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University accepted me, then rejected, is there anything I can do?

Hi everyone,

I applied to the course and while I had the overall UCAS points required I was one grade short of the A-levels they wanted, so I had to wait a few days for acceptance.

Then this week I got a message from UCAS stating I had been given an unconditional offer to the course of my choice with slight changes to the content. I have this in writing from UCAS and printed it out at the time.

Today I rang the University and they told me UCAS were wrong and that they weren't giving me a place in the course of my choice but offered me some other unrelated course instead.

Is there anything I can do? Can they just tell you that you're accepted unconditionally via UCAS and then go back on it?
(edited 9 years ago)
it depends who made the mistake, the university or UCAS. Technically if you accepted it a contract was formed so legally they aren't on very firm ground even if UCAS made the mistake since UCAS are their agent. You could potentally sue for compensation but you'd need a specialist in educational law. Check any insurance policies you may have to see if any have legal advice included.
I don't know.
This happened to me. I got an unconditional from my firm but ucas told me there were slight changes. I clicked on it and I had been given an unconditional with slight changes it was to a different course.
Are you absolutely certain you read it correctly? /did you look at track?
Because when i first clicked on i thought I'd made my firm but it was for a different course, hence being notified of the changes
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 3
Yes certain, the UCAS response message on track even stated the name of the original course I had applied to. Then today they offered a changed course with "substantial changes" to the course content.
You can ask your institution for the appeals for admissions' policy, and then appeal under those. All universities have them: UCAS do sometimes make mistakes, and so do universities, because at the end of the day, it's human beings inputting all the information - often, though, if you're offered a different choice from what you were originally offered it's because of a reason such as yours ie not meeting the terms of the offer.

If a course says, say, you need a B in psych, but you only get a C, you haven't met the requirements and you won't necessarily be accepted even if your overall points exceed your offer: this can be an internal university requirement, or one of an external body - if your degree comes with automatic professional recognition or membership, say. In the first case, you can have a chance in your appeal; if it's the second, though, you won't win, because the university isn't the one making the decision.

I doubt very much that you would be successful in suing and gaining any form of compensation: the decision to admit or not is based on academic judgement, which is one thing that is very hard to have over-ruled - and you have admitted yourself that you did not fulfill the terms of your offer.

You have two real options left to you, then, if this is the institution you are determined to study at:

1. Accept the alternative you've been offered, and seek a transfer once you're there (assuming the example above about professional accreditation doesn't apply, because if it does, you'll be in the same position): people sometimes don't show up at the start of term, so more places can become available. If not, you can usually transfer back to the first year the following year, on a different course, as long as you pass all your exams etc You have up to four years of funding available, so this works for three year courses: I don't know what you want to study, but this could be one option. Besides, you may end up falling in love with the new course and not even wanting to switch.

2. If you read the appeals' procedure, and believe you have grounds based on that, appeal the decision.
Original post by Linus18
Hi everyone,

I applied to the course and while I had the overall UCAS points required I was one grade short of the A-levels they wanted, so I had to wait a few days for acceptance.

Then this week I got a message from UCAS stating I had been given an unconditional offer to the course of my choice with slight changes to the content. I have this in writing from UCAS and printed it out at the time.

Today I rang the University and they told me UCAS were wrong and that they weren't giving me a place in the course of my choice but offered me some other unrelated course instead.

Is there anything I can do? Can they just tell you that you're accepted unconditionally via UCAS and then go back on it?


I remember there was a thread around a week or two ago titled "offer was made unconditional by mistake' or something like that - maybe you could try searching it? hope it helps, wish you luck (:
(edited 9 years ago)
so speak to the university, point out the changes, mention your written proof of the original offer and find out why it has changed. If you are happy to do the altered course ask if they will offer a bursary, accommodation discount or fee reduction to compensate for their mistake, if not ask about the appeals procedure and to speak to someone more senior. Keep asking until you either get a place or have spoken to the Vice Chancellor.

This is based on you being a single grade short of the offer. If you actually missed more than one grade (and one grade on more than one A level is 2 or 3 grades) then you are less likely to get anywhere.
Reply 7
Thanks for the replies, anybody else have any more opinions? I believe I have strong grounds to appeal and I wasn't planning on including UCAS; because as mentioned before they are only the middlemen.


Who would be the best people to take this matter out with? If anyone else has any other views, opinions or any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reply 8
Have a letter prepared just going through the final stages and will be sent tomorrow - is there anything additional I can do to help my case, letter of recommendation or anything?

I am also looking to find out who to send it to, I will sent it to the dean of the faculty and perhaps the course manager? Is there anyone more senior or just anyone else that I should be contacting with this?

Thanks!
(edited 9 years ago)
If your ums were close to the next grade in the subject you missed I'd mention it and perhaps anything else that shows interest in the course. Have you spoken to the university about this as you need to go in at a higher level than anyone you've spoken to so far. Can you say which uni?

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