Navigating your way around UK higher education admissions can be a bit daunting, especially as it is so different from the US way of doing things. You have researched your options, written a wonderful personal statement, and applied, congratulations! Now it is time to be patient whilst you await the responses from your chosen universities.
Below I am going to outline the different types of offers you may get from the UK universities you have applied to. Here in the UK many prospective students are made an offer of study based on their predicted final grades, whether this be the final high school grades and test scores, if applying for undergraduate, or the final cumulative GPA if applying for postgraduate. The offers set out below reflect this:
- Conditional Offer – This offer means you have a place reserved for you as long as you meet certain requirements, usually the conditions of your offer so your final exam results or your final transcript. Universities don’t need to see the evidence of your final qualification right away (unless you have applied very late). They will set a deadline for you to provide your final documents to then confirm your place.
- Unconditional Offer – This means you have successfully been given a place at this university and have met all the academic requirements we need for entry. Please bear in mind you may still need to sort your visa and other documentation before traveling to the UK and being able to commence your studies.
- Unsuccessful – This means that the university is unable to make you an offer, this usually happens if your predicted final grades are not high enough to match the universities offer.
Once you have heard back from all the universities you will then need to make a decision as to what pathway you are going to take. If you are applying for undergraduate and have applied through UCAS you will need to choose one university as your firm choice and a second as your insurance choice. Remember to take your time over this and choose the course that appeals to you the most and will help you achieve your future goals.
Things to remember:
- Deadlines – whether this be the UCAS decision deadline date, or the decision date set by universities be aware of them! Put them into a spreadsheet so you can keep track and respond to any offers before they expire.
- Be aware, those applying for undergraduate, some universities may entice you by promising an unconditional offer if you make them your firm choice. Try not to be influenced by this. Choose the university based on the course that is the most appealing to you and your future goals.
- Deposit – once you have your offer that you want to accept you may be required to pay a deposit to confirm. Make sure you are aware of this and pay the deposit before the deadline.
- Speak to your family and friends before choosing where to study, their insight could prove to be very valuable.
Good luck with your applications, remember to do your research and apply with plenty of time.
Katie Sharpe is Senior International Student Recruitment Manager (North America) at the University of Surrey. Located 35 minutes south of London in the town of Guildford, the University of Surrey has been awarded the prestigious accolade of ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ in the Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide for 2022 recognising the University’s consistently high performance in the employability of its graduates.
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