Deferring entry: a parent/guardian guide

Deferring means applying for a course and then taking a year out before going to university – for example, you could apply in September 2024 to start university in September 2025. Usually, you can only defer your entry by one year.

Deferring a place at university can occur due to lots of different reasons. Some courses do not allow you to defer your place if it is an exceptionally competitive course to get onto. It is always best to double-check if they are taking deferrals as they may not be offering the course the following year, they could be changing it or may prefer students not to have a gap in studying before they start their degree.

Why do students sometimes want to defer? 

For students finishing school or college, taking a year out before starting university – often called a gap year – gives them a chance to go travelling, earn some money to support their studies, and gain valuable experience. For others, it may be that they need to work, or have other commitments to fulfill before starting their course.

Applying for deferred entry means you can get your results confirmed and your university place set up and waiting for you to start the following year.

How to defer your application 

The most common way that students apply to the University of Bolton is through UCAS. Deferring a place is easily done through the UCAS website. There is more step-by-step guidance on how to defer here.

What is #UniAsItShouldBe? A University that puts its students and their needs first through a supportive learning environment. Welcome to the University of Bolton.