Hey Msfeline,
I plead no contest for a misdemeanor DUI this July. The University of London also agreed to defer my entry to the 2018 school year. The immigration advisor said that the UK Border Patrol automatically refuses you a visa if you were convicted/arrested within the last 12 months. They said they will reevaluate my visa application next July according to the immigration laws. So I'm kind of in the same boat...