University College Birmingham (UCB) are proud to introduce their contextual admissions scheme.

Through a combination of reduced grades for course entry and meeting robust eligibility criteria, the contextual admissions scheme offers a fair and a personalised route into higher education, widening opportunities for access and participation for under-represented students.

Some examples of eligible students include those who:

• attend a school or college with below-average performance
• have spent time in care or are estranged from their parents
• have caring responsibilities
• have a household income below a defined threshold.

This inclusive admissions initiative is designed to change the narrative around going to university, that all-too-often centres on the outdated perception that higher education is only available to the wealthy few with the highest grades. While high academic grades rightly remain a powerful benchmark of academic aptitude, at University College Birmingham we appreciate that they are only one part of the bigger picture behind an individual’s application.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to fuelling hopes, aspirations, personal development and career goals.

Today’s students come from a range of backgrounds and have very different lived experiences, some have had access to a range of enriching and developmental opportunities that others haven’t, through no fault of their own. Additionally, the cost of living crisis continues to impact everyone, with increasing amount of students choosing to study closer to home, balancing their studies with work and caring responsibilities.

We are committed to removing obstacles (both real and perceived), for people who are dedicated to an education pathway that helps them achieve personal and professional growth. Through the combination of lower entry requirements and inclusive eligibility criteria, the contextual admissions scheme opens doors, putting higher education within the reach of students who may never have thought there was a place for them.

“Students come to us because they recognise that our city centre location and award-winning support, means they’re getting a rounded student experience that is backed by world-class facilities and led by expert tuition, preparing them for the world of work,” explains Sumeya Saleh, Head of Admissions for UCB.

“Our strength lies in our ability to offer a tailored educational pathway that best serves our richly diverse community, as well as meeting the regional and national skills challenges – this is what the contextual admissions scheme is all about.”