Contextual Offers

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.

- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Reply 1

Beanierow

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Contextual change year on year so it really is dependent on the unis as some things may be contextual this year (2026 entry) and not for next year (2027 entry). I suggest you check all of them or narrow it down to 8 you want to check.

Reply 2

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi! @notaf11 🙂
It's great you're looking to apply to university!
Contextual offers are given out based on multiple factors, for example low household income or living in care.
UEA does have a contextual offer eligibility checker which you can try out to see if you will get a contextual offer. You can see this here.
I'd highly recommend you visit at open days to decide which universities to apply to as it will give you the opportunity to see the campuses as well as speak to lecturers and current students!
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions! 🙂
Fatma.

Reply 3

Whatswhat

Huuuge list! Have you got no other criteria for narrowing down ( especially if parents not gone to uni is your only contextual criteria as usually it’s a combination of 2 or more factors).

Reply 4

UoW Haiming

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Contextual offers vary a lot between universities, and being first generation on its own doesn’t automatically guarantee one. At Warwick, first generation status is usually considered as part of a wider contextual assessment rather than a single deciding factor.

For Psychology, Warwick does have a contextual framework, but whether you receive a contextual offer depends on how your overall background is assessed and whether you’re flagged as contextual on UCAS.

In general, being first generation helps, but it’s best to check each university’s criteria or contact admissions directly for clarity

Reply 5

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Unifrog has a tool you can use to check this if you have access to that. Try narrowing your choices down though cos you can only apply for 5 and you should be looking at open days coming up in the summer so you can visit before you apply.

Reply 6

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Heyy @notaf11,

It’s great that you’re thinking about contextual offers early!

At Lancaster University, being a first-generation university student on its own doesn’t usually qualify you for a reduced contextual offer. This is mainly linked to criterias such as having received Free School Meals or having care experience, as declared on UCAS. You can find out more through here.

That said, first-generation status does fall under widening participation, so it can still be taken into account as part of your application alongside your grades, school context, and personal statement. Lancaster is also known for being quite flexible with their entry requirements. Plenty of students (myself included) were accepted even if they were slightly below the stated requirements for their course.

If you do have anymore questions, feel free to ask 😊

Rachel
Lancaster University Student Ambassador

Reply 7

University of Sheffield Students

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi @notaf11!

It's great that you're already considering University of Sheffield! Psychology is a great course to opt for, and has a big cohort here at Sheffield.

I am a first-gen uni student too! I accessed a reduced contextual offer for my course as I fit the 'Access Sheffield' criteria🙂. For Psychology, a contextual offer would mean an offer of ABB as opposed to AAB. You can find out here if you are eligible for the contextual offer via 'Access Sheffield' 😊.

I hope this helps! Do you have any other questions about Uni of Sheffield?
-Alicia, Final Year Medical Student +Intercalated BSc Medical Sciences Research

Reply 8

Royal Holloway, University of London

Official Rep

Hi @notaf11,

It's great to see you're considering your options and have a clear idea of the subject you might like to study at university.

Like other universities, contextual offers are given out based on a range of factors, such as living in Local Authority care, low household income, caring responsibilities or disability, among others.

You can have a read of our contextual offer webpage for more information and to check your eligibility based on your own situation.

If you have any questions, you can chat with our admissions team

I hope this helps you to narrow down your options.

Best wishes,
Royal Holloway, University of London - Official Rep

Reply 9

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi @notaf11
It’s great you’re researching this early! At the University of Southampton, we specifically look at whether you are a first-generation student to help us understand your background.
For the most accurate answer, I recommend using our Contextual Offer Checker on the Southampton website. Just pop in your details, and it will tell you if you're eligible for a reduced offer for Psychology!
Hope this helps!
Anusha
University of Southampton

Reply 10

Kingston Sarah

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hello,

Contextual offers differ from year to year and university to university, try and check the entry requirements for each university (specifically for the subject you're interested in). Normally there's some information about contextual offers in that section.
All the best

-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

Reply 11

Manchester Metropolitan University

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi there!

