Universities can take as long as they need to consider your application – there are no deadlines.
Universities can make the following decisions
Unconditional offer: the university is offering you a place and is satisfied you have already met all the entry requirements for your programme. If you accept an unconditional offer, the university or college must provide a place. The provider may add an expiry date at least 14 days in the future, as a deadline for you to reply to the offer.
Conditional offer: the university is offering you a place, but you must meet certain conditions:
- If the university gave us the conditions, you'll can see them on your application summary, otherwise contact them for this information.
- When you've met the conditions, send the university evidence of this, such as notification of your exam results.
- Your place will then be confirmed, and your status will change to 'Unconditional offer accepted'.
- If you accept a conditional offer and you meet all the conditions, the university must provide a place.
- The provider may add an expiry date at least 14 days in the future, as a deadline for you to meet the conditions.
Unsuccessful: the university is unable to offer you a place – it can give a reason with its decision. If no reason is given, you can contact them to ask why you were unsuccessful.
Interview: the university wants you to attend an interview before making its decision. Details of the arrangements and/or dates can be provided in your application summary, or the university may contact you directly.
Your consumer rights
You should have received specific information from your chosen universities to help you make an informed decision. They're required to make this available to you under consumer protection legislation – find out about the information you should receive.
Replying to your offers
You can reply to both unconditional and conditional offers in one of the following two ways.
Accept: you want to accept the offer of a place. You can accept as many offers as you wish. To be fair to other applicants, when you’ve definitely decided which place to take up, inform the university.
Decline: you do not want to take up the place.