How to apply

Applications for Access to Leeds are open for 2025. Find out how to apply and what happens next. 

You should complete the Access to Leeds application as soon as possible after submitting your UCAS application because we require an active UCAS application and UCAS ID to proceed.  

If you received a rejection from your UCAS application, you can still submit an application to Access to Leeds. If you are assessed as eligible for Access to Leeds, the admissions team will reconsider your UCAS application.

Make sure you check you are eligible before you apply.

Apply to Access to Leeds

Use our online form to apply.

Help with your application

Use our application guidelines to help you and your referee complete the application.

Application deadlines 

  • For applicants to Medicine (A100) and Dental Surgery (A200), applications must be received by Friday 25 October at 12pm midday. Due to the tight turnaround for interview selection, we must receive your completed application by this deadline, including the reference.  
  • If the submission deadline falls before or during your half-term break, it is your responsibility to ensure your application is completed on time, including the referee section. 
  • For Dental Hygiene and Therapy (A900) and Diagnostic Radiography (B821), Audiology (B61A), Cardiac Physiology (B810), Sonography (B825), we recommend that you submit your application by the UCAS deadline of  29 January 2025 due to the selection process for interviews.
  • For applicants to all other courses, applications must be received by Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 12pm midday.  

We are unable to consider applications submitted after the deadline dates. 

Getting a reference

You’ll need a referee to support your application – you can ask a tutor, teacher or careers advisor. You will need to enter their full name and email address. If you are not currently in education, you can ask your previous tutor/teacher or your employer. 

They will need to complete a separate online form and will be asked to confirm which criteria they believe you meet that makes you eligible for Access to Leeds, plus any other information to support your application. This is all communicated automatically via email.  

After you apply

  1. Once your referee has completed their reference, you will receive an automatic email notification that they have done this. The Access to Leeds team will then assess your application for eligibility. We will email you to confirm if you are eligible for the scheme within a few days. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days please email the Access to Leeds team at accesstoleeds@leeds.ac.uk.
  2. We will notify the admissions team for the course you have applied to that you are eligible for Access to Leeds. Please note that admissions decisions are made by individual admissions teams not Access to Leeds. They will assess your application and make a decision based on: 
    • your predicted grades
    • your UCAS personal statement and UCAS reference
    • the contextual information provided on your Access to Leeds application
    • interview (for some courses).
  3. If your application to the University is successful, you will receive an offer notification. You may not receive a decision immediately, particularly if you have applied for a highly competitive course. You will normally receive the standard offer as well as an alternative Access to Leeds offer, up to two grades lower for A-levels, or the equivalent for alternative qualifications, such as BTECs or the International Baccalaureate. For example, if the standard entry requirement is AAA at A-level, the Access to Leeds offer would typically be ABB. 
  4. You must make the University of Leeds your firm choice on UCAS in order to remain eligible for your Access to Leeds offer. 
  5. You will need to successfully complete the online Access to Leeds module, delivered between April and July. You must therefore be available with reliable internet access during this period. 
  6. When you complete the module successfully and get the A-level (or equivalent) results you need for your offer, your place on your chosen course is confirmed.

Protecting your privacy and data

When you apply to Access to Leeds, we will keep all information you provide strictly confidential and will only share it with University staff relevant to the admissions process, where necessary. Find out more in our Access to Leeds direct application privacy notice.

For information on how the University of Leeds access and use student information, please refer to the main University of Leeds privacy statement.

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