CUKAS - Your offers

The different decisions that your conservatoires can send us

As soon as the status of your application has changed, for example if a conservatoire has made an offer on one of your choices, you will be notified by email to check on Track>>

CUKAS letters

CUKAS only sends three types of letter to applicants during the application process:

Welcome letter - this will be sent to you when we receive your application.
Replying to Offers letter - If we have received decisions from all of your conservatoires and you have at least one offer, we will email you to let you know there has been a change to your application, and ask you to look at Track. If you haven't provided a valid email address we will send you a letter which will ask you to reply to your offers. You may only be able to accept one offer as your first choice or you may be able to accept two offers and state your first and second choices. The number of offers you can accept will depend on the type of offers. Please read the Replying to your offers information.
Guaranteed Unconditional Place letter - this will be sent to you when your place at your first choice has been confirmed, or if you do not meet the required conditions at your first choice, when a place at your second choice has been confirmed. You will be asked to contact the relevant conservatoire if you do not wish to take up the place.

Remember:

offers are only official once you have received our letter or email, even if you receive an offer direct from a conservatoire
if you have a question about a decision, you should contact the conservatoire for advice
the conservatoires are given a deadline by which to make a decision about your application. You can check the deadlines here>>

Decision making

You will normally need to demonstrate your practical ability before a conservatoire can make a decision.

If you are a performer: you will usually be invited to give a live audition at the conservatoire. In some cases you may be allowed to send a recording or video.
If you are a composer: you will normally be invited to send a portfolio of your work. In some cases, you will be invited for interview.

Whatever your specialist area, the 'audition' will be designed to allow you to demonstrate your practical skills and is a very important part of the application process. Some conservatoires have audition centres in other countries to cater for overseas applicants. The time taken to organise and hold auditions is the main factor that determines how long conservatoires need to make their decisions.

Conservatoires can make the following types of decisions

Conservatoires send their decisions to us and not directly to you. We show all decisions on the Track service. You have a username and password to view decisions or any changes to your application on Track. The conservatoires are responsible for making all decisions, CUKAS has no involvement in the selection or decision-making process.

Audition pending (AP)
Conservatoires send audition pending (AP) decisions when you have been invited to audition. They send the audition date, time and payment status with the AP decision. An 'Audition Pending' decision is an official invitation to audition, sent by the conservatoire. Conservatoires use different methods of communication and may not send you any further correspondence about the audition.

Guaranteed unconditional (GU)
The conservatoire is satisfied, from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding upon the conservatoire.

Guaranteed conditional (GC)
The conservatoire has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions, usually examination results. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding upon the conservatoire if you accept the offer and meet the conditions.
If you are applying in the 2010 application cycle, you must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2010, regardless of whether the place is for 2010 entry, or for deferred entry in 2011, unless an earlier date is specified. If you are applying in the 2011 application cycle, you must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2011, regardless of whether the place is for 2011 entry, or for deferred entry in 2012, unless an alternative date is specified by the conservatoire.

Reserve unconditional (VU)
The conservatoire is satisfied, from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and have offered a place on their reserve list. In order to be considered for a guaranteed place (should one become available) you need to accept the offer. Find out more about reserve offers>>

Reserve conditional (VC)
The conservatoire has offered a place on its reserve list subject to you meeting certain conditions, usually examination results. In order to be considered for a guaranteed place (should one become available) you need to accept the offer and meet the conditions of the offer. Find out more about reserve offers>>
If you are applying in the 2010 application cycle, you must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2010, regardless of whether the place is for 2010 entry, or for deferred entry in 2011, unless an earlier date is specified. If you are applying in the 2011 application cycle, you must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2011, regardless of whether the place is for 2011 entry, or for deferred entry in 2012, unless an alternative date is specified by the conservatoire

Unsuccessful (R)
Conservatoires make unsuccessful (R) decisions if they do not want to offer you any type of place.

Withdrawal (W)
Withdrawal (W) decisions are recorded with a reason when you do not want to be considered by a particular conservatoire. Both CUKAS and the conservatoires record withdrawal decisions depending on who you contact.

Conservatoires may use UCAS Tariff points when they make offers. Visit the UCAS website for more information about the Tariff.

Reserve offers explained
Further advice about reserve offers.