HELP!! Conditional Offers Impossible to Meet!!

Hi, I am currently in a huge dilemma. I have currently received 3/5 offers from my university applications, these are - Durham, Bucks New (UCFB) and Northampton (studied at UCFB - Wembley). All of these offers are conditional.

The condition for Durham is obtaining "DDD from BTEC Diploma" which applies to the Extended Diploma (QCF), and the other two are MMM with one specifying specifically "from BTEC Extended Diploma).

Here is where my problem lies, I am not studying on the Extended Diploma, my Diploma is the 120 Credit Diploma (worth 2 A-Levels) so therefore all of these offers are impossible for me to meet. On my UCAS application, there was no option (as far as I can recall) to choose which credit level Diploma I am studying so it simply states "BTEC Diploma" at Level 3, meaning that this was an assumption made by the universities.

Basically I am panicking here as I may not get into anywhere as my qualification has been misinterpreted by the 3/5 of my choices. Where do I stand with this? Does anyone have any recommendations for my next steps and how I approach this HUGE issue?

I really hope someone can help me here and simply give me some hope!

Thanks a lot in advance,
Daniel Callaghan

Hi, I am currently in a huge dilemma. I have currently received 3/5 offers from my university applications, these are - Durham, Bucks New (UCFB) and Northampton (studied at UCFB - Wembley). All of these offers are conditional.

The condition for Durham is obtaining "DDD from BTEC Diploma" which applies to the Extended Diploma (QCF), and the other two are MMM with one specifying specifically "from BTEC Extended Diploma).

Here is where my problem lies, I am not studying on the Extended Diploma, my Diploma is the 120 Credit Diploma (worth 2 A-Levels) so therefore all of these offers are impossible for me to meet. On my UCAS application, there was no option (as far as I can recall) to choose which credit level Diploma I am studying so it simply states "BTEC Diploma" at Level 3, meaning that this was an assumption made by the universities.

Basically I am panicking here as I may not get into anywhere as my qualification has been misinterpreted by the 3/5 of my choices. Where do I stand with this? Does anyone have any recommendations for my next steps and how I approach this HUGE issue?

I really hope someone can help me here and simply give me some hope!

Thanks a lot in advance,
Daniel Callaghan

Contact all of your choices and ask for clarification but as you normally need 3 a levels to get into university it appears they got confused .

Level three BTECs are either Award (equal to 1 A-level), Certificate (equal to 2) or Diploma (equal to 3) so I think the qualification you are studying is the BTEC Certificate. It's definitely possible to add this qualification on to a UCAS application. The BTEC diploma is shown on the list of popular qualifications, but you can search for the certificate and it comes up to add to your application.

This means you've completed your application showing a qualification you're not taking, and unis have given offers on the basis that you're sitting the qualification you said you were. It sounds totally unintentional, but this is actually considered fraudulent.

You need to contact UCAS and all the unis you've applied to ASAP and explain that you made a mistake. Unfortunately, this does mean unis can withdraw the offers they've given, and this is what's likely to happen given that you're taking a qualification worth less UCAS points.

There's no way around this- and being found out once you get your results could have worse consequences. In your shoes I would contact UCAS ASAP on Monday. It might also be worth speaking to your college on Monday as they should have checked your qualifications when your application was posted off.

I'm sorry this isn't what you want to hear.

Are you only doing the BTEC Diploma? Surely you would have had to do an extra A level or Subsidiary Diploma alongside the Diploma? As is is only worth 2 A levels where for most universities you need the equivalent of 3 A levels

I am currently studying on a 120 Credit BTEC Diploma. As stated in my last post, I studied AS-Levels which, given my best two, would make up the amount of UCAS points equivalent to the 'required' A-Levels.

Some/most Undergraduate Degrees give an option of the traditional A-Levels or some other qualification(s) that is/are equivalent. And some 'require' A-Levels but also review each applicant on an individual basis, holistically.

I have, 3 AS-Levels, a BTEC Extended Certificate at D*, all of my GCSE's at grade C or above (some BTEC Certificates/Extended Certificates/Awards amongst them), and will have a BTEC Level 3 120 Credit Diploma at D*D* by June (if I continue at my current level). So I don't (personally) think I am short of qualifications to get into University but they seem to have misunderstood my qualifications which is, if nothing else, rather annoying and slightly disheartening.