Well done for getting started thinking about university so early! 🙂

At Manchester Metropolitan University we have a First Generation Scholarship programme, open to Year 12 Students who are living/studying in the North West of England. We give practical support and application guidance to students in Year 12 and 13 to help them access and get ready for to university. Furthermore, if you enrol on a full-time course with us, you'll receive a First Generation bursary of £1500, as well as personal and professional support throughout your studies.

If you meet these criteria, I would highly recommend you visit the First Generation webpage to find out more here: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/first-in-your-family-to-university.

I hope this helps!

Louie

Reply 12

UEA Rep Gaowa

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi! It’s great that you’re already looking into contextual offers in Year 12 — that’s a really smart thing to do and gives you more options when it comes to applying.
The main thing to know is that there isn’t one universal rule. Each university has its own contextual admissions policy, and they usually look at a combination of factors, such as:
• Being the first in your family to go to university
• Household income
• The school you attend
• Your postcode or local progression rates
So you might qualify at some universities on your list but not others, even with the same background.

About UEA specifically
UEA does offer contextual offers as part of its widening participation approach. Being a first-generation university student can be one of the factors considered, usually alongside other information from your application.
For Psychology, students often choose UEA because:
• The course has a strong scientific and research-led focus
• You get access to modern psychology labs and facilities
• There’s a good balance between theory, research skills, and practical work
• The university has a reputation for being supportive and student-focused, which many first-generation students find really helpful when settling in
UEA is also a campus university, so everything is in one place, and Norwich is known for being a safe, student-friendly, and relatively affordable city compared to many larger UK locations.

A quick tip
Since contextual offers vary so much, it’s worth:
• Checking each university’s contextual admissions page
• Using any eligibility checkers they provide
• Applying to a mix of aspirational and more secure choices
If you’d like, you can share your predicted grades and what you’re looking for in a university, and I can help you see how UEA (and your other choices) might fit into a balanced application.

Good luck with your research — you’re definitely starting at the right time.

Reply 13

DurhamRep Rosie

Official Rep

Original post

by notaf11

Hi i am a year 12 student interested in studying psychology at uni and have started doing research on contextual offers. I will be a first generation uni students as my parents did not attend uni. Does anyone know what schools will give a contextual offer for this. I'll list the schools i looking to apply to but if any others do offer it please let me know.
- St Andrews
- York
- Cardiff
- Loughborough
- Exeter
- Kings
- Durham
- Warwick
- Glasgow
- Bristol
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Strathclyde
- Surrey
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Leeds
- Reading
- Manchester
- Royal Holloway
- Lancaster
- Liverpool
- UEA

Hi there!

I'm glad to hear you're interested in studying at Durham - I'm in my second year studying Psychology here and I love it! Let me know if you have any questions about the course. ☺️

In terms of contextual offers, you can read key information, other circumstances and criteria here - https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/. Hopefully this will set you up in the right direction!

I am also a first generation student and received a contextual offer, so I understand the value of this. Durham does also offer fair access and widening participation schemes, which you might be eligible for also. You can take a look at what this entails here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fair-access-and-widening-participation/.

I hope this is helpful! 😄

-Rosie (DU Representative)

Reply 14

mhmd._mnac

Original post

by DurhamRep Rosie

Hi there!
I'm glad to hear you're interested in studying at Durham - I'm in my second year studying Psychology here and I love it! Let me know if you have any questions about the course. ☺️
In terms of contextual offers, you can read key information, other circumstances and criteria here - https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/. Hopefully this will set you up in the right direction!
I am also a first generation student and received a contextual offer, so I understand the value of this. Durham does also offer fair access and widening participation schemes, which you might be eligible for also. You can take a look at what this entails here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fair-access-and-widening-participation/.
I hope this is helpful! 😄
-Rosie (DU Representative)

Hi, Greetings. I have applied to universities, including Durham. I have applied for a BSc in Psychology, with Professional Placement. My ultimate goal js to get into Educational Psychology and leadership. Considering this, Firstly Will Durham help in securing placement? and if yes, will it be in favour of my aspirations? Thank you very much, besides, I am not familiar with UG system, I would also be grateful for other thoughts you may wish to share.... 😇😊😇