Here we explain what your status in your application means and what to do next. Scroll down for advice if you change your mind about an offer you've already accepted.

What your status in your application means and what to do next

Your status in your application What this means What you should do next

Waiting for confirmation

You’re waiting for confirmation of your choices. If you meet the offer conditions, the university/college will confirm your place. Send them your results if requested.

We are waiting for your university or college to let us know if you've met the conditions and have been accepted. If you meet the conditions of your offer(s), the university or college will confirm your place in your application. (You then might need to send them details of your results if they ask for them.)

Congratulations - you've been placed at your firm choice [university or college] to study [course]!

You'll soon hear from [university or college] with some next steps, make sure you check the details carefully.

Great news! You're in. You've been firmly accepted at the university or college shown

Make sure you check the details carefully in your application.

Then you should receive details from the university or college about what to do next.

Congratulations - you've been placed at your insurance choice [university or college] to study [course]!

You'll soon hear from [university or college] with some next steps, make sure you check the details carefully.

You have a place at your insurance choice but unfortunately haven't met the conditions for your firm choice.

Check the details of the course you have been placed on at your insurance choice university or college.

If this is definitely the course you would like to study, you don't need to do anything. You'll hear from the university or college with next steps shortly.

However, if you do not think your insurance choice is right for you, you have two options:

  • you can contact your insurance choice university or college to discuss options
  • you can use the 'Decline my place' button in your application to apply somewhere else through Clearing.

You've not been placed at your firm or insurance choices.

You are now in Clearing. We've matched you to similar courses to help you explore some options.

Unfortunately you didn't meet the conditions of the offers you received.

Don't worry, you can now find another course with our Clearing service. Find out how Clearing works here.

Remember, if you're waiting for exam results, you won't be able to use Clearing until you receive them.

You can now apply for a course available in Clearing.

Look for courses when the Clearing vacancy search becomes live within our search tool, then contact the university or college to discuss your options.

Then if you get permission you can add the Clearing choice in your application.

Changed course offers - what do they mean and what to do next

If you log into your UCAS Hub and find that your chosen uni or college has offered you a place on a different course (or with substantial changes to what you originally applied for), don't panic.

Firstly, you’re not the only one to receive this (many people receive changed course offers), and in fact it can turn out to be a good thing. Your chosen university or college still wishes to make you an offer, it's just for a different course, or it could be the same course with a different start date or point of entry.

Your status in your application What this means What you should do next

You've been offered a place for a different course at your firm choice [university or college name]

  • You can accept this offer and be placed on the changed course, or
  • Decline this offer and be placed with your insurance choice.
  • Go to your application to check the details.

This means your firm choice university or college has offered you a changed course, but your insurance choice has offered you an unconditional place for the course you applied to.

The changed course offer could be a change to the course itself, the start date or the point of entry.

This is usually if you didn’t meet the conditions but the university or college wants to offer you an alternative place anyway.

Check the details of the changed course offer in your application.

If the changed course is one you would like to study, accept the offer in your application.

Or decline the offer in your application and you'll be placed at your insurance choice.

You've been offered a place for a different course at your firm choice [university or college name]

  • If you are happy with the changes to your firm choice, call UCAS on 0371 4680 468 to accept the offer.
  • Alternatively, wait for your insurance choice to make a decision, before deciding whether to accept or decline the offer from your firm choice.
  • Go to your application to check the details.

This means your firm choice university or college has offered you a changed course, but your insurance choice hasn't made a decision yet.

The changed course offer could be a change to the course itself, the start date or the point of entry.

This is usually if you didn’t meet the conditions but the university or college wants to offer you an alternative place anyway.

Check the details of the changed course offer in your application.

If the changed course is one you would like to study, call UCAS on 0371 4680 468 to accept the offer.

Or you can wait for your insurance choice to make a decision, before deciding whether to accept or decline the offer from your firm choice.

You've been offered a place for a different course at both your firm and insurance choices.

  • You can choose which of these changed courses to accept
  • Go to your application to review the changes.

This means your firm AND insurance choices have offered you a changed course.

The changed course offer could be a change to the course itself, the start date or the point of entry.

This is usually if you didn’t meet the conditions but the universities or colleges want to offer you an alternative place anyway.

Check the details of the changed course offers in your application.

Accept the course you would like to study in your application.

Or if neither appeal to you, you can decline both in your application and you will need to use Clearing to apply to a new course.

You've been offered a place for a different course at your firm choice [university or college name]

  • You can accept or decline this changed course offer.
  • If you decline you will need to use Clearing to apply to a new course.
  • Go to your application to review the changes.

This means your firm choice university or college has offered you a changed course and you don't have an insurance choice.

This could be a change to the course, start date or point of entry.

This is usually if you didn’t meet the conditions but the university or college wants to offer you an alternative place anyway.

Check the details of the changed course offer in your application.

If the changed course is one you would like to study, accept the offer in your application.

Or decline the offer in your application and you will need to use Clearing to apply to a new course.

IMPORTANT: If you want to accept an offer, you'll need to reply in your application within five days or you will lose the offer(s).

If you don't want an offer you've accepted

If you are holding a firm unconditional place you no longer wish to take, you can use the ‘Decline my place’ button in your application to apply using Clearing:

  • We recommend you talk to an adviser at your school/centre before you make a decision.
  • If you still wish to decline the offer, you can use the ‘Decline my place’ button in your application.
  • If you use the button and complete the steps, your place will be declined and your contract with the university or college will be cancelled. This means you will lose your place so you should only use this button if you are sure you no longer want to accept it.

More about declining your place