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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Unconditional offers

44 replies

ShinyGirl · 23/05/2017 19:49

DD is in year 12 and is trying to find out which universities sometimes hand out unconditional offers. I know Birmingham do but not sure of others.

She isn't sure where to apply yet but her anxiety can affect her during exams hence the question.

Many thanks for any replies.

OP posts:
AtiaoftheJulii · 23/05/2017 20:05

Birmingham and Nottingham are often mentioned. My dd had an unconditional from Newcastle, which she accepted. It did make the exams a bit easier to get through, but don't pick a university just on the chance of an unconditional, she'll have to like it! (NCL was dd's first choice anyway, so the unconditional was a bonus.)

GinAndTalented · 23/05/2017 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

offblackeggshell · 23/05/2017 20:08

I think it varies by subject, not just university. i.e. some universities will offer it for some subjects, but no others. e.g. Sussex linky to Sussex unconditional pages

LIZS · 23/05/2017 20:14

It will vary by subject. Ds got one from RHUL which his head of 6th form thought unusual although subsequently I'm not so sure! I think they use it to attract a core of appropriate students, rather than those who have them as second choice or through clearing.

happyhebe · 23/05/2017 20:22

Birmingham do it for English but not psychology

bojorojo · 23/05/2017 20:35

Leicester - Geography.

Original poster
ShinyGirl · 23/05/2017 20:35

I think she's looking at business studies or politics, or a combination. She wanted economics originally but had a bad few days during her GCSEs and got a C in maths.

OP posts:
BasiliskStare · 23/05/2017 21:42

If it helps a friend of DS had one from Nottingham and is happy there.

exexpat · 23/05/2017 21:45

I've heard of quite a few making unconditional offers if you firm them rather than make them insurance offers.

BasiliskStare · 23/05/2017 21:48

Will find out course he is on

noblegiraffe · 23/05/2017 21:49

Aberystwyth have scholarship exams where if you get a reasonable (not outrageously high) mark they give you an unconditional offer even if you don't win a scholarship.

Fifthtimelucky · 23/05/2017 22:44

My daughter had "unconditional" offers from Nottingham and Birmingham. They weren't really unconditional - there was a condition that she firmly accepted the offer, which she didn't do.

Fifthtimelucky · 23/05/2017 22:44

That was for music.

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 23/05/2017 22:46

Ds1 has anxiety and he has got an unconditional from Winchester as have a few of his college friends

Original poster
ShinyGirl · 23/05/2017 22:54

Thank you very much, I'll tell her to look at these ones.

OP posts:
ICantFindAFreeNickName2 · 23/05/2017 23:06

Lancaster do unconditional offers for some subjects. You might be better off asking the question on one the student websites,as you will probably get more answers

Leeds2 · 23/05/2017 23:38

Friend's DD got one last year from UEA for English, provided they were her firm choice.
Another friend's DD has one from Sussex this year, not sure of the subject. Possibly geography. Again, for the offer to be unconditional, it has to be her first choice.
I know Birmingham have made unconditional offers for History of Art in the past.

tobee · 24/05/2017 02:00

Lecturer at Birmingham unashamedly said it was given to students who had high predicted grades that might mean their first choices were Oxbridge, Durham and the like. To get them to come to Birmingham instead.

NImbleJumper · 24/05/2017 08:49

I'm familiar with the Birmingham process: in some subjects, if her predictions are really good enough, then she might be offered an Unconditional offer, IF she makes Birmingham her Confirmed choice.

Birmingham seeks to "lock in" exceptional candidates.

NImbleJumper · 24/05/2017 08:52

As tobee says, it's about attracting exceptional candidates who might otherwise go elsewhere. It's worth thinking about

if she likes the thought of Birmingham, the university, the course.
if she has excellent predicted A Level grades
if she's prepared to firm Birmingham as her 1st choice

But it's not worth thinking about if she doesn't like the place or the course. It will make her anxiety worse.

Best thing, of course, is for her to get some therapy to learn to control her anxiety, and develop resilience. That will be a long-life lesson worth learning 10 times over.

ono40 · 24/05/2017 14:48

DS has an unconditional for History at Birmingham if he firmed. it was his first choice anyway but they run a scheme for those predicted higher than their standard offer (for History higher than AAB). In his school, people have also had unconditionals for biochemistry, politics and English at Birmingham. A lot of them have gone for it this year as with the new linear A-levels, things are very uncertain.

Others have had unconditionals from UEA, Sussex and Nottingham, all arts type subjects.

Lancaster do a scheme whereby if you have an unconditional and then meet the standard offer anyway, they give you a bonus of £2k! The idea is that is motivates you to work and achieve your grades despite the unconditional.

Original poster
ShinyGirl · 24/05/2017 18:41

Thanks again for your help, she's getting help for the anxiety but it's a long road ahead.

OP posts:
Doobydoo · 24/05/2017 18:49

Ds got one for Chester for Biotechnology but declined.He wants Nottingham.From what we can see its a relatively new course for Chester to offer.

TheFairyCaravan · 24/05/2017 18:51

UEA and Lincoln do if you make them your firm choice.

Original poster
ShinyGirl · 24/05/2017 20:14

I can see the benefits to the uni and also to the student if its where they would like to go anyway.

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