How to apply
Frequently asked questions
What happens after you have applied?
How long does it take for a decision to be made on an application?
I have declined your offer, but now wish to accept. What can I do?
I have already been to an Open Day - what is the difference between an Open Day and a Offer Holder Visit Day? Do I need to come again?
Does the University take into account parental participation at Higher Education?
Once I have been accepted on to my chosen course unconditionally, what happens next?
When does term start?
When is/ how is my accommodation allocated?
Can I defer my place?
I've lost my examination certificates, what should I do?
Will I be called to interview?
What do I do if illness or family problems have affected my academic performance and I do not think I will meet the conditions specified in my offer?
If my academic performance has affected my studies and I am unable to satisfy the conditions of my offer, but have a deferred place, will I be made the same offer for the following year?
I want to change programme
How long does it take for a decision to be made on an application?
We will normally be able to notify you of our decision within 4 to 6 weeks of the date of your application. The decision period will tend to be longer for our most competitive courses where we receive a high number of applications and places are limited and where you need to attend for interview.
Decisions on applications submitted by 15 January will normally be made by the end of March at the latest. For undergraduate full-time applications, UCAS will inform you of our official decision and conditions although the University will also write to you informally. To monitor the status of your UCAS application you can use the UCAS Track service.
I have declined your offer, but now wish to accept. What can I do?
UCAS allows applicants to amend their choices up to 7 calendar days after their initial decision. Applicants should contact UCAS directly if they wish to do this. After 7 days changes can only be made with the permission of the institutions concerned.
Does the University take into account parental participation at Higher Education?
Information on parental participation in HE may now be entered on the UCAS form but is not mandatory and we do not use it in making admissions decisions. As part of our admissions policy, we take into account relevant contextual data that can be verified and which may have affected your academic attainment to date. However, there is no guarantee that contextual information will necessarily mean the offer of a place, as each application will be considered holistically.
I have already been to an Open Day - what is the difference between an Open Day and a Offer Holder Visit Day? Do I need to visit again?
The general Open Days give a broad overview of the University and its extensive facilities, whereas the Offer Holder Visit Days are more specific and relate closely to the course that you have chosen to study. Each School holds its own Offer Holder Visit Days, and academic staff will be available to discuss courses in detail. If you have visited the University previously, it is not compulsory to visit again unless you are applying for a course which requires an interview.
Once I have been accepted on to my chosen course unconditionally, what happens next?
For all applicants holding an unconditional offer, we send out accommodation information from Easter onwards. Joining instructions, giving details of enrolment, term dates and other useful information will be sent in August.
When does term start?
See the full list of our term dates.
When/how is my accommodation allocated?
We allocate accommodation when the results of A levels and other examinations are known in late August. You do not need to inform the Accommodation Office of your results as this is automatically done by the Admissions Office. Please visit our Accommodation section for further information.
Can I defer my place?
If you wish to defer you will have to contact the admissions office who will ask for any request to be put in writing preferable via email.
I've lost my examination certificates, what should I do?
If you cannot locate your original GCSE, A level or AS level certificates we will accept proof of your results from your school or college as long as these results are presented on official paper. Alternatively, you can contact the awarding body or exam board.
Will I be called to interview?
A minority of courses require an interview. If this applies to the course for which you are applying, this will be stated clearly in the Entry Requirements section of the relevant subject entry. Further details can be found in the Admissions Interview Policy.
What do I do if illness or family problems have affected my academic performance and I do not think I will meet the conditions specified in my offer?
You should ask your school or college to write directly to our Undergraduate Admissions team with a full explanation of how your illness or family problems have affected your academic performance. A doctor's certificate or letter may also be used if appropriate. We advise you to contact us as soon as possible, preferably before the A level results are released, about any situation that may be affecting your performance. Whilst we will give due consideration to any extenuating circumstances, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to confirm a place if you do not meet the conditions of your offer.
If illness or other factors have affected my academic performance and I do not complete any qualifications that are part of my conditional offer, but have a deferred place, will I be made the same offer for the following year?
If you do not satisfy the conditions of your offer by August 31 in the year of application and we are unable to confirm your deferred entry place, it will be necessary for you to withdraw and re-apply through UCAS for entry in the following year. Whilst we will give due consideration to students who have been affected by illness or other extenuating circumstances, it is not our policy to guarantee an identical offer for any new application.
I want to change programme
If you are an applicant and have not yet registered on a programme with us and wish to be considered for a different programme to the one you applied for please contact the Admissions Office.
If you are a registered Undergraduate student in your first year of study wishing to transfer between Colleges, please contact the Admissions Office to obtain the appropriate form. Please note that you will also need to obtain your form from Admissions if you are applying to re-start your first year on a new programme of study in a different College. If the change you are requesting is to a programme in the same College please contact your College. The peak time for change of programme requests for Year 1 is by the fourth week after the start of the term. Normally changes will not be permitted within the first year after this date.
