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?

More a wish that Durham had looked at National Rail's planned engineering works on the lines used by LNER and chosen a different date for their offer-holder day, surely, than any suggestion that the works should be rescheduled to oblige us!

Thanks for sharing that link to ESAT and TMUA data @bettyjane , it'll be interesting to see it for this year. DS did the ESAT back in October and is waiting to hear from Imperial...

I agree it was Durham’s responsibility to check, especially as they talk about the train and shuttles from the station in the open day information!

https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/visit-us/documents/povds/POVD-March--April-Guide-2026.pdf

We are waiting on a decision from Imperial after TMUA in October Puddock. Good luck to you, hope we all hear soon!

Just had Durham through today (languages, same as published offer requirements). Only waiting on St As now (the favourite.....)

Are other people still waiting on Durham? DD’s predicted grades are AstarAA but I think this is a bit of a reach for her (def not impossible tho) and others might have better PGs. She has offers from her other four choices but Durham is her fave. I think it would really motivate her if she did get an offer.

@girlfromthesouthcountrynice to hear of another mfl student, they are rare nowadays. My Dd is at Durham doing mfl and loving it - she didn’t hear back from St Andrews til april btw (& it was a no, despite 3 a star predictions) Both great places so whichever one she ends up in would be amazing - good luck!

Congratulations to your DC @girlfromthesouthcountry and fingers crossed for a St Andrews offer too. Out of interest, what are your DC's PGs?

@Mediumred my DC is also waiting for Durham (with same PGs as your DC). Has had the other 4 offers and if he gets an offer it would be between Durham and Bristol. Sounds like the 3x Astars applicants have had offers and they are working their way down the list so let's see what happens....

@tescofishcakes yes, they are sadly a rare breed now, and mine's a DS rather than a DD - an even rarer breed for MFL. Great that your daughter's enjoying languages at Durham.

@Fabfabfab DS is IB rather than A level, but would be straight A star equivalent.

@Mediumred We are waiting for Durham as well. Same predicted grades as yours. Durham is my favourite, as it is relatively close to us.

DS also waiting for Durham! Seems like is a few of us.

It's lovely reading about everyone's offers. DD has applied for ethics & religion. AAA predicted grades. Her form was submitted in December before the end of term, she's only heard back with an offer from Bangor so far. Waiting for Bristol, Edinburgh, Exeter and Southampton. We didn't go to the Bangor open day, so we're going to the offer holder day in Feb.

Fair enough. I’ll divert my frustration to network rail 😀. I’m just annoyed that four trips south on LNER trains within the next 3 months or so have been affected, leaving me no choice but to fly or take the car. The dates that were blocked ‘in case’ of engineering works were the final straw!

Anyway, back to the UCAS applications. A couple of mentions of St Andrews, they’re notorious for being very late (I’m in Scotland so it’s a popular choice in DC school).

DS has applied for Geography to Bristol Southampton Exeter Reading and Birmingham.
Applied to Soton and Exeter before Christmas but no offers yet.
PG - A star A A

DS got an unconditional from St Andrews today (we're in Scotland) which was earlier than we were expecting.

Well done on St Andrews @DeclineandFall - what subject was it?

@Treylime hope he gets an offer soon! Which one is his top choice?
@DeclineandFall great news!

In a similar position - DS submitted to college in December, and college submitted just after Christmas… only had one offer so far. He appears to be sanguine about it, but has started getting headaches and migraines again, so I know he is anxious about it. He does have one in the bag that he’d be happy with, but it’s not one of the top 3 that he is dreaming of.

Keeping fingers and toes crossed for all those waiting for any/more replies, only a few more months of waiting for some of us! 😭

@Fabfabfab Thanks. He is really not sure. Possibly Birmingham. His Pg are very optimistic.
@cautiouslurker2 He is quite relaxed so far, hopefully will hear something this week from one of them

Hi everyone - very late to this (mainly because DD waited until last day for her UCAS application) but does anyone know waiting times for Birmingham and Sheffield. DD has applied to study Sociology and predicted BBB (she's eligiable for a contextual offer).

Thank you

DC got a Durham offer today! Has now had offers from all 5. Very exciting and seems to have motivated him to start working a bit harder too!

Seriously good news - especially the motivational aspect. I think that’s what I am really hoping for my DS as I can hear him listening to vinyls on his new record player and chatting with mates on discord!!

🤦🏽‍♀️

In last few mins DS has been sent an in-person interview invite for Manchester - but it’s not until 29th April!! (Which is a significant birthday for his DSis 🤦🏽‍♀️)

@CautiousLurker2 I know, they really need to start working hard now! So pleased for him although it does make it more complex in some ways as can't really put Bristol as insurance as accommodation is so challenging. So would need to be Exeter probably. Anyway, will book onto the offer holder day and then he can make a decision :)

Great news!

Although annoying to have to wait until end of April - I wonder why it's so late?

Yes, the accommodation aspect is a real spanner in the works, especially at Bristol. I know it is lovely there (my neighbours both studied medicine at Bristol and stayed after graduating until 6 years ago, so they clearly loved the city and the vibe).