Contextual Offers
Opening the way for fairer access to higher education
At the University of Chichester we're passionate about making higher education accessible for all and breaking down the barriers that may stand between you and a fair chance to study your chosen course.
Our contextual offers are one of the ways we give students the access and support needed to succeed in higher education, regardless of background, as part of our commitment to widening participation.
There are no separate forms to fill out. Simply apply through UCAS as normal and we will review your achievements in the context of your personal circumstances when considering your application.
What is a contextual offer?
When we review your UCAS application we take into account any additional information that indicates challenges preventing you from attending university.
If you meet the eligibility criteria you may receive an offer that requires lower grades than usual for your chosen course - this is called a contextual offer.
Our contextual offer is an entry requirement reduction of 16 UCAS tariff points (equivalent to two A-level grades or one BTEC grade) for all eligible undergraduate degree courses. For foundation year courses the reduction is 8 UCAS tariff points.
Further details of our standard entry requirements can be found on our course pages.
Am I eligible?
Our contextual offers are open to UK applicants applying for undergraduate courses. The following factors are considered when deciding if you are eligible for a contextual offer.
- Having been in receipt of free school meals - during your secondary education
- Where you live - specifically living within a POLAR4 quintile (which looks at higher education participation by postcode area). You can check your postcode to see which area you are in.
- Being a care leaver - having been in formal care for at least three months.
- Having caring responsibilities - if you are an unpaid carer for a family member or a friend.
- Having refugee status
- You or a parent/carer that currently serves, or has served, in the UK Armed Forces.
- Having declared one of the following disabilities:
- Social or communication conditions such as autism/autistic spectrum condition.
- Blindness or serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses.
- Deafness or serious hearing impediment.
- Long-term or chronic health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, or cancer.
- A mental health condition such as depression, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorder.
- Physical impairment or mobility issues.
If you have a disability that is not listed above, please contact our admissions team to discuss further.
Some of our programmes have course-specific entry requirements. In these instances, contextual offers may differ from the grade adjustments outlined above.
How to apply
Apply as usual through UCAS and we will review your application once it has been received.
Within the UCAS application form, there are questions about your circumstances. These allow you to share information that will help us decide if you are eligible for a contextual offer.
You can also use your referee to provide context about your achievements. Your teacher, for example, could discuss any challenges you have experienced that may have affected your grades.
If you have any additional queries about applying please email admissions@chi.ac.uk.
What happens next?
Once we have received your UCAS application we will review it in the context of the eligibility criteria above. We may request supporting evidence to show eligibility before making a decision.
Some courses require all applicants (regardless of contextual eligibility) to attend an interview or audition before an offer is made. Please check your course page or our interviews and auditions page for further details.
If a contextual offer is made it will appear in your UCAS Hub and appear the same as a non-contextual offer.
If you have any questions about your application or want to know more about contextual offers, please email admissions@chi.ac.uk.
