How to navigate university offers: A parent’s guide

Navigating university offers can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for students and their parents.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from when to expect university responses and the types of offers your child may receive to how to accept or decline offers and what to do if no offers come through.

We’ll also explore options like UCAS Extra, Clearing, and alternative routes so you can support your child with a clear plan, no matter what happens.

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When do you hear back from universities?

University offers come through at different times, depending on how different universities and departments handle applications and the volume they receive. While most decisions arrive before the end of March, some may take longer—so don’t worry if your child hasn’t heard back yet.

The exception to this is if your child has applied to Oxbridge. Oxford University applicants will hear whether they have received an offer on 14th January 2025, and Cambridge applicants will hear on 30th January 2025.

Remind your child to regularly check their UCAS Hub for updates. UCAS will email them whenever a university makes a decision and will also notify them once all offers are in, along with their deadline to respond.

Ultimately, it’s a case of hanging tight, which can be difficult, especially if your child hasn’t heard back from their top choice yet. You can use this time to help your child research their options, prepare for potential interviews (see our guide to common university interview questions for some helpful tips), and consider which offer they would most like to accept.

Do you have to wait for all university offers on UCAS?

It’s generally recommended that students wait until they receive all their UCAS offers before responding. However, if your child prefers not to wait, they can permanently withdraw from any outstanding choices and reply to the offers they have.

They should only do this if they are 100% sure they no longer wish to pursue those choices, as they can’t be reinstated later. UCAS strongly advises contacting them before making any changes.

Types of university offers

Before supporting your child in making any decisions, it’s important to understand the different types of offers they may receive. The two main types are conditional and unconditional offers.

What is a conditional offer?

The most common type of university offer is a conditional offer, meaning your child has been offered a place but must meet specific requirements before it’s guaranteed. These conditions are usually based on their A Level, BTEC, or other qualification results. For example, a university might require AAB in A Levels, including a subject relevant to the course.

If your child meets the conditions on Results Day, their place is secured. If not, they may still be accepted if spaces are available, or they might need to explore other options like Clearing.

What is an unconditional offer?

An unconditional offer means your child has secured a place regardless of their final exam results. This can be a fantastic confidence boost and removes the pressure of meeting specific grade requirements.

While an unconditional offer provides security, it’s important to consider all options carefully. Encourage your child to think about whether the course and university are truly the right fit for them.

What is a contextual offer?

A contextual offer considers personal circumstances—such as where a child lives, household income, their school’s academic performance, or whether they have spent time in local authority care. These offers typically have lower grade requirements than standard offers, and universities use them to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have a fair opportunity to access higher education.

A contextual university offer won’t appear on your child’s UCAS hub—it will only list the offer as conditional or unconditional—but the university may contact them to let them know. Encourage your child to take advantage of any additional support the university may offer, such as financial help or mental health support, so that they can thrive in their studies.

What is a deferred offer?

A deferred offer means your child has been offered a place, but their course will start the following academic year instead of the upcoming one. This could be because they applied for deferred entry themselves to take a gap year or because the university has offered them a place for the next year due to course availability.

It will show up on their UCAS track as a conditional or unconditional offer with a start date for the following year. The conditions remain the same. For example, if their offer requires ABB in 2025 for a 2026 start, they must achieve those grades to secure their place.

How to accept and decline university offers

Choosing a firm and insurance choice

Once all university offers have been received, your child will need to choose a firm choice, and if their firm choice is for a conditional offer, they can also select a backup or insurance choice.

1. Firm choice: This is your child’s first choice. If they meet the conditions of a conditional offer, this is where they’ll go. If your child is responding to an unconditional offer, selecting this as their firm choice means they’re guaranteed a place.

If your child is finding it difficult to decide, visiting the university again may be beneficial. Even if they have already attended an Open Day, exploring the campus outside of an organised event can help to get a better feel for the environment.

Our article on helping your child choose the right course and university provides more detailed guidance on supporting your child’s decision.

2. Insurance choice: This is your child’s backup option in case they don’t meet the conditions of their firm choice. Selecting an insurance choice is optional, so if your child only has one offer they would be happy going to, they can select a firm choice and decline their other offers.

The insurance choice should:

• Have lower entry requirements than the firm choice
• Still be a university where your child would be happy to study
• Offer a similar or acceptable course

Tip: Avoid selecting an insurance choice with the same entry requirements as the firm choice, as it may not provide a viable backup option. However, if your child only has two university offers for places they are happy to attend and both have the same entry requirements, they can choose their preferred option as their firm choice and the other as their insurance.

Declining offers

Your child can only accept one firm choice and, if applicable, one insurance choice. They need to decline all other university offers.

If they don’t wish to accept any of their current offers, they can decline them all and select further courses via the UCAS Extra service. Another option is to wait and check Clearing from July 5th 2025 to find courses with available spaces.

What to do if your child receives no university offers?

If your child hasn’t received an offer for a course they have applied for, it will appear on their UCAS track as “unsuccessful”. In the event of no offers, try not to worry, as there are still several options available to help your child secure a place.

1. Take some time to reflect

Encourage your child to reflect on why they haven’t received any offers. For example, did they apply for courses where the entry requirements were higher than their predicted grades? If so, they can either look for another course with lower entry requirements or wait until Results Day to see if they surpass their predicted grades.

