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. 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 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 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 contextual offer if the following applies to you:

• The postcode that you have provided as your home address 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). Check your postcode to see if you would be eligible here.
• You have been looked after or in care for more than three months

How to apply

You don’t need to do anything differently, you just need to submit your UCAS form in the usual way by 15 January (or 15 October 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.

A small number of unconditional offers will be made in the 2020 Admissions cycle to selected, high achieving students who apply to Newcastle University.

We make unconditional offers to applicants who can demonstrate excellent academic achievement. The criteria for receiving an unconditional offer may vary depending on the course you have applied to but will always require high academic ability alongside an outstanding personal statement and teacher reference.

Applicants with Scottish Highers, who have already achieved our entrance requirements but are applying based on their predicted grades for Advanced Highers, may receive an unconditional offer based on the results they have already obtained.

As one of the top universities for sport in the country, we are committed to nurturing 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. You will be required to demonstrate previous and current sporting achievements and 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 one grade 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.