Undergraduates:
If you miss the offer by a reasonable margin, your application is referred back to the department to be reconsidered. If the department(s) feels it is still possible to confirm your place, the Admissions Office are informed and UCAS is contacted with the decision. Should the department feel they can no longer offer you a place, UCAS is informed that your application has been unsuccessful and you are then released to your insurance choice or into Clearing.
Postgraduates:
All applications are referred back to their departments to be reconsidered. The Admissions Office will then convey all decisions direct to the applicant by letter.