Taught Admissions Policy 2022-23

This policy is reviewed annually by the University’s Recruitment and Portfolio Committee (most recently in February 2021) and, where appropriate, policies and procedures for the admission of students to taught courses may be revised in line with changes to the internal and external admissions environment. For example, the University continually develops its widening access strategy and processes in line with Office for Students (OfS) guidance and the University’s value of inclusiveness.

The admissions policy and practice of academic schools is reviewed annually by faculty committees on the basis of guidance provided by the Recruitment and Portfolio Committee. Read the Committee’s terms of reference for information.

Any amendments made to admissions policies after the point of publication will be summarised in the Version control section at the bottom of the page.

Taught Admissions policies at the University of Leeds are overseen by the University Recruitment and Portfolio Committee.

Admissions decisions at the University of Leeds are ultimately made by academic schools and/or faculties in order to admit candidates who have the potential to succeed on course. The Student Education Service (SES), provided by professional services staff, is responsible for managing the admissions procedures in line with the University’s admissions policies, providing support, training and advice to its staff, enquirers and applicants. 

All members of academic and professional services staff with responsibility for the admissions process are given appropriate guidance in order to fulfil their roles competently and in line with this policy. Structured guidance is given in light of any national or institutional changes to admissions policy or procedures and ongoing counsel is provided to all admissions staff in the Student Education Service.

Admissions tutors work collaboratively with admissions colleagues in the SES and with marketing colleagues in delivering the academic elements of the recruitment strategy and faculty/school’s offer making strategy. This is facilitated, in part, through faculty recruitment committees, where responsibility for the review and implementation of any school admissions policies is ultimately held.

The University operates a Policy on Dignity and Mutual Respect (PDF), which all staff, students and third parties, including prospective students, are expected to abide by. The University reserves the right to withdraw an application if behaviours are deemed to have contravened this policy.

By submitting an application to the University of Leeds, including submissions made via UCAS, applicants are confirming that the information given is true, complete and accurate. Applicants should not omit any requested or relevant information, make any misrepresentation (for example, through plagiarism) or give false or misleading information or documents at any point of the application process including after an offer is made. Should this occur the University reserves the right to dismiss a current or future application, withdraw an offer of a place and/or revoke registration. 

The University may subscribe to a system that processes personal statements received in support of an application in order to identify statements that show similarity. For example, for applications made via UCAS this service is provided by UCAS via their Similarity Detection Service, which checks all UCAS personal statements for similarity. Where potentially plagiarised material is identified by these systems the University will review the case and make a decision as to whether the applicant is permitted to submit a new personal statement in support of their application. In cases where this opportunity is not granted (or is not taken up by the applicant), the University reserves the right to reject or withdraw the application.

The University considers a wide range of qualifications for entry, and new and amended qualifications from across the world are assessed for acceptability through a formal process undertaken by the University’s qualifications groups, and with ultimate ratification by the University’s Recruitment and Portfolio Committee.

Typical requirements can be found on the relevant page of Course Search. Flexibility on the typical requirements may be applied at the discretion of the school when it is felt that a candidate demonstrates their potential for benefitting from the course. This may be demonstrated in a number of ways through different qualifications and combinations; however, applicants are expected to have demonstrated the ability to study at a progressive and concentrated level. Applicants who would like to discuss their profile in relation to the entry requirements are encouraged to contact the relevant school admissions team via the contact details on Course Search.

Where academic requirements have not been met for entry to an undergraduate course, application information may be shared with the University’s Lifelong Learning Centre or International Foundation Year team for consideration for a Year 0 offer.

Read more about the University’s approach to accepted UK qualifications and accepted international qualifications.

The University considers a wide range of qualifications for entry, and new and amended qualifications from across the world are assessed for acceptability through a formal process undertaken by the University’s qualifications groups, and with ultimate ratification by the University’s Recruitment and Portfolio Committee.

