Advice needed for Year 13 going through cancer treatment and UCAS/uni options

[Tigerlionzebra123]

Posting here in the hope that other parents (or anyone who has navigated something similar/work in this area) might have some experience to share.
My DC3 is 18 and currently in Year 13 studying A-levels. They were diagnosed with cancer and are currently going through treatment, which is due to finish July 2027.
DC is motivated and wants to carry on with their education without repeating Year 13. Cancer has taken away control over so many areas of their life right now, and keeping their education on track is the one thing they are holding onto. I’ve promised I’d do the legwork to look into what routes are available.
Because of medical follow-ups and the energy needed just to manage university alongside recovery, DC has decided moving away isn't realistic. They want to stay local, which leaves us with 2 potential commutable universities (luckily dc has seen both and would be ok to go).
With the UCAS deadline in January, we’re trying to figure out dc next moves and would love advice from those that have been through this and those who work in this area.
Since only 2 local universities work, what do we do with the remaining 3 UCAS options? Do we leave them blank, or is there a strategic reason to put down back-ups or foundation options?
Admissions and exceptional circumstances, is it possible to start a degree based on predicted grades and extenuating circumstances if A-level exams are disrupted? Has anyone successfully used an exceptional circumstances form for medical treatments such as this?
Is enrolling on a foundation year a sensible option here, and how flexible are universities with entry requirements for these under medical mitigation? Does dc apply for both the degree and foundation degree at the same university?
What specific support or adjustments should we be asking the college to put in place right now?
What other options of study should we be keeping on the radar to keep options open?
If you've been through similar what actually helped? What turned out to be a waste of time or added unnecessary stress?
Sorry for the long post, I feel I've just done a massive brain dump (as you can imagine my head is all over the place and this feels an added stress but is important to dc so I'm trying my best). Thank you so much in advance, any insights or experience would mean the world to us right now.

hi OP, I am so sorry that your DC (and you) are going through such a tough time. In order for me (as a parent of a child with medical issues, although not cancer) or admissions tutors on this forum to give you good advice, I think it would be helpful to know (roughly) where your DC's predicted grades are likely to be versus the entry requirements for the two preferred universities? This might help guide your thinking about degrees/foundation years. You ask "is it possible to start a degree based on predicted grades and extenuating circumstances if A-level exams are disrupted?". I am not aware of any unis that would accept students if no A levels exams were taken (i.e. to start a degree based on predicted grades only) and extenuating circumstances are notoriously limited (e.g. max 5% uplift of A level marks). If your DC is able to take A levels but ends up with lower grades than predicted then clearing or foundation year might be the way to go. If your DC is unable to take A level exams at all, then I think unfortunately they may need to consider either repeating Y13 (I appreciate that is not what they want) or looking at Access to Higher Education diplomas.

Please accept my apologies if I have misunderstood anything in your post.

Thanks for the reply @Priorities2026
The two local universities are 96-112 ucas points and 136 ucas points for degrees.
Dc is predicted ABB (128 ucas points) but obviously now this maybe wildly optimistic and we probably have no way to predict before submitting ucas form.

Hi @Tigerlionzebra123 and sorry that things are so tough for you and DC rn.

Firstly, no need to fill all slots on the UCAS form. If those two unis are the only feasible ones then all good. It's quite unusual btw IME for a uni asking AAB to specify UCAS points (rather than grades). If it is UCAS points not A level grades then does DC have anything else they can add to the mix (things like music grades)?

I'm afraid I agree with @Priorities2026 that it's unusual I think for a uni to award a place based on PGs; certainly the YP I know who had disappointing actual grades didn't then get offered a firm place based on PGs (so I mean if they had PGs of AAB, accepted a conditional place and then achieved BBC, unfortunately they did not usually get the uni place).

I would think the best thing to do is to apply, make clear the issues faced, and use the extra slots on the form to apply for a foundation year + degree at the same unis, if it is offered. (My DD listed different courses at the same uni on her UCAS form and got offers from both). Then he will have to decide what to firm and what to insure.

I am sure others will be along with better insight ad there are some very knowledgable posters on these boards. Maybe ask for a move to Higher Education. All the best to your DC.

Thanks @clary thats good to know can put more than one course at same university that may be the route to go down.

Oh yes for sure you can. Like I say, DD was undecided between two courses and put them both down at two different unis (so Eng lit and class civ at Uni of York and uni of Sheffield) and got offers from both. So yes if there is a foundation year for the same course that night make a insurance choice.

I suggest you talk to the two universities under consideration. IME parents of children with health issues and disabilities are treated very well by admissions and/or departments and their questions answered.

Thanks, I've actually reached out to the access team in one university today they came straight back to me to say they will talk to the subject leader of the foundation course and get back to us with some options.

I'm aware of one university which accepted someone based on their PGs when they were unable to sit their exams after catastrophic illness. They graduated 5 years ago, so it is feasible.

As a disabled person who has been through uni twice (BA&MA), I would say this it definately the way forward. What is offered in terms of any changes of entry requirements and support is different at different unis so talking to the heads of courses your child is applying for and the disabled students' support unit too, would definately be the way forward. Good luck.

Hi, OP -

I am very sorry for everything your DC and by extension your family is going through. As a former admissions tutor, I think the advice above is generally excellent.

Certainly we would be very sympathetic to DC’s circumstances and I agree with @Ceramiq that talking with the universities is the best way forward.

What to expect? Offers are supposed to select for students who are prepared for a given degree programme. With all the good will in the world, I don’t necessarily think it is a good idea to make an offer to anyone based on PGs. However I think DC’s situation is a great reason to offer flexibility between Y1entry and Foundation entry, based on what they are able to accomplish Y13, and I would expect most admissions tutors to share this perspective.

Health, first, however. DC needs to make a full recovery to thrive at uni and have the experience they deserve. If it turns out that they need a gap year to regain energy I hope they will see that it is in their best interest to take it. Again, tutors should understand. In the extreme case that treatment takes so much out of them that they cannot take their exams, I hope you can help them see that in the context of a lifetime repeating Y13 is a minor setback (it won’t feel like it). Very, very best wishes to them.

I am sorry your DC has cancer so young. Just briefly, my DC also has medical issues (not cancer) that has required medical leaves of absence from school, sixth form and University.

I see your DC wants to keep going on the A levels. One option my DC was offered was to slow the course down and complete Yr13 over 2 years with support from the sixth form. It is something to consider as cancer treatment is physically and emotionally gruelling.

Universities can also defer entry and provide medical leaves of absence usually for a year in both cases.

@AmberTigerEyes has great ideas. Would slowing down Y13 keep DC feeling motivated without being too demanding, physically as well as mentally?

I expect universities to be sympathetic.