Schools' Hub : Contextual offers

Contextual offers

At Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), our mission is to be the leading professional arts university, dedicated to turning creativity into careers.

We aim to create a student body that is balanced and diverse in terms of cultural background and experience and recruit students who have the ability to successfully complete their chosen course.

AUB will achieve these aims through:

Encouraging applications from all those with the motivation and academic ability to thrive at the University, whatever their background.
Assessing each application in a holistic way.
Offering places to applicants who have the potential to successfully complete their course.
Transparency in the admissions process.

As part of the application process, we receive information through UCAS for our undergraduate courses, which include contextual information about an applicant. These factors are considered in the assessment of an application.

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Who is eligible for a contextual offer?

Applicants are eligible for a contextual offer if they:

Are from an area that has low participation in higher education.
- Current home postcode shows that you live in an area with low levels of progression to Higher Education falling within TUNDRA LSOA quintiles 1 and 2.
- Current home postcode shows that you live in an area that falls within the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 1 and 2.

Have experienced socio-economic challenges during their education and been a recipient of Free School Meals.
Are care experienced.
Are estranged.
Are a young adult carer.
Have a parent who has served, or is currently serving, in the UK armed forces.
Have participated in All Access AUB.

To get in touch with any questions you have about contextual offers, email admissions@aub.ac.uk.

Eligibility for the TUNDRA LSOA measure can be checked on the OfS website. Eligibility for the Index of Multiple Deprivation measure can be checked via the IMD postcode checker.

View our Admissions Policy

What is a contextual offer?

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria above will be offered a grade-reduction of up to two grades below the minimum entry criteria in their offers.

For example:

The standard entry for our undergraduate courses is BBB.
A contextual offer for one of these courses would be, for example, BCC, or equivalent 104 UCAS points.

Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and our academic entry requirements as listed above will be guaranteed a portfolio review for the course that they've applied for, if relevant. In addition, applicants for BA (Hons) Acting will be guaranteed an audition.

If your application for an undergraduate course is unsuccessful, you'll be offered a place on the Foundation Course if you meet the entry requirements for it, including in GCSE English and Maths.

Financial support for Contextual Offer holders

If you’re a Contextual Offer holder, we have an annual fund available for you to receive a one-off award of up to £50 for travel costs to attend an Offer Holder Day or other university induction/transition events, which includes interviews or auditions if you're a contextual applicant.

Please email wp@aub.ac.uk to find out more.

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Transition to Creative HE Day

Our Transition to Creative Higher Education (HE) Day, which takes place on AUB Campus, is just for Contextual Offer holders and All Access AUB participants. It’s designed to give you a head start before you join us in September – helping you feel confident, supported, and excited about your next chapter at AUB.

You can expect a full, friendly day on campus packed with useful info, creative inspiration and real-world tips to get you ready for AUB life. It's a day all about you – giving you the tools, insight and reassurance to hit the ground running when you start your creative degree.

Learn more