What is Deferred Entry?

Deferred entry means applying for a course and then taking one year off before starting the program. Several top universities abroad allow students to take a gap year before starting their programs. However, not all applications can be deferred; students must provide a personal statement to support why they wish to defer. Students can defer their place when they receive their offer letter or choose to defer after accepting the offer.

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What is Deferred Entry? 

• Deferring simply means putting off something. Applying for a course and then taking a year off before commencing it is known as a postponed entry. This could be pre-planned, such as if you intend to take a gap year, or it could happen during the application process.
• When you apply, you can choose a ‘delayed’ start date for your selected course. You should contact the university or institution first to ensure that they are willing to accept a deferred application.
• You can usually only defer your enrollment for one year, and the university or institution will decide whether or not to accept it for your course and validate your application.
• Even if the date changes, the terms of your offer will not. If your conditional offer requires you to achieve ABB (80% overall in 12th grade) in 2022 to begin your deferred course in 2023, you must achieve those grades in 2022 to keep your deferred spot.
• If you’re requesting a deferred entrance for a conservatoire course, you’ll need to contact the conservatoire directly. In the usual conservatoire application process, it is not an option.

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Why Do Students Take Deferred Entry? 

People choose to defer for various reasons. Students may take time off to get financial aid for college, travel, earn money, or gain work experience. Others may be unable to attend because they are required to work or have other obligations that year. Students may have some personal obligation that compels them to delay their course.

How to Plan Your Gap Year?

If you opt to defer your admission, you’ll need to plan on how you’ll spend your gap year. Students must justify why they wish to postpone their course by one year. For example, many students in 2020-21 chose to defer their programs to a later intake to spend valuable university time on campus. Here are some suggestions to fill up your gap year:

• Internships: Finding internships and gaining valuable work experience can help students make their gap year worthwhile. Students should look for course-relevant internships to learn valuable skills before the commencement of their programs.
• Volunteering: Social work and volunteering are great ways to make your CV outshine in front of future employers. This will also enhance your social skills and networking skills before you move to your dream university.
• Freelancing: Students can take up freelancing during their deferral period since students on deferment can not apply.

Also Read: What are Pathway Programs?

Deferred Entry: Pros And Cons 

Here are some pros and cons regarding deferred entry all students should know:

Pros

• It provides you with peace of mind. Starting college can be stressful so taking that one-year gap can provide students with a better perspective and help them acclimatise to the position of a student. 
• Deferred entry may be perfect for you if you want to take a gap year to travel or work and know exactly which university course you want to pursue after you’re done.
• If you apply for deferred admission and are accepted, you will be guaranteed a spot at the university for the next academic year. This can relieve the burden of applying to university for the first time during your gap year, allowing you to focus on whatever you’re doing while knowing that your spot at university will be waiting for you when you return.
• You have extra time to make your decision and think about your goals, achievements and figure out the best pathway to achieve your career goals.
• If you don’t think you’re ready for university, delaying a year can allow you more time to think about whether a course is right for you. You can also use this time to obtain more experience, develop your talents, and boost your confidence.
• You may feel more prepared to attend university after a year of working or travelling. You may also opt to change courses or not attend university at all, which is quite OK.
• Spend your gap year acquiring job experience and researching the course if you’re thinking of deferring because you’re not sure if a course is right for you. This will assist you in making an informed decision and relieve the stress of beginning a course you are unsure about.
• Applying for deferred admission allows you to apply to university with your school or college’s help. Teachers can write your reference and assist you with your personal statement while you are still in school. Teachers may not be able to assist you with your application if you wait until your gap year or later.

Also Read: What is a Gap Year Certificate and Why Do You Need it?

