Conditional and unconditional offers: what are they and what you need to know

A conditional offer of admission is issued by the university when the admission committee decides to admit a student under specific circumstances.

For example, a conditional offer letter might stipulate the student has to achieve a 3.5 GPA or to score an overall 8 for the IELTS to be able to enrol in the programme. A conditional offer letter might also be made while there are still several documents to be submitted, such as letters of recommendation and a copy of your passport among other things.

Getting a conditional offer letter means you still need to work hard to earn your spot in the programme.

However, keep in mind that conditional offer letters can affect the visa application process. If the conditions for your admission include ones that are to be met after you enter your destination county, your visa will be processed normally; nevertheless, if the conditions should be met before you leave Philippines, your student visa application will be delayed.

In a nutshell, you must complete all required formalities before applying for a visa or leaving Philippines. That is a good way to ensure a smooth student visa application.

On the other hand, an unconditional offer letter, as its name suggests, means you are accepted into the university without needing to provide further documentation. The university will grant you an unconditional offer letter if you have submitted all of the necessary documentation and paid the fees.

But it doesn’t mean you can idle around and wait for the new term to start. There’s still much you need to do before you leave to study abroad.