Some Important Dates
A practical calendar of dates families may want on their radar for SAT testing, AP exams and selected university application systems, listed in chronological order.
Dates last checked against official sources: September 9, 2026.
Registration dates are listed separately where there is a published registration or ordering deadline. For university applications, there often is not a separate universal “registration deadline”; the application deadline itself controls, and individual universities may set their own dates.
May–August 2026
UCAS 2027 applications open
Students can register and begin their 2027 UCAS application. Completed applications cannot be submitted to UCAS until September 1.
September–December 2026
UCAS 2027 applications can be submitted
Completed undergraduate applications for 2027 entry can be sent to UCAS.
Register for the October SAT
College Board registration deadline for the October 3 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is September 22.
AP exam ordering — preferred deadline
College Board’s preferred deadline for AP coordinators to submit exam orders. Student enrollments are also recommended to be completed by this date.
SAT
Weekend SAT test date. College Board lists September 18 as the registration deadline.
UCAS early deadline
Equal-consideration deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine/science courses.
Register for the November SAT
College Board registration deadline for the November 7 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is October 27.
CAO 2027 application facility opens
Ireland's CAO online application facility opens at noon for the 2027 cycle.
SAT
Weekend SAT test date. College Board lists October 23 as the registration deadline.
AP exam ordering — final fall deadline
Final ordering deadline for full-year and fall-semester AP courses and exam-only sections. AP coordinators submit the orders; students should arrange testing with their school or test center well before this date.
Register for the December SAT
College Board registration deadline for the December 5 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is November 24.
SAT
Weekend SAT test date. College Board lists November 20 as the registration deadline.
January–March 2027
UCAS equal-consideration deadline
Deadline for most undergraduate courses for 2027 entry.
Netherlands: general numerus-fixus deadline
Study in NL lists January 15 as the general deadline for numerus-fixus programs. Always check the specific university and program.
CAO discounted application deadline
The 2027 CAO handbook lists January 20 as the end of the discounted application-fee period.
CAO normal application deadline
Normal closing date for CAO applications. Restrictions apply to later applications and certain courses.
Register for the March SAT
College Board registration deadline for the March 6 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is February 23.
UCAS Extra opens
Eligible applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
SAT
Weekend SAT test date. College Board lists February 19 as the registration deadline.
AP spring-course orders & fall-order changes
College Board deadline for AP coordinators to submit spring-course exam orders and changes to fall exam orders.
April–May 2027
Register for the May SAT
College Board registration deadline for the May 1 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is April 20.
Selected AP portfolio/task deadlines
College Board lists April 30 deadlines for AP Computer Science Principles, AP Seminar, AP Research and World Languages personalized project references.
SAT + Netherlands general application date
Weekend SAT test date. Study in NL also lists May 1 as the general application deadline for non-numerus-fixus programs, while warning that institutional deadlines can differ.
CAO late application deadline
Late applications close, subject to CAO restrictions.
AP Exams — Week 1
First week of the 2027 AP examination administration.
AP Art and Design portfolio deadline
College Board lists 11:59 p.m. ET as the student submission deadline.
AP Exams — Week 2
Second week of the 2027 AP examination administration.
Register for the June SAT
College Board registration deadline for the June 5 SAT. The late-registration/change deadline is May 25.
June–September 2027
SAT
Weekend SAT test date. College Board lists May 21 as the registration deadline.
UCAS applications with choices
UCAS states that applications received after this date are automatically entered into Clearing.
CAO Change of Mind closes
CAO's free Change of Mind facility closes, with restrictions applying.
UCAS Clearing opens
Clearing vacancies become available for eligible applicants.
Final UCAS application date
Final date for 2027 entry applications through UCAS.
2027 AP exam schedule
College Board has published the subject-level 2027 AP schedule. Below are the dates most families need for planning; students should confirm the exact start time with their school or AP coordinator because 2027 start times vary by location.
| Date | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| May 3 | Human Geography; Physics C: Mechanics | Biology; Italian Language & Culture |
| May 4 | Business with Personal Finance; U.S. Government & Politics | European History; Microeconomics |
| May 5 | Cybersecurity; English Literature | Physics 1; Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism |
| May 6 | French; Physics 2; World History | African American Studies; Chemistry |
| May 7 | German; U.S. History | Macroeconomics; Networking (pilot schools) |
| May 10 | Calculus AB; Calculus BC | Music Theory; Seminar |
| May 11 | Japanese; Precalculus | Statistics |
| May 12 | English Language | Art History; Computer Science A |
| May 13 | Spanish Language | Chinese; Environmental Science |
| May 14 | Comparative Government; Computer Science Principles; Spanish Literature | Latin; Psychology |
Why we like having this page
A calendar is useful because families often discover too late that testing, application and enrollment timelines overlap. It also gives Pathways a page that can be updated every year and linked from college-planning articles, which is useful for search visibility.
We intentionally call it Some Important Dates because there is no universal European application calendar. The university's own admissions page remains the final authority.