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?

I know what you mean @CautiousLurker2 . Many unis accept students who drop a grade even two. Depends which Uni and the course.
I know Oxford even allows for this but Imperial, Warwick and UCL not so much.
But again it depends on the subject. I know from teaching that Bristol, Manchester, Exeter, Durham definitely take students who just miss their offer.

Ah, now that is useful! I’ve even tried googling ‘does Manchester take students who’ve missed a grade’ LOL. Slipped down the reddit and student room rabbit holes - and the MU website both says they consider candidates with missed grade AND that its unusual. I think they both think I am giving them flannel, but am really just trying to take the heat out of it so they can remind themselves that the reason they want to study their subjects is because they love them (they really do, the only person who loves maths/physics more than them is my DH! I am such a spare part at meal times).

And I truly do believe, despite being an atheist, that everything happens for a reason and that they usually end up where they are meant to be. Life has a way of sorting itself out if you keep a positive attitude. With that, I’ll stop hogging the thread.

Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting or now trying to decide!!

I have the same with my DH and my two 😆.

@CautiousLurker2 Have you seen this website: https://wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/data-driven-university-application-guide-2025/
You can select the university and compare your DC's PGs to data available from last year's intake. The only thing is that it seems to look at UCAS points and it's difficult to know if that includes things like an EPQ, piano exam etc. The university we are looking at (Durham) doesn't take that into account as far as I'm aware so that makes it harder to make sense of the data (although I haven't had a chance to look in any great depth)

My DC and girlfriend also have the same insurance choice (but not firm). Was slightly worried he would decide not to put much effort in with the hope of actually ending up at the same university, but thankfully he's trying pretty hard as he still prefers Durham.

@ComingInByAnsible I wonder how much of a difference nice weather makes. When we went to the Warwick OHD it was bitterly cold whereas Exeter open day last year was lovely and warm, and the campus looked very green as it was spring/early summer.

😂... I think mine thinks he can do this, I'm not so sure, but I'll keep feeding him and taking him out for some good, long walks ( like a dog) , and maybe he'll get the grades.

That's reassuring to hear about Durham and Bristol. I imagine it depends on the subject as Warwick, which asks for AAA, went into clearing last year with BBB (for History). So I would assume that for History at least, they would accept a lower grade. Although it varies year by year of course.

Totally agree @CautiousLurker2, the maths ain't mathing (as the kids would say). You hear people say 'oh everyone gets A stars these days' and then you look at the stats and realise it's really, really hard.

I work with lots of schools and usually they'll only have one or two in a year at most (outside of selective schools). Check out any of the A level results day news items. The all-A star crew are almost always maths/further maths/physics/chemistry etc since these subjects having a higher proportion giving A stars and are less prone to surprises than history, English etc.

So I'm guessing that yes, most places will go down a grade on results day. Even Oxbridge if the places are there (that said, I do know people who've not got in due to not getting the grades). I think all the universities make the offer high because it's legally binding. Then that gives the freedom to tinker with the numbers on results day.

@fabfabfab thank you so much! Was able to look up both their courses at UoM and UoS and relieved to see A* AB at UoM and ABB at UoSouthampton were accepted for a small number of students at least last year. Knowing there may be some wriggle room if anything untoward happens is brilliant. They are both really happy to go to UoS, but fell in love with UoM independently.

They were very careful (sensible) not to discuss courses/unis before applying, but discovering they had both applied to these two and they were the favourites has come out in the wash and it’s hard for them not to be hopeful they end up together. Been dating 18m and are ‘serious’ [😉] so I know that it’s a mixed blessing/curse …

too much growing up for my liking!

@CautiousLurker2 the only thing is that it may well include contextual offers. So for Durham, 14% of people had AAA or below (for AstarAA course). Whilst that sounds reassuring, I'm not sure if it is as it could include contextual offers. Although if I add my DC's EPQ, his score jumps significantly (but then Durham don't look at EPQs so not sure if it's accurate or not)

At the Manchester Maths OHD we were told that they don’t really enter into clearing as they prefer to offer places to those students who have already received an offer from themselves but slightly missed the required grades.

Birmingham, again Maths, said they would automatically accept an offer holder who had applied for the MMath but missed the grade & instead enrol them on the BSc with the option of moving to the Masters later.

Durham gave no indication of accepting a reduction in grades.

Fingers crossed DS gets the required grades but we’re not taking anything for granted.

Don't forget the significant number of places that will go to high-achieving international students who aren't counted in the national A-level statistics.

Yes, good point!

So, the advisory deadline for university replies has passed. Do you think that more replies are out at this stage compared to last year? Have most people got five decisions?

It’s not easy to compare as individuals I know especially as most of us have only been involved in the process this year and not last year but I have the feeling that Edinburgh for example has been a bit earlier based on what I have been reading (especially whilst waiting and trying the guess when decisions might be out based on last year’s forums)

DD had her 5 by mid February which surprised me but one was Cambridge so dates known and three were very quick - comparatively - so not really the courses in question.

Are lots of people still waiting on St Andrews, LSE, UCL, Durham, Bath etc?

DS has heard from Durham (two weeks ago). Just waiting for UCL.

Heard from Durham about a month ago but still waiting on Warwick.

I know lots of people waiting for UCL.

Bath seem to have been quicker (thankfully)

@ArchitectureMum so we have heard back from all five - but only because I -cough, my DS - moved the interview with Manchester forward from 29th April to 18th March [planned railway works proved very useful as an excuse]. I felt it was far too late, as well as being only a week before A levels start. We heard back from 5th uni in April last year for DD, too, but the deadlines were 2 weeks later, so that may have just come under the line to meet the advisory date?

Still waiting on LSE here. I know UCL and Warwick offered right up to the May deadline last year.

DC has all 5 decisions back; Durham, UCL both a bit quicker than expected I think, and probably Imperial was a bit quicker too.

DD had her last one a week ago (a rejection from Edinburgh). She heard from the others all reasonably quickly, including an offer from Durham in January. She has just decided to firm Sheffield (geography), which I think out of all her choices was the best fit.

All 5 back here and going to firm/insure over Easter w/e. Will be good to get it done. Hope those still waiting get the answers they need soon.

Still waiting for KCL and LSE here, one aspirational - Cambs - and two insurance, but would be nice to have them all in tho the above two are v likely going to be AAA going by stats.

LSE still outstanding for DS (financial mathematics).

Amazingly he heard back from the others (Oxford, Manchester, Bath and Warwick) really quickly.

My DC has mates that got offers yesterday from LSE, others got offers/rejections a few weeks ago. They haven’t heard yet, also maths and something.