I am currently studying on a 120 Credit BTEC Diploma. As stated in my last post, I studied AS-Levels which, given my best two, would make up the amount of UCAS points equivalent to the 'required' A-Levels.

Some/most Undergraduate Degrees give an option of the traditional A-Levels or some other qualification(s) that is/are equivalent. And some 'require' A-Levels but also review each applicant on an individual basis, holistically.

I have, 3 AS-Levels, a BTEC Extended Certificate at D*, all of my GCSE's at grade C or above (some BTEC Certificates/Extended Certificates/Awards amongst them), and will have a BTEC Level 3 120 Credit Diploma at D*D* by June (if I continue at my current level). So I don't (personally) think I am short of qualifications to get into University but they seem to have misunderstood my qualifications which is, if nothing else, rather annoying and slightly disheartening.

It doesn't really matter what you think about your qualifications (this isn't meant to sound rude, sorry!) because this is a mistake that needs to be cleared up. It may be that the universities don't think you are under-qualified either, but as it stands, you are going to get rejected in the summer when the results come out because they will not match your offer, and that will mean you'll have lost your place and be in Clearing before you even know your results yourself. You need to sort this out long before that, as a matter of self-protection as much as anything else.

I know that my view doesn't really count for much in the eyes of the admissions teams. But, according to the tariff tables on the UCAS website, the 90 credit diploma is known as "90 Credit Diploma", the 120 Credit Diploma is know as "Diploma" and the 180 Credit Extended Diploma is known as "Extended Diploma".

My qualification is listed as "Diploma" which is the 120 Credit diploma and nothing else so surely this is a fault on the side of the universities (I really hope that doesn't come across as me trying to push the blame off of myself) and not mine. Of course it falls to me to rectify this issue but I'm sure it is a misinterpretation of my qualification and nothing that I have done wrong.

I understand, that is certainly annoying, although universities as good as Durham sometimes will not accept 2 AS levels instead of one full A level and tend not to deal with UCAS points either, however, they do accept 2 AS levels in place of one full A level for some of their courses, what have you applied to study ?

I'm not making any comment on your qualifications. I am saying that until you rectify whatever mistake has been made, by whoever, you will be the loser, so you need to do something now.

I have applied to study Business and Management with Business Placement (N203) so hopefully, when rectifying this issue, I can try to sway it more in my direction. Isn't it the case that (with regards to UCAS points) you can use a maximum of 3 qualifications? Or is that just something I've made up?

Hey, I've had to be in contact with universities a lot over my BTEC grades as I do business BTEC, and they have all been extremely understanding after I have emailed them, and have then proceeded to allow me to keep my offer. All I would suggest is email them, if there's no response in a week call them, and as long as you are polite and explain the situation I don't see why they wouldn't understand.

I have heard that but it totally depends on the university, for top unis, such as Durham, they dont deal with UCAS points, they specify specific qualifications for entry, this is usually A levels, IB, Highers or BTEC, and with some unis they only recognise the Extended Diploma (not sure if that applies to Durham) so wont take a mix of qualifications

You should call their admissions tomorrow and try and speak to someone, thats the quickest way you will get to sort something out

contact ucas call up the unis and explain the situation they may amend your offer they are however more likely to withdraw it you can always go through extra or clearing if this happens but at least you won't be in jail.

It is not Ucas which makes offers. It is universities. Ucas is the postman.

Yeah but UCAS can help with advice or even amend the application .

Thank you both for your advice, it really doesn't look good does it? The Qualification that I am currently studying is a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise & Entrepreneurship (The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy) and it is definitely listed as a Diploma and not an Award or Certificate but, from what I understand, there a three tiers of diploma (stated in my original post), this must be correct as one of my choices have contacted me to ask which credit Diploma I am studying (which is when the problem came to my attention).

Thanks a lot, I will be discussing this in length with my college as soon as I arrive tomorrow with regards to my next steps.
Daniel Callaghan

Although, looking at the entry requirements for Durham alone. Based on the UCAS points of their requirements, I have/will have 10 more points than they require including two of my AS levels. Would this be something to work in my favour??