Teaching, assessment and student support will take place in English, unless otherwise stated. Schools must be confident that candidates have the proficiency in English language necessary to succeed on their chosen course and that, where relevant, they meet the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) minimum requirements to obtain a Student visa.

The University requires that all applicants to courses at degree level and above meet our minimum requirements for English; however, many courses will have requirements which are higher than this minimum in order to ensure candidates are appropriately prepared for their chosen course. Acceptable English qualifications and the University’s minimum requirements (including validity periods) for these can be found on our entry requirements page. Applicants can view course-specific English requirements on the relevant page of Course Search or, for our International Foundation Year, on our International Foundation Year page.

Applicants who do not meet the relevant English requirements at the point of application may be made an offer which is conditional on successful completion of one of the approved tests. Alternatively, where a postgraduate applicant does not meet the English language requirements for the academic course, but does meet the requirements for the University of Leeds pre-sessional English language summer courses, they may be eligible for a combined offer for the pre-sessional and taught postgraduate course. For more details, please see the Language Centre website.

Where an applicant has already satisfied the English language requirements but subsequently provides further evidence that falls below the University’s or the UKVI’s requirements, the offer must be revised.

• An unconditional offer, made on the understanding that English language proficiency was met, will be changed to conditional upon evidence that the currently achieved level is lower than the UKVI minimum of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) Level B2. For example, an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test with an overall score of 6.5 taken in 2020 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall score of 5.0 taken in 2021, making the offer conditional on English.
• Where an applicant would be exempt from providing additional English language evidence from an older qualification but provides a more recent qualification that shows a level which is below CEFR B2, any offer made will be conditional on meeting the English language requirements for the course. For example, an Indian XII or a Bachelor degree from Nigeria taken in 2011 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall score of 5.0 taken in 2021.
• Where more recent evidence is provided which does not meet the English entry requirements for the course, but exceeds the UKVI minimum of CEFR Level B2, it is at the discretion of the academic school whether an English condition should be made.

Some courses will require additional checks to be undertaken in order for a candidate to gain admittance. These will be detailed in the relevant school admissions policy or admissions guidance, however, some of the most common checks are highlighted below.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Fitness to Practise

In order to comply with the requirements of relevant professional bodies, applicants to certain vocational or professional courses may be required to pass checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and/or to demonstrate medical fitness to train prior to being admitted. Applicants will be advised if these or any other conditions apply when they are made an offer of a place.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Applicants who require immigration permission to be in the UK may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate in order to undertake postgraduate study in certain subject areas. This includes integrated Masters courses, which incorporate undergraduate and postgraduate study. Those who require ATAS clearance must obtain the ATAS certificate before applying for the Student visa. Read more about ATAS on the University website.

Documentation

The following documents must be submitted with a taught postgraduate application to the University, and may be requested in support of an undergraduate application. Original or certified copies of the documents submitted with an application may be requested at the point of registration. International applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK should be aware that the Home Office may request to see original copies of academic documents at the point of entry to the UK.

• Higher education and professional qualifications (for taught postgraduate applications only). If an applicant has already completed professional qualifications or previous degrees, a copy of the final degree certificate should be submitted with the application. Transcripts of an applicant’s academic record, which provide full details of the degree class and grades obtained in each unit/module, are also required. Applicants who are awaiting assessment results should provide an interim transcript where possible. Where applicants are yet to complete their qualification, transcripts of each completed academic year, including information on the modules being undertaken, will be required alongside the application. If these documents are not in English, they should be accompanied by a formal certified translation into English, provided by the awarding institution, by a University of Leeds accredited agent or office, or by an official translator. This should be signed and dated, including the translator’s credentials and company details and confirmation that the translation is accurate.
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement and Student visa. Applicants who require a Student visa and have previously studied in the UK will need to provide documentary evidence detailing any previous periods of study on a Tier 4 (General) student visa or Student visa in order for the University to be able to carry out checks to ensure compliance with the UKVI’s immigration rules for students. Applicants are encouraged to include documents such as previous CAS, copies of passport pages containing visas and copies of Biometric Residence Permits with their application. Any information that is not included in the application will be requested when the application is considered, or we may need to ask the permission of the applicant to check their UK immigration history directly with the UKVI. 
• English qualifications. Proof of English language proficiency is required as part of the admissions process. Please see the English language requirements section of this page for details of acceptable English language qualifications. Copies of the results of any acceptable, formal English tests that evidence that an applicant has met the requirements for their chosen course should be submitted with the application if already obtained. Without this evidence, any offer made will be conditional on meeting the minimum English requirements. Any offer made that is conditional on an English requirement will be subject to provision of documentary evidence that the required standard has been met.

