University Applications 2026 - Support Thread

[Ventress]

DS is applying to start university in Autumn 2026. He's done several open days and has a reasonable idea of where and what he wants to wants to study - History or History & Politics.

He loved UCL and Exeter, liked Warwick, didn't like Bristol. He's also talking about early application but can't decide whether to apply to Oxford or Cambridge. He's also muttering about Durham, which he didn't visit but others in his History class did and loved it.

Anyone join me for a thread to support our DC as they navigate this process? DS is my only child so this is all new to me!

Hiya, joining you. DD is taking a year out but looking to apply this year and defer. She wants to do economics. We have looked at Brighton, but relative who works in HE has advised her to aim for higher tariff courses (expecting something between ABC and AAB). We’re in the south and not much experience of the north of the UK, travelling next week to look at Liverpool, Manchester and York, plus close to Swansea next week so will look there too. Obviously not open days but just having a look at cities and campuses.

Hi @wonderstuff, we're in the south too and Warwick was the furthest north we got. Liverpool, Manchester and York sound like excellent options for your daughter's PGs, as does Swansea.

I went to York back in the day (not Economics) and loved it but I know it's changed a lot now. I would have loved DS to have considered it. I hope you and your daughter enjoy the trip.

There's a lot to be said for seeing the locations and campuses outside of Open Days too, as they were so busy and manic.

What is your daughter planning to do during her gap year?

Hello! DS wants to apply for Chemistry next year. Favoured list of uni's is Bath, Nottingham and Sheffield along with Imperial but it's very expensive and he doesn't actually like London except that very small area of South Ken. 😂 We may look at couple of other places in September open days as he only has those first 3 as realistic options currently.

This is my second time dealing with the UCAS circus, although DS1 was applying during Covid restrictions (literally graduated this weekend) and so open days were extremely limited until offer days.

I’ll join please. DD interested in art, been to visit Norwich, Derby, Bournemouth and Brighton. Still a few more in the mix. We are sort of middle of the country so got options although was a real mission to get to Brighton on a Friday afternoon!

Joining. First time through the process.

Looking at Law. Only been to a few open days so far, Exeter is the slight favourite.

@wonderstuff Live near York so if you have any questions then shout.

Thanks, I went to Sussex and as we went around Brighton I was like ‘this is new’ which meant it was less than 25 years old!
DD wanted to do camp America, but is now slightly put off by the political climate and is wondering about working in Canada instead. She also wants to work, but job opportunities seem a bit thin on the ground at the moment, though once she’s 18 and driving that may well change.

Thank you @stubiff , may take you up on that when we get back!

Welcome all!

I am in awe of artists, and chemists for that matter! Both are like Greek to me Does your daughter have a particular type of art she'd like to study @Aboutmeabouttime ? Getting to Brighton on a Friday afternoon is not for the faint of heart!

Good choices for chemistry @JustHereWithMyPopcorn . DS likes UCL and I'm trying to dissuade him as the accommodation is so expensive. Congratulations to your elder son on his graduation!

I lurked on your Law thread @stubiff . DS was considering it but has now decided on History of HistPol. Still likes Exeter though. Where else is your son considering?

@stubiff my DS1 has just graduated with an LLB from Uni of Notts, feel free to ask any questions.

😂I would have been the same in York I'm sure. Camp America would be amazing. They must have similar schemes in Canada?

They do, but most camps in Canada want kids 19 or over rather than 18 in the US, there are lots of other seasonal tourist jobs, and you can get a much longer visa, but dd is really good with kids so it’s a tricky decision. I’m sure she’ll figure it out.

Ah, that's a shame. Camp America looks great, perhaps if the US Visa and political situation calm down it might be an option again. Working in Canada would be a wonderful experience too. I hope she finds the option that suits her best.

(edited for typo)

She might enjoy a year abroad then during uni, you do extend your degree by one year but only pay 15% of tuition fees and are still eligible for a maintenance loan. You essentially study abroad at a different uni or some people do a work placement for a year which is good for experience either abroad or in the UK.

@Ventress Bristol (possibly), Notts, Southampton, Birmingham, Cardiff, Lancaster, Leicester. Just need him to whittle it down a bit!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Thanks, will do.

Do you know how accommodation is arranged for a year abroad @TheLivelyViper ? Do you pay this direct to the foreign university and they host you on campus or do you have to find your own private rentals?

Warwick history department offer a term in Venice but it doesn't add to the length of the course, and all the students and staff stay at a Warwick owned building so I understand how this would work, but I'm not sure about how it works at a university abroad for a full year.

Too many options is better than too few I guess @stubiff . DS and I went to the Bristol law talk and taster lecture during the open day. We both thought it was excellent. Is your son booked in for the LNAT?

@Ventressshe is looking at fine art, but Derby offer an art for health and wellbeing course that she is interested in and yesterday we stumbled across an art and primary education course which is also worth a look. Long term she is interested in teaching, art therapy etc

You don't pay to the foreign uni, you do pay 15% tuition fees to whatever you are at in the UK. The accommodation depends - you do have to organise time yourself - but depending on which uni you go to abroad (they can help you out by letting you live in their student accom and give grants).

