The Student Room Group

Ucas application contexual offers urgent help needed

Hi so i have 2 questions, please could a specialist answer them as I want the most accurate info
1. My parents have moved address its only been a few months, my old house was eligible for contexual offers BUT MY NEW ONE IS NOT. This is extremely unfair as I have lived in my old home for more than 12 years, my entire childhood and for it to suddenly not count is so disappointing like my parents moved but their income is still low and i checked on the eligibility tool and now im not eligible, what should i do
2. I have previous and ongoing HUGE amounts of medical history that has impacted and still impacts my learning, performance AND I wanted to ask whether UCAS does take that into account and if so, what does it do with it and is it used efficiently, i have no info on medical history on UCAS but it has significantly impacted my learning and progress
3. Say I make an aspirational offer, do unis actually look at it?? I have done PATHWAYS AND ACCESS PROGRAMMES

Reply 1

Original post by IMABUFF
Hi so i have 2 questions, please could a specialist answer them as I want the most accurate info
1. My parents have moved address its only been a few months, my old house was eligible for contexual offers BUT MY NEW ONE IS NOT. This is extremely unfair as I have lived in my old home for more than 12 years, my entire childhood and for it to suddenly not count is so disappointing like my parents moved but their income is still low and i checked on the eligibility tool and now im not eligible, what should i do
2. I have previous and ongoing HUGE amounts of medical history that has impacted and still impacts my learning, performance AND I wanted to ask whether UCAS does take that into account and if so, what does it do with it and is it used efficiently, i have no info on medical history on UCAS but it has significantly impacted my learning and progress
3. Say I make an aspirational offer, do unis actually look at it?? I have done PATHWAYS AND ACCESS PROGRAMMES

Have you spoken to a teacher about your UCAS application? If you have anything which counts towards a contextual offer e.g. medical history, they should help you to put it in your reference, and some universities send you an extra form for you to fill in so they can decide whether you are eligible for a contextual offer

Reply 2

Original post by IMABUFF
Hi so i have 2 questions, please could a specialist answer them as I want the most accurate info
1. My parents have moved address its only been a few months, my old house was eligible for contexual offers BUT MY NEW ONE IS NOT. This is extremely unfair as I have lived in my old home for more than 12 years, my entire childhood and for it to suddenly not count is so disappointing like my parents moved but their income is still low and i checked on the eligibility tool and now im not eligible, what should i do
2. I have previous and ongoing HUGE amounts of medical history that has impacted and still impacts my learning, performance AND I wanted to ask whether UCAS does take that into account and if so, what does it do with it and is it used efficiently, i have no info on medical history on UCAS but it has significantly impacted my learning and progress
3. Say I make an aspirational offer, do unis actually look at it?? I have done PATHWAYS AND ACCESS PROGRAMMES

Every university has different criteria for contextual offers so you would need to check for the universities concerned. Some base their offers on postcodes, others schooling, most accept students who have been in care and some accept pathways or free school meals. Some accept 1 of the above others require 2. There is no general national rules as regards conditions for contextual offers so itis impossible to answer your query.

The consideration regarding post codes is it goes on the address you have shown on the ucas form. If you have moved into a non contextual area before applying through ucas I am afraid you have lost that as a flag. You could try asking each university but the likelyhood is they will reject that.

As far as illness is concerned most dont use that for contextual offers. Contextual offers are based on social economic factors not illnesses. However you might be treated for extenuating circumstances due to illness. This would be considered in the event you do not meet your grades and not for reduced offers.

You would probably need to complete a form for your university and your referee would need to mention this in your reference. There is no guarantee a university will accept this but it is worth a try and you will probably need your doctors support as evidence for this.

As far as your parents income is concerned some universities accept free school meals or low income families as a flag for contextual offers so you would need to look into that.

Pathways or access schemes sometimes give lower offers to their university and this is something you need to look into.

In conclusion, you will need to look into each universities contextual flags for yourself but you have probably ruled out post code for these. Try googling x university contextual offers to see your university's rules.

