Use of contextual data - 2026 entry

• Our ambition and our pledge

  The University’s ambition is to contribute towards achieving equity of access across Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, regardless of socio-economic background.  

  We pledge to make an offer to all first-degree applicants who: 

  • declare a looked after or care experienced background.

            or 

  • reside in the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland as indicated by the SIMD2020 and attend or recently attended a school which has lower than average progression to higher education.

  This promise is given if you can demonstrate the desire to study the subject, if the minimum asking rates within all specified required subjects are met and, and if relevant to the course you are applying for, there is success in additional external testing (e.g. UCAT for Medicine) or interview.

  To be eligible for the guarantee, the entry requirements need to be achieved by the applicant in their first attempt at an entry qualification. (e.g. qualifications achieved in resits are not considered)

  The use of contextual information alone does not result in an automatic offer of a place being made to an applicant. 

• How does our undergraduate contextual admissions work?

  The decision-making process is based on individual applicant details contained with their application form and any further evidence requested to verify individual circumstances as outlined below.

  Contextual information is collated centrally for all applicants with a Home Funded or Rest of the UK (RUK) fee status. This information together with applicant data are used by Admissions Officers to put the achievements of each individual applicant into context when selecting the most appropriate candidates for places at the University of St Andrews.

  Initially, we will bring the applications that meet our contextual criteria to the attention of our Admissions Officers making decisions.

  The proportion or number of applicants we identify is not set in advance, although we monitor it for the purposes of planning. The proportion of such applicants will vary between academic subjects and from year to year depending on who applies.

  All applicants will be expected to meet at least the minimum entrance requirements as set by the academic Schools, with the contextual data being used in combination with the principles and selection criteria contained in the Admissions Policy.  

  All applications that meet, or can meet, the minimum entrance requirements and contain all the required information and further evidence requested, will be assessed by an Admissions Officer using academic results, personal statements and references alongside additional testing and interviews where required for specific programmes. 

• How do we decide the entry requirements an applicant needs to meet?

  The University of St Andrews uses contextual data for applicants in the UK who are classified as either Home or RUK (rest of the UK) for fee purposes. This information helps determine which set of undergraduate academic entry requirements are most likely relevant to each applicant. Based on the information that you provide, this indicator will tell you which category of entry requirements you will need to look at on our subject pages.  

  There are three categories of entry requirements: 

  • Standard: applications where no contextual indicators have been identified.
  • Minimum: applications where one or more contextual indicators have been identifed.
  • Gateway: If you are a Home Funded applicant in Scotland, your application indicates that you meet the criteria outlined in our entrance requirements, and this is verified by us, you may also be considered eligible for a Gateway or Supported Pathways programme.

  Candidates who receive a guaranteed offer outcome have met the contextual indicators that align with the criteria set out under the St Andrews pledge.

  Information provided in this indicator tool may be subject to later verification during the application cycle in line with our Admissions Policy and this Use of Contextual Data statement. When applications are submitted, a further assessment will take place to determine whether applicants are eligible for minimum entry requirements or a guaranteed place.

  The data used in our entry indicator and for our contextualised admissions process for September 2026 was updated and is fixed on 2 September 2025.

• What contextual data do we use to flag our applications?

  There are three main types of contextual data or indicators that our Admissions Officers will consider when reaching their decisions on an application. These are laid out below.

  1. Socio-economic diversity indicators

  We wish to ensure that those admitted based on their potential to do well at St Andrews come from the widest possible cross section of society. To ensure we achieve this, we build diversity factors into our admissions process in the following way: 

  • Specific geo-demographic data will be considered using the applicant’s home postcode. We use the Scottish Index of Multiple Declaration (SIMD), the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) applicable to the area of residence in the UK, at the date of publication of this statement.
  • SIMD and IMD are governmental postcode look-up tools which identify areas of disadvantage. If the applicant is living in the lowest 40% of these, they will have their applications identified for admissions officers.

  Data sources:                                       

  • • Scottish Government
    • UK Government
    • Welsh Government
    • Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

  2. School or college attainment and progression indicators 

  We wish to ensure entrants with the greatest potential are selected for the most appropriate course at the University of St Andrews; we will consider the academic performance of the applicant shown through their academic achievements and the educational environment in which this education took place using:  

  • Specific data on progression to Higher Education relating to the school the applicant attends or most recently attended.
  • Data source:
    • Scotland

  • Specific attainment data relating to the school the applicant attends or attended.
  • Data source: 
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales

  3. Individual circumstance indicators 

  To ensure that we can take account the individual contextual circumstances of applicants, we consider the following criteria, except for where the specific entrance requirements of a programme state otherwise.

  • The applicant has indicated that they are care-experienced, and this is verified by Admissions using our definition of care experience and the required evidence as outlined.
  • The applicant has indicated that they are a young carer, and this is verified by Admissions using our definition of young carer and the required evidence as outlined.
  • The applicant has indicated that they are estranged, and this is verified by Admissions using our definition of estranged and the required evidence as outlined.
  • The applicant has indicated that they are a refugee, asylum seeker, or displaced person, and this is verified by Admissions using our definition of a refugee, asylum seeker, or displaced person and the required evidence as outlined.
  • The applicant has indicated they are from a group known to be underrepresented in higher education or in certain subject areas or who are known to have experienced disadvantages that may limit academic achievement. (e.g. Gypsies, Traveller, Roma Showman, and Boaters communities) This is subject to verification by Admissions.
  • The applicant has indicated that they have been involved in activities that have been organised to raise aspiration to attend higher education (for example, Sutton Trust Summer Schools, University of St Andrews Outreach programmes, or government-supported initiatives) .

  These individual circumstances will be determined from the application and may be subject to further verification checks. Declaration of these circumstances by an applicant does not result in an automatic offer of a place. 

  Additional support needs or circumstances that have significantly impacted academic performance—such as long-term illness or disability - are not assessed through the use of contextual data. Instead, these are considered separately under Section 24: applicants with extenuating circumstances of the University’s Admissions Policy.