University Dispensation

[Wazza]

Some advice from anyone please. A colleague my wife works with has said that because of the area we come from when applying for Uni there is some dispensation where you don’t need to necessarily achieve the required grades
Have googled and can’t find anything. Can anyone shed any light? Maybe a possible safety net for DD in 2022

[dubletrub]

Originally Posted by Wazza

Some advice from anyone please. A colleague my wife works with has said that because of the area we come from when applying for Uni there is some dispensation where you don’t need to necessarily achieve the required grades
Have googled and can’t find anything. Can anyone shed any light? Maybe a possible safety net for DD in 2022

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Each university is different but from what I remember it wasn't all postcodes and it may only be 1 subject grade drop.
My husband died just before my daughter's GCSEs and her mental health suffered during her A levels and this was mentioned by the college. Although we live in a deprived area of our town our postcode wasn't covered. Will see if I can find a link

[DisneyDaffodil]

It’s known as a contextual offer. Many universities offer it to students who live in underprivileged areas or attend underachieving schools. They tend to drop a grade for these students, so a course asking for AAA will accept AAB or similar if the student meets the criteria.

Most university websites have details if you search for contextual offers. Generally it doesn’t need any special application as the university can tell from the post code and the former school address if the prospective student is eligible. The student still has to receive an offer, so it’s not a case of just being from the underprivileged area. They still have to meet other criteria such as appropriate subjects taken and their personal statement

[mrsdjh]

If you look at the admissions for the unis she is interested in, they will say if they have a widening participation or access scheme. There are various factors they can take into account which may mean they can get a lower offer but they can vary.

For example my daughter was given a lower offer from Newcastle University on their Partners Scheme of BCC rather than the standard offer of ABB so long as she put it as her confirmed choice and attended a 5 day summer school (she didnt choose it in the end). They had 14 criteria and you only had to hit one to apply - she didn't qualify on our postcode but did on her school progress.

[Wazza]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like our postcode just misses out. DD sits her a levels this year and is having a gap year before applying. She’s confident of getting the required grades in History and Media but is not so confident in Politics, although her mocks suggest her lack of confidence is misplaced.
Neither myself or Mrs Wazza went to Uni so it’s all a bit of minefield

[ChoppyGirl]

DD automatically was given a contextual offer for Bristol this year. The uni she ended up going to had the same criteria but you had to apply in writing (which we didn’t realise until it was too late) - that was Surrey. For vet med Bristol normally want AAA but went down to AAC.

You normally have to meet 2 out of the list if criteria but check on the uni websites as they differ. The main ones are:

Postcode, either deprived or not many went to uni
College
Parents didn’t go to uni


DD met all three as neither me nor DH went to uni, the postcode (lots of old people in our postcode) plus the college. DD went to Hartpury which is an agricultural college so many did btecs rather than A levels so didn’t go not uni.

It’s basically about getting people who come from backgrounds who don’t normally go to uni a slightly better chance.

In the end DD didn’t need the contextual offer buts it’s nice to have a safety net.

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by ChoppyGirl

DD automatically was given a contextual offer for Bristol this year. The uni she ended up going to had the same criteria but you had to apply in writing (which we didn’t realise until it was too late) - that was Surrey. For vet med Bristol normally want AAA but went down to AAC.

You normally have to meet 2 out of the list if criteria but check on the uni websites as they differ. The main ones are:

Postcode, either deprived or not many went to uni
College
Parents didn’t go to uni


DD met all three as neither me nor DH went to uni, the postcode (lots of old people in our postcode) plus the college. DD went to Hartpury which is an agricultural college so many did btecs rather than A levels so didn’t go not uni.

It’s basically about getting people who come from backgrounds who don’t normally go to uni a slightly better chance.

In the end DD didn’t need the contextual offer buts it’s nice to have a safety net.

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We’re hoping she won’t need it but like you say it’s nice to have a safety net. She’s also confident of doing well in her EPQ so that will also help
The fact she’s decided to take a year off will give her a bit of breathing space to asses her options. She says she needs a break from the constant learning.
She did her GCSES at a low attaining school but she did extremely well and is doing A levels at one of the top state schools in England. So in a way her hard work has gone slightly against her

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Wazza

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like our postcode just misses out. DD sits her a levels this year and is having a gap year before applying. She’s confident of getting the required grades in History and Media but is not so confident in Politics, although her mocks suggest her lack of confidence is misplaced.
Neither myself or Mrs Wazza went to Uni so it’s all a bit of minefield

See more...

The fact that neither of you have been to uni could be criteria. Also check your DD’s school or sixth form, they may be classed as underachieving or in an underprivileged area.

It varies so much between universities too, so find the criteria on the websites for the universities that you DD has on her shortlist.

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaffodil

The fact that neither of you have been to uni could be criteria. Also check your DD’s school or sixth form, they may be classed as underachieving or in an underprivileged area.

It varies so much between universities too, so find the criteria on the websites for the universities that you DD has on her shortlist.

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Her school maybe, 6th form definitely not😊
Thanks to you lovely Dibbers at least we now know there’s something else to consider other than just results

[Abbysmum]

My daughter was offered reduced entry grades at Bangor Uni, she said it was through the Widening Access Scheme. If I remember they reduced the requirements from something like AAB to BBB, she then had her offer changed to unconditional.

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