References

The acceptance of references is at the discretion of the relevant academic school and any questions relating to the format of references or nominating appropriate referees should be directed to the admissions team for the specific course of interest. Contact details can be found on Course Search.

• References for undergraduate applicants. Applications should include a reference from the candidate’s current (or most recent) educational provider unless otherwise agreed by the relevant academic school prior to submission of the application. The reference section of the application is carefully considered by the University and is an important part of the selection process.
• References for taught postgraduate applicants. Academic schools may require references from academic or professional referees as an element of the selection process and these will be requested directly from the referees by the University, using the contact details provided. Where requested, candidates must provide full, clear and accurate contact details of two referees at the point of application. For some courses, references may not be part of the decision-making process, in which case applicants will not be required to provide contact details when applying. Please note that professional referees are only appropriate for applicants who have been out of education for more than five years or who are applying with evidence of work experience.

In support of the University’s commitment to widening access and identifying all applicants who have the potential to succeed at the University of Leeds, the University provides contextual admissions routes through the Access to Leeds (A2L) and Realising Opportunities (RO) schemes. Both schemes offer an alternative offer to eligible candidates, typically equivalent to two A Level grades below the standard offer, and a pre-entry academic support module. Eligibility criteria for the schemes can be found on their websites (see previous links).

Access to Leeds and Realising Opportunities students are eligible for consideration for an alternative offer if they meet the minimum literacy requirements and, for courses which require particular subject skills, have met the relevant requirements as laid out on Course Search. Level 2 (GCSE or acceptable equivalent) subject requirements for the relevant course may be flexible for A2L applicants.

Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria for an offer but are Access to Leeds eligible will be considered for an offer that is ‘Access to Leeds only’. Such applicants are required to meet the same conditions as stated previously, but will not receive an alternative to the A2L offer. 

Applicants from Low Participation Neighbourhoods (LPNs) are automatically eligible for an offer one A Level grade below their standard offer or equivalent, where possible. Applicants can find more information about this on our alternative admissions page.

Applicants from LPNs are strongly encouraged to also apply via the Access to Leeds scheme. Where eligible, they will receive a two A Level grade (or equivalent) alternative offer and access to a pre-entry academic preparation module. 

These courses enable UK students to prepare for degree study and gain the necessary academic background in a supportive environment. Students who successfully complete the foundation stage progress to year one of an appropriate degree course, except for the Business Studies with Foundation Year, which progresses onto year two. Financial support is available and more information can be given if you email the Lifelong Learning Centre at lifelonglearning@leeds.ac.uk. 

With the exception of BSc Studies in Science with Foundation Year, which is a science conversion course for high achieving students, the University’s extended degrees aim to widen participation in higher education. Applicants to these full-time courses must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the eligibility criteria, which can be found on the course pages. For more information, email the Lifelong Learning Centre at lifelonglearning@leeds.ac.uk.

Applicants for extended degrees who have left compulsory education within the last three years, or taken three Level 3 qualifications in the last three years, must, at entry, meet the course’s minimum requirements at both Level 2 (for example, GCSE) and Level 3 (for example, A Levels).