Reply 3

Original post by swanseajack1
Every university has different criteria for contextual offers so you would need to check for the universities concerned. Some base their offers on postcodes, others schooling, most accept students who have been in care and some accept pathways or free school meals. Some accept 1 of the above others require 2. There is no general national rules as regards conditions for contextual offers so itis impossible to answer your query.
The consideration regarding post codes is it goes on the address you have shown on the ucas form. If you have moved into a non contextual area before applying through ucas I am afraid you have lost that as a flag. You could try asking each university but the likelyhood is they will reject that.
As far as illness is concerned most dont use that for contextual offers. Contextual offers are based on social economic factors not illnesses. However you might be treated for extenuating circumstances due to illness. This would be considered in the event you do not meet your grades and not for reduced offers.
You would probably need to complete a form for your university and your referee would need to mention this in your reference. There is no guarantee a university will accept this but it is worth a try and you will probably need your doctors support as evidence for this.
As far as your parents income is concerned some universities accept free school meals or low income families as a flag for contextual offers so you would need to look into that.
Pathways or access schemes sometimes give lower offers to their university and this is something you need to look into.
In conclusion, you will need to look into each universities contextual flags for yourself but you have probably ruled out post code for these. Try googling x university contextual offers to see your university's rules.

Here is Bristol's conditions for contextual offers

You may be eligible for a contextual offer if one of the following statements applies to you:
You have attended an aspiring state school or college













You live in an area with low progression to higher education





You have completed a University of Bristol outreach programme

You have spent time in care



You attend a Venturers Trust secondary school


You receive (or have received) free school meals


The University currently makes contextual offers to applicants who meet one or more of these criteria and are taking A-levels or the International Baccalaureate diploma. Contextual offer levels for these qualifications are stated on each course entry in our course finder.

Reply 4

Here is Leeds conditions but you need to meet 2

1. Personal circumstances criteria
You must meet two or more of the following criteria:
Your parents or carers did not go to university


Your home postcode is in an area with low levels of participation in higher education


You are from a household with a gross annual income of £25,000 or below



You attended or attend a school which achieved below the national average Attainment 8 score at GCSE




Your studies have been disrupted due to personal circumstances


You are care experienced
Original post by IMABUFF
Hi so i have 2 questions, please could a specialist answer them as I want the most accurate info
1. My parents have moved address its only been a few months, my old house was eligible for contexual offers BUT MY NEW ONE IS NOT. This is extremely unfair as I have lived in my old home for more than 12 years, my entire childhood and for it to suddenly not count is so disappointing like my parents moved but their income is still low and i checked on the eligibility tool and now im not eligible, what should i do
2. I have previous and ongoing HUGE amounts of medical history that has impacted and still impacts my learning, performance AND I wanted to ask whether UCAS does take that into account and if so, what does it do with it and is it used efficiently, i have no info on medical history on UCAS but it has significantly impacted my learning and progress
3. Say I make an aspirational offer, do unis actually look at it?? I have done PATHWAYS AND ACCESS PROGRAMMES

1. Your address on UCAS needs to be accurate at the point at which you apply. If you moved house midway through your studies, it's worth notifying your uni choices to see if they still might consider you eligible for that specific marker. They may ask for evidence
2. This should have been noted by your referee in the relevant section of the reference.
3. Yes, many unis makes aspirational offers, (and indeed it's recommended to have at least 1 aspirational choice), and access programmes may help with this.

Reply 6

Original post by Admit-One
1. Your address on UCAS needs to be accurate at the point at which you apply. If you moved house midway through your studies, it's worth notifying your uni choices to see if they still might consider you eligible for that specific marker. They may ask for evidence
2. This should have been noted by your referee in the relevant section of the reference.
3. Yes, many unis makes aspirational offers, (and indeed it's recommended to have at least 1 aspirational choice), and access programmes may help with this.
do aspirational offers ever get offers? Please could you check this for Law at Manchester Uni
Original post by IMABUFF
do aspirational offers ever get offers? Please could you check this for Law at Manchester Uni


Countless unis make aspirational offers. I can't answer for law at MU. It's worth contacting them to check specifically. They should be honest if you have no chance.

Reply 8

Original post by IMABUFF
do aspirational offers ever get offers? Please could you check this for Law at Manchester Uni

You need to do the checking, not helpers on here.

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