Introduction

A contextual admissions process helps universities to admit students based on their potential to succeed by placing achievements to date in the wider context of someone’s background. This is one tool that universities use alongside other important interventions, such as partnerships with schools to raise attainment, to support widening access to higher education. However, the current system of contextual admissions is hard to navigate and a barrier, potentially hindering people who could benefit.  

Our contextual admissions project

We are working with the Sutton Trust and UCAS to develop shared guidance for a common approach to contextual admissions. Our goal is to bring greater consistency to how universities approach contextual admissions and to increase applicant understanding of the system so that young people who meet the criteria can apply to university with greater confidence about the options available to them.