2026 UCAS - Offers, Rejections and Waiting to Hear

[EducatingRosemary]

For those whose DC have submitted their UCAS application without having yet taken the A-level (or equivalent) exams…

How are your DC getting on with hearing back from the universities?

My DS applied just before Christmas for Law at Bristol , Birmingham , Leeds , York and Surrey ( insurance ) . No offers yet presumably university staff are back this week and offers will start to trickle through . Predicted grades higher than required grades .

My DD also applied just 2 days before Xmas to Manchester, Manchester met ( insurance) Leeds, Cardiff & Brighton. She got offers from Brighton & Manchester met within 2 days but nothing from the others which are her preferred choices! My son got his preferred uni and insurance offer straight away so feels like a bit of a wait but obviously we've had the xmas break so I think it’s just me feeling a bit anxious and wishing something would happen as she really loved Manchester when she visited. I’m being impatient I know!

My DD got 4 offers within 2 weeks in 2025, but her preferred uni (KCL) took nearly 3m. She was on the brink of giving up and selecting one of the others when the offer came through. Really recommend holding your nerve - it’s in no way indicative of how they rate your child if they take for ever.

And I think Manchester only got back in the office, yesterday as my DS’s application went in from college on 28th Dec and only got the ‘thank you for your application’ email yesterday. We are holding our breath as it’s his preferred too!

@CautiousLurker2 thats interesting the last uni took so long last year but some do seem to I think. Edinburgh took forever when my son applied for his masters and then suddenly made an offer when he’d given up on the idea!

And yes makes sense most unis probably only got back in the office yesterday. Just a waiting game I guess.

I’m another who’s impatient about the waiting. Warwick say candidates who apply in time will hear no later than May, but the offer holder days are in March. It’s quite far for us, so I’m keen to book hotel and travel if DC gets an offer.

DS decided that if he gets an offer from Warwick, he will go for it even if he misses the offer holders' days. 🤷‍♀️ He is convinced that it would be worth it.

I wonder whether it’s worth emailing warwick admissions just to check whether they have other offer days later in the year? That said, by May everyone will be doing exams so it strikes me that, really, universities need to have their offers out by April/Easter at the latest and offer holder days then too. I appreciate unis like Warwick are in high demand, but in that case, maybe there is an argument for them to have an earlier closing date if they need more time to process applications? I really feel for DCs who are potentially accepting offers a little blind.

My DC is also on radio silence from Warwick.
Applied early because of Oxford application and sat the TMUA in Oct.
I thought that maybe they make offers after the results of the second sitting but have read on here that students already have Maths offers.

My DD didn’t hear from Warwick until May last year. We’d given up hope but she’s there now (and loving it). She did miss all the offer holder days which was a shame.

Just noticed that we received haven’t received the automated ‘we’ve received your application’ email from Southampton? Have them from Birmingham, Manchester, Warwick and KCL. Is that anything we should be worried about? Surely Southampton would be back and operating by now?

Nothing to worry about. Not all unis do the acknowledgment. If the form has gone to one, it has gone to all on the list.

Brilliant - thank you. Was thinking it was an automatic thing they all send and just noticed that one was missing!

Trying not to email watch but, after Christmas when my email was coming thick and fast all day long, I am now only getting a couple of emails a day… so can’t help peeking at DS’s inbox. Also empty 😭

The last offer holder date from Warwick on DC's email is 29th of April so they are definitely doing them after March. Good luck to everyone who hasn't heard yet - fingers crossed! We are still waiting for Durham...

My daughter has taken a year out to work and save money so she already has her level 3 exam results, two BTECS and one A Level.

So far she has unconditional offers from Exeter, Durham, Bath and Hartpury. Were just waiting for York but completely blown away. We think she will go to Exeter although it was a bit exciting to get an offer from Durham as she thought she had no chance.

Have been really impressed by how open and supportive many unis have been to alternative academic routes.

My DD20 is now a 1st year at KCL having dropped out of 6th form 2x (undiagnosed ADHD, but also autistic with anxiety). She ended up doing an Access course and she got 5 offers from last year. All from top 10 Russell groups unis to study classics (although she has grade 8/9s at GCSE and was predicted distinctions for her access course).

We thought (secretly) she had no chance with an access course and spotted history of dropping out/being older. I do feel colleges need to wind down the ‘you must get A/A** at A level and go to uni at 18’ narrative as I now know a huge number of YP who have taken slightly more circuitous routes. (DNeph did BTecs and is doing an apprentice degree in engineering, for example).

Had they known they would be fine, that these other paths would get them where they need to know I think it would have massively reduced the stress and enabled them to enjoy the journey a little more.

I have been so impressed, she got 2 Distinctions in BTEC Applied Psychology and BTEC Business, and a C in A Level Geography. I think she applied to Hartpury as an insurance place as it's not to far away. She only has very average GCSE's 4-6s.

Exeter dropped there grade boundaries for her application as they ask for AAB but she has the equivalent of AAC. I think she will go to Exeter as we have read good things about how supportive they are to Students, she's also dyslexic so will check the SEN help out.

When I was at 6th form the a pass was anything from a grade E up, now all people do is bang on about the top grades BAA*. I have had one friend who felt the need to explain that her daughter is only predicted a C in one subject - there is nothing wrong with a C and no explanation is needed, well done her.

I did a BTEC when I was 21 after dropping out of 6th form, I went to Oxford Brookes at 23yrs because at the time it was the new unis they were leading the way on entry with all sorts of Level 3 qualifications and there SEN unit (I'm also dyslexic) was amazing. Its so nice to see that this is more mainstream now including the RG unis.

Ahh posted by accident

Those are fantastic offers, she must be delighted and it must be so much less stressful for everyone knowing she has the grades she needs and what her plan is.
My DD had a bit of a wobble and changed her mind re course after going to a couple of open days. Though I think it’s better now than a few months into the course.
She has applied but seemed to relax when we said a year out was also an option so she may well do the same as your daughter.

Oh thank you, that's really kind and they are great offers.
What I would say is DD has been saving really hard and I'm glad we did it this way not just because I have only just recovered from the cost of her driving lessons or because we can't afford to send her (we are seperated but but will both support her) but that we would like her to have some money of her own behind her not just a monthly allowance so she can still have the extra's.
The offers have been amazing, there have been some contextual offers (maybe Exeter and Durham) and offers where she has more than enough ucas points to get in but yes I do think taking year out can really help and in my daughter's case she now wants it more than ever and we are all so excited for her.

DC just received offer from Durham, 4 out of 5 🙏

Wonderful! Which subject? DS is still waiting for Durham (and UCL).

Fab news for those getting offers today. Durham are obviously working their socks off today.

@AuntyBulgaria Modern Languages. What are you waiting for?

@CautiousLurker2 thank you! Hadn’t seen much on Durham but that is good news!

@Calmmumnot DS has applied for Economics and Maths.
Warwick is his top choice and he has an offer for that already which is great.