Candidates who have not taken three A Levels (or equivalent) within the last three years and/or who do not meet the minimum GCSE requirements may be asked to demonstrate evidence of their capabilities through the University’s own entry processes. These may include a combination of interviews, group work, presentations, portfolios or other written work as relevant for the course to which they are applying. It may also include tests in English and/or maths/numeracy set by the Lifelong Learning Centre, which are designed to indicate whether a candidate has the capacity to achieve the entry requirements in these subjects for their chosen course by the time they progress to level one of the degree.

Accreditation of prior learning (APL) is a process undertaken by the University in order to assess and, as appropriate, recognise prior experiential learning or prior certificated learning for academic purposes. This recognition may give the learning a credit value and allow it to be counted towards the completion of a course of study. Credit Transfer is the process by which the University accepts credit arising from prior certificated learning, awarded either by itself or by another institution, as contributing to an award of the University. 

Any decision on credit transfer or entry of students with advanced standing is an academic decision taken within the relevant school at the point of admission onto a course of study. Retrospective applications from students part-way through a course will not normally be considered. Applicants are advised to check the relevant school admissions policy or admissions guidance for further information. Further details of the University’s policy can be found on our APL page.

Where an articulation agreement is in place between an external educational provider and the University of Leeds, the agreement will clarify the credit transfer possible, and this credit will be attached to the relevant candidates’ student records if they are admitted to the University.

Advanced entry and accreditation of prior learning may impact on the funding students can receive. For more information, email the Funding team at funding@leeds.ac.uk. 

The University is committed to developing a socially and culturally diverse student community and therefore encourages applications from all backgrounds, and utilises contextual data within the decision-making process, as detailed in the Admissions considerations section and the Contextual admissions schemes section of this page. Applicants should ensure their application is full and complete, and that information is provided in the relevant section of the application form. This allows admissions staff to gain an understanding of the applicant’s full profile and make a holistic decision on the application.

International students are advised to consider any relevant scholarship deadlines and the time needed for visa processes to be completed to ensure that they apply in sufficient time for their application to be considered before these deadlines. 

Applications must be submitted as described on the relevant Course Search page, which for the majority of undergraduate courses (including full-time extended degrees) will be via UCAS, and for taught postgraduate courses will be through the University portal. Applicants to the Incoming Study Abroad programme apply directly to the University. Applicants should refer to the Incoming Study Abroad pages for further information and how to apply online.

Where collaboration agreements exist, or an arrangement is in place with an employer for an apprenticeship course, applications may be made via other means (for example, by direct application to the University) and with differing deadlines; however, the principles in this policy and in the relevant school’s admissions policy (where applicable) still apply unless otherwise stated.

Some courses may charge a non-refundable application fee. Where an application fee applies, the fee requirement will be displayed on the relevant Course Search page. Applications to courses with an application fee will not be considered until the University has confirmed payment of the required fee. 

Undergraduate applications

All applications for full-time undergraduate degree courses starting in September, made via UCAS, should be received by the deadlines of:

• 15 October 2021 for Medicine and Dentistry 
• 26 January 2022 for all other courses

Applications are considered equally against the stated selection criteria and in the context of the number of available places. If places are still available, some academic schools may consider applications after 26 January. Applicants are advised to seek the school’s advice before making a late application. 

Applicants to the International Foundation Year must choose which undergraduate degree courses they wish to join prior to submitting an application directly to the University. Please see the International Foundation Year pages for further information and to apply online.

Those applying for our part-time undergraduate courses or foundation year (BA Interdisciplinary Studies) do so via direct entry. Candidates should email the Lifelong Learning Centre at lifelonglearning@leeds.ac.uk for an application pack. More information about part-time study is outlined in the Part-time study section of this page.

