Be University Wise guides › Firm and insurance
Firm and insurance choices
When your universities have made their decisions, you choose one offer as your firm choice and can keep one as your insurance choice.
Checked against official sources on 24 September 2026.
Types of offer
- Conditional offer: the place is yours if you meet the conditions, usually certain grades.
- Unconditional offer: the place is yours already, although you may still need to send documents.
- Unsuccessful: the university has not offered you a place.
Your firm choice
Your firm choice is the offer you most want to accept. If you meet its conditions, you are committed to that place.
Your insurance choice
Your insurance choice is a back-up in case you miss your firm offer. It usually asks for lower grades than your firm choice. Only choose an insurance offer you would be happy to go to, because if you miss your firm offer and meet your insurance offer, you will be placed there.
Reply dates
UCAS gives you a reply date in your UCAS Hub once you have all your decisions. For 2027 entry, if you have all your decisions by 12 May 2027, you must reply by 2 June 2027. If you do not reply in time, your offers may be declined automatically.
If things change
If your results are better than you expected, you may be able to release yourself into Clearing to look for a different course. See Clearing and self-release.
Sources
Quick answers
Do I have to choose an insurance offer?
No. You can accept a firm choice only. An insurance choice gives you a back-up if you miss the conditions of your firm offer.
What happens if I meet both offers?
You go to your firm choice. Your insurance choice only applies if you miss your firm offer.