Gap Year

[Nateismine]

My year 12 son wants to take a gap year before starting uni in 2027. What is the process? Does he apply for a place now and ask for it to be deferred or does he apply after he has his A level results? His school is not giving us clear answers.

You can apply in year 13 and defer. If your son is doing Oxbridge this is is a good policy if he does not get in the first time and wants to reapply grades in hand. Some courses do not like applicants to take a year off because students tend to loose their edge in the gap eg maths

Your child's school is being utterly lazy. It's incredibly clear on UCAS - my ds just hit the 'defered year' button and it was done. All info here:

www.ucas.com/applying/applying-university/dates-and-deadlines-uni-applications/deferred-entry

Either. If he waits post results day any offer is unconditional and he can get accommodation etc sorted early.

You can apply during the gap year or apply in the autumn for a place starting 2027.

He can do either.

If he doesn't make his offer, however, it is unlikely a university will confirm a deferred place without the asked-for grades.

But in general terms, the idea of a gap year is excellent. It'll give him time to work out what he really wants to do.

Depends on university courses, degrees where they don’t like gap years are Maths, Physics, some STEM. Check university websites & studentroom. Also, what is going on during the gap year? If DC is working in related field or doing MFL and staying in that country it would be different.

Is there any disadvantage in applying during Y13 for deferred entry, seeing what happens, and then if the outcome isn't what they want, then applying again in the gap year for entry the following September?
I presume you have to give up any offers of places you hold in order to apply again?

Does anyone have experience of universities being open to a phone call to say "if I applied with these grades in hand (eg a grade below the standard offer), would you give me an offer?" I guess that's the risk - that you might give up a place you had without guaranteed of getting something the following year?

The school want to demonstrate a clear pathway to education or apprenticeship. The deferred year is seen as a negative result for them. My DD rejected a place at a local uni and the following year ends up at a top 10 uni they weren't interested

DD 's school weren't impressed when she took a gap year. However, they were very helpful and supportive when it came to reviewing her personal statement and providing a reference when she applied during her gap year.

Both my daughters took gap years (covid 2020) and got jobs to earn some spending money for their time at uni.
One applied and planned to defer, but didn't get the grades needed (covid, no exams, just in house assessed) ... took a year out, sat the exams in autumn, covid special year, so they could, reapplied with grades, got unconditional place.

The other applied during gap year with grades - she knew which course, in the city she was living in with her boyfriend. Got unconditional place.

Stress was much lower applying with grades. Also meant accommodation could be booked early.

I also meant to say the gap year was beneficial as they had a break before starting uni again and we keen to get on.

To be fair the school did provide a good defence for her uni application