London Campus
Northumbria's London Campus offers students our academic quality and outstanding experience in the UK's capital city.
Access NU is a 1-year programme for students who will be 21 or over when starting their undergraduate degree course and who are currently studying a level 3 programme, such as an Access to HE Diploma, in England. This structured programme is designed to support you, as an adult learner, in the academic year you are applying to university. Therefore, you can be starting a 1-year level 3 course or beginning your final year of a longer level 3 course.
By participating in Access NU, you will receive information and advice throughout the academic year, designed to support you with completing your UCAS application and transitioning to university. Students who complete Access NU, will earn Access NU points, which are equivalent to UCAS tariff points when applying to Northumbria. You can earn up to a maximum of 16 Access NU points or closest UCAS tariff point equivalent for the qualification you are studying and grades you achieve.
To be eligible for the scheme, you must meet our specific eligibility criteria outlined below and receive approval by your school or college to participate in the scheme. Following a successful application to the scheme, you must complete the four compulsory elements of the scheme to obtain the Access NU points.
Further details of the programme, including how to apply and full terms and conditions for using your Access NU points can be found below.
Access NU has been designed to support students throughout the academic year they are applying to university. Beginning with supporting students with their UCAS applications, before looking at key skills for undergraduate study and transitioning to university, Access NU provides students the opportunity to tailor a significant proportion of the programme to the areas of support they feel they would most benefit from, although students can attend all elements if they wish.
Throughout the year, Access NU students will be able to join a specific teams site, which will provide Access NU students the opportunity to chat and ask questions of other adult learners, as well as receive regular information from the university with useful hints and tips related to that point of the application journey.
Students who successfully complete all compulsory elements of Access NU throughout the year will earn Access NU points which will be accepted as equivalent to UCAS tariff points at Northumbria University. Students can earn up to a maximum of 16 Access NU points or closest UCAS tariff point equivalent for the qualification you are studying and grades you achieve.
To take part in Access NU, students must first complete our online application form. Following a successful application, students will then need to complete any combination of 3 online webinars/activities or faculty events from our programme as well as attend our Access NU conference on campus.
You must meet all the following criteria to apply:
- You are currently completing a level 3 qualification in England and are in your final or only year of your course.
- You will be applying to university this academic year to begin stage one of an undergraduate course.
- When you start your course, you will be aged 21 or over, on the first day of term.
- You have English Language and Maths GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent. If you do not currently have these, you can still take part in Access NU, but must obtain the required GCSE or equivalent results by the summer results period before you are due to start your course.
- By the summer results period, you will be recognised as having 'home fee status':
Should the scheme be oversubscribed, priority will be given to any students who also meet any of the additional criteria below:
Care experienced – Anyone who has previously been in care, for any period of time, under the age of 18. This care may have been provided in many different settings, including: living with foster carers; living in a residential children's home; being looked after at home under a supervision order; living with friends or relatives in kinship care (either through a formal arrangement, such as a Special Guardianship order, or an informal arrangement without local authority support).
Estranged - A young person aged 18 to 24 who has no communicative relationship with either of their biological/adoptive parents and they do not expect the situation to be reconciled.
Carer - Someone who has sole or shared responsibility, unpaid, to care for a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health illness or addiction who could not manage without their support. Please note this does not include normal, day to day, parental responsibilities.
Live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to Higher Education. You can check your neighbourhood progression rate using the postcode checker. You are eligible if either of the following applies when you search your home postcode (you do not need to meet both):
If your POLAR4 young participation quintile is identified as 1 or 2, you will be eligible to apply to the scheme.
OR;
After searching your postcode, click view detailed results and if your TUNDRA MSOA quintile is identified as 1 or 2, you will be eligible to apply to the scheme. (This only applies to applicants living in England).
First generation to go to university - First generation to go to university means that neither of your parents have been to university and got a degree. You count as being first generation to go to university even if the following people have gone to university: your foster parents, your care workers, your brother or sister, your biological parents (if you're adopted), or a parent with whom you’ve had no contact with during your secondary and post-16 education.
Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic – Students from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic origin.
Entitled to or in receipt of free school meals and/or discretionary payments and/or 16-19 bursary at any point during the last six years.
Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen or Boater– This term encompasses a wide range of individuals who may be defined in relation to their ethnicity, heritage, way of life and how they self-identify. This includes: English or Welsh Romany Gypsies, European Roma, Irish Travellers, Scottish Gypsy Travellers, Showpeople (such as people linked with fairground or circus professions), people living on barges or other boats, people living in settled (bricks and mortar) accommodation or New Age Travellers.
Disability, dyslexic or specific learning difficulty - Applies if you have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities. A disability, long term health condition, mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty (SpLD).
LGBTQ+ - A student who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or other non-heterosexual orientations/identities and students who identify as transgender (trans), non-binary and other gender diverse identities.
Service child - a person whose parent or carer serves in the Regular Armed Forces, or as a Reservist, or has done at any point during the first 25 years of that person’s life.
Refugee – Your claim for asylum has been recognised and you have been granted official refugee status.
Asylum Seeker or someone who has been granted limited leave to remain or discretionary leave to remain – You are in the process of seeking asylum, or the decision is still pending, or you have been given permission to stay temporarily in the UK.
For students applying to university in 2021/22 academic year, applications to Access NU are now closed.
Please note to pull through referee options some institutions are down under slightly different names:If you do not see a suitable referee, please do get in touch with us and we will be able to add alternative staff for you.
By submitting the application form the applicant is signing to say they have read, understand and agree to the Terms and Conditions detailed below.
Students must be aware of the following:
For further information or any questions related to the scheme, including support with applications, or staff looking to book an Access NU introduction session for their students, please contact our dedicated Access NU team on: u1.accessnu@northumbria.ac.uk
Northumbria's London Campus offers students our academic quality and outstanding experience in the UK's capital city.
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