Making changes to your application

Please ensure you read the information below before requesting a change to your application.

Making changes to your university place is a big decision, so we want to make sure you are aware of the facts so that you can make the right decision for your circumstances.

Ultimately, your circumstances are individual and only you can make the decision that’s right for you.

Please read our Frequently asked questions below to help you make your decision.

Frequently asked questions

How do I defer my place?

If you would like to defer your application, you should complete our online form where you can request a deferral, change of course or a withdrawal.

Please be aware that BU’s tuition fees, accommodation costs and financial support available are all subject to change every year.

Admissions staff will normally process deferral requests within 21 working days.

Complete our deferral form

When will I know if my deferral request has been approved?

Can I defer more than once?

When is the deadline for deferral request?

September 2023 entry

We will be able to consider a deferral request up until you have enrolled onto your course in the year you originally applied for. However, you will need to meet all your offer conditions by the 6 September 2023. The last date to make a deferral request on a conditional offer is 21 July 2023. After this date you will need to wait until you have met your offer conditions to make a change. Unconditional offer holders can request a deferral at any time prior to enrolment.

Please get in touch with your relevant Admissions Team to discuss your options if you are not able to meet your deadline. Our email address is [email protected] for UK applicants and [email protected] for non-UK applicants.

January 2024 entry

We will be able to consider a deferral request up until you have enrolled onto your course. However, you will need to meet all your offer conditions by 22 December 2023 if you are an international applicant, or two weeks prior to your course start date if you are a UK applicant.

Please get in touch with the Admissions Team if you are unable to meet your deadline to discuss your options. Our email address is [email protected] for UK applicants and [email protected] for non-UK applicants.

Can I apply for deferred entry in Clearing?

I won’t receive my exam results until after enrolment. Do I have to defer?

If I defer my entry, can I change my mind and start this year instead?

I would like to change my course. What options do I have?

If you would like to be considered for a different course at BU, please submit your request using our online form. You can do this at any point.

If you have a conditional offer, the UCAS deadline for requesting changes is usually mid-to-late July. After the changes deadline, you must wait until you have received your results and a decision has been made on your application before you can request a course change.

If the course you’d like to change to has different entry requirements to the course you’ve been offered (for example, an interview or portfolio assessment), we’ll contact you by email to let you know.

If you’ve applied to a course with a Foundation Year and wish to change to the option without, please submit your request using our online form. You should hear back from us within 10 working days.

We’ve already made you an offer and want you to be a part of our community, but we’ll need to review your application to assess your suitability for the new course. If we’re able to change your course, you’ll receive a new offer letter by email. This could take up to 10 days to process.

I want to change my reply

If you have applied through UCAS and wish to change your replies, you have a 14-day period from the date you replied to your offers. If the 14 days have passed, you may still be able to change your replies, but you may need our permissions to do so. This is also applicable for postgraduate applications submitted through UCAS.

Contact the UCAS Customer Experience Centre to change your replies and for advice on next steps. UCAS will not be able to change any replies after the end of July.

If you have applied for a postgraduate course through BU’s online application form and accepted our offer, you can change your reply by logging into myHub. For any other changes to your offer replies, you will need to contact the admissions team.

I want to withdraw

If you have applied for an undergraduate course starting in September 2023 and hold an Unconditional Firm offer you can make this change in your UCAS account. Please visit the UCAS website for more details. If you are holding a Conditional Firm offer, or you applied last year for a deferred entry and therefore are holding an Unconditional Firm offer, you will need to submit your withdrawal request using our online form.

If you have applied for a postgraduate course through BU’s online application form, you will need to submit your withdrawal request using our online form listed above.

What is the impact on the financial support available to me if I defer my place?

Your eligibility for scholarships, bursaries and fees and their level/amount will be determined by the BU policies in place for the year in which you enrol on (start) your course, not the year in which you applied to BU. Scholarship awards cannot be deferred to a later academic year.

From September 2023, International undergraduate students will no longer be eligible for our Academic Excellence Scholarship. The full range of funding options available can be found on our funding webpages.

I’ve competed an Enhanced DBS check, will I have to do another one if I want to defer?

If your course requires an Enhanced DBS check, you will be required to pay for this. If you have deferred from a previous admissions cycle after already completing the check in the previous year, you will be responsible for the cost of the new Enhanced DBS check. For more information on the costs, please see the government website. Please note, the cost of the Enhanced DBS check is non-refundable by Bournemouth University in any circumstances.