Posted 8 April 2026

You’ve finally completed and submitted your UCAS application, but what happens next? Higher Education (HE) providers typically respond within a few weeks to several months, as they need time to sift through all the applications. You should receive all your decisions by mid-May if you applied by the January deadline. 

Types of offer 

When you begin receiving offers, it’s important to spend some time weighing them up. This is because you may have a number of options to choose from, so you will want to make sure you have considered what is the best option for you. 

Typically, you’ll receive the following types of offers: 

• Unconditional – you’ve already met the entry requirements, and the place is yours if you want it.
• Conditional – you have conditions to meet before the place is yours. For most, this means waiting to see if your exam results meet the UCAS point total, or grades, being asked for. 
• Unsuccessful – the HE provider has decided not to offer you a place. 
• Withdrawn – your application has been withdrawn either by yourself, or the HE provider. 

Sometimes, you may also receive: 

• Alternative Course Offer – the HE provider can’t offer a place on the course you applied for but can offer you a place on a different course. This is usually a lower-grade or related subject option. 
• Invitation to Interview / Portfolio Submission – some courses require you to interview or submit some work. Leeds Beckett University’s ‘find your course’ page includes information about whether your course might request an interview or portfolio.

What to do if you haven’t received an offer 

If you haven’t received any offers, you can make use of UCAS Extra. This allows you to make an extra choice, on top of the five you’ve already made. You won’t be charged for adding an extra choice, just make sure you do this before the Extra deadline on 1 July 2026. 

Campus visits 

If you have received an offer, many HE providers will give you a second chance to visit the campus. At Leeds Beckett University these are called ‘Offer Holder Days’. These days allow you to attend subject talks and activity sessions, where you can get to know other prospective students, speak to academics, and explore the campus again. The idea is to help you decide if the HE provider should be your firm choice.  

Considering your choices 

When considering your choices, it’s often helpful to sit down and write out everything you want from your ideal HE provider. Think about things like location, course modules, accommodation, and social activities available. Also write down the grades you are predicted. Next, refresh your memory about how closely each of your choices match your list. Order your choices from the one that matches most closely, to the one that matches least closely. This can help you decide which HE provider should be your first choice. 

When the last of your choices has replied with an offer, UCAS will let you know that you can reply to the offers you’ve been given. To do this, sign into your account, where the deadline you need to respond by will be displayed. You can select one choice as your ‘firm choice’ (your first choice) and one as your ‘insurance choice’ (your back-up). When choosing an insurance choice, go for one with lower offer conditions: if you don’t meet the grade requirement for your firm choice, you may still get into your insurance. You will also need to decline all other offers.  

Leeds Beckett University has some useful guidance about handling offers.

Conclusion 

Choosing which HE provider and/or course to attend can be confusing but with the right information and support you can decide how to take the next steps in your application. Understanding how UCAS works, researching using resources and opportunities of the HE providers you have applied to, and your own reflections will help you to make an informed decision. Good luck! 

 

Emily Chapman, Access and Widening Participation Officer, Leeds Beckett University