Studying in the UK

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I'm a little unfamiliar with the process of hearing back from English schools, so I have a few questions I need answering. </p>

<p>Firstly, if a university emails me back personally asking for more information (test scores, etc.), is this a good sign? Does this mean they are interested, or just being polite?</p>

<p>Secondly, if I put down on my UCAS a Conditional Offer Firmly Accepted, and a Conditional Offer Insurance, does that mean I HAVE to attend the Conditional Offer Firmly Accepted if I make the grades to attend? (I mean, is it legally binding like an Early Decision here in the US)? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I wouldn’t say it was a good or bad sign, they need more information. Don’t read too much into it.</p></li>
<li><p>If you meet the grades for your firm offer then yes, treat it in much the same way you would ED. That said, you won’t be prosecuted or fined for not accepting your firm offer. Once you’ve met your firm offer your insurance offer is effectively rescinded and the place given to somebody else.</p></li>
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3

<p>Did you read through the UCAS application process info? [UCAS</a> - Replying to your offers.](<a href=“http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/offers/replyingtoyouroffers]UCAS”>http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/offers/replyingtoyouroffers) It addresses your questions directly: </p>

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<p>If you meet the conditions of your firm offer, you cannot choose to attend another university through UCAS (except in special cases through Adjustment). That being said, a firm acceptance is not legally binding - you can choose not to attend a university in the UK - but an American ED “contract” is not legally binding either.</p>

4

<p>I was just trying to find out because the acceptances come out at different times, so I wanted to make sure that if I met the grades but decided to attend an American university, that I wouldn’t be punished or prosecuted.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

5

<ol>
<li><p>It’s a good sign.</p></li>
<li><p>No, it’s not binding. If you make the grades and your offer becomes Unconditional Firm, you may still call the university and request to be released from your place. They may or may not do this, but they usually will let you. I’m a British applicant and I was released from my choice last year (I missed my firm choice and didn’t want to atrtend my insurance, which had become my unconditional firm, so I called them up and asked to be released and they did it within the hour).</p></li>
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6

<p>It not binding but between the two you would HAVE to attend your firm choice. You can’t decided to go to the other one, unless you re-apply.
You can cancel your application and go into “clearing” if you cannot attend any of them due to missing the grades or deciding not to go for whatever reason.</p>