UCAS

Contextual Offer

Ben Maples  · Dec 15th 2021

When applying to university, it is important to know about the different types of offers that are available for university students.

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Sometimes, students need an alternative route to studying at university; this is where a contextual offer comes in, however, not all universities have contextual offers for students.

There are a number of offers that students will already be familiar with, such as a conditional offer and an unconditional offer and may already be aware of certain procedures such as mitigating circumstances, but very few people are aware of what a contextual offer is or how it works, so what is the contextual offer meaning?


Contextual Offer schools list

What is a contextual offer?

A contextual offer is an offer where a university has taken the personal circumstances of a potential student into account. Usually, this is done to accommodate students with difficult circumstances.

For example, if a university has an entry requirement of AAB, but a student has attended a school or college with very low progression rates or if the student has had their learning disrupted (such as a change in parental statuses or spending time in local authority care), then the university that you are applying to may well lower their entry requirements for students.

It is impossible to say for sure how many universities offer contextual offers and which university courses they are open for.

How do you qualify for a contextual offer?

Many universities will have different requirements for what they consider to be qualification for a contextual offer, however, the most common requirements to reach for a contextual offer are:

  • Be a first-generation higher education student (basically, be the first in your family to attend university).
  • Come from a low socio-economic group.
  • Attend a school or college with low progression rates.
  • Live in a low-participation neighbourhood.
  • Have participated in Access to University or Widening Participation programmes.
  • You have a disability or learning difficulty of some kind.
  • Are a young carer.
  • Your school or college is eligible for contextual offers (not always necessary).
  • Are entitled to free school meals or discretionary payments.
  • Are a refugee or an asylum seeker.
  • Have spent time in care.

The eligibility factors will change depending on where you're applying, but these are the most common and widely used criteria for people to meet.


Contextual Offer university

How do I apply for a contextual offer?

This is dependent on the university that you're applying to and depends on the entrance requirements for the university.

It has been known for certain universities, such as Newcastle University, Aston University and Durham University to screen any UCAS applications before making selections, so as to see what postcode students came from or to cross-reference the predicted results of the student against their school or college’s progression rates.

It has also been fairly common for universities to have separate application forms for students that are filled out alongside their initial UCAS Application. Students who apply directly to the university rather than through UCAS may find that it is easier to obtain a contextual offer.

It is impossible to say for sure how many universities offer contextual offers and which university courses they are open for.

What is the Sutton Trust?

It is known for students that have received a contextual offer to use the Sutton Trust to give students an idea of what specific university courses are like.

This is a free summer programme for students to experience taster sessions of specific courses at university, which are:

  • Banking & Finance
  • Law
  • Medicine

It is common for students to use the Sutton Trust prior to applying, so as to understand if this is the course that they want to be studying on. For many students, it is important to make their choice correctly, so applying for a Sutton Trust programme is a great way to learn that.


What is a Contextual Fffer at university?

Which universities offer contextual offers?

It is impossible to say for sure how many universities offer contextual offers and which university courses they are open for. Not all universities offer contextual offers for students, but it is unlikely that you will find any that don’t offer contextual offers in some form.

If you are unsure, it is sometimes a good idea to speak to the Admissions Office of the university you're thinking of applying to and seeing what the university’s official position on contextual offers is.

It has also been fairly common for universities to have separate application forms for students that are filled out alongside their initial UCAS Application.

What is POLAR?

POLAR is the Participation of Local Areas, a system used to help students determine which category they fall into. POLAR1 is the lowest region, while POLAR5 is the highest. This search function is often used by universities to try and determine the catchment area and opportunities for students and is sometimes used to determine whether or not a student is entitled to a contextual offer. The system is often referred to as a contextual offer postcode checker.

POLAR uses different area types to assess a student’s viability, which is usually broken down into three separate criteria:

  • MSOAs/IZs/SOAs: Middle Layer Super Output (MSOA) is used in England and Wales, Scotland uses Intermediate Zone (IZ) and Northern Ireland uses Super Outer Area (SOA). These are areas that usually have a population between 5,000 and 15,000 and have between 2,000 and 6,000 households.
  • LOSOAs: This is a Lower Layer Super Output Areas which represents a slightly smaller area. This means a population between 1,000 and 3,000 with between 400 and 1,200 households.
  • CAS Wards: Is Census Area Statistics (CAS) using 2001 census data.

It’s not particularly important to know what the area types are for you to know, however, it can be a good way to know how your postcode is taken into account.

You will also find out whether or not you are in a Uni Connect Target Area as well. Uni Connect is a system that offers different programmes, activities and advice for underrepresented students looking to go to university or other forms of higher education.

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