what is a firm and insurance (uni's) a level

Hi, this might be a stupid question but hear lots of people say they got into their firm and insurance but don't actually know what it means

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team

Original post by sound-nod

Hi, this might be a stupid question but hear lots of people say they got into their firm and insurance but don't actually know what it means

You can apply to up to five courses / universities. Assuming you receive more then one offer, you need to decide which is the one you want to go to (assuming you meet the conditions of the offer - i.e. the grades). This is your "firm" choice.

You also get to pick a second choice which is where you will go if your firm choice opts not to accept you (because you miss the required grades). This is your "insurance" choice. Think of it as a "backup" choice, if you like.

If you don't meet the requirements of your firm or insurance choice, then you end-up in a process called Clearing whereby those students without a place attempt to secure a place on a course which isn't yet full.

Reply 2

McGinger

6 steps you need to take to apply to university - The Uni Guide
First and insurance university choices explained - The Uni Guide
The basics of applying to university: glossary of terms - The Uni Guide

Reply 3

sound-nod

Original post by DataVenia

You can apply to up to five courses / universities. Assuming you receive more then one offer, you need to decide which is the one you want to go to (assuming you meet the conditions of the offer - i.e. the grades). This is your "firm" choice.
You also get to pick a second choice which is where you will go if your firm choice opts not to accept you (because you miss the required grades). This is your "insurance" choice. Think of it as a "backup" choice, if you like.
If you don't meet the requirements of your firm or insurance choice, then you end-up in a process called Clearing whereby those students without a place attempt to secure a place on a course which isn't yet full.

ok what about the other universities you said if I don't get into my firm or my insurance then what about the other 3 if I get accepted

Reply 4

McGinger

Original post by sound-nod

ok what about the other universities you said if I don't get into my firm or my insurance then what about the other 3 if I get accepted

Once you choose your Firm and Insurance any other offers disappear and you can't get them back.

Reply 5

DataVenia

Volunteer Team

Original post by sound-nod

ok what about the other universities you said if I don't get into my firm or my insurance then what about the other 3 if I get accepted

Just go add to what @McGinger has quite rightly said above (and to repeat what I said above), "If you don't meet the requirements of your firm or insurance choice, then you end-up in a process called Clearing whereby those students without a place attempt to secure a place on a course which isn't yet full."

Via Clearing you can apply to any university which still has space left on the course you're interested in. This can include any of the three which for which your conditional offers "disappeared" when you chose your firm and insurance offers (as long as they've opened the course to Clearing as it's not yet full).

So the offers you originally received from those are indeed gone, but you might be able to secure a place there via Clearing instead.