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 ☺️

DD has now submitted her portfolio
to all five universities, it’s a waiting game now 🤞

DD sent hers between Christmas and New Year! Fingers crossed for everyone!

@User976467876544567 The very best of luck to your DD! I hope Dundee get back to her quickly 🤞

Not sure if this is wholly accurate but I’ve seen chat online that Edinburgh wait until all portfolios are submitted before making offers, so could be April before DD hears from them. She is still stressing over her portfolio submission to Glasgow SoA, I’ve told her it’s sent now, try to relax a bit. Arranged some Prom dress shopping to take her mind off things!

I did wonder if they’d wait until the portfolios were in. DD mentioned she’d had trouble doing the Glasgow one too. Good luck to your DD too! Such a stressful time for them!

Good luck to your dd @gethighlikeplanesand everyone else waiting with their dc.

For those with DCs with offers from Glasgow would you mind sharing the subjects? DC applied early Dec and has unconditionals from Edinburgh and Stirling but is still waiting for Glasgow (Geog/Environmental Geoscience). I was working on the assumption they were waiting until after the deadline but now thinking they are maybe only doing unconditional offers (we think Glasgow will be conditionals for our DC).

My daughter is in first year at Glasgow doing Geography. she got her offer just after Xmas last year. It was unconditional but I think some of her friends got conditionals for various subjects around the same time

My DS got an Unconditional for Chemistry from Glasgow, I posted his stats further back in the thread.

DD had a conditional offer for History ( hasn’t sat her exams yet as an IB student)

DD received an unconditional offer today from QMU. Just Glasgow and Edinburgh to go 🤞

My 3rd year geography at Glasgow DC got a a conditional offer very early in Jan. Maybe the first week back? Good luck!

DS waiting for an answer from Glasgow too, expecting a conditional offer. Already has an unconditional one (actually two) in his "bag", but still waiting to hear from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Good luck to everyone!!

@BirdyBedtime we are waiting for Glasgow too, and think if an offer is forthcoming it would be conditional. Maybe waiting to see how many applicants qualify for an unconditional so they don’t go over their Scottish student cap? I know some people in England who have conditional offers.

DC has an unconditional offer from Glasgow for Politics. Some of her friends have conditional offers for similar courses. She applied early November and heard back just before Christmas.

DD now has 4 unconditionals. She is super happy with 2 of them. The 3rd was her safety net choice and the 4th one her guidance teacher strongly encouraged as not to leave a space on her application. Just waiting on Edinburgh now which will either be a rejection or conditional.

@BirdyBedtime DDs friend has an unconditional for Glasgow for history which she heard about this week.

Thanks folks who have replied about Glasgow. Guess it's just a case of holding tight in that case. It's my DC's first choice so the wait is difficult.

A few of DDs friends are applying for art based courses (Fashion, costume design etc) and so are in the same situation as her in terms of having to submit a portfolio and just waiting to hear back now - top choices for them are Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Friends/classmates who aren’t applying for Arts have received a variety of offers both conditional and unconditional but only a few have heard back from Glasgow and Edinburgh and according to DD none of her friends have had offers from Strathclyde yet!

Dd got into Dundee! We are so happy.

Waiting for DS for Edinburgh, St Andrews and heriot watt for computing but super competitive from Edinburgh and St Andrews. He has unconditionals from Aberdeen and Stirling. Hoping he’ll get conditional for Edinburgh or St Andrews as just shy of grades but seems even those with 5 As can be rejected!

Dd is applying for Fine Art and has at last submitted her Dundee portfolio. She has only applied to there and Edinburgh. Doesn’t fancy Glasgow or anywhere else. I thjnk she’ll probably work for a year and then reevaluate. She’s weighing up the benefits of an art degree over just working as an Artist and I think the latter is winning!

My DD has applied for fine art at Dundee too. Fingers crossed for them all!

@Boxingshibes that’s fantastic news! Well done to your DD. It’s good that she’s found out so soon rather than having to wait until Feb/March

Eldest DD has been offered an unconditional offer to do computer science at Stirling! Not her first choice (Abertay was), but Stirling was second choice and at least she now has an offer in her pocket! Bit of a relief after the tricky times she’s been through over the last year or two.

Haven’t heard anything back about youngest DD’s applications for art yet, but I guess they’ll be looking at portfolios now they’re in.

That’s great news! Well done to your DD and good luck to your youngest 🤞

Mine had 5 As and got an unconditional for CS/maths at Edi so fingers crossed. (Didn’t apply to St A)