Undergraduate Admissions Policy - School of Healthcare 2025-26

Please see Course Search for the course list, typical entry requirements, and accepted qualifications.

The School of Healthcare recognises that some applicants may have studied a more flexible curriculum, where they have been able to progress through their educational development at an appropriate rate according to their ability. Where a Level 2 (for example, GCSE) or Level 3 (for example, A-level) qualification has been taken ‘early’ the academic reference should include the reasons for this so that it can be taken into consideration by the admissions team.

Applicants will need to show evidence of study in the last five years and this study must be relevant to their intended programme of study. Consideration of the duration of study, level of study and method of assessment will be considered to ensure that the applicant has demonstrated that they have the capacity to study a full-time undergraduate course.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

An Enhanced DBS certificate is required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the School of Healthcare. For more information, see the “Criminal convictions” section of this policy.

Occupational health check

Due to the nature of the programmes and professions, and to meet statutory and professional requirements, all applicants who are offered a place on an undergraduate programme in the School of Healthcare will be required to complete an occupational health pre-registration questionnaire and, where necessary, assessment. Offers made are conditional upon a satisfactory occupational health assessment and clearance.

Applicants with a health-related issue should contact the School of Healthcare as soon as possible if their health is likely to impact on their ability to engage with the admissions process or subsequent course. This allows the Occupational Health team at the University to support applicants to meet their true potential on the programme despite any pre-existing health concerns they may have. Contact details for the School of Healthcare can be found at the end of this policy.

Additional information can be found at Occupational health requirements for students and applicants to the Faculty of Medicine and Health. 

Blood-borne viruses check

All Midwifery (Blended Learning) BSc students are required to undergo screening for blood-borne viruses (Hepatitis B and C, and HIV).  

References 

The reference section of the application is carefully considered by the School of Healthcare. It helps the School to assess the nature of the applicant’s interest in and aptitude for the academic subject and is an important part of the selection process. If applicants are re-sitting Level 3 qualifications, details of any extenuating circumstances should be highlighted in the reference.

Advanced entry to Midwifery (Blended Learning) BSc, Nursing (Mental Health) BSc and Nursing (Child) BSc is not available. For all other courses, providing places are available, the School of Healthcare will consider applications from those who are seeking entry to the second year. Each applicant will be reviewed on an individual basis. Applicants seeking advanced entry should email the School of Healthcare Admissions team in the first instance to check if this is possible. The following may be requested:

• Confirmation of the country in which current degree is being undertaken, if not the UK.
• A provisional year 1 transcript.
• Module handbooks or specifications for all modules undertaken.
• Evidence of placements undertaken.
• Evidence of English language proficiency consistent with first year requirements (as detailed on Course Search).

All applications must be made through UCAS, as per the deadlines outlined in the Application routes and deadlines section of this policy. To be eligible the applicant must demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:  

• Meet first year requirements, as detailed on Course Search
• Have met the learning outcomes of year 1 of the relevant programme 
• Have achieved a minimum 60% average in the first year of study. 

Decisions on such applications are made by the Programme Manager.  

Entry on to Level 3 of programmes in the School of Healthcare is not permitted.

Undergraduate applications

All full-time undergraduate applications must be made through the online Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) by 6pm on 29 January 2025. The School of Healthcare reserves the right to consider applications submitted after this date. Availability of courses in UCAS Extra will be detailed on UCAS at the appropriate stage in the cycle. 

The School of Healthcare takes a partnership approach with selection and recruitment with its NHS partners. Applications received after the closing date may not be considered.

Internal transfers 

The School of Healthcare will consider applications from those who wish to transfer internally from other undergraduate programmes at the University of Leeds. Applicants are expected to meet the standard academic and non-academic entry requirements, provide a personal statement and academic reference and to successfully complete the interview process. For Social Work BA, the transfer application process includes a written assessment.

Requests are made via an internal change of programme form to be submitted in line with standard UCAS submission dates. Students wishing to be considered for second year entry should consult the Advanced entry section of this policy. 

The School of Healthcare does not offer undergraduate courses on a part-time basis.

Due to the clinical nature of programmes within the School of Healthcare, applicants must be 18 years of age or over on the start date of the course for which they are applying. Applicants who are not 18 on the first day of the programme may apply for deferred entry for the following year. Further information on the University’s approach to age and safeguarding is available in the University of Leeds Admissions Policy.

Applicants to School of Healthcare programmes will be asked to declare any spent or unspent criminal convictions or other punishments at the point of application. Further information on the process can be found in the University's Applicants and students with criminal records policy. 

