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!

@Philandbill I agree that a diverse thread is a good thread. You prompted me to go back and check that I hadn’t said anything about my DD’s predictions (I didn’t). She isn’t applying for Oxbridge. My own take on it is that I am interested in hearing about all the DC applying for 2026, and it would be a great shame if those with news on Oxbridge (etc) applications felt they couldn’t post because others don’t want to know. I do want to know!

@Philandbill i think the thread seems a bit Oxbridge heavy atm as those considering applying need to be that much further ahead with their applications, additional tests etc.

With autumn open days on the horizon and as others get closer to application deadlines I would hope that it can support a much wider variety of applicants and their support crews!

I agree that it would be really nice if all the applications could be represented on this thread. I am sure we can all be supportive of each other whatever our kids want to do.

Agreed, we're all in for a long ride together so nice for everyone to feel supported.

As an aside, if your DC is looking for part-time work, I've noticed an uptick in the number of sixth-form-friendly jobs advertised on Indeed in the last week, presumably to replace the university students who are heading back - seen ones at Greggs, garden centres, supermarkets, pubs. Also, some companies are already recruiting for xmas staff (Sostrene Grene)

Duplicate post

I agree with @Muchtoomuchtodo that the thread has probably skewed towards early applications and booking the additional tests lately but this is just due to timing and not a permanent diversion.

I would love to hear about all of your DCs applications and experiences and I hope that everyone feels like they can talk about them, ask questions, share concerns and advice etc. I have learned so much from this thread already.

Our local garden centre always takes loads of young people over the Christmas period. DS was too late applying last year so thanks for the heads up @tedglenn . Although I can't believe we're talking about Christmas already!

My daughter wants to do economics, but isn't doing maths A level so not aiming for LSE or the like.
She was very keen on Leeds and Newcastle, but Leeds apparently is hard to get an offer from. Newcastle was in clearing so I hope that bodes well!

There are loads of economics courses that are not maths heavy (and loads that are very mathematical). When my DS was initially looking at it lots of PPs here suggested looking in depth at the actual modules and entrance criteria of each course. It takes a bit of research, but your DD will likely find a great course that doesn’t need maths - I think from memory that Sussex, QMUL, Birmingham and Nottingham don’t need maths A Level?

I had to step away from the thread for a few weeks as I was getting too stressed out seeing how little dd has been doing over the summer. Happily now Leeds Fest is done, she is getting down to things. And even added some more Unis to her shortlist. We can’t go to any more open days due to her work but I like the look of the campus tours. And I guess there are also offer days as well to come - if she gets offers of course!

My DD did a few open days but for a course she then decided was all wrong for her. In Dec/Jan she applied to 5 unis we’d never even looked at (based on course content and ranking) … we did all our research at the Offer open days and she is over the moon with the one she firmed and is going to.

Given just how many bloody open days I have booked for DS, I actually think my DD did it the right way!

I do think that maybe we all over think this. Just a little.

Yes, on the Leeds open day they said 30% of students didn't have maths, and Newcastle said the only hard line was they needed a 7 in GCSE maths (which she has, phew!) Birmingham and nottingham are also on the list to look at, liverpool and Sheffield we've already seen!

It's all very full on!

My DD is also looking at economics, she is doing maths, but her prediction is B and she may miss that, so I think she should think about the less maths heavy courses. Several universities are offering BA in economics that doesn’t require Alevel maths. We are looking at Manchester and Liverpool and definitely Manchester has a BA option, can’t remember if Liverpool does. Manchester was lovely but I think would be an aspirational application for DD, Liverpool is on of the lowest RG tariff for economics (if RG matters and I’m not sure it does). We also went to Brighton open day, they didn’t need maths A level, they are quite high up the Guardian subject rankings for economics, again I have no idea if that’s important?

Ranking tables - Also look at The Times and the complete university guide. They measure different things and are different. They also change every year. Important but not everything. On the complete university guide you can rank by student satisfaction or graduate prospects which gives a different story.

@VentressI've been lurking on these threads since befire GCSEs and our sons sound very similar! Did you mention that your son had put together a spreadsheet of history courses? I wondered if he might mind sharing it if so. DS still undecided about choices 3 to 5

What sort of history is he considering? (Obviously all unis will have a range but some will focus on more speicifc areas). What unis has he seen on open days and is certain on? What unis is he still considering or unsure about?

Hi, I am very interested in how you managed to change the email address? Do you have a phone number which lets you speak to an actual person who knows what they are doing and is able to be helpful? (And can you share the phone number with me 🙂?)

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad I just logged in and the system let me change it.
I have checked it right now. The system required me to log in with the new email address.

So, after your post, I figured that we could maybe try a different email address and then change the email address later.

We have registered under a different email address and also requested access arrangements under email address 2.

I did notice that you can apparently change personal details on the system so we tried changing the email address but it won't let us. It says that this email address is already being used (it was used to book the MAT).

We have also gone to the relevant University and asked for help and have asked for help on the UAT-UK message system.

It still won't let us book the exam as of this morning - but I am cautiously hopeful that we will shortly be able to book under email address 2 and then eventually might be able to sort out the email addresses.

it is however a ridiculous saga/

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad It sounds like a nightmare. Hopefully you will be able to change it somehow.

DD has been thinking about her personal statement. Three questions this year but the advice seems to still be talk about supra curriculars and what you think about what you have read/heard/done. There is a minimum character count of 350 for each question and a maximum for all three of 4000 characters. It’s not long.

Is anyone looking at universities like Reading, Sussex, Kent, Surrey? DS hoping to do Comp Sci with predicted grades ABB. Reading with a placement year is his fave after the Open Day.

To add, CS at Southampton has entry requirements of A*AA with minimum A in Maths. That would be an aspirational choice for DS but he would rather apply to ones with AAB as the highest requirements to make sure he definitely gets some offers.

That makes a lot of sense to me. It’s tricky with the way clearing is - maybe our DC should go more aspirational than we think but I think computer sciences is quite a competitive subject anyway so probably the A star AA courses are a bit out of reach with ABB predicted.

I did a degree at Surrey a long time ago and had a good time there. Different subject though.

I know a few people with children at Surrey and they all seem to like it and are getting on well

I also know someone at Reading now and enjoying it but again a different subject.