Deferring Your University Place

🎒 Taking a Gap Year: What You Need to Know 

Whether you want to travel, work, volunteer, or just figure out your next steps, a gap year can help you build real-world experience and return to your studies with a clearer sense of direction.

⏳ How to Defer Your University Place

There are two ways to defer:

1. When you apply – You can request to start your course the following year directly on your UCAS application.

2. After receiving your results – If you’ve already accepted a place but want to defer, you’ll need to contact the university directly.

📌 Important: Not all universities or courses allow deferrals. Some may change their course content or pause entry for a year. Always check with your university before making any big decisions.

📞 Requesting a Deferral After Accepting

If you want to defer after accepting your offer:

• Contact your university’s admissions team.

• Explain your reasons for deferring.

• Wait for confirmation—a deferral is not guaranteed.

If your deferral is declined and you're set on taking a gap year, you’ll need to withdraw and reapply through the next UCAS cycle. Be aware: there’s no guarantee you’ll be offered the same course or place again.

❌ Can You Defer a Place Gained Through Clearing?

No—Clearing places are for immediate entry only.
If you get a course through Clearing but decide to take a gap year, you’ll need to:

• Give up the place, and

• Reapply next year through UCAS or next year’s Clearing (if available).

🎯 Top Tip: If you're certain about taking a gap year, it's better to apply in the next admissions cycle rather than rely on next year’s Clearing—which has limited places and no guarantees.

🔁 Can You Defer More Than Once?

Usually, universities allow one deferral.
Further deferrals may be possible in exceptional cases, but this depends on:

• The university’s policy

• Course availability

• Your personal circumstances

Always speak to your university directly if you’re unsure.