Taught postgraduate applications

Some courses operate staged admissions deadlines throughout the academic year (please see the Gathered field section of this page for more information) or may have an application deadline. Places are limited and, where necessary (for example, due to unprecedented demand), the University reserves the right to amend application deadlines. Full details of closing dates (including any amendments made to original deadlines) will be stated on Course Search, where applicable. Applicants are advised to check relevant deadlines prior to submitting an application.

If an applicant intends to apply for funding, an application should be submitted for a place at least two months before any specific scholarship deadline.

The University of Leeds offers a number of alternative routes in order to widen access to higher education:

Access to Leeds (A2L)

Candidates are encouraged to consider whether they meet the Access to Leeds criteria and, if so, to follow the instructions on the A2L pages to apply for the scheme. A2L applicants receive special consideration from admissions tutors and those who receive an offer are given an alternative offer, typically reduced by two A Level grades or equivalent, alongside their standard offer. The alternative offer will be conditional upon successfully completing the Access to Leeds module. Please note, any specific subjects required for a course will still be included in any offer made and may not receive a reduction.

Applicants who are made an offer which includes successful completion of Access to Leeds will be required to make the University of Leeds their firm choice in order to remain eligible for A2L. Those receiving a ‘standard offer’ in addition to the Access to Leeds offer will remain eligible for the ‘standard offer’ (only) if the applicant chooses the University of Leeds as their insurance choice.

Realising Opportunities (RO)

Candidates already participating in the Realising Opportunities scheme receive the same special consideration and alternative offer as A2L candidates (see A2L section).

RO candidates retain their alternative offer if they make Leeds their insurance choice.

Alternative Entry Scheme for mature applicants

The University’s Alternative Entry Scheme, run by the Lifelong Learning Centre in conjunction with teaching schools, allows applicants who do not have the relevant formal qualifications to draw on their life and work experience to demonstrate their potential for success. To be eligible for the scheme, an applicant must meet both of the following criteria:

• Be applying for a course that specifies in the school admissions policy or admissions guidance that prospective students may use the Alternative Entry Scheme 
• Have been out of compulsory education at school or college for three or more years.

The scheme involves satisfactory completion of assignments that are designed to enable candidates to demonstrate their skills and understanding in relation to their chosen discipline. The scheme also includes tests in English and maths for those who do not meet the relevant requirements.

Candidates who are eligible for the Alternative Entry Scheme are typically referred to the Lifelong Learning Centre by the admissions staff of the course to which they are applying. 

The scheme does not apply to candidates who have returned to education and taken three A Levels (or equivalent) within the last three years. In such cases, the application is judged against the standard entry requirements of the course (including the possibility of an alternative offer if the candidate meets eligibility criteria for Access to Leeds). The scheme may, however, be used for those who have taken fewer than three A Levels in the last three years and can also apply to those who meet A Level requirements but who lack the minimum requirements for English and/or maths.

The same principles of admission apply to part-time entry; however, this section of the policy identifies key areas where alternative processes and procedures are required for part-time applications. 

Undergraduate part-time applications

Management of the admissions process for part-time students rests with the Lifelong Learning Centre. All academic decisions are made by Admissions Tutors/academic staff. The roles of Admissions Tutors and administrators are as outlined in the University roles and responsibilities section of this page. The Lifelong Learning Centre will communicate directly with applicants to part-time undergraduate courses. 

Applications for most part-time courses should be made direct to the University by completing an application form available from the Lifelong Learning Centre. Applicants who are uncertain about the qualifications acceptable for part-time undergraduate courses should contact the Lifelong Learning Centre. Applications for part-time undergraduate study can be accepted throughout the admissions cycle and, in some cases, even as late as the summer. Applicants are strongly advised to check admissions deadlines with the Lifelong Learning Centre.

Applicants will typically be invited for a short interview; they will be informed of the outcome of this, and of any further conditions for entry, as soon as possible following the interview. 

Taught postgraduate part-time applications

Applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis should refer to Course Search to check on part-time options prior to making an application. Applications must be submitted through the University portal following the guidance in the Application routes and deadlines section of this page. 

