Application timeline

An overview of the exchange application timeline and important deadlines.

University of Edinburgh application

Wednesday 28 October 2026 (12 noon GMT) Exchange application opens
Wednesday 11 November 2026 (12 noon GMT) Exchange application closes
Late December 2026 SWAY and Exchange Coordinators to issue University of California and Hokkaido University offer places via email. *
Thursday 7 January 2027 (12 noon, GMT) SWAY issue first round offers of University-wide places via email. Exchange Coordinators allocate Subject-specific offers to students.
Thursday 14 January 2027 (12 noon, GMT) Deadline for students to accept/reject their offer. *
Late January - February 2027 Reallocation of any remaining or released places and liaison with students in the applicant pool. Reallocation window for Subject-specific exchanges can vary according to School.

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

University of California offers will be issued in December and will have an accept/decline deadline of 6 January 2027.

Students who accept an offer to the University of California should therefore note that they do not have until 14 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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