I accepted an offer to a university for a DTC (4 year MRes + PhD) about a month ago.
Recently however, I have been offered another POTENTIAL PhD from somewhere else and I want to accept it (I didn't make an application, I got picked as the supervisor knows me). All I have to say is yes I want it, attend an interview as I have to (it's a bit complicated and involves other academics but I am 99% sure I will get it) and I will have the offer.
I didn't know this would happen but it has and it's grabbed my interest greatly because of what the project is on. In terms of university, the first offer is much more prestigious (at least it is for the MRes, but not for the PhD portion).
What I want to know is whether I can reject my first offer? It is conditional as I have to complete my MSc and show them that I have. Also will this harm me in any way? I may consider continuing on to become an academic in the end.