What is a contextual offer?
Here at Lincoln Bishop, we are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to access an excellent university education. That’s why we are proud to provide a contextual admissions process, enabling us to make flexible offers that consider an applicant's background, achievements, challenges and personal circumstances. This context enables us to make alternative and achievable offers to applicants who have faced disadvantages in their lives, giving people who might not otherwise have been able to pursue their desire of a university degree a chance to do so.
What information is used?
Our contextual admissions process takes into account a variety of factors, including the applicant's socioeconomic background, place of residence, previous educational institution, and other relevant situations (for example, if the applicant is a young carer). We can then identify individuals who have experienced disadvantages yet possess the capacity to excel in higher education thanks to this knowledge, and we can provide them with the opportunity to do so.
Who is eligible?
Our contextual offers are open to UK applicants (studying UK qualifications) who are applying for three-year undergraduate degree courses (without foundation year) who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- From areas of low participation in higher education, according to the Office for Students' Participation of Local Areas data (POLAR 4, quintile 1 or 2)
- Care leavers/looked-after children. Please note applicants must have declared this in their UCAS application.
- Have attended Lincoln Bishop’s Next Steps to Study programme.
- Have a disability
- Have extenuating circumstances that have significantly affected your level 3 studies. Please fill out and submit the self-declaration information form.
If you feel you meet any of the following additional criteria, we recommend you complete and submit our self-declaration form as this information is not included in your UCAS application, and will help us provide the best possible contextual offer:
- Are a young carer.
- Are a refugee.
- Are from gypsy, Roma and traveller communities.
- Are from a military family.
- Are estranged from your family.
Contextual offers are not available through Clearing.
Contextual offers will be available to eligible candidates who apply during the 2027 application cycle and onwards.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted through UCAS as normal. It is advised that you fill out and submit the self-declaration information form if you believe you might meet any of the extra requirements listed above. Following that, our admissions team will determine whether you qualify for a contextual offer and assist you in addressing any extenuating circumstances.
If an applicant meets one of the above eligibility criteria, there will be a 16 UCAS point reduction.
