Firm and insurance are different decisions
Your firm acceptance is your first choice. If it is conditional, the place depends on meeting the offer's conditions. You may then choose an insurance offer as a backup. If you accept an unconditional offer as your firm choice, you cannot also keep an insurance choice.
You do not have to receive five offers or keep two. Consider the offers you actually hold, and decline others when making your replies. If you are unsure about withdrawing outstanding choices, ask UCAS before doing anything permanent.
Compare every condition
A lower-grade insurance offer will usually be a more useful fallback, provided you would want to study there. However, lower grades are not a UCAS rule. Read required subject grades, accepted qualifications and any other conditions as well as the headline offer.
Two offers with the same overall grades may have different subject requirements. Equally, two providers might make different decisions if you narrowly miss a condition. Do not assume either automatic acceptance or automatic rejection.
Compare course content, location, costs, support and accommodation arrangements. An offer is not useful insurance if you would refuse to attend. Ask the university about unclear conditions before replying.
Your 2027 reply date
UCAS bases your reply deadline on when your last decision arrives. Its published 2027 timetable gives 5 May if the last decision is received by 31 March, 2 June if received by 12 May, and 21 July if received by 14 July, with the stated Extra exceptions. Always use the deadline shown in your own application.
Do not rush because a friend has a different date. Read the official UCAS reply guidance before accepting or declining anything.
What happens when results arrive?
Check your official application status rather than deciding from grades alone. If the firm conditions are not met, the provider may still consider you. If the firm place is not confirmed and the insurance conditions are met, the insurance place may be confirmed instead.
If a decision remains outstanding, contact the provider. Clearing is an option for eligible unplaced applicants, not an automatic consequence of missing a predicted grade. Our results-day guide explains how to organise the next step.
If you change your mind
Contact UCAS promptly for advice. Do not decline a confirmed place simply to explore options without understanding the consequences. Extra and Clearing have eligibility rules and available places vary.
Know what to work on next
Use our free application readiness check to organise outstanding tasks, or ask about independent support. It does not predict an offer or replace course-specific admissions advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must my insurance offer have lower grades?
No. UCAS recommends lower conditions as a more useful fallback, but it is not a mandatory rule. Compare all conditions and whether you would want to attend.
Can I keep insurance with an unconditional firm offer?
No. Accepting an unconditional offer as firm means you cannot also hold an insurance choice.
When must I reply?
Check the personal deadline shown in your UCAS application. It depends on when your last decision is received and other circumstances.