Applying and eligibility

In addition to the essential criteria, you’ll also need:

• six GCSEs at a minimum of grade 7;
• grade 6 or above in GCSE English Language, Mathematics, and two science subjects. If it's a Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science, the minimum needed is 6,6;
• Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction or above) in place of one GCSE;
• you'll need to be studying three A-levels including Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology, and one of either: Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics.

In addition to the essential criteria, you’ll also need:

• six GCSEs at a minimum of grade 7;
• grade 6 in GCSE English Language and Mathematics, and two science subjects. If it's a Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science, the minimum needed is 6,6; 
• Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction) in place of one GCSE;
• you'll need to be studying three A-levels including Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology. 

In addition to the essential criteria, you'll need at least one socio-economic or personal background priority criteria:

Socio-economic background

Where you live, where you study and financial support are all part of your socio-economic background.  

We prioritise students who:

• live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to higher education or a high level of financial, social or economic deprivation. Check your postcode on our contextual admissions page; 
  
• receive discretionary learner payments/16–19 bursary or free school meals at your current college;
• received pupil premium or free school meals at secondary school;
• attended a high school where the average Key Stage 4 performance is lower than the national average;
• attend a school or college where Key Stage 5 performance is lower than the national average.

You can check your secondary school and current school or college key performance data for Key Stage 4/5 on our contextual admissions page.

White students from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly underrepresented within higher education and we encourage you to apply if you meet at least one of the socio-economic priority criteria outlined above.

Personal background

Your personal background refers to your life experience and who you are.

We prioritise:

• young carers (if you're under the age of 18 and help look after someone in your family who is ill or disabled beyond what is reasonably expected);
• estranged students (irreconcilably estranged from both biological, adoptive or only living parents);
• sanctuary seekers (such as an asylum seekers or refugees);
• disabled students who receive a personal independence payment or Disability Living Allowance, or who are registered with their current school/college for their disability;
• students from a military or service family**;
• students who identify as one of the following ethnic groups, currently underrepresented at The University of Manchester and within higher education, particularly within higher tariff universities:
  • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (we use the Office for Student's definition);
  • Black African, Black African Caribbean, mixed-race Black African or mixed-race Black African Caribbean.
• Care experienced students*. The term 'care experienced' refers to a young person who's been in Local Authority care (either public care, foster care, semi-independent living or residential care homes) for any period of time. The University recognises that any time spent in care can have a significant impact on young people’s lives.

• *Note: the University distinguishes between ‘care leavers’ and ‘care experienced’ students to allocate bursaries:

  • Care experienced young people are a priority group for our widening participation programmes and have access to enhanced pastoral support while at University. They may be eligible for additional financial support based on their circumstances.
  • Care Leavers are defined by the University as students under the age of 25 who have been in public care for a minimum of three months since the age of 11 and are eligible to receive the Undergraduate Access Scholarship while studying at The University of Manchester, in addition to enhanced pastoral support.

  **This applies to you if a parent or carer serves in the UK Regular Armed Forces, or as a Reservist, or has done so at any point during the first 25 years of your life.

We understand that difficult family or individual circumstances may affect your exams or the opportunity to go to university, which is why we’ll assess your application on an individual basis if you don’t meet the essential criteria.

Individual circumstances include:

• living independently from your family;
• experiencing significant family issues;
• a disability/health condition that affects your education.

If your situation isn't listed above, please talk to your MAP Link Coordinator (the teacher who coordinates MAP at your school or college).

Your MAP Link Coordinator can help you add these to your application form, including the dates you have been affected and how they've impacted your education.

COVID-19

Unfortunately, we’re unable to consider the general disruption caused by the pandemic as extenuating circumstances. However, if you consider the impact of COVID-19 on your personal circumstances to be extreme, then we may be able to review this on a case-by-case basis.

Please indicate on your application form if any of these circumstances apply to you, including the dates you've been affected and any impact on your academic achievement.

1. We begin by looking at whether you meet the essential criteria.
2. We then look at the number of priority criteria you meet, although you only need one to be eligible for the programme. However, if more students apply to your MAP strand than the number of places available, we’ll look at the number and nature of priority criteria you meet.

If you are not eligible for MAP, you can explore the Access Manchester website and discover the different access schemes on offer at The University of Manchester that you may be eligible for.