Applicants may be subject to a fee assessment in order to determine the tuition fees they will be required to pay, and all students are expected to have made arrangements to meet the tuition fee payment requirements before accepting their offer. For information about tuition fee payment options, please visit our tuition fees payment schedule page.

The University strives to broaden access to scholarships and other financial support in an effort to minimise the impact of any financial barriers to study. For details of the comprehensive financial support we offer to help with the costs of studying at Leeds, please see our undergraduate funding and taught postgraduate funding pages. There may also be scholarships or bursaries available through the academic school, details of which can be found on the schools’ websites. Further support is available via the Sanctuary Scholarship for forced migrants who are unable to access mainstream funding. Support from the University does not have to be repaid.

Eligible UK students, whether full-time or part-time, are able to apply for a repayable government loan. A postgraduate loan is paid directly to students to help towards the cost of tuition fees and living expenses while studying. An undergraduate loan will cover the full amount of tuition fees, and is paid directly to the University by the Student Loans Company. Eligible undergraduates can also apply for a maintenance loan to help towards living costs, and this is paid directly to students at the start of each term. Information on how to apply and the eligibility criteria are outlined on the government website (see previous links). 

Student visa sponsorship

International students require a Student visa to study in the UK, unless they hold alternative acceptable UK immigration permission. Applicants who require a Student visa should note that the University does not sponsor candidates for part-time courses as standard practice. 

As noted in the Documentation and references section of this page, the University requires additional information from candidates who require sponsorship and who have studied in the UK under a Tier 4 visa or Student visa previously. This information will be used to ascertain whether a candidate can be sponsored and, as these checks may be undertaken only after an offer is made, candidates should be aware that an offer of a place does not constitute confirmation of sponsorship. Please note, where the UKVI allows exceptions to its policy, the University reserves the right to make its own assessment on whether these are applied.

CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and tuition fee deposits

The University reserves the right to charge a tuition fee deposit.

In order to apply for a Student visa, applicants require a CAS from the University. To receive a CAS, applicants must have accepted an unconditional offer (which must be a firm choice for undergraduate applicants) and provided all required information (e.g. passport details). In addition, taught postgraduate applicants must either pay a tuition fee deposit or provide evidence that they are fully funded by a University-recognised sponsor in order to be eligible for a CAS. Those studying a pre-sessional course at the University of Leeds Language Centre before starting their academic course may be required to pay the deposit or provide sponsorship evidence prior to the pre-sessional.

For more details about deposits, sponsor evidence and the circumstances in which a deposit may be refunded, please see our tuition fee deposits page.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Applicants who require immigration permission to be in the UK may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate in order to undertake postgraduate study in certain subject areas. Please see the Non-academic requirements section of this page for further detail.

The University recognises that someone’s age (if under 18) or safeguarding position may need to be taken into account. For certain courses there may be restrictions in place for module choice or admission for those under 18; please see the school policies or admissions guidance for further information as well as our Safeguarding Policy (PDF) and our Information for Under 18 Applicants (PDF).

Parental/Guardian consent forms must be submitted before a place can be confirmed.

UKVI guidance states that students on a Student visa must be 16 or over. Accordingly, the University cannot assign a CAS for anyone under 16 and those requiring a Student visa must be aged 16 or over in order to be considered for sponsorship. 

The University may ask applicants to declare a relevant unspent criminal conviction as part of the process of accepting an offer which is made. For the majority of courses, the University does not require this at application stage or until an offer is made. It is only required when an applicant wishes to accept an offer. Information about why this information is requested, and the process for disclosing a relevant unspent criminal conviction, is on our declaring criminal convictions page and in the University’s policy statement on students with criminal records (PDF).

Where indicated in the prospectus or on the University’s website, for specific courses it is necessary to declare a criminal conviction at the application stage. This is in order to perform certain checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and to undertake fitness to practise assessments as required by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies. The University will send further instructions as part of the admissions process where this is the case.

