The decisions conservatoires can make
The conservatoires are responsible for making these decisions and are given a deadline to make a decision about your application – as soon as there’s an update, we’ll let you know. As such, offers are only official once you’ve received an email from us.
- Audition pending (AP) – an invitation to audition, including the date, time and payment.
- Guaranteed unconditional (GU) – a binding offer that confirms you’ve met the entry requirements.
- Guaranteed conditional (GC) – an offer that’s guaranteed if you meet certain conditions – usually exam results.
- Reserve unconditional (VU) – this means you'll be in a pool of reserve applicants, from which the conservatoire might be able to make you a guaranteed offer, if a suitable place becomes available on the course. If you wish to remain in the reserve pool, please accept the conservatoire’s decision. If you do not wish to be held on reserve, you can decline the conservatoire’s decision. You must respond to this decision within the UCAS application by the reply date.
- Reserve conditional (VC) – this means you'll be in a pool of reserve applicants, from which the conservatoire might be able to make you a guaranteed offer, if a suitable place becomes available on the course, and if you meet certain conditions. For a guaranteed place, you need to accept the offer, meet the conditions set, and wait to see if a place becomes available (see below for more info).
- Unsuccessful (R) – you haven’t been offered a place.
- Withdrawal (W) – this is recorded on your application if you withdraw from a particular conservatoire.
What is a reserve decision?
A reserve decision (VC or VU) does not mean a place has been 'reserved' for you. Until you receive and accept a guaranteed offer (GC or GU), you have not been accepted to study at that conservatoire.
However, it does mean you'll be in a pool of reserve applicants, from which the conservatoire might be able to make you a guaranteed offer, if a suitable place becomes available on the course.
If you've been offered a reserve decision, it means the conservatoire making this decision is not able to offer you a guaranteed place at the time of making their decision. This is usually because they have already made (or expect to make) enough guaranteed offers to fill the spaces on your chosen course or specialist area. A reserve decision indicates that the conservatoire would like the chance to review whether they can offer a place to you, depending on the position with acceptances/declines to the guaranteed offers it has made.
However, a reserve decision is not a rejection. You'll become part of a pool of reserve candidates, from which the conservatoire may choose to make you a guaranteed offer if a suitable place becomes available. If the conservatoire chooses not to make you a guaranteed offer, you will not be able to enrol at that conservatoire.
A conservatoire can make you a guaranteed offer to replace your reserve place at any time during the application cycle. At some institutions, reserve decisions can remain active until after A Level results been issued in August. However, the decision to wait and see if a guaranteed place becomes available, or to accept an offer at another conservatoire, is entirely up to you.
Your consumer rights
You should have received specific information from your chosen conservatoires to help you make an informed decision. They're required to make this available to you under consumer protection legislation – find out about the information you should receive.