Is this normal?

[PupsAndKittens]

I am currently in the last year of college, and we are all beginning to put in our ucas applications. My friend put hers in last week. 2 of her choices have told her that they can not consider her application until her parents email a letter of consent to them as she is currently under 18 (June baby).

Is this normal as I thought that unis only did this if a person is under 18 on the start date?

Also, AIBU to think that this is slightly unfair. Yes I know that you are legally a minor at 17, however first of all you can apply for a job at that age without parental consent, secondly our college didn’t ask for permission, when we applied at 15/16, but most importantly degrees effect lives and I think it should only be the choice of the applicant (regardless of weather they are a Steptember or August baby). I can understand if the person will be under 18 on the start date but my friend won’t be!

Also this is clearly a specific uni policy, as the other 3 have not responded with this and she has interviews booked with the other 3.

Unusual ime ( dd applied aged 17 last year, August bday) but may depend on the course and uni. Scottish students are often under 18 when they start let alone apply.

Surely most students are under 18 when they apply to university. Never heard of this before

My dd applied last year at 17 (as is the way) the only parental consent is for money. Is she still 17 when the course starts ie she's just had her birthday

That sounds really weird. Which universities are saying that?

Most people are 17 when they apply. I was 17 when I went to university in England even

One of them is Essex, can’t remember the other

Has she put her correct birth date in? Typo maybe?

Never heard of it either (I'm on the third round of looking / appplying)

I would highly doubt that she put a typo as at our college all Applications are checked by the careers department. Therefore they would of probably of made her aware if she put a mistake.

Not just me then to think this was unusual of Unis.

It sounds like there is a mistake with her application eg she’s put her age as 15 rather than 17.

Sounds wrong. My son was only 18 in august so after offers and firm/insurance and actually after results were out. We were never asked for any consent

Similar position here, but DD hasn't been asked for parental consent and already has 3 offers. I agree with the others that there must be a typo.

We didn't have this with my July-born daughter.

www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/making-changes-your-ucas-undergraduate-application

@PupsAndKittens

She needs to check her application. It's likely there's a typo on her age by one year - after reading this yesterday I happened to be with my friend who works in admissions, they need parental consent only if they have not turned 18 on the day that freshers starts.

Ok, thanks I will tell her to check it, as she is worried that she will be unable to apply as her parents aren’t particularly thrilled with her choices

Our DD wasn’t 18 until the May so 17 when applying. DH and I didn’t have to sign or complete anything at any point.

Both my DSs were 17 (only just) when applying and it's perfectly normal in Scotland and in fact perfectly possible to only be 16 when applying (and starting!)

Hi I know I have not replied in a while but just an update: my friend has been told that it is NOT a mistake and that Essex can not communicate with a minor (regardless of whether they’ll be an adult by start date) until parent concent to this. I personally think that this is Ludicrous, reasons posted above) they also sent her this statement form there safeguarding policy:

If you are under the age of 18, in accordance with the University of Essex Safeguarding Policies, agreed processes for applicants under the age of 18 and Third Party Contact Policy, we require that your application to East 15 Acting School is authorised by a parent/guardian and that you, the applicant, thereby nominate the person named herein as a point of contact with whom we can correspond where necessary in relation to your application and applicant status should the need arise. If you will be under the age of 18 when your course commences you will be required to complete additional paperwork as part of your application process. If you are required to complete paperwork in addition to your application, we will advise you.

So my friend did enter everything correctly and it is a discriminative policy of Essex

What course has she applied to? I’m wondering if some subjects have an age restriction

BA Physical Theatre (Southend Campus) I don’t know why this should be an age restriction for drama, but to answer your question I’m presuming 18, which she will be by the beginning of the next academic year!

Ah ok, I can’t see why that would. I was wondering if it was something like midwifery or medicine or something involving kids....

Ridiculous and unnecessary position that they've taken.

I wonder whether it is something to do with theatre schools under the aegis of a university, rather than a university department, so to speak?
@PupsAndKittens, was the other institution saying the same thing the same sort of set-up as East 15?