Application Decisions
Find out what happens after you have applied to study with us, and what happens next.
Registering for our Apply to Newcastle portal
After you've applied via UCAS for a course at Newcastle University, we will send an email to invite you to register for our Apply to Newcastle portal. You'll be able to upload supporting documents, see how your application is progressing and make enquiries.
How will your application be assessed?
Entry to degrees is competitive. Don't assume that you will receive an offer if you have achieved or are predicted to achieve the grades listed as typical entrance requirements. Admissions tutors take into account your whole application, not just exam results.
This may include:
- your personal statement
- your school or college reference
- evidence of relevant skills or aptitude
- any special circumstances which affect your application
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.
Offers
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.
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
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 2024 entry.
- Eligibility requirements for our contextual offers and supported entry routes are updated each year.
- For 2025 entry, the eligibility requirements will be updated before the UCAS application process opens in September 2024.
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. You may be eligible to receive a lower contextual offer if the following applies to you. These offers apply across all subject areas at the University.
What contextual information do we review?
Home postcode
You may be eligible for a contextual offer if the postcode that you have provided as your home address on your UCAS application form is defined as a neighbourhood where the proportion of students going into higher education is low (determined by POLAR4 data, specifically quintiles 1 and 2).
Care experienced students
You may be eligible for a contextual offer if you have experienced any time in care during your life. It's important that you declare this on your UCAS form so that this can be taken into account as part of the admissions process.
Free school meals
You may be eligible for a contextual offer if you are eligible for free school meals. It's important that you declare this on your UCAS form so that this can be taken into account as part of the admissions process.
Find out why you should consider declaring your eligibility for free school meals on your UCAS form
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
How to apply
You don’t need to do anything differently, you just need to submit your UCAS form in the usual way by 26 January 2023 (or 15 October 2022 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.
Alternative offers to Newcastle (including PARTNERS)
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.
PARTNERS Programme
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.
Students complete PARTNERS in the year prior to starting University (usually year 13).
.
PARTNERS in Engineering, Maths and Physics
We've expanded the criteria for PARTNERS supported entry for some of our courses. This applies to our 2023 courses in Engineering, Mathematics & Statistics and Physics.
This is in response to the predicted national skills shortage by Government in these key economic subject areas.
Through PARTNERS, we aim to support all our applicants who have been affected by lost learning as a result of the pandemic.
Find out which courses are eligible.
Realising Opportunities Programme (ROP)
Successful completion of ROP may result in an offer that is two A level grades lower (or equivalent) than the typical entry requirements.
Students must apply for ROP in year 12.
Find out more about Realising Opportunities.
Pathways to Law (Sutton Trust)
Successful completion of Pathways to Law may result in an offer to Law (M101) that is three A level grades lower (or equivalent) than the typical entry requirements.
Students must apply for Pathways to Law in year 12.
.
Pathways to Medicine (Sutton Trust)
Successful completion of Pathways to Medicine may result in an offer to Medicine & Surgery (A100) that is three A level grades lower (or equivalent) than the typical entry requirements.
Students must apply for Pathways to Medicine in year 12.
Find out about Pathways to Medicine.
Offers for 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.
If you are an athlete who competes at regional, national or international level in your sport, then we will consider this when assessing your application. We require you to demonstrate previous and current sporting achievements. You should also have a commitment to continue improving in that sport and representing the University.
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
Find out more about the opportunities that Performance Sport at Newcastle University can offer.
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)
- 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/BMus
- Oral and Dental Health Sciences (Late January - February)
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