Contextual offers

[Universityadviceneeded1]

Hello Mumsnet!

I am looking for guidance on this & whether my DD can/can’t apply for a contextual offer.

So the basis of this is that no-one in the immediate family has previously been to uni. That’s almost the truth, except my DB has recently completed a masters degree.

We are estranged though I know this through our parents.

DB is 43 yrs old, has NEVER worked, he gained his masters last year and “can’t find a job”.

My DD wants to go uni/work so am feeling a little mad if by him going uni as a get out of jail I.e not having to look for work has potentially prevented us using this.

Can I go this contextual route or has he ruined it?

So my AIBU is yes YABU in trying to use a contextual offer or UANBU given that DB never has any intention of using the degree.

Any advice on how this is looked into would also be much appreciated.

How do they word it? Surely they mean immediate family- parents, grandparents, siblings?

Contextual offers are usually based on postcode. Very unlikely that uncles education will stop them getting a contextual offer.

Uncle doesn't count as immediate family. All unis have different rules on contextual offers - my dd had greatly reduced offers for some, but not others. So read the small print carefully!

He doesn't count as immediate family.
Contextual offers vary a lot in their criteria, sometimes it's first in family to go to uni, sometimes it's a school that doesn't send many kids to uni, sometimes it's postcode or a combination of the above. Being in care at any point is another criteria.

I think this is what my nephew had- first in his immediate family to go to university, from a single parent household and he’s been through some shit. The offer wasn’t affected by his uncle and one of his aunts going to university. It only counted immediate family- parents and siblings- but maybe it varies at different universities? I hope not. My nephew really beat the odds and deserved his offer.

@Universityadviceneeded1 You could post on the HE board. They are really well informed on there.

However it’s usually about postcode or which school DD goes to. Bristol uses the school list and it’s on their website. Some unis are a bit more obscure. Also the Sutton Trust is worth looking at for possible help and information. Their mission is to get first time in immediate family students to uni and social mobility.

Also great her uncle went to uni but it’s not going to affect her.,

Ty everyone. I’ll look into this further. Your advice was much appreciated. I can’t say how relieved I feel 🌷

@Universityadviceneeded1 Also universities ask for different A levels. She should look at two unis where she’s aiming high, two where she should comfortably meet the grades and one where she would get the grades on a bad day. The contextual offer should make the first two into ones she can comfortably manage. However check with each target uni.

Thank you. I realise some of it is based on postcode too but can’t work it out…... x

My son got a contextual offer. But he didn't apply for it, they just sent him the lowered offer, presumably based on postcode. This was sometime after the original offer.
I don't think your brother's degree will make any difference.

@Universityadviceneeded1 You might find something like this page from Nottingham. Check if you are eligible. DD needs to look at this info for every university. As I said, Bristol is different. It’s not the same everywhere so you need to check each one.

I just found out today that DS1 has a contextual offer for quite a competitive course/university - Maths at Warwick. The grades asked for still seem quite high but for him, achievable - but he doesn't need to take the TMUA test, and actually I think that's more important - he has already been through one additional test, the MAT, for Oxford, and felt it had gone badly despite studying hard for it.

There are a variety of reasons but I don't think it's family/household reasons for DS1, as both DP and I are graduates and I'm a 4th generation graduate from a family of academics, though DP is from a more working class background. We're not well off but we are well above benefit and FSM levels. I can only think it's about postcode and that DS1 went to the local comprehensive, 11-16 5 minutes away, with a very diverse intake and quite a lot of deprivation. I think the school has benefited from uneven gentrification and does attract some middle class families and some excellent teachers, but it's never going to compete with the grammars and the how can I get my kids into....? schools. He is studying for A level in the sixth form of a school whose GCSE and A level results reflect a more middle class intake, though quite a lot of kids from this area also go over there post 16 - a lot of other choices are in neighbouring boroughs.

He also has offers from other RG universities, similar grades, not as far as I know contextual, one received quite quickly after he submitted his application, and one made after inviting him to an interview and open day, and I wondered whether it is this is also a way of attracting Oxbridge type applicants.

I've just found the page on Warwick University's website which explains their contextual offers - I assume other universities have a similar section though criteria might not be exactly the same. Nothing on first in family to go to university there - there is an eligibility checker which refers to home postcode and schools for KS4 (GCSE) and KS5 (A level). Our home postcode - no - KS4 school meets two criteria for pupils in general in his year - GCSE grades and free school meals - and each criteria is looked at for specific year entry only.

@elkiedee Cannot help with the offer conundrum but maths at Warwick is rated one of the top 4 courses in the UK. It’s very sought after. The post code checker is probably the one they use at Nottingham as I posted above. It’s crude really and pays no attention to background.

My eldest got contextual.offers even though I'd been to uni a few times. It was based on our postcode. They were both RG and non RG and a popular course. The only one not to offer contextual was the one she ended up going to.

@TizerorFizz I found an eligibility checker on the Warwick University website, showing the criteria for a contextual offer without taking the TMUA, and there is quite a simple computerised check by applicant postcode and KS4 and KS5 schools based on school results and free school meals levels. DS1's offer was based on the school where he did GCSEs, both results and FSM, and not our postcode.

@elkiedee I do think that’s a crude measure of need though. If it leaves out education and job of parent (and I think lots do!) so it means dc who are very privileged in many ways get contractual offers. I think it’s a catch all system at many unis. However its heart is in the right place.

@TizerorFizz
I don't agree with you completely. I think looking at the schools applicants attended actually reveals more differences than their postcode and is fairer. However, I also think there is no measure which takes account of absolutely everything, they're all going to be unfair to some applicants.

@Universityadviceneeded1
Criteria for contextual offers vary, but I think all universities have a number of things they consider, and may not prioritise family educational background first. DS1 didn't apply for his contextual offer, which is based on the school where he took his GCSEs, which is the one closest to us (5 minutes walk).

I think your DD's starting point should be what she wants to study, including style and content of course, one or more of her A level subjects or something new, or a mixture? Some subjects might lead in several directions - single or joint honours Maths, Physics or Engineering? English Literature - English degree, English & American Literature, American Studies. History - History, Politics and History, American Studies. A language degree - current language, new language, a mixture - the course might well include lots of history and/or literature or be combined with another subject. When she's chosen universities/courses that she wants to apply for, you can look up required grades, any additional requirements such as extra application/entry tests and contextual offer policies in that order. But the strength of your daughter's application, her interest in doing the course etc will probably be more important than a contextual offer which is meant to be about reducing unfair barriers for good applicants.

@elkiedee Yrs. School is useful but of course there can be changes in the school population. I agree it’s difficult to have a perfect system.