UCAS reply deadline?

[Floof79]

Could do with a bit of advice - DD is our eldest and I did my UCAS application on paper 🤣

DD received offers back from all 5 of her university choices prior to 31/03. She’s still umm-ing and ah-ing a bit about which to accept. The UCAS website suggests that the deadline for her to respond will be 06/05 however when she logs on to her UCAS portal the deadline just says it’s TBC. I want to make sure she doesn’t miss any key dates and wondered if those in the know could advise / whether anyone else has had similar…

TIA

The UCAS website says very clearly that as long as you have had all your offers by 31 March then the deadline is 6 May:

2026 entry applications

• If you receive your last decision on or before 31 March 2026, your reply date is 6 May 2026 (except if you're using Extra to find a place).

I guess maybe the portal shows TBC in case some offers were set to come later? What are her options? What is she wavering over? Lots of posters on this board have specific intel about courses and unis so we may be able to help with some advice or pointers.

Thanks so much for this. I’m likely overthinking!

DD has offers from UoManchester: UoYork; UoLeeds; UoBirmingham and UoLiverpool to study Psych. The frontrunner is York but she is now thinking of deferring for 2027 entry: she didn’t consider this until after submitting her application so is worried if she now requests this the universities will decline and withdraw her offer!

They won’t withdraw but they might say no - especially on an oversubscribed course. Why is she thinking of deferral?

I am a former admissions tutor and I agree with @AelinAG

DD is allowed to make a request, and the universities are allowed to assess it from their own perspectives. Which, frankly, will probably come down to bums on seats.

DD needs to handle this herself - not that you have suggested otherwise. She should email the admissions team at each School of Psychology or Social Science - whatever is the unit doing Psychology admissions - briefly requesting the deferral. Providing a cogent reason will help her case - it doesn’t need to be anything special, it just needs to make clear that she isn’t getting cold feet about the whole idea. Travel, work, health, etc - all fine.

I bet several of these schools will come through. Best wishes to DD.