Email blunder ‘made results day worse’ for student

An accidental email from Nottingham Trent university tells students ‘you do not meet the requirements for your original chosen course’.

A-level results day is stressful enough for students. But when Nottingham Trent university emailed Georgia Noel-Storr a day early to tell her she hadn’t got the grades she expected, the day was made worse.

The 18-year-old from Kings Lynn was hoping to study Business Management, but at 10am on Wednesday she received an email from Nottingham Trent university stating:

“We have reviewed your application and although you do not meet the requirements for your original chosen course I am pleased to confirm that we have made you an alternative offer for BA (Hons) Business SW.”

Georgia told Channel 4 News: “I wasn’t bothered at the time, I thought it was just an accident.

“Last night I saw the story on The Guardian website and that worried me a bit. My friends told me not to worry but I couldn’t help it.”

This morning Georgia found out via the Ucas website that she hadn’t been offered a place for the course she applied for, but does have another offer.
“I’m not sure whether to settle for a course I didn’t want to do in the first place or to look for other options.

“I’m not very happy. I’m feeling pretty disappointed in myself. The email made it worse because I was worrying all last night.”

Georgia says she’s not had any contact from Nottingham Trent university since receiving the email yesterday.

Nottingham Trent university stressed that only 30 students out of 12,000 applicants received the email in error. A spokesperson said: “A small number of emails were unfortunately sent to applicants who have exceeded or slightly missed their required grades.

“The issue was identified and resolved very quickly. The emails, which did not disclose any results, were to offer applicants a place on a similar, but alternative course.”

Around 300,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their A-level results today. Universities are informed of results in advance, but are barred from making offers to students until after results are formally released.