Once your offers start coming in, UCAS will ask you to choose your firm and insurance universities. This decision is crucial because it determines your path after Results Day. Many students struggle with ranking choices — should you always pick the highest-ranked university as firm? Or the one with the lowest entry requirements as insurance?
At RevisionDojo, we guide IB and A-Level students in making confident, strategic UCAS choices. This article explains how to rank your universities wisely.
Quick Start Checklist
When ranking your UCAS choices:
- Understand the difference between firm and insurance
- Choose a firm that excites you and matches your ambitions
- Pick an insurance with lower entry requirements as a realistic backup
- Don’t just follow university rankings — think about fit and lifestyle
- Make sure both options are courses you’d genuinely attend
Firm Choice: Your Top Preference
Your firm choice is the university you’d most like to attend. If you meet the conditions of your offer, you’re committed to this course. Consider:
- Entry requirements compared to your predicted grades
- The teaching style and course structure
- Location and campus life
- Career prospects and work placement opportunities
Remember: a firm choice should be aspirational but achievable.
Insurance Choice: Your Safety Net
Your insurance choice is your backup if you don’t meet the conditions of your firm. To work effectively, it should:
- Have lower entry requirements than your firm
- Be in a location and subject you’d still be happy with
- Offer a genuine alternative rather than just a “throwaway” choice
A good insurance reduces stress around results day because you know you have a realistic fallback.
What About Unconditional Offers?
Some universities may give unconditional offers. Be cautious — while tempting, these should only be accepted as firm if you’re genuinely happy with the course and university. Don’t let the security of “guaranteed entry” push you into a course that isn’t your top preference.
Strategic Ranking Tips
- Always put your genuine top choice as firm, not just the one with the highest prestige
- Choose an insurance that feels like a strong Plan B, not a last resort
- Avoid picking two universities with nearly identical entry requirements — it defeats the safety net purpose
- Think about lifestyle factors: location, housing, extracurriculars, not just academics
- Don’t feel pressured by friends’ or teachers’ opinions — this is your future
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Selecting an insurance with the same or higher requirements as their firm
- Accepting an unconditional offer just to avoid pressure
- Ignoring personal fit in favor of rankings
- Failing to research alternative universities properly before deciding
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can my insurance choice be higher-ranked than my firm?
Yes, but that’s not the point. The firm is your top preference, while the insurance is a backup. Prestige should never outweigh practicality — your insurance must be a realistic safety net.
2. Should I always pick my lowest offer as insurance?
Not necessarily. Your insurance should be lower than your firm, but it should also be a course and university you’d be happy attending. There’s no point choosing a backup you’d later regret.
3. What happens if I don’t meet either my firm or insurance offer?
You’ll enter UCAS Clearing, where you can apply for available courses. Clearing offers new opportunities, but it’s more stressful than having a strong insurance choice in place.
4. Can I switch my firm and insurance later?
Once you accept your firm and insurance, they are locked in. To change, you’d need to decline and enter Clearing. That’s why careful planning before submitting is essential.
5. Is it bad to only have one choice?
It’s risky. Having both a firm and an insurance spreads your chances. Even if you feel confident in your grades, unexpected results can happen, so having a backup is always safer.
Conclusion
Ranking your UCAS choices strategically means balancing ambition with realism. Your firm choice should excite you and match your goals, while your insurance provides a safety net you’re still happy with. Together, they give you security and confidence on Results Day.
At RevisionDojo, we help students make informed UCAS decisions — ensuring every choice supports your future.
Call to Action
Want to make your UCAS ranking stress-free? Explore RevisionDojo’s guides and resources to strengthen your applications and feel confident about your firm and insurance choices.
