Could I get a lower university offer based on my circumstances?
Our Fair Access Offer is a contextual offer scheme for eligible UK undergraduate applicants. It recognises that personal circumstances can influence educational achievement and helps us consider the context in which you have achieved your grades.
Eligible applicants may receive an offer reduced by up to 16 UCAS tariff points (equivalent to two A Level grades or comparable qualifications). There is no separate application process, as eligibility is assessed automatically through your UCAS application.
Fair Access Offer at a glance
- Up to 16 UCAS tariff points reduction
- Available for eligible UK undergraduate applicants
- Assessed automatically through UCAS
- No separate application required
- Designed to support fair access to higher education.
Achieve your potential at Coventry University
We recognise that applicants face different circumstances, and these can affect their educational experience and attainment, so sometimes examination results alone cannot tell us everything about your potential, achievements, journey and challenges.
That's why our admissions policy is designed to support fair access to higher education and consider applicants in the context of their individual circumstances. We are committed to widening participation and helping talented students access higher education regardless of their background.
What is Coventry University’s Fair Access Offer?
Our Fair Access Offer helps us consider your personal circumstances that may have affected your educational experience, in line with our commitment to widening participation in higher education. It evaluates the context within which you have achieved your grades. If eligible, we make a contextual offer that reduces the standard entry requirements for your chosen course.
For example, if you’re studying A levels, your offer will normally be reduced by 16 UCAS tariff points (such as from BBB to BCC), or the equivalent reduction for other qualifications, such as a BTEC National Extended Diploma (such as from DDM to DMM).
Who is eligible for a Fair Access Offer?
You may be eligible for a Fair Access Offer if your educational experience has been affected by personal circumstances or if you meet specific widening participation criteria.
Eligibility is assessed automatically using information provided through your UCAS application and contextual data supplied by UCAS.
If you apply through UCAS for an undergraduate degree course, are a UK student and have declared any of the criteria below, you will automatically be considered for a Fair Access Offer:
- You have a disability.
- You are a care leaver.
- You are aged over 21 at the start of your course.
- You are a refugee or asylum seeker in the UK.
- You are estranged from your parents.
- You have long-term caring responsibilities for someone in your family.
You may also be eligible based on where you live, including whether your home postcode is in an area where progression to higher education is lower than the national average.
How will Coventry University decide if I’m eligible?
We use data from your UCAS application form. If you’re eligible and working towards your Level 3 qualifications, we will make you a reduced conditional offer.
We gather information from UCAS using their Modernised Contextualised Data Service. This takes into consideration whether your home postcode is in an area where fewer people progress to university than the national average, alongside other indicators. Read more about how UCAS shares contextual data.
If you are eligible and are still studying towards your Level 3 qualifications, we will make a reduced conditional offer where appropriate.
How much could my offer be reduced?
Most eligible applicants receive a reduction of 16 UCAS tariff points from the standard entry requirements for their chosen course.
Examples include:
- Standard Offer: BBB, Fair Access Offer: BCC
- Standard Offer: DDM, Fair Access Offer: DMM
Equivalent reductions apply across other accepted Level 3 qualifications.
