Contextual Offers
At University Centre Somerset (part of UCS College Group), we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants. Because academic qualifications alone do not always reflect your full potential, we consider your grades and experience in the context of your background and life experiences.
Where appropriate, we make contextual offers based on evidence of your suitability to succeed and flourish on your chosen course.
What is a Contextual Offer?
If you meet one or more of our contextual criteria, you may receive:
-
A Reduced Tariff Offer: An offer up to 16 UCAS Tariff points below the standard entry requirements for your chosen degree programme (subject to a minimum offer of 48 points).
-
An Unconditional Offer: In some cases—such as for mature students or applicants with extenuating circumstances—an unconditional offer may be made where relevant experience or supporting evidence can be provided.
Important Course Exceptions:
-
Contextual point reductions do not apply to Top-Up Degrees (which require a Level 5 qualification outside the UCAS tariff) or Foundation Degrees where the standard entry tariff is already set at 48 points.
-
For certain regulated courses, such as Nursing, lived experience cannot be accepted in place of standard academic entry requirements.
Who is eligible?
We consider a range of factors when assessing your academic potential, including (but not limited to) whether you:
-
Live in a neighbourhood where a low proportion of students progress into higher education.
-
Completed your studies at a school or college where performance was below average and eligibility for Free School Meals was higher than average.
-
Are a care leaver, a young carer, or estranged from your parents or carers.
-
Are a mature student (over the age of 21 at the time of application).
-
Have experienced extenuating circumstances—such as illness or bereavement—that may have impacted your exam performance.
-
Are seeking asylum, have limited leave to remain, are under ‘humanitarian protection’, or have been granted refugee status with indefinite leave to remain. (Note: Applicants in this category are eligible without needing to meet other indicators, provided you supply supporting evidence of your current immigration status, such as a Biometric Residence Permit, Home Office letter, or solicitor’s letter).
How to apply
-
Submit your application through UCAS as normal, making sure all sections of the form are completed accurately and in full.
-
Automatic assessment: Our admissions team will review your application against the standard entry requirements for your course with contextual offer considerations automatically in mind.
For complete details on how we assess applications and support widening participation, please read our full policy documents below: