Offers

After you have submitted your application to UCAS, they will write to you confirming the courses you have applied for. They will also supply you with a personal UCAS ID number which you will need to use if you have to contact UCAS or directly to a university. Make a careful note of this as the school has not got a copy of it. Now that your application is in the system, it is possible to keep tabs on it by clicking on the UCAS TRACK (opens new window) link on UCAS. Track will keep you informed about the progress of your application and what sort of offers universities are prepared to give you.

Types of Offer

If you are given an unconditional offer, this indicates that the university is prepared to offer you a place without having to pass any more exams.

If you are given a conditional offer, this indicates that the university is prepared to offer you a place subject to certain conditions such as passing exams in particular subjects at specific grades or above.

Unsuccessful. You have been turned down for a particular course because the admissions tutor feels your application is not strong enough.

Withdrawal. Either you or a university cancels a choice before a decision has been made - a reason will be included if the withdrawal was issued by an institution e.g. the course is being no longer being run.

Responding to Offers

Once you have all your offers in or have the responses to the courses you are keenest on, you need to reduce the number of offers you hold down to a maximum of two.

If you are given an unconditional offer for the course you really want, you can accept that and reject any other offers you get.

If you are given a conditional offer, you can select your favoured course as a firm acceptance.

As well as your firm acceptance, you can also hold an insurance acceptance. This is a back up to your firm acceptance. Normally you should choose a course as your insurance acceptance with easier conditions than your firm acceptance. If you do not meet the conditions attached to the firm acceptance, hopefully you would have managed to meet the conditions of your second choice course.

Conditions

If you are given a conditional offer there may be some criteria you have to meet before your place at university will be confirmed. This will usually require passing exams at a particular grades e.g. three Highers at AAB. The condition may specify that you must pass at least one subject at a particular grade e.g. three Advanced Highers at BBB two of which must be Chemistry. Biology or Mathematics.

Some universities may offer you a place on a course which is 'subject to interview'. This is a good sign that the university is interested in you. For more information about university interviews, check out the Interviews section of this site.

Some universities may offer you a place on a course such as music or drama which is dependent on a successful audition.

Creative courses such as art and design may require you to submit a portfolio of your work so admissions tutors can decide whether you have the ability that they are looking for.

If you hold a conditional offer and you meet the conditions required of you, the university will confirm your place. If you do not manage to meet the conditions, you will then be eligible for Clearing (opens new window)