Application Decisions
Find out what happens after you have applied to study with us, and what happens next.
How will your application be assessed?
The University wishes to encourage able, highly-motivated and enthusiastic students of all ages, and from all backgrounds and contexts, to apply to its degree programmes.
Admissions tutors take into account your whole application, not just exam results. This may include:
- your predicted and/or achieved grades, including subject-specific requirements for the course you're applying to
- your personal statement
- your school or college reference
- evidence of relevant skills or aptitude
- any special circumstances which affect your application
It's important you don't assume that you'll receive an offer if you have achieved or are predicted to achieve the grades listed as typical entry requirements.
Our admissions tutors do not use the UCAS Tariff points system for expressing conditional offers, although they may use it to help them to assess the equivalence of different combinations of qualifications offered by candidates. Achievement of an equivalent number of points does not necessarily mean that you have fulfilled the terms of the conditional offer.
Admissions policy
When we receive your application, we consider it in accordance with the Admissions Policy.
Types of offers
You can find out about the types of offers from the UCAS website, including what it means to receive a Conditional or Unconditional Offer and when you are likely to receive a response to your application.
Apply to Newcastle portal
After you've applied via UCAS for a course at Newcastle University, you will be invited to register for our Apply to Newcastle portal.
Through the portal, you'll be able to:
- Upload supporting documents.
- See how your application is progressing.
- Make enquiries.
- Apply to our PARTNERS Programme.
You'll receive an email invite to the portal to set up your account within 48 hours of submitting your UCAS application. It's important to use the same email address on the portal as you've used on UCAS.
Alternative Offers at Newcastle
At Newcastle University, we consider student achievements in the context of their circumstances when assessing all applications. We aim to admit highly-motivated and enthusiastic students of all ages, and from all backgrounds.
As part of Newcastle University’s longstanding commitment to widening participation, we also offer a number of programmes that allow eligible applicants to receive an alternative offer.
You may receive a lower contextual offer that is up to three grades lower than the typical entry requirements via one of the following routes.
Please note:
- The following information relates to 2026 entry only.
- Eligibility requirements for our contextual offers and supported entry routes are updated each year.
Contextual offers
Our Undergraduate Admissions Team will use certain contextual data from your UCAS form, alongside your application, to take into account challenges that you may have faced in your education and the potential effect this may have had on your qualifications.
These offers apply across all undergraduate subject areas at the University.
How is contextual information used?
If you are eligible, the Admissions Team may use this information in the following ways:
- to make you a contextual offer, which will be up to two grades lower than the typical offer for the Programme to which you have applied
- when considering applicants who have not quite met the entry criteria stated in their offer at Confirmation
You may be eligible to receive a lower contextual offer if one (or more) of the following criteria applies to you. It's important that you declare this information on your UCAS form so that we can take it into account as part of the admissions process.
Care experienced students
You may be eligible for a contextual offer if you have experienced any time in care during your life.
- Find out why you should consider declaring time spent in care on your UCAS form.
- More information about the support available from Newcastle University as a Care Experienced student.
Estranged students
You may be eligible for a contextual offer 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.
Free school meals
You may be eligible for a contextual offer if you are eligible for free school meals.
Find out why you should consider declaring your eligibility for free school meals on your UCAS form.
If you attend an independent school but would have been eligible for Free School Meals at a state school you may also be eligible for a contextual offer. This will be verified using data supplied by UCAS.
You are a recognised carer
You are eligible for a contextual offer 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.
How to apply
You don’t need to apply separately for a contextual offer. When you complete your UCAS form, make sure to declare if you meet any of the above criteria within the 'Applicant Context' section.
Submit your UCAS form by 6pm on 14 January 2026 (or 15 October 2025 for the MBBS and BDS programmes) and we will take your circumstances into account when considering your application.
Contextual information is used as part of a University-wide, holistic approach to fair admissions, however, does not guarantee that an offer will be made.
PARTNERS Programme
PARTNERS is Newcastle University's flagship widening participation programme for students in year 13/final year college. It's designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds on their journey to higher education.
Successful completion of PARTNERS may result in an offer that is up to three A level grades lower (or equivalent) than the typical entry requirements. PARTNERS is available for any of our undergraduate degree programmes.
Students must:
- Complete a compulsory PARTNERS Academic Summer School.
- Meet essential eligibility criteria.
- Make Newcastle University Firm choice through UCAS.
Pathways to Newcastle
Pathways to Newcastle is an alternative entry to the degree programmes in our Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) faculty. It's designed to support students in year 13/final year college into key economic subject areas where skills gaps have been identified.
Successful completion of Pathways to Newcastle may result in an offer that is up to two grades lower than the typical entry requirements.
Students must:
- Apply to a participating degree programme at Newcastle University.
- Complete an online skills module.
- Meet essential eligibility criteria.
- Make Newcastle University Firm choice through UCAS.
Find out more about Pathways to Newcastle.
Realising Opportunities Programme
Realising Opportunities (RO) is a collaboration between nine research intensive universities to support students from underrepresented backgrounds on their journey to higher education.
Successful completion of RO may result in an offer that is two A level grades lower (or equivalent) than the typical entry requirements.
Students must:
- Attend an RO partner school. Students can check this with a teacher/advisor from their school/college.
- Apply for RO in year 12.
- Meet essential eligibility criteria.
- Complete an online skills module.
- Attend the on-campus Academic Skills Module.
- Complete a reflective piece of work.
Find out more about Realising Opportunities.
High performance athletes
As one of the top universities for sport in the country, we nurture the talent of the elite athletes who come to study with us. In recognition of this, we support promising athletes at the application stage.
Students must:
- Be competing at regional, national or international level.
- Provide evidence of your previous and current sporting achievements in your UCAS application.
- Have a commitment to continue improving in that sport and representing the University.
If you are eligible, the admissions team may use this information:
- To make you a contextual offer. This will be up to two grades lower than the typical offer for the programme to which you have applied.
- To give extra consideration on UCAS Results Day.
Find out more about the opportunities that Performance Sport at Newcastle University can offer.
Contact us via performance.sport@newcastle.ac.uk if you have any questions about your eligibility.
Interviews
Most subject areas don't need applicants to attend an interview. Where interviews are required, it is specified on the specific degree pages.
Some subject areas may conduct informal interviews as part of an Offer Holder Day.
Degree programmes that require an interview (and approximate interview dates where available) include:
- Business Accounting and Finance (Assessment Centre typically in March)
- Contemporary and Popular Music (December - April)
- Dental Surgery (December - March)
- Dental Therapy (Late January - February)
- Dietetics (December - February)
- Fine Art (February - March); interviews commence after the portfolio submission deadline
- Folk and Traditional Music (December - April)
- Medicine and Surgery (December - January)
- Music BA
- Pharmacy (Feb/March)
Applicants may be invited to interview directly via email.
Offer Holder Experience Days
If you receive an offer to study at Newcastle University, you will be invited to campus. During these events, you can:
- learn more about the course you've applied to
- chat with current students
- familiarise yourself with academic staff and facilities
- engage with our student support services