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 ☺️

That’s great fingers x for Abertay

Hope I’m not too late to join in. DD has an unconditional offer for Dundee for one course and needs 2 Bs at advanced higher for the other. Other top choice would be Napier but she hasn’t heard anything from them.

@Notthisnotthat of course not, you’re more than welcome and most of us still have a long road ahead of us. Well done to your DD! What courses has she applied for?

Jumping into this thread too! Very interested to hear everyone’s offers coming in. Patiently (but not really) waiting for DD’s offers to come in.
Well done to all who have gotten what they’ve wanted so far, it must be such a relief!
DD received first conditional offer from Warwick yesterday, good start, competitive course and waiting for Durham, St A’s (her top 2) and then Edinburgh and Glasgow. It’s such a test of patience. Playing it cool in front of her but desperately want to know!!!

@doingjustfinethanks it really does test
your patience! Even though I knew in advance that DDs offers are dependent on her Portfolio, I found myself thinking the other day “you’ve had it for two days now, hurry up!” 😂

DS had his first offer come through last week, application sent week before xmas holidays... unconditional for Edinburgh, great to have one in the bag but his first choice is Heriot Watt so waiting patiently on that one!

What was the subject f1gal?

DS has had an unconditional for Chemistry at St Andrew's today, his friend got one for Physics the other day, so they are starting to make offers to Scottish students.

Applied maths.

For the unconditionals from St Andrews did your children get 5As?

Woo hoo, we have an unconditional for a science at Strathclyde! But…child applied for two courses in the same dept but the letter doesn’t specify which one it’s for, it just says ‘one course that you applied for in our department’. Says UCAS will update in a week or two. Is this normal?

But still….yay! 🎉

Re: St Andrew's, DS got AAAAB, predicted AA at AH and a further AA at Higher for science subject. The standard entry requirements for the course was AAAAB. His 4As were band 1s, but I don't know if they look at bands? I haven't heard of anyone getting offers for anything other than science courses, so far so maybe doing by subject area?

Re: Strathclyde, yay, well done on the offer! DS got an "unconditional" email today with the same information, UCAS will update in a few weeks, a bit unusual, but happy to have all 5 offers.

Ah thanks @Googlybear21, so it sounds like their standard approach then. This thread is so great for anxious first-timers🤣.

Yeah my son got 4As and a C but needed for an unconditional AAAAB but he’s keen to get into Sr
Andrews for computing but I know people in past got rejected for 5As due to being a competitive course. We keep waiting (he has something but he likes St Andrews as a place to live) tappety tap!

This week brought us an unconditional offer for Edinburgh Uni 🤘🤘Stil waiting to hear from Glasgow, but things are looking good!

Whoop for what course? Did your child get all As?

Thank you. Geography. No, not all As, he has a couple of Bs as well. We were expecting a conditional offer.

thanks @Itawapuddytat ! Son still wants St Andrews or Edinburgh but on a competitive course! Probability is better with Edinburgh in terms of odds (1/2 get in) but wanted straight As!! He didn’t quite get all As!!!

In my experience StAndrews and Edinburgh can take ages, it was beginning of April before DS2 got an offer from St Andrews which he accepted and then cancelled Edinburgh as they still hadn’t offered. This is with 5 As in hand. I have heard that it can vary a lot between departments though and science offers can be a bit faster.
DS3 had to wait until the second half of March for an offer from Glasgow School of Art, he didn’t get an offer for Edinburgh ( well he got one but for his second choice subject) but GSA seemed to like his portfolio which was a bit quirky!

@Wbeezer DD still waiting to hear from Glasgow and Edinburgh but realistically we’re not expecting to hear until at least March - doesn’t make waiting any easier though!

We are also still waiting for St As, Durham, Edinburgh and glasgow!! Even just one more offer this month would be nice!

Also waiting for Glasgow. All of DS’s friends have had unconditional offers from there already, so he’s convinced he’s not going to get an offer. It’s not in his top three, but would be good to hear from them! We’re waiting on one other that will affect was he opts for though, so got everything crossed that comes through soon, one way or another!

I know a few people with offers from Glasgow. Both unconditional. I don’t know anyone with conditionals for Glasgow though and I know quite a few waiting. Not heard of anyone hearing from Edinburgh yet.

Mechanical engineering at Edinburgh has made offers but haven’t heard of anyone getting an offer for any other subjects even with straight As. We’ve not heard yet from Strathclyde, likely to be a conditional offer, it’s the last one outstanding although his friends are waiting on Glasgow too (DS didn’t apply there).

DS has an unconditional for Chemistry from Edinburgh, other friends have Edinburgh offers for Astrophysics and Geography. He's had an invitation to offer holder days at St Andrew's, Edinburgh and Glasgow so far.