Application timeline

An overview of the exchange application timeline and important deadlines.

University of Edinburgh application

The following table outlines the timeline for each stage of the 2026/27 exchange application process, including when students should expect to hear the outcome of their application.  

Date Application stage
Wednesday 29 October 2025 (12 noon, GMT) Exchange applications open.
Wednesday 12 November 2025 (12 noon, GMT) Exchange applications close.
Monday 17 November 2025 (12 noon, GMT) Deadline to submit your personal statement to PebblePad (University-wide applicants only).
Wednesday 19 November 2025 (12 noon, GMT) Start your peer marking in PebblePad (University-wide applicants only).
Tuesday 25 November 2025 (12 noon, GMT) Deadline to complete your peer marking in PebblePad (University-wide applicants only).
Late December 2025 SWAY and Exchange Coordinators to issue University of California and Hokkaido University offer places via email.*
Wednesday 7 January 2026 (12 noon, GMT) Deadline for students allocated a place at the University of California and Hokkaido University to accept/reject their offer.*
Thursday 8 January 2026 (12 noon, GMT) SWAY issue first round offers of University-wide places via email. Exchange Coordinators allocate Subject-specific offers to students.
Thursday 15 January 2026 (12 noon, GMT) Deadline for students to accept/reject their offer.
Late January - February 2026 Reallocation of any remaining or released places and liaison with students in the applicant pool. Reallocation window for Subject-specific exchanges can vary from School to School.

*Applicants to the University of California and Hokkaido University should note the slightly different timeline that they must adhere to, due to those partners' very early internal application deadlines. 

Students who accept an offer to the University of California should also note that they do not have until 15 January to consider other places potentially offered through the Subject-specific route.

Applying to your host institution

The timeline for application to your host institution will vary. 

SWAY will nominate all allocated students who have accepted a place to their designated partner. You will be informed (either by SWAY or your host institution) of any subsequent application process which your host institution requires. 

You should not submit your application to your allocated host institution until you’ve been instructed to do so by SWAY or your host institution. You must complete your host institution's application process by their deadlines.

You can read about your allocated host institution’s nomination/application deadlines on their website or in 
our partner guidance notes. 

 

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