When do you actually commit/ have a contractual obligation to a university?

[Pebbles574]

I have been trying to find this out, but no joy so far.

DS has deferred offers for Sept 2021 (is taking a gap year).

If he accepts two as his first and insurance choices now, then gets the grades in July/August, is he then contractually bound to a university, or is there a later stage, where everything is finally signed/ agreed etc?

He's now wavering about his subject choice and thinking of reapplying for something different in the 2020-21 UCAS cycle, but would like to wait to see what his grades are first.

None until he has enrolled and two further weeks have passed. Then he is liable for the first terms fees.

Halls of residence liability would be once he's signed the contract although the deposit would be lost.

So he can firm and insure now, and has plenty of time to change his mind.

Yes, that's right. My student son was saying some of his friends' younger siblings are choosing to have a gap year from Sept 2020 because of covid 19 in case term1 is ruined although I would not recommend that - you might as well just crack on with it.

Hmm - I was wondering this as well, as in similar situation with DS2. We were a bit worried about this line on the UCAS website:

"Make sure you’re certain about the course, because if you secure a place, you’ll be committed to taking it up. You won’t be able to apply elsewhere in the 2020 or 2021 cycle while you hold that place, and you can only be released from the course if the course provider agrees. You can only reapply if the university agrees to withdraw your deferred application."

from here: www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/when-apply/deferred-entry

Note the while you hold that place.

What it means is that you can't hold on to a deferred place while reapplying for something better.

You can withdraw from (reject) the deferred offer and reapply. You just can't then fall back on the original if the new applications don't work out as you had hoped.

If he does better than expected he can also go into Adjustment this summer.

Bear in mind that a lot of people may be considering deferral this year, so the following year's cohort will likely have fewer spots open. And there's also a possibility that some unis won't survive if too few enrol this year, which will further diminish opportunities.

We were more worried about this really:
“you can only be released from the course if the course provider agrees”
It sounds as if the uni could force you to take up your place?
His offers are already some of the highest for his course, so he wouldn’t want to apply for different unis for the same course - more likely something completely different.

They can't force you.

I would just get on with it. What are they going to do on a gap year? I'm about to enter my final year and a few of my cohort are talking about suspending their studies but employment is shaky, we are doing a health science degree so employment opportunities look promising even in the recession. My neighbour is a lecturer at Bristol and she said that applications are not deferring.
It will not be the first term of dreams but its probably a wise use of time.

Just posted this on another thread - office of students is asking for more clarity on how courses will be provided before students have to enrol/accept offers. I think they want info by June and if it changes the students will need to be informed. It might push unis to aim for as much campus as possible though so much can change between now and sept.