You would be eligible for PARTNERS if you are currently in receipt of, or entitled to, any of the following:

• free school meals
• Pupil Premium funding (please speak to staff in your school/college if you are unaware if you are entitled to this funding)
• discretionary school/college payments directly linked to financial hardship
• the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the ‘enhanced’ rate in either the ‘daily living’ and ‘mobility’ components, OR the ‘standard’ rate in both components

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not in receipt of, or entitled to any of the above, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

If you attended an identified low performing school/college for your GCSEs or A-levels, you would be eligible for PARTNERS. Students attending one of the schools from the list on this page are automatically eligible.

The list on  is based upon school performance data, those that meet the criteria outlined within the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria are listed below.

If the school or college you attended for your GCSEs or A levels is in the list on , you will be automatically eligible for the PARTNERS Programme supported entry route for 2021 entry based on school/college performance. Providing that also adhere to the essential conditions of the Programme.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If the school/college you attended for your GCSE or A levels is not on this list, you may still be eligible for the programme based one of our other eligibility criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

If you have experienced any time in care during your life you would be eligible for PARTNERS.

This experience could include any of the following:

• living with foster carers.
• living in a residential children's home.
• being looked after at home under a supervision order.
• Llving with friends or relatives in kinship care – either through a formal arrangement (e.g. a Special Guardianship order) or an informal arrangement without local authority support.

If you are unsure if you are eligible on this criteria please contact us.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the Lower PARTNERS Offer. 

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you have not experienced time in care, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

If neither of your parents/carers has any of the following higher education qualifications you may be eligible for PARTNERS:

• Higher Degree (eg MA, MSc, PhD, PGCE)
• First Degree (eg BA, BSc)

We also need to check if the main wage earner in your household does not have a professional occupation (defined as SOC2020 Major Groups 4-9). Contact the PARTNERS team to check this. 

If either of your parents/carers have any of the above higher education qualifications, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you have a disability/long-term health condition and are in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the ‘enhanced’ rate in either the ‘daily living’ or ‘mobility’ components OR the ‘standard’ rate in both components.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you do not have a disability/long-term health condition and are not entitled to the PIP at the necessary level, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you have sole or shared responsibility for the care of a relative because they are ill, have a disability, are experiencing mental distress or are affected by substance abuse.

You are required to provide supporting documentary evidence to confirm your status as a recognised carer from one of the following sources (on headed paper):

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Carer’s Allowance statement/letter
• carer’s support group
• social Services/Local Authority
• your relatives NHS or Private Support Worker
• a letter from your GP

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not a young carer as outlined above, or are unable to provide the necessary supporting evidence, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you are an estranged person, who no longer has the support of your family due to a breakdown in the relationship which has led to ceased contact. This might mean your biological, step or adoptive parents, or wider family members who have been responsible for supporting you in the past.

You are required to provide supporting documentary evidence to confirm your ‘estranged’ status from one of the following sources (on headed paper):

• estranged student support group/network, such as StandAlone or the Unite Foundation
• social Services/Local Authority
• a letter from your GP
• a statement from your school/college

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not an ‘estranged’ student as outlined above, or are unable to provide the necessary supporting evidence, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you are:

• from a black or minority ethnic group

AND

• attend/attended a state school or college in the United Kingdom, when sitting your A levels (or equivalent)

The following ethnic groups are eligible under this criteria:

• Black or Black British – Caribbean
• Black or Black British – African
• other Black background
• Asian or Asian British – Indian
• Asian or Asian British – Pakistani
• Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi
• Chinese
• other Asian background
• mixed White and Black Caribbean
• mixed White and Black African
• mixed White and Asian
• other Mixed background
• Arab

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not from a black or minority ethnic group and attending a state school or college in the UK, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

As a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, Newcastle University is proud to support those who serve in the military and their families.

You are eligible PARTNERS if either of your parents/carers are serving or have served in the armed forces at key educational times. 

You are also eligible for PARTNERS if you have served in the armed forces. This must be confirmed by your referee at your school or college.

The British Armed Forces consist of:

• Royal Navy
• Royal Marines
• British Army
• Royal Air Force
• Regular Reserves
• Volunteer Reserves
• Sponsored Reserves

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If neither of your parents/carers have served in the armed forces, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community.

This must be confirmed by a referee at a school or college that you are attending or have attended.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you have refugee status. 

You must have been given 'leave to remain' or 'leave to enter' by the UK Government and be able to prove this.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you have not been given 'leave to remain' or 'leave to enter' by the UK Government, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

Applicants must meet the English language criteria for their course or have relevant qualifications to indicate their English language competency. To check requirements for individual courses please refer to our subject web pages. Your status will be verified by our admissions team on the submission of your UCAS application.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now. 

If you're not eligible, check under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You are eligible for PARTNERS if you are a parent/carer and responsible for the care and wellbeing of a child under the age of 17.

We also take into account your predicted grades and in order to be eligible, your predicted grades must be within one grade of the lower PARTNERS offer.

If you're eligible, apply to the PARTNERS Programme now.

If you are not a student parent as outlined above, you are not eligible based on this criteria. Check if you're eligible under other criteria listed on this page or have a look at the full list of PARTNERS Programme eligibility criteria.

You have experienced extenuating personal circumstances relating to social, economic or educational disadvantage at key educational times. 

Eligibility via the PEC criteria will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, upon receipt of a PARTNERS application form.