It does also depend on the uni she goes to in the UK, because 1. They have partnerships with a set amount of unis across the world (every uni will have a website detailing what unis abroad they have made deals with) she will only be able to go to the ones on that list from let's say Exeter, Liverpool might have some different unis they have a partnership with and so on. Some unis also have certain unis abroad they have done partnerships with but only for specific subjects so Science Pol in France may only be for politics students or it could be politics students get preference but anyone on any course can go (depends on each uni, some will have more in Europe othera more in Asia, etc so I'd definitely compare the lists from each uni in the UK she likes).

The other thing is different unis I'm the UK offer different amounts of help, some will give you a grant (from the UK so Shefifled I think sometimes do but others will as well so check on websites). They also differ in how much they help with accommodation etc. Most unis make you apply in 2nd year (2nd term - you will likely have to have gotten minimum 60% in 1st year and the 1st term of 2nd year as well - though different unis = different requirements). You then often rank the top 5 unis abroad you want to go to, write a personal statement for all 5 unis and maybe some do interviews it depends. Then you can get any of the 5 you rank, so make sure you're happy to go to any.
Then you go in 3rd amd come back to do 4th year at the uni in the UK (will be the same as the 3rd year if you don't go abroad so she'd be with people doing 3rd who started in 2027 if they were only doing 3 years) and if she went on Sep 2026. Hope this makes sense, if it doesn't I'm happy to clear it up.

@Ventress No, leaving the LNAT to him, so it won't happen !!
Warwick is another option (at AStar) and that doesn't need it, so we'll maybe view there.

Joining. First time with uni applications. Feel a bit clueless as DS tells us nothing! He wants to do business and enjoyed the Durham open day and keen to get a place there. We’ll probably look at Leeds in October. We were also going to visit Edinburgh but they’re on the same day and we can’t do the later one in Oct.

Second time around for me, but 12 years apart!

DS2 is settled on engineering, I think- he was wobbling between that and physics for quite some time though.

We've done Open Days at Sheffield, Southampton, Imperial, Cambridge and still have Loughborough to go. He also keeps talking about Durham, but I don't know about that in terms of visiting.

He wants to go for Cambridge though, so that means the ESAT in October I believe.

1st timer here. DS1 wants to study Economics. We've visited 4 Unis - Notts and Bristol are favourites. He wants to sit the TMUA and will apply to Warwick if he gets a good score. Other contenders are poss Exeter and Durham. Maybe York as Insurance.

Realised today that UCAS opens on 2nd Sept for apps. PS is still in draft mode.

I heard that Manchester (and I assume other Uni) are more likely to offer if you are an early applicant? When should he aim to submit his UCAS form or is end Sept still deemed an early application?

@planestrainsautomobiles
I think end of Sep will still be on the earlier side.
Some schools will have Nov and Dec dates to have everything completed, put obv you can push school to try to do things earlier.
Not sure about being more likely. I think some, but not all, will offer early if it's a no brainer, e.g. tariff is AAA (and they go into clearing sometimes) and predictions are 3 AStars.
If predictions are in/around the tariff then I don't think they'd offer early (well, I wouldn't as a Uni as you can wait til Jan to get all the best people applying).

@stubiff thank you. Really pleased to have joined this thread.

Ooh I’m in. DD applying this autumn too and she’s literally bending my ear about it for hours on end. She’s my first to go through this.

She wants to do Liberal Arts with a year abroad and
is really keen on Bristol or Manchester but she’s trying to decide her three other choices. We’ve gone around in circles since she’s done some open days. Think I’ll need a lot of strength for this.

Good luck all 😩

For any unis they haven't visited consider going in half term when all the students will be there, this is especially important for campus unis like Durham and Loughborough etc.

@Ventress Durham always comes up for History as it is a Unesco World Heritage Site for both the castle and the cathedral. If it is a contender, might be worth the trip up especially in half term.

@planestrainsautomobiles completely normal to have just a draft PS at this stage. Remember not everyone is applying for the first time, they may already have grades in hand so September opening is very early.

It is a good idea for them to use the summer to watch/listen/read stuff connected with the degree they want, just widening their knowledge and something they can add on to their personal statement. Priority is given to those applying for early entry so that sixth form can get their UCAS forms completed from their end. There is no rhyme or reason to when unis offer, if they absolutely hands down want you they will offer immediately. This is a combination of everything, GCSEs, predicted A level grades, the subjects you are taking at A level plus what you wrote in your personal statement.

Someone did a stand up and said they applied to Oxford and in their personal statement quoted Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, also applying at the same time to Oxford was Malala herself.

It can be a very long waiting game. Mine applied in October and got his first choice at the beginning of May, the last offer. My other child applied in October and had his first choice in November. There is no way to know who will offer when. Schools ultimately control when applications are finalised. It can be very frustrating if you are waiting on them.

The only time this becomes really shitty is when some universities open their accommodation before the offer deadline and some feel forced to withdraw applications to firm up a uni.