Rescinded Firmly Accepted Unconditional Offer

I applied for a Studentship at a Russell Group university. A fully funded PhD program, with a stipend of roughly £20000 per year.

I met the criteria academically having graduated back in 2019.

I had an interview, it didn't go well.

Two weeks later I got an offer, unconditional, saying I had met the requirements, except I would need to undertake and successfully complete an MPhil first, which I would be enrolled on, as a 4 year program.

We were in the middle of buying our first home near Cardiff (nowhere near the university, far, far away) at the time, and before we pulled out of the purchase I wanted to confirm that everything was in order.

I called 3 times over a week to confirm after firmly accepting, before finally withdrawing from our purchase, which meant walking away from the money we had paid so far, a fair amount... we got £14 back from the solicitor...

Then 4 weeks after accepting, I received an email saying they had made an admin error and wished to rescind my offer, offering my £250 as a "Good faith payment".

My last paycheck is going to be the 25th of next month, I can't get my job back.

They said today they still plan on rescinding the offer because of their admitted mistake, which the manager of admissions said had not happened before.

It did happen a few days after my accessibility meeting where I gave them my needed adjustments for my CPTSD and mobility, which I hope isn't the case but it wouldn't be the first time I've seen it in enterprise.

No terms have been breached on my side. And, I'm still getting emails from the college about my induction...

It's too late for other programs, besides one, which they say I would need to apply for again.

I dont know what to do now.

Has anyone any advice, or experience?

Thanks

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This issue is ongoing, and I'll update it as I know more.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

https://weareadvocate.org.uk/

Reply 2

mein2024

Original post by alexanderholman

I applied for a Studentship at a Russell Group university. A fully funded PhD program, with a stipend of roughly £20000 per year.
I met the criteria academically having graduated back in 2019.
I had an interview, it didn't go well.
Two weeks later I got an offer, unconditional, saying I had met the requirements, except I would need to undertake and successfully complete an MPhil first, which I would be enrolled on, as a 4 year program.
We were in the middle of buying our first home near Cardiff (nowhere near the university, far, far away) at the time, and before we pulled out of the purchase I wanted to confirm that everything was in order.
I called 3 times over a week to confirm after firmly accepting, before finally withdrawing from our purchase, which meant walking away from the money we had paid so far, a fair amount... we got £14 back from the solicitor...
Then 4 weeks after accepting, I received an email saying they had made an admin error and wished to rescind my offer, offering my £250 as a "Good faith payment".
My last paycheck is going to be the 25th of next month, I can't get my job back.
They said today they still plan on rescinding the offer because of their admitted mistake, which the manager of admissions said had not happened before.
It did happen a few days after my accessibility meeting where I gave them my needed adjustments for my CPTSD and mobility, which I hope isn't the case but it wouldn't be the first time I've seen it in enterprise.
No terms have been breached on my side. And, I'm still getting emails from the college about my induction...
It's too late for other programs, besides one, which they say I would need to apply for again.
I dont know what to do now.
Has anyone any advice, or experience?
Thanks
----------
This issue is ongoing, and I'll update it as I know more.

Personally, I would write to them in very short terms saying that their error has caused you great loss and stress, and ask them exactly WHY the error was made. Do not say too much, keep it short (keep in mind the saying "less is more"). I say this because you do not want to give away too much or set anything in stone until you later get legal advice to ,possibly, take legal action for compensation. So in other words, try and get as much "evidence" from them
before they clamp up and dont say anything.

Then consider taking advice from a solicitor.

Reply 3

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Have they actually explained what the error was?

Reply 4

RGgrad

That's really bad, I'm sorry that happened to you. I would get a consultation with a solicitor for a civil case. Add up the numbers on what you've lost - income, the house. Did you get the offer in writing at all? I assume so as you are getting induction emails? Discuss with the solicitor the mobility and possible discrimination aspect. It's unlikely you will have to sue the university but at least it will pressure them to take a bit more action than what they have.

I think with universities they are disorganised, this really damages people and they get away with a lot.