Deferral

What it is

Deferral means agreeing with a university to start the course later than originally planned. You can request it when you accept an offer, or if your circumstances change before enrolment. Universities consider the reason for your request and whether the course will run the following year.

Most institutions allow one-year deferrals for health, work, or financial reasons, but policies differ. You must also inform Student Finance and, if relevant, the Home Office so your financial support and visa align with the new start date.

Why it matters

A deferral can give you time to save money, finish language courses, or gather documents without losing your hard-earned offer. It keeps your study plans realistic—admissions tutors prefer a student who starts when ready rather than dropping out mid-year.

On the funding side, Student Finance needs accurate course dates to release tuition payments. Delaying without telling them can pause your support or create overpayments that you need to repay later.

Common mistakes

• Assuming approval is automatic: Each university reviews deferrals individually, so wait for written confirmation before pausing your plans.
• Forgetting to update Student Finance: Your loan application must match the academic year you actually attend.
• Ignoring visa timelines: If you require a visa, you may need a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for the new year.

How UniStart helps

Our advisors can explain how different universities handle deferrals and what evidence they normally request. We also remind you to resubmit Student Finance forms at the right time so your payments match the deferral without promising any outcome.

Next steps

• Contact your university admissions team to log the deferral request in writing.
• Download the UniStart app to track new Student Finance deadlines.
• Book a free advisor call if you need to coordinate deferrals with visa or work commitments.