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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Unconditional offers

14 replies

Localher0 · 21/01/2022 22:48

Just a little confused about these - do they only stay unconditional if you accept them as your first choice?

OP posts:

MarchingFrogs · 22/01/2022 00:08

It depends on what the terms of the individual offer are. True unconditional offers can only really be made where the conditions have already been met, e.g. if the applicant already has A levels at the relevant grades. 'Unconditional if firmed' offers were quite common a few years ago and yes, meant just that. The applicant would also be told what grades were required if the university was not firmed, though.

In Scotland, an unconditional offer can be made on the strength of the applicant's results in their Highers, even though they have stayed on at school and are working towards Advanced Highers.

Original poster

Localher0 · 22/01/2022 07:44

Thanks that's really helpful and confirms what I suspected. DD is applying for a creative course so has to submit a portfolio to each Uni. We have heard anecdotally of people getting unconditionals based on their portfolios but I'm sure they still actually need A levels - can't get Us in them all!!
It will depend on how the portfolio/interview process goes and then an actual chance to visit these places to be able to rank them. In a perfect world (what even is that?) then her favourite might give her an unconditional but again I think unis are offering fewer these days......

OP posts:

ItsSnowJokes · 22/01/2022 07:50

Unconditional offers are terrible for students. I worked in a secondary with sixth form and when students got an unconditional offer they basically stopped work as they had the offer they wanted. Appalling for their work discipline etc........

Fifthtimelucky · 22/01/2022 08:28

I agree. If I remember rightly it also encouraged lots of students to settle for their 'banker' university choice rather than aiming for more selective ones.

Unconditional offers for creative courses are different though as often the institutions don't care at all about A level results. Many years ago it used to be the case that people were required to get at least 2 Es at A level, but I think that was because that was the minimum needed to qualify for a student grant. That is obviously no longer an issue.

itrytomakemyway · 22/01/2022 08:39

I'm not a fan of unconditional offers. They used to be given by less popular unis who were desperate to fill their seats with any students - regardless of whether they would actually be able to manage the course.

More recently some of the better unis have started to hand them out, especially since the cap on student places was removed. From the unis point of view it means they will be getting plenty of money in fees. For students it means the anxiety about meeting grade requirements is gone.

It does, unfortunately mean that many students just stop making an effort with their A Levels. Big mistake. A potential AAA students who churns out CCC will have those grades for life. They will need to declare them on their CV and it will disadvantage them in the job market.

In response to the OP - in my experience the good, popular unis will give an unconditional only if it is taken up as the first choice. This should be explained in the info they send back making the offer. The less popular unis will happily give an unconditional even if it is not the first choice. This is because they are desperate to take anyone. They are the unis with masses of places in clearing, and will even be recruiting well after the term has started. Never a good sign.

YeOldeTrout · 22/01/2022 08:55

lol... DS has an unconditional offer from a "not better" Uni. I guess he better read the fine print. Plus 4 other offers that are grade dependent.

DS won't revise regardless. He had mocks this week so we see what those results are ...

Freebus · 22/01/2022 10:37

Op, one of my DDs friends got an unconditional offer for a creative subject based on her portfolio, this was last year.

2pinkginsplease · 22/01/2022 10:47

In Scotland an unconditional offer means you have met the entrance criteria and the offer is there until you accept whatever course you want to do.

Dd got 5 unconditional for Strathclyde Uni and also Glasgow uni. She then had to decide what course she wanted to do.

However I’ve heard unconditional in England works differently from up here.

Malbecfan · 22/01/2022 11:40

My DD2 was interviewed by the head of dept, then given a conditional offer of AAB. The uni then emailed and said they would lower it to unconditional if she put them first. She was waiting for Durham to get in contact, which caused no end of stress as when they finally offered, it was the day after their final open day in March 2019. DD was really fed up and didn't know what to do, so I took her to the unconditional setting, booked into a Premier Inn and went to look at the accommodation. It was the Easter holidays and the manager of the campus gave us an impromptu tour of various options. She was lovely and we got a really good impression of the place. The next day, DD auditioned for the Director of Music at the city's cathedral with the aim of getting a choral scholarship. The feedback was fantastic. We had a lovely morning in the city centre. As we left, we discussed what to do. DD thought that the school would want her to go to Durham (RG/prestigious/blah blah) but she really liked this city. We supported her in accepting the unconditional.

The uni then contacted her to say that some people treated unconditional offers as a licence to stop working. If she got X points (equated to 4 grade Bs) they would offer her a bursary of £4k. Her actual results were something like A star A A B with an A grade in FM. On results day, she was ecstatic to get the bursary. She has had a great 2 years there, despite Covid, and has got a first every year so far. She didn't stop working; if anything, it removed stress from her, meaning that she was more productive. The Head of Dept has since told her that she was very impressed with DD at interview and wanted to encourage her to accept their offer, hence the unconditional offer and bursary. Her best mate got an unconditional to study MFL around 20 miles away at a RG uni, so they really aren't always a bad thing.

LindaEllen · 22/01/2022 11:53

For those of you whose children have offers, and will stop revising - it's so important that they get their A Levels. Sure, they might get on the course they want now, but what about if they don't like it and want to change? What about if they want to do further training after uni, or a master's course or higher? Not everywhere will give them an unconditional offer, and they need to be aware of that.

Original poster

Localher0 · 22/01/2022 17:31

Ooo this is an interesting thread with all your different stories. I agree about the lack of motivation when a student has an unconditional- one of DD's friends has just dropped an A level against all advice from school as she is sitting on an unconditional.
I wonder whether, given DD has to prepare 5 portfolios and prepare for 5 interviews then she may get an offer based on her creative work. Her predicted A levels meet all the academic requirements so 🤞.
She's quite motivated for good grades but also gets anxious so in a way an unconditional might suit her..... we'll see though- got to get through the portfolio/interview stage first......

OP posts:

Eightytwenty · 22/01/2022 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RampantIvy · 22/01/2022 22:39

I thought that unconditional offers were frowned upon. Weren't unconditional conditional offers banned?

I have ventured back on to the WIWIKAU Facebook page and noticed that Portsmouth seems to be handing out a lot of unconditional conditional offers just now.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 25/01/2022 19:55

My DS got offered one but he turned it down. For him it was a positive thing and a bit of a boost.

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