We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds.
We recognise that not everyone has the same opportunities in life, and that social and economic background might have an impact on educational achievement. Our contextual offers allow students to show their potential to succeed at a world-class university.
If you are a Home student and your academic performance doesn’t meet the standard requirements for your chosen course, you could benefit from a standard contextual offer or an enhanced contextual offer. A contextual offer is a reduced conditional offer to study at Nottingham.
What qualifications are eligible for a contextual offer?
- Contextual offers usually only apply to level 3 qualifications (for example, A levels) and are not used to reduce requirements for level 2 qualifications (for example, GCSEs).
- We can make contextual offers to applicants with a wide range of qualification profiles, including applicants with A levels, IB, or BTECs. Please note, contextualisation has already been applied to Access to HE qualifications and there will be no further grade reductions for applicants eligible for a contextual offer. You can see general information on our entry requirements page, or visit course pages for specific details.
- For Medicine, if you are applying with any qualifications which aren’t GCSE or A level exam grades, please contact our enquiries team and they will let you know if your qualifications will be considered.
What are the University of Nottingham’s minimum grade requirements?
Contextual offers will not be made below the minimum grade requirements:
- The university minimum for undergraduate courses is BBC at A level or equivalent.
- The university minimum for Foundation Programmes is BCC at A level or equivalent. However, the following Foundation programmes will not offer below BBC:
- A108 Medicine with a Foundation Year BMBS
- D190 Veterinary Medicine with a Gateway Year
Can I get a contextual offer and a reduction for my additional qualification?
- If your course offers a reduced grade entry requirement for applicants who achieve a grade A in any one of the following additional qualifications:
- Extended Project Qualification (incl. Cambridge International Project Qualification)
- Core Maths (only for applicants not taking A-Level Mathematics or Further Mathematics or equivalent)
- IB Extended Essay
- An additional AS Level in a separate subject to their main 3 A-Level’s/equivalent quals
AND;
- If you qualify for a standard contextual offer, your additional qualification will be taken into consideration, and the appropriate adjustment will be made to your offer. Please note, your offer cannot go below the university’s minimum grade requirements, as listed above.
- If you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer, your additional qualification will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.
Do contextual offers apply to interviews and tests?
Some courses include an interview or test as part of the entry requirements. You will need to pass this before we can make you a contextual offer.
How does the university know if I am eligible for a contextual offer?
There are no additional steps needed to receive a contextual offer, simply apply for an undergraduate course at the university through UCAS as usual. If your UCAS application shows that you meet the criteria listed below, we will automatically check this against verified records to assess your eligibility for a contextual offer.
Please note, if you are applying for A100 Medicine BMBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) for 2026 entry and have spent more than three months in care, you will need to provide evidence of this to be eligible for an enhanced contextual offer. See further details below on the eligibility criteria for an enhanced contextual offer for Medicine.