Use of contextual data

Cardiff University is committed to widening access and welcomes applications from students of all backgrounds. The University is piloting a contextual admissions model to better inform Admissions Tutors’ understanding of applicants’ social and educational backgrounds. The purpose of the model is to allow Admissions Tutors to assess applicants' potential to succeed at Cardiff University in the context of barriers they may have encountered.

For Entry 2012, the following academic schools are piloting the use of contextual data for different aspects of the admissions process:
• Cardiff School of Bioscience
• Cardiff Law School
• Cardiff School of Medicine

The model adopted for full implementation for Entry 2013 may incorporate enhancements identified as desirable during the pilot phase, but will be founded on the same core principles. The model involves the identification of individual applicants for ‘additional consideration’ based on reliable data.

Core Principles

The University’s use of contextual data is guided by a number of principles. 

Scope of the Contextual Admissions Model

Contextual data will be applied to all UK domiciled Home (by fee status) applicants for full-time undergraduate programmes, with the exception of EU domiciled applicants and applicants who have already completed a first degree. Further information on the scope of the contextual admissions model is available to view. 

Contextual Indicators

The University is seeking to mitigate educational disadvantage, socioeconomic disadvantage and adverse individual circumstance, including time spent in care.  To identify those applicants who have experienced multiple barriers to participation in higher education, the University’s contextual admissions model uses five indicators to assess applicants’ eligibility for additional consideration. However, all applicants will still be required to meet the standard academic and non-academic criteria for their chosen degree programme. None of the contextual data considered as part of this process is produced by Cardiff University. It comes from independent sources namely, UCAS, the Higher Education Council Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Welsh Government and ACORN.

The five indicators are as follows:

Indicator 1: Educational Disadvantage
Average school GCSE performance of students achieving five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and Mathematics (or Scottish equivalent). Applicants at a school with performance below the national average will receive a ‘tick’ against Indicator 1.

Indicator 2: Educational Disadvantage
Average A-level points per entry (or equivalent). Applicants at a school with performance below the national average will receive a ‘tick’ against Indicator 2.

Indicator 3: Socio-economic Disadvantage
Applicants resident in a ‘Communities First’ area (Welsh Government measure) or ACORN neighbourhood categorised as ‘moderate means’ or ‘hard pressed’ will receive a ‘tick’ against Indicator 3.

Indicator 4: Low Participation Neighbourhood
Applicants resident in a UK neighbourhood identified as having a low higher education participation rate on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Participation of Local Areas (POLAR) database will receive a ‘tick’ against Indicator 4.

Indicator 5: ‘In Care’
Applicants who have spent time in care and indicated this on their UCAS form (using the specified question) will receive a ‘tick’ against Indicator 5.

Further information about these indicators and the rationale for using them are available. 

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for ‘additional consideration’ in Cardiff University admissions      

Additional Consideration

If an application is flagged for ‘additional consideration’ this may take one of a number of forms which are outlined below. However, the University does not intend to use contextual information to make lower or differential offers to any particular group of students.

Application Review: A further review might take place of the available evidence submitted in the UCAS application e.g. reference, personal statement.

Non-Academic Achievements: It is recognised that applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds may have had less opportunity to undertake work experience or to participate in extra-curricular activities.

Call to Interview: Admissions tutors may take into account whether or not an application has been flagged when deciding whom to invite to interview.

Interview: Admissions tutors may take into account the fact that flagged applicants may have had less opportunity to prepare for interview e.g. they may have had little opportunity to receive coaching in interview skills, undertake practice interviews etc.

Summer Results Period: If applicants fail to meet the terms of their offer on the publication of results, admissions tutors may reconsider applications from flagged candidates for remaining places. Applicants with contextual indicators might also be considered for Clearing vacancies in related courses.

Each academic school participating in the contextual admissions pilot will explain how it intends to use the contextual data to inform decision making in its School admissions criteria. These are published on our website. 

Further information

The following further information about the use of contextual data is available:

Core Principles of the Cardiff University’s Contextual Admissions Model 

Contextual Data: Use and Rationale 

Welsh Communities First Postcodes 

Frequently asked Questions 

Scope of the Contextual Admissions Model

You can also contact the University’s Admissions Office for further information/guidance:
Email: admissions@cardiff.ac.uk
Tel: 029 2087 9999