As part of the student offer for our clinical programmes, an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate is required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The certification process is undertaken on entry to the programme and repeated once every three years whilst students are still undertaking the same programme of study.

The Enhanced DBS certificate can only include background checks for time in the UK. If a student has been resident in the UK for less than three years, a criminal record check from their home country is required. This may be referred to as an International Criminality check.

The University of Leeds is obliged to refuse admission to applicants for certain courses, which are regulated by national or statutory bodies, where an Enhanced DBS certificate or International Criminality check reveals prior criminal behaviour giving rise to concern for the protection of the public. Clinical placements cannot be attended by those who fail to comply with the clearance processes.

The School of Healthcare will consider applications from those who are re-taking examinations prior to entering the University. 

The School of Healthcare will consider applications for deferred entry. 

Applicants who wish to defer following the submission of their application are required to do so prior to the confirmation of a place.  

Applicants who request deferral for more than one academic year will be required to reapply. Such applicants 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. 

Academic grades normally form only one part of the final decision and the following sections provide examples of how applicants may demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and attributes that we consider will enable them to become successful students on our degree courses. 

Applicants are shortlisted against agreed criteria and they must meet the academic entry requirement for the programme at application or within the admission cycle in which they apply. The academic background of the applicant plus the personal statement on the UCAS form helps us to assess the nature of the applicant’s interest in their chosen profession and is an important part of the selection process. Additionally, the reference provided on the UCAS form must be supportive of the applicant. The School of Healthcare will only shortlist based on the information supplied on the form at the time of submission.

Where applicants are unsuccessful in gaining a place on their chosen course, application forms may be passed to other admissions teams for consideration for alternative courses in which the applicant may be interested. 

The personal statement of the application form helps us to assess the nature of the applicant’s interest in the academic subject and is an important part of the selection process. It is essential that applicants take this opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm and aptitude for the academic subject. We wish to hear about: 

• Why the applicant has chosen this specific profession and what led them to this decision. This is an essential aspect of the personal statement that demonstrates motivation, insight and understanding of the applicant’s chosen course. Applicants should state clearly which course they are applying for. 
• A summary of work-related skills gained through study, work experience, volunteering or paid employment demonstrating the experiences that the applicant has that could be transferable to their chosen career (for example, specific communication skills, time management, problem solving). 
• An understanding of and an ability to appreciate the needs of others and evidence of demonstrating care and compassion.
• How the applicant’s experiences so far will help them to be successful both as a student and in their chosen career. This needs to be written reflectively.

Applicants to all School of Healthcare programmes will be required to attend an interview.  

We need to take into account professionally relevant legal/regulatory requirement stipulations (as set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council) that ensure that our approach to interviewing is consistent with values-based recruitment initiatives.

The School of Healthcare will conduct interviews virtually for the majority of applicants, using either Zoom or Teams. In some cases, legal or regulatory requirements may mean this option is not available. Virtual interviews follow the same principles and guidance as face-to-face interviews.

Applicants who apply before the UCAS equal consideration deadline, if suitable, will be invited to a virtual selection event. Depending on the programme, the School of Healthcare conducts either an individual or a small group interview. This provides a method of assessing knowledge and understanding and important personal qualities that are essential for our professional programmes of study. There will also be time for applicants to ask questions.

Depending on staff availability, applicants who apply after the deadline may be invited to an individual panel interview which will assess for the same values and experience as the group interview.

Interviews are scheduled as flexibly as possible to enable applicants to attend. This includes, where possible, providing adequate notice (usually at least five working days) and, if requested, offering applicants an alternative interview date. A revised interview date may not be offered if the applicant fails to attend an interview without informing the University in advance. 

Some applicants (for example, disabled applicants, applicants who are pregnant etc.) may require adjustments to their interview to provide them with full and equal access to the process. The School of Healthcare Admissions team is responsible for making reasonable adjustments where possible. ​​​Email the University’s Disability Services team via disability@leeds.ac.uk for further advice or information regarding disability-related adjustments. Email the Equality and Inclusion Unit via equality@leeds.ac.uk for advice on other adjustments. 

All applicants will have their digital literacy skills assessed. Applicants for the Social Work programme will also be asked to complete a written assessment.

If an applicant has a disability that may require some reasonable adjustment to complete the assessment, they are asked to inform us via a webpage linked within the interview invite email.

As outlined in the Contextual admissions schemes section of the University of Leeds Admissions Policy, the School of Healthcare will consider prospective students via the Alternative Entry Scheme run by the Lifelong Learning Centre.