Deferring place

[Herecomethedaffodils]

Hi, my son has firmed a place at Northumbria for 2020 entry. However he is really keen to now take a gap year and start in 2021. I know this is a hot topic and some may say what's the point because he can't do much in a gap year at the moment. However he has the chance to go to Australia and NZ as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. He's a young Year 13 as not 18 til later in the summer. I appreciate and understand his desire to live life a bit before starting Uni. He wishes he'd applied for a place in 2021 in the first place, but he didn't. We don't really do regrets and try and look forward positively. So before he tries and defers his place (and we know that this might not be successful, he may have to reapply next year) has anyone's child had a successful outcome in requesting to defer, since the start of Lockdown ie deferring from a 2020 to a 2021 start. Any advice appreciated.

[Monkey2001]

No experience of deferring here, but you might be encouraged by the latest data from UCAS. Deferrals currently down, so may not be any more difficult than usual to get a deferral agreed.

www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/rise-number-students-planning-start-university-autumn

[SeasonFinale]

Yes a friend's child has already had a deferral request accepted.

[Herecomethedaffodils]

Encouraging! But I know he won't know for sure til he gets his butt in action and makes that call!! Do you mind me asking which course and which Uni your friend's child has deferred SeasonFinale?

[SeasonFinale]

I will.message

[cologne4711]

I didn't think Australia were lifting the restrictions until next year? Or are there ways around that if eg you have relatives there?

If it were me, I'd go to uni in 2020 and take my year out in 2023.

[mdh2020]

Both my children deferred a year but they had guaranteed jobs so they could earn money to pay for their travel. A
lol the advice I have read has said that there is nothing to be gained from deferring this year and students should take up their places.

[SeasonFinale]

There is still stuff to be gained by taking a gap year this year if your travel plans can be flexible and you have a job.

There is a higher chance that you do have a more normal uni experience in 2021 if that is of importance. Although the world will be different for 2020/21 there do be opportunities to travel - you just need to e flexible.

[Herecomethedaffodils]

His travel plans are flexible, which is why I stated, "as soon as travel restrictions are lifted" He wasn't looking at going away til Feb/March time anyway so a lot can change between now and then. He is in quite a fortunate position of being able to earn at the moment anyway so certainly still has the possibility of a fruitful and productive Gap Year. The thought of going this September with all the 'bubble' scenarios just doesn't appeal to him, plus he thinks it's a bit of a rip off paying full whack for what is most definitely a lesser experience than 'normal'. Fully appreciate that others will have different opinions and different circumstances.

[ElephantAndButterfly]

I have heard that deferrals are down simply because universities are rejecting them
at a greater rate than usual.

To be fair, I can see why. There are always going to be some massively extenuating circumstances that mean some students do need to defer and allowing so many now because they want a different university experience should not be a top priority. They are there to get a degree after all, not party.

As with every year, it will be university and course dependent of course, but if it were my daughter this year, I'd definitely not want her to defer.

[My0My]

It will depend on subject too. Maths isn’t a great one to defer. Working in any old job and travelling doesn’t add much to his university career or subject knowledge. It’s a gap year jolly really isn’t it?

[Herecomethedaffodils]

I have to laugh at some of your comments. Why the suggestion that he's going to Uni to party???? And why the assumption that he's working in any old job???? I've yet to meet anyone who had travel opportunities before going to Uni and regretted it. Surely it's a fantastic opportunity to mature, grow in independence, experience other cultures and become a more rounded individual which can only help him be a better Uni student. Like I said before everyone has differing opinions, but some of you just don't seem to be able to grasp that. I'm not asking for you to agree with his choices, I'm asking whether anyone has any recent experience in deferring a place. So many narrow minded people on here!!

[ClerkMaxwell]

DD said quite a few people in her uni chat group (Edinburgh) have recently applied to defer and were expecting a decision by the 6th of July. Edinburgh said if there were more requests than they could accommodate they would prioritise those most affected by Covid-19 (they gave a list of reasons). DD said they were warned that they would likely accept less deferrals than usual so not to disadvantage 2021 applicants but I suspect they are panicking about finances.

[LIZS]

DD tried to defer Edinburgh last year after results day. They took the decision right up to the last possible day (Friday before they were due to move in) and then refused. Very few get to defer there, some courses flatly refuse to consider it. Last year it was based on numbers within the different funding streams in each faculty and they will likely already be hard hit by fewer overseas students this year due to CV. If they are saying it will be even less than last year I would n't hold out hope.

[ClerkMaxwell]

LIZS did your DD just withdraw and apply again this year. DD is saying in the chat some are thinking about doing that if they don't get a deferral but are a bit worried that the grades needed next year will be higher.

[LIZS]

Yes she did, with grades in hand she exceeded the standard offer and has a place for this year. Are you living in Scotland , apparently it is more common to defer there as many are still under 18 if they are due to go straight from school. They probably will not hear until 6th ime, not before!

[ClerkMaxwell]

Yes we are in Scotland. DD will be 18 but my DS2 went from S5 just turned 17. He's socially able and I suspect he used DS1s id for the bars/clubs. I think those thinking of deferring in DDs chat are international and rest of UK. She'll let them know that Edinburgh will probably keep them waiting until the last minute.

[GreenTulips]

The universities don’t want load to defer because that will impact this years year 13 university places.

I hope they don’t allow lots of deferrals and give the next round an equal chance next year.

[Cranmer]

My DC requested to defer their place the day before results came out as they were unsure about the university, the city and the course. The university emailed back within a few hours and granted the request.

A year on, DC withdrew from the offer and reapplied to 4 completely different universities and for a different subject.

They have thoroughly enjoyed their gap year and have no regrets. It has been life changing.

Your son can only ask.

[Herecomethedaffodils]

GreenTulips I do agree that next year's Year 13 are right to be concerned and anxious about how this will play out for them but let's not forget that the current Year 13's didn't choose this situation and have had so much taken away from them. I can only speak for my son when I say this of course but he was ready to sit his exams, to prove himself and to earn his place at Uni. The fact that he now wishes to go a year later is his perogative. There has always been an option to defer (in most courses anyway) so they shouldn't really be penalised because they are from the Class of 2020

[Herecomethedaffodils]

Thank you Cranmer. So lovely to hear that it all turned out well for your DC and that they've flourished in their Gap Year. "Life changing" sounds so positive and they'll always be glad they made that choice. In our family "You'll never know unless you ask" is a bit of a motto, so he knows he won't get away without asking the question this week!!!

[Libra]

DS2 asked to defer last week and they came back within two days and said yes. Scottish uni (not Edinburgh). He is only 17 and also has firm plans for what he will be doing.

[Herecomethedaffodils]

Ah jolly good Libra. Hope he has a happy and fulfilling year. Thanks for sharing.

[ShalomJackie]

Last week my DS requested a deferral (Bristol) and they updated UCAS track the next day to show it as a 2021 offer.

[Herecomethedaffodils]

Thanks Shalom, bet he's pleased. Great that he's heard back so quickly. My son hasn't heard back yet (messages them 2 weeks ago) not sure how long to leave it til he chases it.

[SeasonFinale]

When he messaged Bristol admissions he got a generic reply saying they take 5 days to respond but if you are messaging about deferral click here, accommodation click here and so on. When clicking on the defer link it said all requests needed to be made before 23 July and a button to request which he did. It had a space to say why which you could fill in. He has no medical or financial reason so left it blank. It said he would hear by 13 August so we assumed when he got results it would show as a 2020 or 2021 place so he was surprised when he got a UCAS email to say there had been a change on track.

Perhaps he should look at his UCAS track in case they amended it there but haven't notified him.