Any Additional Applicant Information?

The University welcomes applications from individuals who are disabled, have a long term medical or mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia and aims to support such individuals before and after applying to the University. Information on possible support is available from our Disability Services. Applicants are invited to declare a disability on their application forms. We strongly advise individuals to disclose this information in their applications so that we can make an appropriate assessment of any necessary reasonable adjustments that we can make to support their studies.

This process will also provide information that applicants can take into account when deciding whether to accept an offer made by the University. Please note that failure to disclose a disability at this stage, may delay arrangements for support or any required reasonable adjustments. All applications are considered based on the applicants’ academic merit and potential for their chosen programmes. We do not take information disclosed regarding an applicant’s disability or impairment into account when making a decision on their admission. Applicants for programmes with ‘fitness to practice’ criteria such as teaching are also required to complete an occupational health questionnaire if they are successful in gaining an offer.

Applicants who are offered a place are invited to provide further details about any specific support they might need. Please note that simply declaring a disability on your application form will not automatically mean that support can be provided. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to provide details requested in relation to their required support.

The University will consider the non-standard qualifications or the work or life experience of applicants on an individual basis and with regard to the principles of this Policy, and the academic and other relevant requirements of their chosen programmes of study.

There is no minimum age for entry to the University. However, the admissions criteria for undergraduate courses normally include national qualifications that in general are obtained at the age of 17 or 18. Individuals who join the University before they have reached the age of 18 are admitted under the University’s Safeguarding Policy.

We welcome applications from academically qualified students from around the world. Information on how qualifications gained outside the UK relate to our admissions criteria is published on the University’s website. All entrants to the University must be sufficiently fluent in spoken and written English to be able to succeed on their chosen course of study. The current list of recognized English language qualifications and our 2 requirements in terms of achievement in these qualifications are published on the University’s website. The University offers a number of preparatory courses in English language and we may make an offer conditional on completing one of these. When considering an application, we will take into account whether we can sponsor an applicant who would require a Tier 4 visa in order to study in the UK under the Home Office’s rules. The University reserves the right to reject an application in circumstances where these rules cannot be met. The University is unable to sponsor applicants for the BA in Primary Education and the FdA in Ministerial Theology who would require a Tier 4 visa. We ask self-financing international applicants to make a deposit towards their tuition fees at the point that we offer a place. Students who require a Tier 4 visa must pay the deposit before we will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

We accept applications for advance standing entry into year two, and exceptionally into year three, of many of our courses. Applicants should contact us before applying to check that their chosen course of study is accepting applications for direct entry. Where applicants have completed certain approved courses at recognized providers, admissions decisions are made in the same way as those for entry into the first year. Where applicants have completed other courses, or have achieved academic credit which could count towards a course of study at the University, admissions decisions are made by academic staff on the basis of the applicant’s past and predicted academic performance, personal statement and references. Regulations regarding credit transfer are set out in the University’s Taught Degree Regulations. We do not consider applications for exemption from part of a year of study on undergraduate courses

Applicants are required to disclose unspent convictions on their application forms and where the course of study is likely to bring the individual into contact with children or vulnerable adults, a disclosure will also be sought through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The University is committed to the fair treatment of all applicants and having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an applicant from gaining admission to the University. However, the University recognizes its duty to protect its students, staff and others within its community and reserves the right, to exclude an individual from a course of study or from the University where their attendance would pose a real threat to the safety or property of staff, students, visitors, those coming into contact with the applicant during their studies, or others involved in University business; or would be contrary to the law or the requirements of any relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body.

Applicants are permitted to defer their application for one year when they first apply to the University or by writing to the Admissions Office after their application has been submitted. Any conditions that are attached to an offer for deferred entry must be fulfilled by 31 August of the year of application. Conditional offers cannot be deferred and entry cannot be deferred for more than one year.