University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) uses the information provided in your UCAS application to fairly evaluate your chances of succeeding during your studies with us. We ensure that we use more than just your grades and predicted grades to consider whether you will benefit and thrive from our study experience. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’.

The additional context we gain through analysis of this data supports us in recognising your achievements to date and this helps us identify your potential to succeed.   

UWTSD is committed to widening access and ensuring that those with the potential to succeed are encouraged to apply to study with us.

How we use contextual data

Every application is considered on an individual basis and the information we use is obtained from your UCAS application.

To identify whether you qualify for a contextual offer, the following information will be taken into consideration:

1. Your home postcode is in a Low Participation Neighbourhood

If you are identified as being in POLAR4 quintile 1 or 2 you will qualify for a contextual offer.

The information provided to us by UCAS enables us to identify if you currently live in a postcode assigned to the lowest POLAR4 quintile.  Please check the Office for Students's register to see if your postcode is within POLAR4 Quintile 1 or 2. 

2. First generation to attend Higher Education  

If you are the first generation of your family to enter Higher Education, you will qualify for a contextual offer. This information is provided to us by UCAS, as part of your application form.

3. You have been in care or have been looked after for three months or more 

If you have been in care or have been looked after for three months or more, you will qualify for a contextual offer. 

This information is provided on your UCAS application, so it is important that you declare this when applying. 

What offer will I receive if I receive a contextual offer?

If you qualify for a contextual offer, you will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that course or will have this taken into consideration when results are released, meaning that we may be able to accept you even if you marginally fail to achieve your predicted grades.

The use of contextual data enables us to fairly identify that you can succeed on your chosen programme at UWTSD, and this means that we can confidently make you an offer at a lower grade.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is contextual admissions?

We take your whole application into account when making and confirming offers. During the application process, we will consider your personal statement to identify your motivations for studying with us, your reference, and your predicted grades. Using contextual admissions enables us to use and consider further information when making or confirming your offer. We build a picture of who you are in order to be sure that you can thrive at UWTSD.

2. Which factors does UWTSD consider when making or confirming an offer?

If you apply via UCAS, in addition to your predicted grades, personal statement and reference, we will also consider the factors listed below:

  • If you live in an area of disadvantage or an area with lower progression to Higher Education (POLAR 4 quintile 1 or 2). This data will be gathered from the home postcode submitted as part of your UCAS application.
  • If you are within the first generation of your immediate family (parents, step-parents, guardians) to apply to undertake a Higher Education qualification. This data is gathered as part of your UCAS application. 
  • If you have been in public care for three months or more. This data is gathered as part of the UCAS application. 
  • If you meet any of these criteria, UWTSD can make you a contextual offer or you will have this taken into consideration when results are released, meaning that we may be able to accept you even if you marginally fail to achieve your predicted grades.
3. How do you identify that I qualify for a contextual offer?

We gather data about each factor from your UCAS application. It is important to carefully complete these sections to ensure we have the most accurate information available to consider. 

4. Is my home postcode in a low participation area?

You can check if your postcode falls into Quintile 1 or Quintile 2 on the register of the Office for Students.

5. Do I need to provide any further information?

No. We will gather the information we need from your UCAS application

6. What do I do if I think my UCAS application is no longer accurate?

Please email admissions@uwtsd.ac.uk if you need to provide further details to your application. It is important that you also contact UCAS and ask them to update your application with the missing information.

If we have already made you an offer, we will revisit your application to check that you have the correct offer.  

7. Do all courses qualify for contextual admissions?

No. Some courses have requirements imposed by professional bodies and we are unable to make or confirm offers lower than the standard offer. A list of programmes that do not qualify for contextual offers can be found below.

Institute of Management and Health (IMH)

Insitute of Education and Humanities (IEH)

Wales Insitute Science and Art (WISA)

8. How will I know I have been made a contextual offer?

If you have been identified as eligible for a contextual offer, this will be made clear to you in the offer letter sent from UWTSD.

9. I am an international student and have applied through UCAS. Am I eligible for a contextual offer?

Unfortunately, contextual offers cannot be made to international students.

10. I did not apply via UCAS. Am I eligible for a contextual offer?

We can only issue contextual offers to UCAS applicants as the information is captured on the UCAS application.

11. I meet the criteria to receive a contextual offer, but my offer has not been reduced. Why?

Firstly, check that your course qualifies for contextual offers. If your course is not excluded, it may be that you are predicted to comfortably meet the standard entry criteria. If this is the case, we have made you the standard offer.

However, if you do not obtain the grades required, we will review and prioritise your application, considering the contextual data on your UCAS application.

12. I have applied to a UWTSD course taught at a partner college. Am I eligible for a contextual offer?

No, we can only make contextual offers to students that apply to study directly with UWTSD. Our partner colleges have their own admissions policies and procedures. 

13. How to contact us?

At UWTSD we ensure that every applicant is treated as an individual and this means that you may find that offers can differ between individuals. If you wish to discuss your own offer, please contact us at admissions@uwtsd.ac.uk