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?

He’s predicted 3 stars any got 2 A stars and a borderline Astar/A for his January mocks @LobbygobblerWe have spoken about lower grades previously but he’s not interested. Warwick and such were in clearing last year so he sees no need to firm/insure those. I don’t think Durham will shift much on grades. They don’t usually. UCL don’t move either. I think he’s looking at accommodation for firm. Although he could live at home for UCL but not for Durham! Accommodation allocation for your sons cohort is interesting- thanks for this.

thanks @ArchitectureMumDS’ is the same. They are all within 1 grade of each other. I have checked clearing but UCL and Durham are never in there. I think this is why DS wants to nail these on. I guess Durham may drop a grade or two but it is unlikely UCL will. I have told DS to speak to his ucas mentor at school. Durham do not guarantee insurance accommodation but it is more likely accommodation will be available than UCL. We shall be able to ask more at the offer holders days.

Interesting @Llangewydd57, thanks. Results day is up to him. I’ve said over and over that insurance should be substantially lower than firm but to no effect. His plan B is a gap year rather than clearing. 🙄

@JustHereWithMyPopcornthey like to get us worried don’t they? 😂

I do hope that Edinburgh offer comes through soon @ArchitectureMum 💐

Yes @Ventress they do like to make us worry 😆. I have forgotten, which subject has your DC applied for?

History @Llangewydd57, it’s another reason I’m surprised he doesn’t want to firm Durham as they are really well known for history. But he loves the UG UCL course (and I don’t blame him it does look great) We have spoken about Durham for UG and then pg at UCL to open up the London “scene”. It s like talking to a brick wall. A lot is riding on these offer holder days!

Yes UCL won’t shift and Durham I think is unlikely too.
the advantage of Warwick through clearing is they allocate accommodation after all the places are allocated so everyone gets a fair chance of getting where they want. This is different to other places (Leeds comes to mind) which gives preference to those who firm.

@Ventress hope the OHD goes well and that he ends up liking Durham. Looking at UCAS historical grades, Durham's lowest grades last year were AAB. UCL's lowest grades were BBB which is really surprising. So for your DC, with such good PGs, both Universities should be fine unless something goes spectacularly wrong. My DC may struggle though, as he needs to achieve his PGs to get the Durham place.

@Lobbygobbler helpful to know that about Warwick. I do worry about accommodation as it seems really challenging if you end up with your insurance or in clearing. It's one of the reasons he may decide against Bristol. DC will probably insure Exeter but if Warwick is in clearing again this year he may go for that instead if he likes it at the OHD.

Thanks @Fabfabfabi think the grades are contextual that you have from UCAS.

i think the Warwick accommodation issue was caused by the fire in one of the Arthur Vick buildings. I don’t think Warwick are known for issues with accommodation- at least not at the moment! But interesting to confirm this if you go to OHD. I liked Warwick for history. The new FAB is stunning and they’ve put lots of money and resources into humanities. DS didn’t like the campus but I thought the sport, in particular, was amazing.

Exeter should (hopefully) have resolved a lot of the accommodation issues by this autumn’s intake . It’s a good option for insurance I think (wish DS would consider it!)

That is very interesting, thank you @Lobbygobbler, I’m going around in circles now with DS wanting to firm UCL! I shall step back, let him do the offer days and discuss with him later. We don’t have UCL OHD through yet anyway.

My son got an offer from Bath on Friday and didnt get his application in until mid January, if that helps anyone waiting and maybe indicates that they are sending out second tranch (late, ds!) offers now. He's very pleased as it was his favourite. Already had offers from Loughborough, Nottingham and Exeter. I think will firm Bath and insure Exeter, which is one grade lower. I'm a bit worried about accommodation situation with Exeter as an insurance though 😬, he really needs on campus accommodation, due to a health condition. He's still waiting to hear from Durham but not really expecting an offer.

What course is he applying to @Blueskiesnotgrey ? My DD has applied to Bath and desperately waiting as it’s the last to hear from. She’s applied for psychology but I get the feeling that all the departments offer differently and at different times. She’s thinking it won’t be until the end of March that she hears so a bit of a wait!

It is lovely to hear everyone's offers, ds got Oxford Brookes which is good. He mentioned going to Reading offer holder day which I think will be a good idea. We have never done one of these before so will be interesting.

Has anyone heard yet from Warwick for Cybersecurity? (Not Computer Science- it’s a separate dept). DS has received all his offers apart from this which is his favourite.

That’s great @mumonthehill I only know Oxford Brooks from the old days (it was good then) but I’m a real cheerleader for Reading. The campus is excellent. Enjoy the OHD. We’re going to two OHD hopefully.

@Ventress that is positive! He had an offer from Reading last year but declined it so I am pleased it is back on his list. It is good for the sport he does and ds seems more positive about it this time.

It is TMUA results day tomorrow. DS totally forgot about it, but I am so nervous.

@Wehaditsogood we're in the same camp here!
Luckily it only affects one Uni (Warwick) and he already has an offer but if he gets over 5 it does lower the required grades slightly.

Seeing how he was when he'd done the exam I am not holding out much hope for a high enough score. I don't think he finished either paper!!

Does your DC have many courses riding on it?.

Same here @AuntyBulgaria . Warwick.
DS didn't think he did very well, that is why he is not that worried about his TMUA.
He just wants to know where he stands with Warwick and Durham, then he can make a decision about his existing three offers.

Yes not psychology, one of the business school courses. He has friends also still waiting to hear from Bath for psychology. Fingers crossed for her.

Good luck to your DCs for TMUA results tomorrow @AuntyBulgaria and @Wehaditsogood. My DC got it out of the way in October. We are waiting on Imperial and their email said they’ll offer/reject after the results of the Jan TMUA.

Good luck for TMUA !

fingers crossed for a new offer for this year @mumonthehill

Thank you. Fingers crossed for all our DCs!

My Godson went to Reading 2020-23 - business/economics degree of some sort and partly because of the sport (he was in the u18 saracens squad for rugby but didn’t make it into the adult teams). He’s now a trainee trader / broker in London after a year of travelling after uni and loving it. He had a great time and has had no problems getting a city job with it, so it is clearly a great choice for a bright and sporty young person. Has great pastoral care and student support, I understand.

Well as expected DS didn't do as well as he wanted in TMUA. @Wehaditsogood how did your DC do? Hoping it was good news.

Luckily not getting the required grades won't effect getting an offer as he has already got it from Warwick - just means he has to get A⭐A⭐ maths and FM and a B in Economics. Which though on paper should be within his abilities - but grade boundaries means you can't afford any mistakes. He will need a solid insurance that he really would want to go to.as there is a fairly good chance he will miss that high offer.

Sorry to hear your DC is disappointed but great that they already have a Warwick offer. Where are they thinking as their insurance?

@Llangewydd57 currently it's MORSE at Warwick as firm and Loughborough Maths with Economics as the insurance. He is still waiting to hear from Durham (Economics and Maths) and UCL (data science) but I doubt whether they will knock Warwick of the top spot or give low enough offers to be insurance.

His other offer was Birmingham but Loughborough had a much nicer vibe.

Mocks when he gets back from half term so that will clarify a bit more what is actually possible.