Find out when you need to reply, how to accept or decline offers, and about the different replies you can make.
What's on this page?
- How to make your replies
- Types of reply
- Offer and reply combinations
- Reply dates
- Offers for courses with early start dates
- Missed your deadline?
- Changed your mind?
Types of reply
If you have an unconditional offer, you can select it now to confirm your place. If your offers are conditional on exam results or other requirements, you can pick two so you have an extra one as a back-up.
Here's what you need to know about firm and insurance choices, and how to accept or decline an offer.
How to accept an offer
Firm acceptance– this is your first choice.
- If it's an unconditional offer, the place is yours! So that university will expect you as their student.
- Or if it's conditional, the place is yours if you meet the offer conditions. So just in case you don't, you can pick a second offer as a backup – your insurance acceptance.
Insurance acceptance– the back-up choice to a conditional firm acceptance.
- If you're choosing an insurance, go for something with lower offer conditions– make sure it's somewhere you'd still be happy to go to though.
- That way, if your results are lower than expected, you might still meet the conditions at your insurance choice;then you'd have your place confirmed there.
- Remember, you'll only attend your insurance choice course if you don't meet the conditions of your firm choice, but you do meet the conditions of your insurance. You can't choose between your firm and insurance when you get your results, so make sure you're happy with which is your firm and which is your insurance before you reply.
How to decline an offer
Decline– you'll need todecline any other offers you get.
However, if you decide you don't want to accept any of the offers, you can decline them all and add more courses in ourExtraservice. Alternatively, you cansee what courses still have vacancies later on in ourClearingservice.
You can only accept one firm choice and one insurance choice (if you choose to have one). You must decline all other offers.
Offer and reply combinations
- Unconditional firm (UF)– You're in!
- Conditional firm (CF)– You're in if you meet the conditions.
- Conditional firm (CF) and conditional insurance (CI)–You've made a first and second choice– you'll be in at the first if you meet the conditions. If not, you might have met the conditions of the second– if so you'll be on that course instead.
- Conditional firm (CF) and unconditional insurance (UI)–You've made a first and second choice– if you meet the conditions of the first you'll be on that course. If not, you'll definitely be on the second.
Reply dates
These are based on when we get the last decision in from your unis or colleges.Check your application to see your personal deadline.
2025 entry applications
- If you receive your last decision on or before 14 May2025, your reply date is 4June2025(except if you're using Extra to find a place).
- If you receive your last decision on or before 17July 2025, your reply date is 23July 2025(including Extra choices).
Don’t want to wait for all your uni decisions?
If you want to, you can permanently withdraw from any outstanding choices to reply to offers you’ve already received. Or you can wait until all decisions have been received, and we’ll then give you a deadline to reply.
If you decide to withdraw a choice, it will not be available to you later and the university or college will be informed you no longer wish to be considered for the course.
Take your time to consider your options and only do this if you’re sure. We strongly recommend that you contact us to discuss your options before making any changes.
Offers for courses with early start dates
If you want to accept a place on a course that starts before your reply date, you should contact the university or college concerned to discuss what to do.
If they give you an earlier deadline to reply, you should be aware that they may withdraw their offer if you do not accept it before their specified deadline.
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Why am I given a deadline to reply by?
Your reply deadline is set to ensure universities and colleges know how many people have been placed by a certain date.This means they can startmaking arrangements for the course and accommodation.
It also helps ensure all applicants are given an equal opportunity to consider their decisions, and do not gain an advantage over one another.
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Can UCAS extend my deadline?
We ensure everyone is given adequate time before their deadline, so you've got plenty of time to make yourreplies before your deadline.
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My choice has been automatically declined – can I still accept my offer?
You have 14 days – starting on the date the automatic decline was recorded–in which the automatic decline can be swapped. Pleasecall usin these 14 daysto resolve this.
After 14 days, it may still be possible, but we will needpermission from the universities you want toaccept offers from before we can do so. You should contact them directly to discuss this. If they agree, you'll need to contact ustogive us your permission. Once all permissions are received, we will swap the replies.
No reply swaps are possible after 24 July 2025.
Changed your mind?
Here’s what to do if you change your mind:
- If you accepted your offers in the last 14 days, contact one of our advisers to make any changes to your replies.
- If it’s been more than 14 days since you replied to your offers, there is a more detailed process you need to follow. As you’ve agreed to a contract with your chosen unis, it may be possible, but we are unable to guarantee you can change them.You’ll need to speak to them about changing your replies, and then call us, to let us know what you want to do.
- No reply swaps are possible after 25 July 2024.
- If you've changed your mind, and no longer want to go to uni or college this year, you can sign in and completely withdraw your application.
UCAS student discounts
Make your money go further with our student discounts! From offers on fashion brands to big savings on tech, we’ve got you covered.
All you need is the discount code for the offer you want to save cash on. And keep checking back – we’ll be adding more exclusive offers soon…
Get your student discounts now