Having a diverse student population is very important to us and we aim to select students with the greatest potential to succeed in our degree courses, regardless of background and circumstances.
How we approach contextual admissions
We use a range of contextual information, alongside the information provided on your UCAS application, to gain a better understanding of your individual background. This helps to give us a better indication of your potential to succeed on your chosen degree and makes sure that all applicants have fair opportunities throughout our admissions process.
We use contextual information to decide whether or not you are eligible for a contextual offer. If you are eligible for a contextual offer your application will also receive additional consideration as part of our admissions process.
Our contextual criteria
You will be considered for contextual admissions (including contextual offers) if you are a student eligible for UK fees and you meet any one of the following criteria:
you were recorded as eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) in the National Pupil Database in England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland and Wales) at any point during Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4
your home postcode at the point you apply is in an area of high socio-economic disadvantage (IMD quintiles 1 or 2) and you attended a state school or college in the UK for at least two full academic years in your last four years of school or college
you are a care leaver, care experienced, young carer, or estranged student
you hold leave in the UK as a refugee, asylum seeker1 or person with humanitarian protection, or you are the child of someone currently holding leave in the UK as a refugee, asylum seeker1 or person with humanitarian protection
Free School Meals eligibility during sixth form study does not meet our contextual criteria.
Find out more about the contextual data we use
Disabilities and other individual circumstances
We understand that other individual circumstances outside your control may impact your studies and grades. This might be a disability or long-term health condition, or it may be difficult circumstances such as illness or bereavement. We use the term "mitigating circumstances" to describe these factors.
We do not make contextual offers based on mitigating circumstances, and instead consider them through our mitigating circumstances process.
Our contextual offers
A contextual offer is a lower offer made to some applicants based on their circumstances. Contextual offers help to promote fairness and are available to those who meet our widening access criteria across our undergraduate courses.
Contextual offers are available if you are studying A-levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Our contextual offers for most courses are two grades lower than the typical entry requirements, with the following exceptions:
- All Computer Science courses (including joint honours) - one grade lower (2026 only)
- Mathematics & Physics (joint degree) - one grade lower
- Economics & Mathematics (joint degree) - one grade lower
These are the exceptions for 2026 entry and 2027 entry; other exceptions existed for 2025 entry.
The following courses do not make contextual offers:
- FdSc Sport (Sports Performance)
- BSc Social Work and Applied Social Studies
- MPharm Pharmacy with preparatory year (5 years)
Contextual offers are automatic - if you receive an offer and meet our eligibility criteria, you will receive the contextual offer instead of our typical or alternative offers.
Find out about the contextual offer for your chosen course on our course pages.
If you are not eligible for a contextual offer, we do offer a range of alternative offers which recognise additional study over and above the typical entry requirements.
Find out about alternative offers for your chosen course on our course pages.
Guaranteed Offers for Care Leavers and Estranged students
The University has pledged to make guaranteed offers to Care Leavers and Estranged students who meet our criteria and terms and conditions. Please visit our Care Leavers and Estranged students webpage for details.
Guaranteed Offers for outreach participants
For 2025 and 2026 entry, the University will make guaranteed offers to students eligible for Home fees who successfully complete our outreach programmes Pathway to Bath, Discover Bath or Target Bath. In order to be eligible, applicants will need to have demonstrated an interest in the subject and meet the minimum entry and subject requirements for the course they have applied for. In some cases, there will be an interview as part of the admissions process and a conditional offer will be made to applicants who are successful at interview.
View our eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for guaranteed offers to outreach participants.
How your UCAS application will be considered
Your application will first be considered against our selection criteria, using aspects such as your GCSEs, the subjects you are studying, your personal statement and predicted grades. If your application is strong enough you will receive an offer on that basis, regardless of your circumstances.
Otherwise, if you meet our contextual criteria, we have a dedicated Admissions Progression Team who aim to make sure that we carefully consider information about your background and circumstances before deciding whether or not we can make you an offer. They will make sure we consider each aspect of your UCAS form carefully in context.
This process doesn’t stop if you receive an offer: if you choose Bath as one of your final choices but miss your offer, our Admissions Progression Team will assess your application thoroughly again and strongly prioritise you for a place at Bath.
Widening Participation and Outreach
The university offer a range of activities, events, and programmes for students from under-represented groups. Please click here for further information about the support we can offer.