The Universities Admissions Centre in Australia.

However, a lot of schools also accept direct applications through their official websites, so make sure to check the standard process of the college and country you're applying to.

College application deadlines

US college application dates

There are 4 types of college application windows in the US:

• Early action (EA): This allows you to apply early and hear back from the college sooner than regular decision.
• Early decision (ED): This is similar to early action, but if you're accepted, you're obligated to enroll and withdraw all other college applications.
• Regular decision: This is the broadest application window, but you may hear back relatively late, leaving little room for reapplying if you get rejected.
• Rolling admissions: Colleges with rolling admissions evaluate applications as they come in and continue to do so until all spots are filled.

* UC is an exception – their deadline is at the end of November

After you hear back from your chosen colleges, you have to decide which one you're going with and reply to that school by May 1st – National Response Day.

Most applications for Master's degrees in the US usually close in December or January, but some can be open until March.

Read more: Study Abroad in the US: Application Process

UK college application dates

There are 3 waves of applications in the UK:

• Equal consideration: A regular admission window
• UCAS Extra: For applicants who received no offers or rejected all their offers
• Clearing: A chance for universities to fill the remaining places in their classes and for you to still get in if you're late

* You must submit your application by October 15th if you want to enroll in Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge, but you can only choose one) or a medicine-related major. Their admissions usually open in June, and you can expect an offer in January.

Graduate degree applications in the UK close around June or July.

College application dates in Canada

* You can still apply after that, but starting from February, students will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis

Read more: Study in Canada: Application Process

College application dates in Germany

Read more: Study in Germany: Application Process

College application dates in Australia

Master's degree deadlines are typically 2 months earlier.

Read more: Study in Australia: Application Process

Other countries

Conclusion

The deadlines for college applications can differ significantly depending on the country you're applying to, your citizenship, and the specific major you want to pursue. Spending enough time on research well in advance is crucial to make sure you're aware of all the relevant deadlines and specific requirements. Create a detailed plan for your college application process to help you stay organized and on track.