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!

My son was a bit like this - had multiple different courses in mind - and he found the open days really useful to help him decide what he wanted to study. Good luck

That’s really helpful, thanks @wonderstuff - sounds like you had a really good and productive trip!

I’ve just been looking again at train prices and for the 3 of us (me, DS and DH, if we were making a weekend of it) to go to York in October is around £400! It’s so depressing!

Yes I wasn’t going to pay over £200 to get up for dd and me, so i drove. Park and ride into York was £3.80 each and super easy. Travel from Lancaster to Manchester was only £24 and took about an hour, so you may be able to base yourself in Leeds and travel either using public transport or park and rides to York and Manchester. Manchester Uni were also able to arrange a student rep who was a Y2/3 economics student to show us around, worth emailing admissions and seeing if they have anyone available.

Thank you. Open days definitely help and we have more booked for after the summer.

I spent around £1k to visit two Scottish unis in one trip, mainly as my usual dog sitter was away so i had to pay a fortune for someone to live in my house. It was very painful! We are all done now. Offers holders possibly but not if she ends up with a Scottish one!

We live in Manchester and the train to Leeds is 1hr 15 and to Liverpool about an hour (but I always drive to Liverpool as we're close to the motorway). It's not far from Leeds to York but I've never done that specific trip.

I do feel very lucky that we have so much choice I universities relatively close to home! DD is very disappointed that she already lives in Manchester as its such a good city, but she's not considering it as she wants to 'get away'. Newcastle and Leeds are the current favourites, but going to try Birmingham and Nottingham (I've never been there) in the autumn open days.

That’s so similar to us! Although dd has decided for some reason to rule out Manchester. Might ask her why.

Travelling between York and Leeds is easy on the train, only 30 minutes. Would take a lot longer driving though

Just jumping in to say I also live in Manchester, with a dd who doesn’t want to go to Manchester uni, but to move away 🙂. It’s a bit odd feeling, knowing what we have on our doorstep but will probably pay a fortune to go elsewhere, but it has to be her choice.
Actually, she hasn’t yet made a choice and is swinging between 2 wildly different courses. She liked York, so that’s one choice on the list but at the moment just shuts down at the slightest discussion of what and where because she’s overwhelmed with it all.
So, joining in for solidarity 😂

Hello all - joining in here with DD wanting to study Architecture from 2026. She decided early so we have spread the open days out over last year and this Autumn and she’s thinking of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Cardiff and Nottingham. Working on her supra curriculars and portfolio over the summer. We haven’t made it to Edinburgh yet - possibly will do that in October or wait for an offer holder day should an offer materialise. Booked for Nottingham and the Cambridge colleges day in around 3 weeks time.

So many hurdles to get through. Hoping for predicted grades to go with those unis but not sure when she will find out. Mocks were good so that’s the first hurdle done.

MAT bookings are open for those that need it.

Far more straightforward than the TMUA and free too 😀

I was just coming to say thank goodness the MAT booking worked so easily, especially as we are traveling at the moment! Glad it was ok for you too!

Has your DD thought about Bath? My eldest is about to go back for his final year of BSc Architecture and really loves it.

DD feels we live too near and the course is too much on the maths side of Architecture. Glad your son is enjoying it.

@Blossomdearie

Edinburgh now has a big Uniqlo!

I LOVE Edinburgh and can see DS loving it too but it’s an EIGHT hour drive from us which would be a bit painful.

Also love the thought of DS’s uni choices being entirely guided by my shopping preferences 😂

That's understandable, especially if she wants to spread her wings a bit.
DS has really benefited from the 6 month placements in years 2 & 3, he came back home & worked in localish practices so was able to save a good wodge of cash to top up his minimum loan (as well as getting quality work experience)

Sheffield is an amazing city and also amazing university especially for engineering and architecture as I'm sure you know. How high is your DC ranking it? What about London unis are they interested in them? What about the South of England? Is that also a no? Architecture is a great course so I'm sure they'll enjoy it.

Thanks - yes Sheffield is high up the list. She doesn’t want to go to London. TBH Cardiff would be easier to get to than Bath from us (South West) but feels further away to her. Which other unis in the South of England are you thinking?

Just generally, I also love Northern universities and mainly applied for them (to my past self's surprise). I didn't mention as you seem to have looked at most but I'll mention some general good unis: Exeter, Southampton (good insurance etc), Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds. However, I'd recommend Sheffield the most (as I love it and wouldn't have thought in Y11 and most of Y12 I'd go there). Has she got any other specific considerations on her decision?

We have been looking at the Architecture league tables and as I said leaning towards the more arty courses if possible. I don’t think Southampton or Exeter do Architecture unfortunately. UCL is very high up the league tables but as I say - she doesn’t want London. Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds are on the long list as is Queens, Belfast which I recommend on the experience of my DS. Low cost of living and a good uni. He is having a great time there.

You have a great long list and short list as well. Sorry I didn't check for Exter or Southampton. What makes the universities on the long list less attractive to the short list ones? Just out of genuine interest, location, vibe at open days (what ones have you gone to?), modules and special offers etc.

I think Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds just haven’t been on the radar. I have forgotten that Loughborough was also nearly on the short list now on the long list, it’s hard to say really. DD has looked at the courses and there are only so many you can visit. She chatted to Nottingham at a UCAS event and liked them.

QUB is not as high on the tables and also would be following big brother which isn’t forging her own path. Good one up her sleeve in case of A level issues though as it often goes into clearing with reduced grades for GB students.

DD is supposed to be doing a year in a French university next year and some of the choices are in the most beautiful holiday locations.

She says she might try for Perpignan which sounds wonderful.

We booked the MAT on the 18th but still have not been able to book the TMUA. There seems to be a glitch on the site that won't accept my son's email address - and it has to be the same email address as on the UCAS form so he can't use another one.

We have made a lot of helpline calls which have all been answered by very polite workers, probably from the Asian sub continent, who have no idea how to help. Likewise, email enquiries have got us nowhere. have been in touch with his sixth form college - but they can't help. i also emailed Warwick University and got no reply. So am a bit stumped what to do about booking the TMUA!!

@WhisperingAngelisnotbad Sometimes expressing your exasperation on Pearson VUE’s FB page seems to wake them up (other social media channels are no doubt available).