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 ☺️

DS got an unconditional offer today, not from Glasgow ( which is his first choice) but he's happy anyway. He submitted his UCAS application only on Tuesday so it's early days for him.

She applied on 11th November @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo. DH and I both went to Glasgow and met there so it's nice that she's going there too. Aberdeen, Dundee and Strathclyde were all quick to respond.

So pleased that she can have a bit of time without and pressure and just enjoy what's left of 6th year.

Ds is applying for engineering courses and is forecast ABB which gives him some good options. He dislikes big cities so that takes out London, Manchester and B'ham.

We need somewhere the accommodation isn't absurdly expensive and we have four we've seen, on the short list. Cardiff possibly as a fifth.

My DC got a conditional offer yesterday from Aberdeen , having only submitted the form a few days before .

DC is coming over from the USA, she has offers from St Andrews, Aberdeen and Glasgow. She really wants to go to Edinburgh but is still waiting to hear back from them.
Deciding what kind of student she was slowed the process down and she is an overseas student at two universities and a rest of UK student at two. We are keeping our fingers crossed for Edinburgh as it’s her first choice but we would all be happy with Glasgow including her.

We just heard from Edinburgh this week (engineering) - the exact same week my older son heard from them in 2023. I’m impressed with all the uni staff (who may also be teaching staff) getting these acceptances done in the last week of term!

@showyourquality Well done to your DD! My older DD is in her 1st year in Edinburgh, she has a few friends who are from the US and they’re absolutely loving it. My DDs first choice was Glasgow but after going to the Offer Holder Days at both UoG and UoE she decided Edinburgh was the better fit for her.

My dd has an unconditional offer for the course she’s set her heart on at the uni she’s set her heart on (Glasgow Uni) and pressed accept last week! Exciting times. Good loch to everyone waiting.

Anyone heard from St Andrews or Edinburgh for computer science. My son has unconditionals from Stirling and Aberdeen which he is super happy with that. He is keen for St Andrews after feeling he won’t get into Edinburgh as he didn’t quite get the grades for either to just walk into a place. He is concerned he didn’t get the straight As for them! They are super competitive. I hope he at least gets conditionals for those though rumour is Edinburgh purely goes on grades where St Andrews apparently checks out the personal statement? He applied mid Decenber which is the school deadline.

I found the talk on admissions for Edinburgh in STEM (right at the bottom of the page) helpful for understanding what they consider - by memory it was also considering nat5s and advanced higher subjects if Highers requirements not quite met but worth listening to (my memory is mush sometimes).

study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/open-days-events-visits/open-day/talks

Thanks @cazzyg a bit before DS then.

I also believe that's true. At Edinburgh open day/careers fair at school, Edinburgh said we just look at grades, so if you're applying to St Andrews then tailor your personal statement for there.

Anyone heard from Edinburgh or Glasgow for Law?😊

I heard from a friend they hadn’t yet from Glasgow.
They got 5 A plus but not sure if they interview!

Thanks @Jeezowhyisittough, DD got 5 A’s too and I think they probably do interview!

I know St Andrews does definitely look at the personal statement. I know one of the admissions officers there. They normally leave it quite late I think to make offers, they like to get most applications in before they decide.

One of DDs friends has applied to Glasgow for Law. Not sure if theyve heard yet, I'll ask her.

@gracielooloo I can’t comment on this year but my DD got unconditional offers for both Glasgow (Common Law) and Edinburgh (Scots Law) last year and didn’t have an interview for either of them.

That’s good to know @gethighlikeplanes, can I ask what your DD’s Higher results were?
Glasgow is DD’s top choice and I was guessing she may get conditionals from there and Edinburgh.

@gracielooloo She got AAAAB in S5. In S6 she got AA (AH) A (Higher) and did a Scottish Baccalaureate.

She received offers from Edinburgh and Glasgow before Christmas (2024). Glasgow asks for the LNAT but Edinburgh doesn’t. In the end she didn’t sit the LNAT as she decided on Edinburgh before the date of her test.

Thanks @gethighlikeplanes DD got 5 As in S5 and is doing 2 AH and 2 more Highers in S6.
She sat the LNAT back in November so fingers crossed!

Not this year but it was April before my eldest heard from Edinburgh for maths and CS when he applied. He got an unconditional but he had 5 As

We were surprised and delighted that DS got an unconditional for Edinburgh for a science subject on the 18th, we thought that they would be waiting for the January cutoff. He's now got unconditionals for Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. Waiting for Strathclyde and St Andrew's.

Great! When did he apply and what was his grades? Son applied mid Dec but is keen to hear from Edinburgh and St Andrews!

He got AAAAB in Highers, predicted A,A in AH and a further 2 As at Higher. Requirements for the Edinburgh course is AAAB.

Sorry, he applied on 25/11.