Apply for a deferred place, or defer next summer?

[HelpAWelshie]

DS is thinking of taking a gap year. He wants to go travelling. Is it recommended to apply for a deferred place, or just apply for a place for Sept 26 and defer closer to the time? Or is he best applying next year with results in hand?

I’m encouraging him to apply as usual as I’m not convinced he or his friends will be able to save the money needed to go travelling, so at least he can go next year if that ends up being the case. But I’m not sure if this is the correct advice. Do most uni’s allow deferrals?

Not all unis or courses allow late deferrals. What course is it as STEM subjects can be trickier for a gap year. So either apply now for 2027 intake or wait until the next cycle.

No, some don’t because a bird in the hand. They want people in there now, not the whiff that they might come next year. My niece applied for a deferral and it was knocked back. She needed to defer because she literally couldn’t afford to go (London) and so they appealed with all the family financial information and proof that she was working full time and they gave her a deferral eventually but the whole thing was quite drawn out. It was a good course at a good university though. I imagine if you are opting for a more mainstream degree at a more run of the mill university like my own dc then it would be easier.

Can you apply to defer nearer the time? How and when? My Dd is applying for quite ‘regular’ unis (brighton, Plymouth, LJMU, couple of others that aren’t super over subscribed) and like your ds isn’t quite sure what she wants to do re a gap year. So I wasn’t sure either how/if this is possible. Do you do it once your results are in or is it in May when you firm your 2 choices?

DS applied in Y13 for a deferred place (humanities course) and got offers from all 5 (mostly RG) unis he applied to. Got into his first choice uni even though he dropped one grade on results day.

it was good for him to have the support of school when putting together his UCAS form, they gave him useful feedback and deadlines (useful cos he’s a bit lazy). It’s also brilliant that he’s now on a gap year with a firm place ready for September. Plus there’s always the option to re- apply with grades in hand if needed.

You can request it at either point but the uni does not have to agree. If they do it gets updated on ucas.

You can apply for a 2026 or 2027 place when you submit your ucas application. If you apply for 2026 you can ask the unis to defer to 2027 at any point (before or after exam results) but they don’t have to say yes!

Both my two DC wanted a gap year and both applied for deferred places in their UCAS applications. They received offers from all their choices so it didn't hurt their choices.

I'd apply for deferred places. They can always decline their uni options after their A' Level results and apply again.

DD took a gap year, and spent some time thinking about which course and university she really wanted; she felt it all seemed a bit forced at school.
Once she decided she was able to apply with her results, and get an answer very quickly.

The most strategic option is to apply for 2026 and then ask to defer after you have your results.
The logic being if the ask is AAA and you achieve ABB (or whatever grades) you might get confirmed anyway for E26, but not for E27 because they don’t know what they’ll be accepting then.

DD applied as normal last year, not for a deferred place, as we thought it was too early to decide even though she was 99% certain she would take a gap year. On results day she got into her firm choice, she called them and they explained the process to defer, for her Uni it was filling in a form on their website and answer 2 or 3 straightforward questions (why are you deferring, what are your plans during the gap year). She was approved within an hour or so and her UCAS updated with 2026 entry within the same day.

Very straightforward.

Thanks for the advice. Still not sure what’s for the best. I’ll ask him what his tutor thinks. What I don’t want to happen, is he applies for a deferred 2027 place now, then decides too late that he actually wants to go next year and ends up in clearing. I’d love for him to take the gap year and really make the most of it, travelling and have amazing experiences and adventures. But I’m just not convinced it’s going to work out as his friends can be a bit flaky and generally don’t have the money to be able to do it.

He’s applying to a range of unis, but certainly not in Oxbridge league (or close) for Criminology with or without Psychology, so not a STEM subject.

In the past we’d always recommend applying for this year then asking to defer. For the first time in 26 years a uni said no to the deferral. They did give in in the end but it was touch and go.

Honestly, I wouldn't risk it, DD was adamant she's taking a gap year (and she is on one now) and still applied for 2025 entry. She secured a place at a top Uni (not Oxbridge) and they didn't bat an eyelid when she asked to deffer. Studying Economics.

They don't even need a huge justification for it, she stated she plans to travel and work to save for University.