Supporting our prospective students from the Middle East

Exam disruption

We understand some exams have been cancelled in certain countries and the awarding bodies expect to be able to award final grades to students at the usual time. If you have questions about the awarding of final grades, including how any disruption you have experienced will be accounted for, please check with your school/college or awarding body directly.  
 
If your exams have been disrupted or cancelled, please provide your final grades when they are received via the Apply to Newcastle portal, and any supporting evidence such as official documentation and communications from school/university/awarding bodies for consideration. 

Changes to exam boards or qualifications

We are aware that some students have needed to change exam boards because of disruption in the region. This may mean that your final qualifications differ from those stated in your original offer conditions. We know you may have concerns about your ability to meet your offer conditions. This will be taken into account when we receive your results.   

Cancelled GCE A Levels (Undergraduate applicants and offer holders only)

GCE A levels are regulated by Ofqual, and where exams have been cancelled, portfolio-based assessments will not be available. This means that some students may not be able to receive a GCE A level award. 

In some cases, UK awarding bodies are offering affected students the option to switch their GCE A level to an equivalent International A level. We accept GCE A levels and International A levels interchangeably. If an offer holder switches from a GCE A level to an International A level as a result of exam disruption, their offer will not change, and we will consider their awarded grades in the same way as other applicants. 

English language test

If you experience disruption to English language exams eg test centres are closed, please refer to the University's English language requirements. We detail alternative tests that are recognised by the University. 

If your exams have been disrupted or cancelled, including if you expect to be awarded final grades, please contact us via the Apply to Newcastle portal. You can request additional consideration for your offer for 2026 entry.  Upload any supporting evidence, including official documentation and communications from school/university/awarding bodies for consideration.

Offer conditions

We’re not able to change offer conditions before exam results are received. This is even where mitigating circumstances apply. If your results mean you don’t meet the conditions of your offer because of circumstances beyond your control, we will carefully review any mitigating information you provide. There may be some flexibility when considering whether we can confirm your place. Missing your offer conditions does not automatically mean that you will be unsuccessful. 

Deposits (Postgraduate applicants and offer holders only)

The University understands that you may be impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. If you have paid a deposit to secure your place at the University on a postgraduate course, this will be refunded where any of the following circumstances apply. You are: 

• unable to complete your visa application process due to conflict related disruption 
• unable to meet the conditions of your offer due to conflict related disruption 
• unable to arrive in the UK by 21 September for the start of teaching due to conflict related disruption 
• able to demonstrate that the conflict has had a significant direct impact on your personal circumstances which means you are no longer able to commence your studies in the UK

Further information and how to request a refund is outlined in the University's Deposit Terms and Conditions.