A diverse student body is important to us, and we aim to select students with the greatest potential to succeed on degree courses, regardless of their background and circumstances.
A diverse student body is important to us, and we aim to select students with the greatest potential to succeed on our courses, regardless of their background and circumstances.
What is contextual data?
Contextual data is the information we take into consideration alongside what is already on your application that may have impacted your studies, for example, if you have spent time in care. We do this because we understand that sometimes your personal circumstance can impact the grades you achieve and access to other experiences, like extra-curricular activities or work experience.
Why we use contextual data
We want to ensure there are more opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds to attend university. Looking at a range of contextual data alongside the information already on your application gives us a better indication of your potential to excel in your chosen degree and helps us to ensure that all applicants have fair opportunities throughout our admissions process.
What does this mean for me?
If you meet the criteria below and we wish to make you an offer, you will receive a contextual offer up to 16 UCAS points lower than the entry requirements found on our course pages.
Any pre-requisite conditions would still need to be met as per our published entry requirements including GCSE requirements. You would still need to successfully complete any additional selection requirements such as an interview or portfolio.
Am I eligible?
Applicants domiciled in the UK may be eligible for a contextual offer if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Live in a POLAR4* Q1 Postcode
- Have spent time in Care under a Local Authority
We will automatically receive the relevant information, such as your postcode, from your UCAS application. Please see below for further information for Care Leavers and Care Experienced students.
Contextual offers will only apply to students completing a tariffable Level 3 qualification as defined by UCAS and where the standard entry requirements for the course are 64 UCAS points or higher.
Please note, applications made via clearing are excluded from contextual admissions.
Further information on POLAR4 Quintile 1
*POLAR – Participation of Local Areas: This measure classifies areas based on how likely young people are to participate in Higher Education across the UK. POLAR4 Q1 is used to show the lowest rate of participation.
Further information on the POLAR measure can be found here:
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/
To find out if your postcode is associated with POLAR4 Quintile 1, you can use the following postcode lookup:
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/search-by-postcode/
Further information for Care Leavers and Care Experienced students
In order to qualify, you must be under the age of 25 at the start of your undergraduate degree and have spent 13 weeks in local authority care after the age of 14. It is essential that you indicate that you have spent time in care when you complete your application.
You will also need to email us and attach a letter on headed paper from your local authority, signed by either a social worker, personal advisor or a member of the leaving care team, confirm that:
- You spent 13 weeks in care after the age of 14
- The dates you were in care
- Whether you were still in care on your 18th birthday and have Care Leaver status, OR, whether you ceased to be looked after before the age of 18 and are a Care Experienced student rather than a Care Leaver.
Letters should be emailed to us as at contextualadmissions@greenwich.ac.uk
This will help us to identify and contact you to support you with our contextual admissions service and your journey into Higher Education.
You can also take a look at our Greenwich Cares webpage to find out lots more about the support that is available to you whilst you are studying at the University of Greenwich.
FAQ
What happens if I have already been given a conditional offer?
If you contact us at contextualadmissions@greenwich.ac.uk and attach the evidence requested, we may be able to make you a renewed offer at a lower tariff.
What happens if my application has already been rejected?
E-mail us at contextualadmissions@greenwich.ac.uk to inform us that your application has been rejected and we will review your application.
Travel reimbursements
If you’re eligible for a contextual offer, you can apply for up to £50 to reimburse you for travel costs when you attend an offer holder event. See our terms and conditions to find out more.
Access Greenwich
In some circumstances, where you are not eligible for the degree you have applied for, we may decide that it would be appropriate to offer you an alternative pathway to Greenwich, which would involve completing our Access Greenwich course before progressing to one of our degrees.
What is Access Greenwich?
A four-week access course designed to introduce you to a range of independent, digital and academic skills to support your success at university. The course is free for all students who have been invited to take part.
How do I accept a place on Access Greenwich?
If you have been invited to take part in Access Greenwich, please email outreach@gre.ac.uk to confirm your place. You will receive a reply with information about the first day and your course timetable.
How can I find out more about Access Greenwich?
You can find more information on the Access Greenwich webpage.