If my DD applies for university this year and decides not to go ...

[JuergenWasRobbed]

Can she turn down offers and start all over again the following year, if necessarywith a different subject (if she decides not to defer)? Can the universities see you have chosen to do that?

Yes she can and I can't see how they would see a previous application - it certainly wouldn't matter anyway as universities understand young people change their minds and change a lot in those years.

Yes. DD did this. She didn't want to go to the university she had firmed an offer from, but waited until results day before she declined her place. She applied to just three universities with A level results in hand, and went to her first choice where she is now in her last year.

The school were happy to supply a reference for her even though she had left. She had to tweak her personal statement a little but, again, her school were happy to check it over for her.

It won't matter a jot. My DD did exactly this (in fact she started a course, but very quickly dropped out). Applied again and immediately got offers - including from some (Bristol) who hadn't offered first time round. In many ways I think you are better applying with your grades in hand because you can see whether you have the grades before applying and the university can see that too.

Yes you can and no they won't know that you have done that.