To help you when advising students on what type of offer to accept, we’ve produced some useful guidance and key points to consider.
1. Make sure your students make informed decisions, for the right reasons
The support you offer to an applicant given an unconditional offer should be no different to those given conditional offers.
We’ve got lots of information and advice designed to help your students make the right decisions.
We also have a 
handy decision-making flowchart (39.19 KB) for you to use with your students.
2. Check they fully understand their offers
Every university and college has its own admissions strategy, and will make offers based on different criteria. They can even vary between different courses at the same uni or college.
Understanding the criteria used and the reason why your students may have received an unconditional offer, will help when advising them. Take a look at our guide to the types of unconditional offers (441.17 KB) for more information. We also advise you check the uni or college’s website, and the offers themselves, to further help you understand why the offer has been made.
3. Encourage them to make the most of their choices
Going to university or college is a big commitment, so it’s important an applicant’s firm and insurance choices are made for the right reasons, and it’s somewhere they’d be happy to spend the next three years (or more). They should maximise their opportunities by choosing a firm choice which is aspirational but achievable, and a ‘safer’ insurance choice.
If an applicant accepts an unconditional offer, or an offer that is changed to unconditional on the basis of their firm acceptance, their place is secured. However, before they accept it, it’s important they understand they won’t get an insurance choice, and won’t be eligible for Clearing or Adjustment.
4. Reinforce the importance of their qualifications
Universities and colleges should be making every effort to ensure offers made to applicants don’t impact their studies, or willingness to perform to the best of their ability.
An unconditional offer can reduce the pressure, but students need to be aware that school or college qualifications are still important. Remind them that finishing their studies to their fullest potential will prepare them for uni or college, and many employers also consider these qualifications when reviewing job applications later on.