Our Contextual Offer Scheme aims to identify the potential of applicants whose personal circumstances may have impacted their achievement in education.
If you're applying to start your degree at Lancaster University, you could be eligible to receive our contextual offer in place of our typical offer. As part of the Contextual Offer Scheme, your offer will typically be two A level grades (or equivalent) lower than the standard offer shown on our course pages and prospectus. For example, a standard offer of AAB, would become BBB.
In addition, students eligible for the Contextual Offer Scheme will also receive the Lancaster Opportunity Scholarship of £1,000 per annum.
For 2025 entry, we will take into account additional contextual information when reviewing applications from UK students, if either:
- You have received Free School Meals during your secondary education, as declared on the UCAS application
- You have experience of being in care
Eligible students, who apply through the main UCAS cycle, will qualify for the Contextual Offer Scheme, that is two A level grades (or equivalent) below our published entry grades.
There is no additional application process. Once we receive your application from UCAS, we will automatically make an adjusted offer to all qualifying students and this will appear in UCAS.
Applicants interested in MBChB Medicine and Surgery, or the Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year course, should review the admissions information on the Medical School website. All other subjects are included.
At the moment contextual offers are only considered for applicants applying to study at undergraduate level.
The Lancaster Opportunity Scholarship can be combined with the Lancaster Scholarship and the Lancaster Bursary, if you meet the required criteria. For example, someone who qualifies for the Contextual Offer Scheme, and who meets the requirements of the Lancaster Scholarship, and the Lancaster Bursary could receive up to £4,000 in the first year.
We have a range of widening participation programmes to support students from underrepresented backgrounds to access higher education, including our Lancaster Access Programme. We also recognise Realising Opportunities, a national access programme. For more information about our widening participation programmes, please contact outreach@lancaster.ac.uk.
The Contextual Offer Scheme can be combined with the Lancaster Access Programme or Realising Opportunities. Upon successful completion of the Lancaster Access Programme or Realising Opportunities, you will receive an alternative lower offer, typically up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our published entry grades.
If you are part of the Lancaster Access Programme or Realising Opportunities, and you also qualify for the Contextual Offer Scheme, you will receive whichever offer is to your best advantage.
Students on the Lancaster Access Programme or Realising Opportunities programme are also eligible for the Lancaster Opportunity Scholarship.
At Lancaster, we have a range of support to ensure you are supported through every stage of your journey. For students who are part of our Contextual Offer Scheme, you will have the chance to join our Lancaster Success Programme. The programme helps you prepare for and succeed at Lancaster through a mix of support from a Success Advisor, workshops and student-led events.
For more information about our Contextual Offer Scheme, please contact ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk. For more information about our widening participation programmes please contact outreach@lancaster.ac.uk.