The University encourages and welcomes applications from disabled people. The University is committed to the social model of disability and in line with the definition under the Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment which is long-term (lasting 12 months or more), and which has a substantial adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Although some conditions, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and MS (from the point of diagnosis) are expressly deemed to be disabilities for the purposes of the Equality Act, the definition of disability may also include epilepsy, diabetes, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, amongst others.

The University aims to be as inclusive as possible through its application process, learning and teaching. There are various projects and practices in place as part of an anticipatory approach to reduce the need for applicants and students to request individual support. However, the University does also make individual reasonable adjustments, with the aim of ensuring that disabled applicants have full and equal access to our admissions procedures and courses. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to disclose their disability on the application form so that reasonable adjustments and/or other support requirements can be made/considered. Information about disability is not used when considering academic eligibility for the chosen course. Instead it is reviewed in order to identify the potential study-related support requirements, and the eligibility for disability-related support funding, so that the University can ensure the applicant is supported effectively on the course. 

The University will always aim to make appropriate adjustments for disabled applicants and no applicant or student is required to disclose their disability if they do not wish to do so. However, applicants who choose not to declare their disability should be aware that without this information it may be more difficult, or in rare cases impossible, for the University to provide appropriate support and/or make reasonable adjustments. Disabled applicants are also advised to email Disability Services at disability@leeds.ac.uk once an application has been submitted, to discuss any support requirements they may have in relation to the course for which they have applied.  

If any candidate feels that their disability has meant that they faced exceptional circumstances which should be taken into account by the University when considering their application, they should refer to the Applicant and student support section of this page, specifically the section Applicants who have faced exceptional circumstances.

The following section gives an overview of some key areas of support available to applicants and/or students of the University. General guidance on support can be found on our wellbeing and support page.  

Applicants in need of health-related support

This section deals with health-related matters or additional support needs, which are not classed as a disability and are distinct from disability-related issues. Applicants with a health-related issue should contact the relevant academic school as soon as possible if their health is likely to impact on their ability to engage with the admissions process. Offers made to some courses in the Faculty of Medicine and Health are conditional upon a satisfactory occupational health assessment, to be undertaken before the commencement of studies. Applicants will be advised if these or any other conditions apply when they are made an offer of a place. 

If any candidate feels that their prior ill health has meant that they faced exceptional circumstances which should be taken into account by the University when considering their application, they should refer to the Applicants who have faced exceptional circumstances section. 

Applicants who have faced exceptional circumstances

If any candidate feels that any disability, ill-health, or other personal circumstance (for example, bereavement, or other difficult home or family circumstances) may have affected their education, or grades received in examinations, then the candidate would be expected to have notified the relevant exam board or awarding body of those circumstances. Whilst an applicant is welcome to notify (via a verified statement) the relevant admissions office of the circumstances, the University will assume that the relevant board/body has taken these mitigating circumstances into account when awarding the final results, and it will be these final results that will be used when making a decision. If a candidate feels that this has not been the case, and can provide evidence to support this, please contact the school admissions team to discuss further.

Care leavers – those who are currently in care or have experience of being in care – can access a range of support from the University. For further information, see the application guidance for care leavers or email the Plus Programme Support team at estrangedstudents@leeds.ac.uk.

Estranged applicants – those who have no communication or functioning relationship with their biological parents – can access a range of support from the University and from the StandAlone service. For further information, see the application guidance for estranged students or email the Plus Programme Support team at estrangedstudents@leeds.ac.uk.

Applicants who are pregnant or have young children

In line with the University policy on support for students who are pregnant or have young children, applicants who are pregnant are advised to inform the relevant school admissions team at an early stage. This is so that consideration can be given to appropriate support being available from the start of their course.

