Eligibility

Criteria Table

Criterion	Description
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.
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.
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.
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.

Students from the categories below will also be eligible for a contextual offer*. Criteria Table

Criterion	Description
Spent time in care	You must complete the care questions in your UCAS form. If this is not also identified in your reference, we may ask you to provide evidence from your local authority, school or college or another relevant organization.
Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Origin	As an underrepresented group here at Northumbria, applicants from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic origin will be eligible for a contextual offer. Please visit our contextual offer web page for more information.
Free School Meals	If you have received UK government funded free school meals at any point during your secondary education.
Adult Learners	If you are over 21 years of age at the start of your programme.
Unpaid Caring Responsibilities	You have listed on your UCAS form that you have unpaid caring responsibilities (not including parenting); we may ask you to provide evidence.
Estranged from Parents	You are not in contact with or supported by parents.
Physical and/or mental health condition, long term illness or learning difference	A learning difference (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, or AD(H)D), visual impairment uncorrected by glasses (e.g. blindness or partial sight), hearing impairment (e.g. D/deafness or partial hearing), physical impairment or challenges with mobility (e.g. climbing stairs or uneven surfaces), or dexterity (e.g. using a keyboard or laboratory equipment), mental health condition, challenge or disorder (e.g. anxiety or depression), social, behavioural or communication impairment (e.g. an autistic spectrum condition, Tourette’s Syndrome or speech and language difficulties, including stammering), long-term illness or health condition which may involve pain or cause fatigue, loss of concentration or breathing difficulties – including any effects from taking associated medication. A condition or impairment not listed above.
Live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to Higher Education	Check your neighbourhood progression rate by using the postcode checker. If your POLAR4 young participation quintile is identified as 1 or 2, you will be eligible. You can find the postcode checker on the Office for Students (OfS) Website by clicking here.