UCAS Applications for 2026 Entry

[gethighlikeplanes]

Following on from the very supportive thread for 2025 entry, I thought I would start a new one for 2026 as once more into the fray I go . . .

This will be a totally different experience for me this time as DC is applying for Art courses which require a portfolio to be submitted. She meets the standard grade requirements for all courses but I expect so much will be dependent on the portfolio?

Until recently she has been adamant that she doesn’t want to move away which greatly limited her options as there is only one university within commutable distance however I’m led to believe this Uni is very difficult to get into. She has now said that she’s “open to the idea of moving away” (too soon for me to be thinking of that, I’m still not used to the older one being away from home!)

I would love to hear from anyone else who has a DC applying for 2026, which subject they are applying for and which universities they are applying to ☺️

I don’t have anyone applying, but just wanted to say how wonderful your child would rather stay at home! That’s not a sentiment I hear from many teenagers! ❤️

My DD is also applying this year. Also for an art/technology/design based course, but fortunately it doesn't require a portfolio. She is applying to Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Dundee, and Robert Gordons. Whether she gets in is a different matter, Edinburgh really is a long shot. She is currently working on her personal statement for the UCAS form. First draft needs to be in this week for her guidance teacher to give feedback.

It really is although then I also have mum guilt worrying that her attachment to me and home will hold her back but then I remind myself, she’s just turned 17 and that’s so very young! My older one has been desperate to move away and experience the whole uni lifestyle only to be hit with a horrendous bout of homesickness! She really didn’t expect it and it knocked her for six.

Mine has applied to Glasgow, Edinburgh, QMU, Napier and Dundee.

I’ve just read somewhere else that she won’t get any offers until after the portfolio is submitted. That makes sense of course but we were under the impression she might get a least one or two conditionals.

Good luck to your daughter 🤞

OP, mine applied for 2 courses at the same uni so she could stay at home too. Do you think it might be a Covid thing? When I was applying I couldn’t get far enough away 😂. Many of her friends want to stay near home too.

It’s quite possibly a covid thing, she has a lot of friends - mostly made over the past year - and they do go out but prefer to have “gaffs” at each others houses. She’s very independent with her schoolwork - at organising her workload, meeting her deadlines in plenty of time etc which I think is a habit she developed during lockdowns.

I think finances are playing a part in it as well, I will have three at uni and I can’t afford to fully fund them all. Her sister worked part time all of S6 and full time as soon as exams were finished and saved as much as possible, DD works but doing any more hours would greatly impact her sports. I guess this might all change depending on if and where she gets offers.

Ah yes my eldest DD is applying for 2026!
She’s going for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Strathclyde I think.
All would mean a move, not sure I’m ready for this but she can’t wait!

DD submitted her application yesterday and already has her first unconditional offer! She's applied to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Strathclyde and Aberdeen.

Ignore me, I’ve deleted my question because I found the answer!

Hi all, dd is applying and needs to submit a portfolio too. She has applied to Oxford so her portfolio has already been submitted. In a way this is quite good as it’s done and I think can just be tweaked for other unis. She’s also applied to Edinburgh and Dundee, but is thinking about the other two slots. One of these locations would allow her to stay at home and she’s thinking about that! I agree, it can come down to money as she’s rather limit her debt.

DS is applying to St Andrew's, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Aberdeen and Glasgow. I think most of them will do equal consideration, so not expecting to hear back quickly. Anyone's DCs had offers yet?

DC has heard back from Aberdeen, Dundee and Strathclyde. Nothing yet from Glasgow or Edinburgh and they are her top choices.

My DC got an unconditional from Edinburgh uni back in October a couple of weeks after submission. I was quite surprised because I thought they waited until the UCAS deadline. I have a younger DC and I think I’ll recommend her submitting early too off the back of this.

Well done you your DCs, great that they have offers already!

It's definitely a relief to have a few unconditional offers in at this stage. Interestingly the going rate seems to be higher at Glasgow that Edinburgh for the course she's applied for. Be interesting to see how that translates into any offers (if DC gets an offer from them).

I thought it would definitely be the other way round.

DD has unconditional offers from Aberdeen and Dundee but is hoping for Edinburgh or Glasgow.
I’m also surprised at offers being given now and will also encourage DD2 to get her application in sharpish next year!

DS got an unconditional from Aberdeen the day after he submitted and before they actually sent him an acknowledgement!

Same here from Aberdeen.

DD still hasn't submitted hers! I wish we had done it ages ago now, it seems to have been dragging on forever. She has done the personal statement and is just waiting on the teachers doing the references now. Which I think may take some time as everyone is piling their applications into the school now so there is probably a huge pile of applications waiting on references.

A few offers would be nice at this stage, give her a lift before christmas - but then again if its rejections then that wouldn't be nice!

DC's school encouraged them to submit early ish and it's a relief knowing that they have some unconditional offers already.

Also had a v quick response from Aberdeen. Applied on the Tuesday, offer in on Wednesday!

Hi, DS finally put his application in this week and also has heard back from Aberdeen - that’s our local uni which is a downside in his eyes as he’s keen to get away from home but still nice to have an acceptance so quickly. He’s also applied to Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, and Strathclyde, all of which have sent a placeholder email saying that they have his application.

DS put his application in last week - got a conditional offer from an English uni this week, and a conditional from Strathclyde today. I was so pleased for him, quite a few of his friends got their applications in early and all had a few offers. It caught me by surprise as I initially thought they waited till all applications were in. Really good to have an achievable offer from a top choice uni, plus an unconditional this side of Christmas, it’s given him a massive boost.

Hi OP, not meaning to butt in but DD has just graduated from Norwich University of the Arts and it has been an immensely positive experience. NUA teaching and facilities are excellent and the experience of living in Norwich has great as the small city, history, prettiness and easy if getting about has been great for DD.

Hi, it’s not clear from the title but this is in the Scotsnet section so mainly focused on applying to Scottish universities. I’m sure Norwich is lovely but it’d be an 11 hr trip for us, Glasgow and Edinburgh are far enough south for my DS!

My DS has now heard back from Heriot-Watt for the course he wanted (he also applied for another slightly less competitive course there as it really was his first choice uni).

This is a week after we’d received a generic holding statement that it might take time to hear back, he’s also not heard back from the other course he applied for at HW so it definitely is a case that different courses are returning offers at different times.