Guidance for trans applicants

The University will be required to carry out identity checks as part of the registration process, and/or taught admissions staff may be required to advise the relevant Faculty Admissions Manager of a change of details in order to verify any previous documentation; however, this will be undertaken confidentially and with sensitivity. Full guidance to support trans students can be found on the Equality and Inclusion Unit website.

Applicants who do not wish to disclose their trans identity to the faculty/school admissions team but require their details to be updated should email Admissions Enquiries at study@leeds.ac.uk and the team will be able to support the applicant through the process.

Mature and part-time applicants (undergraduate only)

The University encourages and welcomes applications from mature students (defined as those who are over the age of 21 at the time of starting their course) for both full-time and part-time study and the Lifelong Learning Centre offers a great deal of support, including impartial and confidential educational and careers guidance.

Both mature and part-time candidates can receive support with admissions, transition into university, and throughout their period of study. This specialist support from the Lifelong Learning Centre complements the full range of services offered through faculties, University services and the Student Union.

Applicants who wish to reapply should refer to the relevant school admissions policy or admissions guidance prior to making an application. Any decision on the eligibility of applicants who have previously held an offer of a place but failed to achieve the academic conditions at first attempt will be an academic judgement. Such candidates should be aware that no guarantee can be given that another offer will be made, and that the conditions of any future offer may differ to those of the original. Please note that previous applicants to Access to Leeds are welcome to reapply to the scheme in subsequent cycles.

Candidates who have been withdrawn from their earlier studies due to academic failure (this includes foundation year students who have not achieved the necessary grades to be permitted to progress to their chosen progression route) may apply for re-entry to the University, but not to the same or a closely related course – that is, where over half of the compulsory modules are identical. Candidates who previously left the University due to non-academic reasons, for example, ill health or financial reasons, will not be subject to this condition. When assessing applications from former students all relevant factors will be considered, including previous study, and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants who have been permanently excluded (expelled) from the University (for disciplinary reasons and/or under the Referred Student Procedure and/or for reasons of misconduct or fitness to train in a professionally-regulated discipline) are not permitted to reapply, and will be advised as such at the time of exclusion. Those who do reapply will be deemed to have contravened the responsibilities of an applicant to avoid misrepresentation (as outlined in the Applicant and student responsibilities section of this page) and will be rejected or have any outstanding offer(s) revoked. Former students who are unclear on whether they are permitted to reapply should contact Student Cases for further information.

Applicants who require a Student visa and have previously studied at the University under Tier 4 (General) or Student visa sponsorship will be subject to academic progression checks to ensure UKVI compliance. If an applicant has been withdrawn due to academic failure they cannot be considered for re-entry to the University if they would require a further visa, as this would not meet UKVI academic progression requirements. Please see the Documentation and references section of this page for further information.

The eligibility of students who are undertaking a further attempt at an entry qualification is an academic decision taken by the relevant academic school. Applicants in this situation are advised to check the relevant school admissions policy or admissions guidance.

The University considers a deferred applicant as an offer-holder who wishes to change their year of entry to the following academic year, or an applicant who applies for the following academic year from the outset. Applicants seeking deferred entry must engage in the full admissions process (including any required attendance at interviews) during the cycle in which they applied.

Undergraduate applicants who wish to defer following the submission of their application may be required to do so prior to the confirmation of a place. Please check the relevant school policy or admissions guidance for details. English language qualifications must be valid at the revised start date.

Undergraduate applicants who request deferral for more than one academic year, and taught postgraduate applicants who wish to defer an offer to the following academic year, will be required to reapply. Such candidates should be aware that no guarantee can be given that another offer will be made, and that the conditions of any future offer may differ to those of the original. 

Important up-to-date course information, including content and outline module information, and teaching and assessment methods, can be found on Course Search. The circumstances in which changes may be made to the course will also be highlighted here. The University reviews its courses on a regular basis and, in the unlikely event that there are any significant changes made following receipt of applications, the relevant applicants will be notified.