Cons

• Many students are unaware of the myriad of conditions associated with deferring admission. Deferment can be difficult to succeed without a strategy. 
• Many students fail to utilise their gap years or apply for deferment for the wrong reasons. Don’t put your place on hold only to please your friends. It may appear to be a wonderful holiday, but spending so much time without a clear objective can be challenging, especially if your peers go to university or start apprenticeships while you’re stranded at home.
• Not taking the good advice on time management and talent building is another major disadvantage. If you’d like to take a gap year but aren’t sure what to do with it, ask your form teacher or a jobs counsellor for suggestions.
• It isn’t the best option for every course. It is important to do your research before deferring your position. 
• While many institutions encourage students to take a gap year if they have a valid reason, some disciplines, such as medicine, mathematics, or natural sciences, require a specific cause for deferring enrollment, such as doing a work placement. This is because maintaining a proper degree of knowledge or awareness of current events might be difficult when you are not enrolled in full-time study.
• Many students make the mistake of not contacting the university before deciding to defer their admission. Begin by contacting the universities you’re interested in to see if they offer deferred entrance. Once you’ve established that they do, make sure your personal statement includes the following:
  • Why are you seeking postponed entry?
  • How will your gap year help you with your studies in the future?
  • How will your gap year experiences aid in the development of your talents or make you a better student?
  • Why do you believe postponed entry is your best option?

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How to Defer Your Application?

• If you applied for 2022 but now want to apply for deferred entry, your institution or college will have to approve your request. Some schools may only allow deferrals for specific courses. You should contact the university to double-check but be prepared to explain why.
• If you’ve been offered a place in 2022 but want to postpone, the university or college will decide. Because this is a late deferral, you may be asked to reapply. Make sure you’re certain about your choice; it’ll become final if you wait any longer.
• If you change your mind after deferring your seat, you must inform the university or college. This is a complicated process that is contingent on the availability of seats on the course.
• You can only apply for the current year if you apply through Clearing. If you have a delayed place and want to apply for a spot this year through Clearing, you can do so by clicking the ‘Decline my place’ button in Track, filling out a new application, and following the Clearing steps. You should notify the institution or college that you will not be retaining your deferred status.
• You have until your start date to determine whether or not to delay, but your university or college has entire discretion over whether or not to accept your decision. The sooner you contact them, the more likely they will assist you, and the less likely you will lose your spot.
• You will not be able to reapply in the next application round if you accept a postponed entrance spot for 2023. Before reapplying, you must totally withdraw your previous application.

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What Should I Do After Getting Deferred? 

A deferred entry can be particularly perplexing because many universities handle deferral applications differently. Some may merely require updated grades, while others may take extra items that help put a student’s application in context. If a student is postponed, they must complete the following:

• To begin, determine whether or not that college is still a top choice. A postponement might evoke disappointment, sadness, rage, or even relief. Students who have mixed views about attending an early college after applying may find this decision helpful.
• Find out what the college requires of you next. Most students will ask for an updated grade report, which they must receive from their high school. That is all that many colleges will ask for. On the other hand, some will allow students to submit additional documentation such as letters of recommendation, updates on extracurricular activities, or a deferral letter. Students should research what the college requires and what is appropriate to supply and pay attention to those preferences. If a college specifically states that deferred students should not submit further application materials, don’t. Following instructions can put a student’s chances in the regular round in jeopardy.
• Write a deferral letter if necessary. Colleges want to admit students who want to go. Therefore students can boost their chances of admission by sending a letter expressing their commitment to the college. Students should reaffirm their interest in the college, explain why they believe they are a good fit for the school, and provide updates on their activities since submitting their early application. This is a fantastic tool that kids may put to good use.
• Complete the applications that require a regular decision. Students who applied early should hopefully have completed their normal decision applications as well. If not, there is still time to submit outstanding applications. Complete all standard applications by the deadline, and double-check that all materials are in order and received. Don’t let the disappointment of a deferral deter you from applying to other universities. Maintain a good attitude and stay on pace.

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So this is all about the deferred entry. Want to study abroad? Our Leverage Edu experts are ready to assist you in narrowing down the best course and university options according to your interests and preferences. Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!