What if you don’t get an offer from your first-choice university?

Why you may not get an offer from your first choice 

Your first-choice university might be incredibly popular, attracting a huge number of applications with good grades and impressive extracurricular activities. Even if your application was strong, the competition could be fierce. 

You may have had strong grades, but they might fall short of the specific requirements set by the university for your chosen course. There may be another application with slightly better grades.  

It's possible your goals and interests didn’t completely align with the course offered by your first-choice university. That just means that there is a better fit out there waiting to be discovered. 

Don’t take it personally, admissions teams have a huge number of applications to go through and they have to make quick decisions based on who they think fits the course. It’s not personal.  

What can you do if you don’t get your first choice doesn’t offer you a place?  

Accept another university’s offer 

Look at your other choices and weigh up which course looks like the right fit for you. Then you can pick your favourite or top two and arrange to go to an open day. Speak to students at the that uni and find out if it was their first choice and if they are having a good time studying there.  

Find a different course through UCAS Extra 

If you didn't get the offer you wanted from your first-choice university and you’re not sure about your other choices, there's still a great chance to find a new opportunity. UCAS Extra offers you a second chance to find your perfect university. UCAS Extra opens on 28 February 2024 and closes on 30 June. 

In the UCAS search tool you can use the "Show courses with vacancies" filter to find universities with courses accepting applications through UCAS Extra. 

Once you find a course that interests you, do some further research. Explore the university profile page on our site and make sure the course aligns with your goals and academic interests. 

Find a course through Clearing 

If you don’t find a course that interests you in UCAS Extra, you can consider going through Clearing. Clearing 2024 is open from 5 July and closes on 21 October 2024, but most places become available on results day in August. 

Clearing is a great second chance to find a university course, it matches students looking for a place with universities who have unfilled course places available.  

Results day can be an emotional day, make sure you are prepared to find a suitable course and university, be organised and ready to make your Clearing phone calls.  

1. GO TO
2. Search for courses in Clearing

Why not consider a degree apprenticeship 

With a degree apprenticeship, you'll be employed by a company and receive a salary while simultaneously working towards a degree. This eliminates student debt and provides financial security throughout your studies. 

Because a degree apprenticeship mixes academic learning with on-the-job experience, you'll gain valuable practical skills directly relevant to your chosen field, making you a highly attractive candidate after graduation. 

Degree apprenticeships are often geared towards specific industries and professions. This focused approach gives you a clear career path and allows you to develop specific expertise. 

Take a gap year  

If you don't find the right place for you in UCAS Extra or Clearing you can take a gap year and consider applying again the following year. You could gain some experience to improve your application. A gap year gives you the chance to build your skills and you have time to retake exams and potentially improve your grades. 

There are many paths to university and career success. Don't be discouraged if you don’t get into your first choice. Lots of universities will offer courses that align with your goals and interests, don't hesitate to explore alternative options.