Contextual Offers

Guidance for Applicants

Many students have barriers that make it more difficult for them to access higher education.

We want to change that.

And that’s why we’ve introduced our contextual offers – one of the most inclusive schemes available at any university in the UK^*.

By providing offers that take your background into account, we are helping to break down those barriers and level the playing field for all students.

And in most cases, contextual offers are applied automatically based on the information you provide in your UCAS application. So you don’t need to do anything.

Am I eligible for a contextual offer?

Contextual offers are only available to UCAS applicants that are classed as ‘Home’ for fee purposes. They are available on the majority of our courses, but there are some exceptions. If you are a ‘Home’ student, you will be able to get a contextual offer if you meet one or more of the following measures:

You live in an area with a low number of young people progressing to higher education.

This is based on the areas of the UK that have the lowest proportions of young people entering higher education and is calculated based on the postcode you use on your UCAS application.

You can check your postcode on the Office for Students webpage to see if you might be eligible.

Lots of information will come up when you search your postcode, but don’t worry. You’re looking for the top entry, which is called POLAR4 data. If your postcode is in Quintiles 1 or 2, you’ll be eligible for a contextual offer.
You are a carer.

This applies to individuals who have a commitment to providing care (unpaid) to a family member or friend. This may be short-term or long-term care.

If you have provided unpaid care for another person, please select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application and a contextual offer will be applied.
You have parenting responsibilities.
If you provide care to, or are responsible for, a child aged 17 or under, you’ll be eligible for a contextual offer.

This is defined as:
- A biological parent
- Stepparent
- Adoptive or legal parent
- Legally-appointed guardian
- Foster carer
- Providing kinship or other parental care to the child of a family member or friend
Please select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application and a contextual offer will be applied.
You are care experienced.
Care experience is defined as individuals who have spent time:
- Living with foster carers under local authority care
- In residential care
- Looked after at home under a supervision order
- In kinship care
Please select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application and a contextual offer will be applied.
You are from a military family.

If either or both of your parents have served in the UK Armed Forces, you will be eligible for a contextual offer.

Please select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application and a contextual offer will be applied.
You are a refugee or asylum seeker.

This term encompasses individuals who have applied for refugee status with a decision pending or your claim for asylum has been recognised and you have been granted official refugee status.

The University of Hull is proud to be a University of Sanctuary.

To receive a contextual offer, please notify us via admissions@hull.ac.uk after you have submitted your UCAS application.
You are, or have been, eligible for free school meals.

If you are, or have been, eligible for free school meals (regardless of whether you received them or not) you should select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application and a contextual offer will be applied.

If you are not sure, please check with your school or college who will be able to tell you.
You are the first person in your family to attend higher education.

You will be asked about your parents’ education as part of the UCAS application. If you have declared that neither of your parents attended higher education, a contextual offer will be applied.
You are aged over 21.

If you’re going to be over 21 by the time you begin your studies, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This will be calculated using the date of birth you provide on your UCAS application.
You have a disability.

If you have declared one or more of any disability types on your UCAS application, a contextual offer will be applied. If your circumstances change after you’ve submitted your UCAS application, please inform UCAS and then let us know so we can apply the contextual offer.
You are a member of the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen or Boater communities.

Often referred to as GTRSB, this term encompasses Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater communities.

The University of Hull has signed the GTRSB Into Higher Education pledge.

To receive a contextual offer, please notify us via admissions@hull.ac.uk after you have submitted your UCAS application.
You are estranged from your family.

If your relationship with your parents/family has irreconcilably broken down, you will receive a contextual offer.

If this applies to you, please select ‘yes’ on the relevant question in the ‘More About Me’ section of the UCAS application.
You have other relevant circumstances that aren’t listed.

We understand that other circumstances can disrupt your studies that are not captured in the UCAS application form.

If you feel this applies to you, you can fill in our ‘Other Circumstances’ form and return it to admissions@hull.ac.uk.

This will be considered by the Head of Admissions and Applicant Services, the Head of Fair Access and where suitable, a Faculty representative. You may then receive a reduced offer as a result.

Which courses aren't included in the contextual offer scheme?

Most of our programmes are included in this approach, however contextual offers are not available for Foundation Year entry or programmes with mandatory placements or capped student numbers.

Please see below for a full list of excluded courses.

Faculty of Business, Law and Politics

BA British Politics & Legislative Studies

LLB Law & Legislative Studies
Faculty of Arts, Culture and Education

BA Primary Teaching with Foundation Year
Faculty of Health Sciences

BSc/MSc Midwifery

BSc Nursing (all routes)

BSc Physiotherapy

BSc Paramedic Science

BSc Operating Department Practice

BA/MA Social Work

Ready to learn more about contextual offers?

Contextual Offers

Frequently asked questions

* We use more measures in comparison to other contextual offer schemes and the tariff reductions to offers are greater than comparable schemes offered elsewhere.