Our approach: Contextual admissions
At Falmouth University, we assess every applicant individually, and with consideration for your personal circumstances.
Instead of focusing on criteria like grades alone, we operate an enhanced contextual admissions approach, where we look at you as a person: your talents, your experiences and your potential.
Every offer we make is shaped around you and your circumstances, and our conditional offers are always intended to be realistic and achievable.
What is a contextual admissions approach, or contextual offer?
Traditionally, “contextual admissions” refers to a fairer way for universities to look at applications, that recognises an applicant’s achievements in the context of their personal circumstances. It's a university's way of recognising that not everyone has access to the same resources, support, or opportunities.
At Falmouth, we take this further - not relying on set factors such as where an applicant lives, their family income or if they have a medical condition. We look at every individual applicant with an unlimited view: we see you as a whole person, not just your grades or situation.
Ultimately, our enhanced approach to contextual admissions is about fairness: recognising talent wherever it comes from, and making sure that students with ability and drive are not held back by circumstances outside their control.
How it could benefit you
If you apply to Falmouth, we will always tailor your offer to what is achievable for you using your predicted grades as an indicator.
This includes:
- If you are not predicted to meet our entry requirements, we will still consider your application through other means of assessment, such as a reviewing your portfolio, performance or inviting you to an interview.
- We may make you a tailored offer in reflection of these assessments, that is realistic and achievable.
- Access to support programmes, mentors, or resources designed to help you succeed.
This doesn’t mean your achievements are overlooked: it means they’re valued in the fairest light.
How it works in practice
If you apply through UCAS, the information you include in your personal statement and application about your education, location and background helps us and other universities you apply to make a more rounded assessment. We will also use related information in your teacher’s reference, if relevant.
You don’t need to take any extra steps: just ensure your application is complete and accurate. We may then apply contextual data automatically, or ask you for more information if we think it could support your application.
Here's an example of how this works, with fictional student Elsa:
Elsa wants to apply for BA(Hons) Illustration, but has been unwell and missed a large proportion of her A Levels. Now, Elsa has been predicted a lower grade than she was expecting, and does not meet the minimum admission criteria for the course. Elsa speaks to us, and instead of only relying on her predicted grades, we ask Elsa to share examples of her work with us to review. An academic from the course reviews Elsa's work, and sees that she has done a lot of work to progress her skills and would thrive on the course, so we make her an offer that is achievable based on her predicted grades.
We operate a contextual admissions process for our postgraduate master’s programmes. In your application and/or personal statement, ensure you include information about your current situation, or ask a member of our friendly team for advice on whether your personal situation may meet a contextual offer.
Talk to us about your application
If you need to speak to someone about your course, studying at Falmouth or your application, you can get in touch on the details below.
T: +44(0) 1326 254350
E: futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk
Ask an Advisor
University is about curiosity, creativity and ambition. Contextual admissions exist to make sure that every capable student, no matter their starting point, has a fair opportunity to take that next step.
