Application Decisions
Find out what happens after you have applied to study with us, and what happens next.
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Admissions Policy
When we receive your application, we consider it in accordance with the Newcastle University Admissions Policy (PDF: 562 KB).
Offers
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.
You can find out more about the types of offers from the UCAS website.
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 29 January 2021 (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 2021 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.
Access Schemes and Pathway Programmes
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.
- The PARTNERS Programme for eligible students across the UK
- Realising Opportunities
- Pathways to Law
- Pathways to Medicine
Before you apply
Want to know more about what it's like to be a student at Newcastle University? Find out more from one of our current students through our online chat and messaging system.
Attend an Open Day to explore our beautiful city-centre campus, meet our enthusiastic and dedicated staff and current students and find out more about the course you're interested in.
Join us at one of our on-campus outreach events and activities, designed to help you get a feel for what to expect at University.