Applying to two courses at the same uni. How is it viewed?

[Maamekin]

DC (y12) has already identified a favourite uni and course, joint honours, and also an insurance course.
Insurance course offers joint subjects X and Y with some modules in related subject Z.

Favourite uni offers courses in subjects X and Y and in subjects Y+Z at the same entry requirements, and in X,Y and Z at 2 grades higher entry requirements.

DC really wants to go to favourite uni, so wants to put down two courses there to make it more likely they get an offer.

The higher entry requirements course is likely to be a stretch, so would probably put down the other two.

I’m worried DC might just get offered the least popular of the two courses rather than both - though I don’t think either of the two would be massively oversubscribed - fave uni has a good rep for subject X in particular, and it is generally more popular. Subject Z is quite niche.

Also concerned admissions would think it showed lack of commitment or something.

How would this be generally viewed?

Different universities will behave differently, they all have their own systems for processing applications. Most would probably be flattered. Some/most won't notice the 2 applications depending on what order they process them. In general I think it is absolutely fine, and they will see it as a positive that your child is keen on their university.

It may or may not be same admissions officer dealing with each course. They don't normally see the other options. Some may automatically offer option B if criteria for A are not fulfilled (Comparative Literature for English Literature for example). Some may offer for both.

Your DC really needs to check eith each institution - at least one used to say that oonly maximum of one offer will be made, even if more than one course is applied for.

Former admissions tutor here.

If the different programmes are in the same School they may well be dealt with by the same admissions team. This does increase the chances of getting an offer only for the less popular programme. However it is by no means guaranteed.

A Selecting School is more likely to make only the less popular offer than a Recruiting School, but again no guarantees either way.

Some universities are now centralising certain aspects of Admissions administration. These may pick up the dual applications even if not within the same School and flag to the Admissions tutors. In that case, the comments above may apply, especially if the candidate looks borderline for one programme but not the other.

If each School manages its own Admissions independently and the programmes are in different Schools, it is unlikely that information will be shared or that one decision will influence the other

Best wishes to DS

@MarchingFrogs has also made an important point!

Agree with the posts above.
Note at some unis, applications are handled by central admissions not the individual schools, so even if the courses are in different departments with different directors, the uni still can see you've applied to 2 and may see some advantage in offering the less popular one. So:
You do run the risk of only getting offered the less popular course.
You'd also need to balance the personal statement to be relevant to both.

My DD wanted to go to a particular university so applied to 2 courses there. She got rejected for both as she clearly didn't know what she wanted to do. She was so upset as she'd been advised to do that by someone in college who helped with applications.

My daughter applied to do BioVet and Vet Med at the same Uni. She got offers for both courses. Perhaps because BioVet is a known insurance subject, I'm not sure.

Thanks, that confirms that it is not as straightforward as DC thought.

Actually DC did E-Mail admissions, but just got a generic response about entry requirements that was the same info as on the website. Assuming it was a generic computer response rather than DC was unable to express a simple question coherently!

We will be going to the open day in the autumn, so will ask a real person then.

Personal statement not an issue, as DC will likely apply for joint honours XYandZ at a third uni, so will discuss all the subjects anyway.

To give a specific example, on a St Andrews open day Zoom two years ago the department was clear applying to two courses in the same department was a complete waste of one of your choices.
Generally it seems you're best not to apply for BSc and integrated MSc too.