Insurance choice FAQs

We know it can be confusing to deal with UCAS terminology, so here's a set of answers to the commonly asked questions around what an ‘insurance university’ is and what to do if you want to accept your insurance choice.

What is a university insurance choice? 

When applying, you’ll have the option to select a ‘firm’ and ‘insurance’ choice - you’ll hear this terminology used a lot! To clarify, a firm choice is your first choice university and your insurance choice is effectively your reserve choice if your circumstances change after Results Day.

Once you select your firm and insurance choices, the other choices (if you have more than 2) will be automatically declined.

How do I make my choices?

Whilst you’re waiting to hear back - and different uni’s take different amounts of time, don’t worry - you can use the time to make your decision on where you wish to attend university, as well as completing important applicant admin!

You can use this time to organise your student finance and accommodation. Why don't you explore our Student Housing and Student Finance teams’ pages?

Then, once you have all your choices back, it's over to you! You will now need to respond and pick your firm and insurance choice on UCAS. 

If you put an unconditional offer as your firm choice, you won’t be able to add an insurance choice (as you won’t need one!). 

Once you have entered your decisions in your UCAS Hub, you can focus on meeting the conditions of your offer. For the majority of you, this will be based on your summer exams.

Additionally, don’t forget about using the UCAS Extra or Clearing services if you do need to use them. These just create extra opportunities to apply.

Why don't I have the option to add an insurance choice?

You may not have the option to add an insurance choice because your firm choice is unconditional, meaning your place is secured and there's no need for a backup or second option. 

Can you go to your university insurance choice?

If you change your mind after submitting your replies to UCAS, you will have 14 days to amend your choices or make swaps. From then on, it will still be possible to do this but you will need to contact UCAS and the universities involved to request permission. For more information, including deadlines for swapping your choices, visit UCAS.

If you want to go to your insurance choice after you've received your results, you must first decline your firm choice university, then you can apply easily through Clearing for your preferred university.

What should I do if I want to go to my insurance choice university?

If you want to go to your insurance choice university once you receive your final results in the summer, you should first contact that university to make sure there are spaces on your course and you meet the entry requirements. 

You’ll need to decline your firm choice university, and then apply to your preferred university directly or through Clearing. 
 

Can I reject my firm choice and accept my insurance?

On Results Day your insurance choice will be declined if your place at your firm (first) choice university is fully confirmed. 

However, if you’ve changed your mind and want to attend your insurance choice university instead, you’ll need to contact the universities directly. You should contact your preferred university to ensure there are spaces on your chosen course and you meet the entry requirements. You should then contact your firm choice university to decline their offer. 

For more information, including deadlines for swapping your choices, visit UCAS.

Should I apply for accommodation at my insurance choice? 

The process will be different depending on the university, but you won’t be able to apply for accommodation with us until we become your firm, first-choice university. 

Accommodation application deadlines may influence when you need to apply and accept us as your firm first-choice university.

When you firmly accept your place with us, we’ll send you an email inviting you to apply for accommodation. This email will include the application deadlines.

If you have questions about accommodation, email our Student Housing team student.housing@port.ac.uk. Or take a look at our student accommodation pages.

What if I don’t meet my offers for either my firm or insurance choice?

If you don't meet the conditions of your offer, we won't reject your application straight away. We will review your application again, but next time make a decision based on the grades you have officially achieved.

If you do not meet the conditions of your offer and we are unable to confirm your place on your chosen course, we will see whether we can make you an alternative course offer. If we make you an alternative course offer, you can then decide whether you wish to accept this or not.

If your firm and insurance choices can not confirm your place or make you an alternative course offer, you will be released into Clearing. Likewise, if you do not accept an alternative course offer that has been made, you will also be released into Clearing and it will allow you to apply through that service.