Making your decision
When you have received decisions from all the universities to which you have applied, you will need to notify UCAS of your decision by the deadline UCAS provide for you on UCAS Track (for most applicants this will be in early May). You will need to select one Firm (ie, first choice) university and, if your firm choice is a Conditional offer and you have been made other offers, one Insurance choice university. Further information on responding to your offers can be found on the UCAS website.
Confirmation - receiving your results
‘Confirmation’ refers to the period in August each year when the University receives examination results for applicants taking GCE A levels, or other qualifications, who have accepted conditional offers. If you firmly accept our conditional offer and then are not able to satisfy the terms exactly, we will reconsider our offer in August in the light of your actual performance and the performance of others seeking entry to the same programme. However, you should be aware that we can make no guarantee that it will be possible to accept you if you do not meet the conditions exactly. Any contextual information which you think is relevant that may have effected your performance in respect of grades should be sent in advance of the A level results and again, whilst we guarantee to consider such information, we are not always in a position to make concessions, but of course we endeavour to be as compassionate as possible. Amended grades will also be taken into consideration as long as results are received by 31 August. In all cases all conditions have to be satisfied by 31 August irrespective of year of entry. Where we receive your amended grades after this date, we will consider you for deferred entry (ie, for entry in the following year) providing we receive the amended results by mid-September.
Adjustment
The Adjustment period gives you the opportunity to reconsider your options if you have done better than expected. If you have exceeded your offer with your Firm choice you are eligible for the Adjustment period. UCAS Track will give you the option to register for the Adjustment period and if you choose to do this, you will have five days from the date your Firm offer becomes Unconditional Firm (UF) to look around for vacancies. Whilst you can approach other universities, your place with your current Unconditional Firm (UF) choice will be held for you. UCAS will not advertise Adjustment vacancies; these will only be advertised on universities' own websites.
Clearing
Clearing is a service available between July and September, but for most people it is used after the exam results are published in August. It can help people without a university or college place to find suitable vacancies on higher education courses. Clearing involves you contacting universities and institutions directly to see if they are willing to offer you a place. Universities will usually list vacancies on their own websites and in some cases vacancies will be listed on the UCAS website and in the national newspapers. If you are offered a place and want to accept that offer you will then be asked to refer your application to that university via UCAS Track.
Further information about Confirmation, Adjustment and Clearing can be found on the UCAS website.