If the university hasn’t provided feedback, your child can contact them to ask. While universities aren’t obliged to give feedback on their decisions, any information they do provide can help guide the next steps.

It’s also possible to appeal a university’s decision if you feel there has been a procedural error. You should contact the university directly if you feel this is the case.

2. Apply for a course through UCAS Extra

If your child used all of their five choices on their application and has either received no offers or declined all offers, they can apply for another course via the UCAS Extra service, which is available from 26th February to 4th July 2025.

Key points to note:

• They can only apply to one extra course at a time.
• If they accept an offer, they cannot apply for more courses.
• If they decline an offer or don’t receive a response within 21 days, they can select another course.

If your child didn’t use all of their five choices in their original application, they don’t need to use the Extra service. They can simply add another choice to their application before 30th June 2025.

3. Apply for a course through UCAS Clearing

UCAS Clearing runs from 5th July to 25th October 2025 and allows students to apply for university places that are still available. Although it opens in July, most university places through Clearing become available in August with the release of A Level results.

While students can only enter Clearing after receiving their final results, researching courses early is key, as spaces fill up quickly.

If interested in a course, your child should contact the university directly with their UCAS ID and Clearing ID numbers to enquire about a place. If they receive an informal offer from the university they wish to accept, they need to then add it to their application in the UCAS Hub. This is treated as a formal acceptance if the university confirms the offer. If the university doesn’t confirm, they can add another choice.

UCAS also provides a personalised list of Clearing matches. Your child can click “interested” on a match, and the universities may give them a call. A call isn’t guaranteed, however, so they should also use the Clearing search tool to look for courses.

UCAS has put together a handy Clearing guide for parents with tips on how to support your child through the process.

4. Take a gap year before reapplying

If your child doesn’t find the right course or university, reapplying next year may be a better option. Your child can use a gap year to gain work experience, develop skills, and improve their application.

5. Explore alternative routes

A vocational qualification such as a higher or degree apprenticeship can be a great alternative if your child isn’t sure whether the traditional university route is right for them.

These programmes combine work and study, enabling students to gain industry-specific practical skills while earning a salary. You can explore opportunities using the UK government’s Find an Apprenticeship search tool.

A foundation degree is another option to consider. This two-year qualification combines academic study with practical, work-based learning and is equivalent to two-thirds of a bachelor’s degree.

With lower entry requirements, it offers a more accessible route into higher education and allows students to progress to a full bachelor’s degree if they choose.

What happens after accepting university offers?

Once your child has submitted their firm and insurance choices, they can get back to fully focusing on their coursework and exam prep.

If they have accepted an unconditional offer, remind them that even without grade requirements, continuing to work hard will keep their options open for future opportunities, such as scholarships or competitive graduate jobs.

For conditional offers, Results Day will determine whether they will secure a place at their chosen university or need to explore alternative options. Universities will assess final grades and confirm if conditions have been met.

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Navigating university offers can feel overwhelming, but with the right information and support, your child can make confident, informed decisions about their future. Whether they receive an offer for their dream university, apply through Clearing, or decide to take a gap year, there are always options available.

Encourage them to stay positive, proactive, and open-minded. By researching their options, keeping track of key deadlines, and preparing for Results Day, they’ll feel more in control and ready for the next step in their journey.

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FAQs

What does it mean when a university gives my child an offer?

When a university gives your child an offer, it means that their application has been successful and they have been offered a place on a course. The offer may depend on your child achieving specific grades in their exam results.

What are the different types of UCAS offers?

Your child may be given a conditional offer, meaning they must meet specific grade requirements, or an unconditional offer, meaning their place at university is guaranteed regardless of final results. Additionally, universities may issue contextual offers, which often have lower grade requirements based on personal circumstances.

Can my child only accept two university offers?

Yes, your child can accept one firm choice (first preference) and one insurance choice (backup option). All other offers must be declined.

When is the deadline to accept 2025 university offers?

The UCAS deadline for accepting offers depends on when your child receives decisions from all their chosen universities:

• If all decisions are received by 14th May 2025, they must reply by 5th June 2025.
• If all decisions are received by 17th July 2025, they must reply by 23rd July 2025.

It’s crucial to check the specific reply deadline provided in their UCAS Hub, as missing it can result in offers being declined automatically.

What happens if you do not accept your offers by the deadline stated in UCAS Hub?

If your child misses the deadline to reply to offers, UCAS will automatically decline them on your child’s behalf.

If your child wishes to accept an offer that has been automatically declined, they have 14 days to contact UCAS and make the swap. After 14 days, it is still possible, but it is a longer process as your child will need to contact the university first to see if they will agree before getting back in touch with UCAS.

UCAS will not process any swaps after 24th July 2025.

What happens if my child changes their mind after accepting an offer?

If your child has accepted a university offer but wishes to accept a different offer instead, they should contact UCAS within 14 days to make any changes. After 14 days, the process becomes more complicated, and UCAS cannot guarantee that any changes can be made. No swaps are possible after 24th July 2025.

Can my child accept a university offer and not go?

Yes, your child can accept a university offer and later decide not to attend.

If your child has firmly accepted an unconditional offer, they can release themselves into Clearing from 5th July 2025. They will need to log into their account and click the ‘Decline your place’ button. Your child should only do this if they are certain they no longer want the place.

If your child wishes to remain at the university but swap to a different course, they should contact the university to discuss.

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