Deferred Application

The email is just from/about Birmingham - they are clearly a bit wary about entry requirements changing between the two years.

Its the first I've heard of this sort of attitude towards deferred places and achieved grades - it certainly isnt a 'standard policy' amongst all Unis.

Alright, thanks. So generally if I apply this year and get in I should be recieving an unconditional offer for 2025 by May 2024? I'm applying with confirmed grades.

Subject to them verifying all the information they need, yes.

Got it, thank you. Do you think the Birmingham case was a bit of an outlier?

In my experience, yes, it would be.

Great. Thank you! I just ask because I'll be on a pretty intense gap year programme, so it would be better to just send the application off and not have to do anything.

That makes complete sense. I would always recommend applying in the proceeding cycle for deferred entry, that way in a worst case you have the option of reapplying again the next time around. But with achieved grades it's more likely you'll know exactly where you stand with offers and can focus on your gap year.