How we use your data
You don’t need to apply for contextual admissions – applications are assessed automatically when they come into our system from UCAS.
The data and criteria used are updated for each application ‘cycle’. This means you’ll be assessed using the criteria for the cycle you apply in. This may be different to the year of entry you're applying for. You can check which cycle you’re applying in by logging in to your UCAS Hub and checking the year.
You can start a 2027 cycle application now, but won’t be able to submit it until 1 September 2026.
We use the following information, where available, from your application form to assess your eligibility for contextual admissions.
We check your home postcode against external datasets. If you have more than one address, we would expect you to provide the details of where you spend the majority of your time as your home address in your UCAS application.
We use the postcode provided at the point of application and can't reassess eligibility if you move house after you've applied.
We only check your postcode if your home postcode is in the UK and you're under the age of 21.
2026 cycle
- POLAR4 – this measures the level of progression into higher education across the country. You meet our criteria if your postcode is classified as Quintile 1.
- ACORN – this categorises areas based on social factors and population behaviour. You meet our criteria if your postcode is classified as ACORN category 5 (Stretched Society), 6 (Low Income Living) or Group N (Urban Diversity) in Category 4 (Steadfast Communities).
2027 cycle
- ACORN – this categorises areas based on social factors and population behaviour. You meet our criteria if your postcode is classified as ACORN category 5 (Stretched Society) or 6 (Low Income Living).
- TUNDRA – this measures participation in higher education for state-funded mainstream school pupils in England. You meet our criteria if your postcode is classified as Quintile 1.
- IMD – this measures disadvantage across themes of income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and the living the environment. You meet our criteria if your postcode is classified as Quintile 1.
Supporting evidence
No supporting evidence is required.
We look at the schools listed in your UCAS application form where you sat your GCSEs and A-levels (or equivalent qualifications).
Schools are flagged according to whether they performed above or below the national average (this average is calculated internally as opposed to the published national average).
This data is collected directly from the Department for Education (England and Northern Ireland), and the Welsh and Scottish governments where an average is taken across three years, where available.
We only check your school/college if your home postcode and school/college is in the UK and you are under the age of 21.
Supporting evidence
No supporting evidence is required.
For contextual admissions, we define having been ‘in care’ as someone who has spent more than three months living in public care or as a looked-after child, including:
- Living with foster carers under local authority care.
- In residential care (such as a children’s home).
- Looked after at home under a supervision order.
- In kinship care with relatives or friends officially (such as with a special guardianship order) or informally without local authority support.
You’ll need to answer ‘yes’ to the ‘Have you been in care?’ question on your UCAS form for your application to be automatically flagged.
Supporting evidence (2027 cycle onwards)
After we've received your application we'll ask you to upload evidence of your circumstances. Examples of evidence include:
- Letter from school/college.
- Letter from the relevant local authority.
- Letter from a relevant charitable organisation.
- Letter from GP or other health professional.
- SAAS Care Experience Bursary form, signed by the relevant professional.
- Court documents.
- Adoption certificates.
When contacted, please only submit or send one of the pieces of evidence listed above.
2026 cycle – refugee status only
This means that you’ve applied for asylum and have received an outcome granting you refugee status by the UK government.
You'll need to choose ‘refugee’ under the 'residential category' on your UCAS form if you’ve been granted this status. Individuals who’ve been issued a visa under one of the Ukraine schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme) will be classified as a refugee for the purposes of contextual data.
When submitting your UCAS application, you should select ‘refugee’ as your 'residential category' in the where you live section of the form. This will ensure that your status is automatically flagged in our system.
2027 cycle
This means that you currently have permission to stay in the UK as a refugee, asylum seeker under humanitarian protection or one of the Ukraine schemes. This permission must be valid during the admissions process and have been issued by the UK government.
When submitting your UCAS application, ensure you answer the 'What is your current UK visa or immigration status?' question in the Nationality details section accurately by selecting one of the following:
- Ukraine scheme visa.
- Asylum seeker with evidence of a pending application.
- Refugee status granted by UK government.
- Humanitarian protection.
This will ensure that your status is automatically flagged in our system.
Supporting evidence
After we've received your application we'll contact you to upload evidence of your immigration permission. Examples include:
- A share code for your eVisa.
- A copy of your Application Registration Card (ARC).
The data we use is provided by UCAS, who verify your eligibility against official data sources for England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
We don't use your self-declared answer regarding free school meals (FSM) on your UCAS application.
How eligibility is determined varies by nation and school type:
- England – you were recorded as eligible for FSM at any point in the six years before the school census day in Year 11. This data is sourced by UCAS directly from the National Pupil Database.
- Northern Ireland – you were recorded as eligible for FSM at any point in the six years before the school census date in Year 12. This data is sourced by UCAS directly from the Northern Ireland school census.
- Wales – you were recorded as eligible for FSM at any point between the school census date in Year 11 and the January five years before. This data is sourced by UCAS directly from the Welsh PLASC.
- Independent Schools – you were known to have been eligible for FSM at an independent school. This data is sourced by UCAS directly from the Independent Schools Council (ISC).
Supporting evidence
No supporting evidence required.
We define a young adult carer as someone aged under 25 on the 1 September of your year of entry who has (or previously had) significant unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who could not cope without their support. This may be due to a long-term illness, disability, a mental health condition, or an addiction.
This does not apply to childcare or working/volunteering in a care setting.
In the 'More about you' section of your UCAS application, you’ll need to answer ‘Yes’ to the question 'Do you have any unpaid caring responsibilities (not including parenting)?'
Supporting evidence
After we have received your application, we'll ask you to upload evidence. Examples include:
- A Carers’ Network letter.
- Carers’ card (a scan or clear photo).
- A letter from your GP.
- A letter from your teacher or tutor (a school designated safeguarding lead will be accepted).
- A letter from your local authority
When contacted, please only submit or send one of the pieces of evidence listed above.
Please note, we don't require any personal medical information (eg Doctor or hospital notes) about the person you're caring for to be submitted. Please don't include this as part of your evidence.
Explaining contextual flags
Your application will automatically receive a contextual flag if you meet certain eligibility criteria based on the data above. There are three different flags you could be given.
2026 cycle
You’ll be assigned a WP Plus flag if you meet our postcode criteria and one of your schools has performed below the national average.
You’ll be given a WP Plus PLUS flag if you have refugee status or have been in care for more than three months.
On your UCAS application, make sure you specify:
- whether you've been in care for more than three months, including living with foster carers, in a children's home or if you've been looked after under a home supervision order in Scotland.
- whether you have refugee status in the ‘residential category’ section.
2027 cycle
You’ll be assigned a WP flag if your home postcode meets our criteria (Acorn category 5 or 6, TUNDRA Quintile 1 or IMD Quintile 1).
You’ll be assigned a WP Plus flag if:
- you meet our postcode criteria and one of your schools has performed below the national average; or
- you were eligible for free school meals (FSM) during your secondary education.
You’ll be given a WP Plus PLUS flag if:
- you currently have permission to stay in the UK as an asylum seeker, refugee, under humanitarian protection or under a Ukraine scheme; or
- you've been in care for more than three months; or
- you're a young adult carer (under the age of 25).