SCHOOL leavers sitting on unconditional university offers should not feel forced to accept them, Diane Dodds has said.
The minister with responsibility for higher education has written to more than 17,500 students who have applied for degree courses.
Mrs Dodds said many people found themselves in a very difficult position this year as a result of the pandemic.
Decisions made months ago about the forthcoming academic year may now have changed, she said.
A study by admissions service Ucas found that one in three pupils who have not yet completed school or college qualifications have already been offered a university place.
Unconditional offers do not have any further academic requirements the student needs to meet. This means young people are accepted before they complete A-levels and would not have to sit the exams. There are no exams taking place this summer. Instead predicted grades will be issued.
"At the beginning of this pandemic, I was concerned that some universities across the UK were issuing unconditional or incentivised offers to prospective students, potentially putting them under pressure to accept the offer," Mrs Dodds said.
"I, along with ministers from around the UK, have been working with providers to ensure that students will not be put under any undue pressure by UK higher education providers.
"My message to any student who has received an unconditional offer is: please consider whether this is the right provider and course for you, before you make a decision."
