Alternative offers

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community. We seek to ensure equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. We also believe it’s important that our admissions policy is open and transparent in its use of qualifications and criteria for entry. On that basis, we operate a range of ‘alternative offer’ schemes with clear eligibility criteria. The schemes below are applicable to 2024 and 2025 entry.

What are the schemes?

We have a range of schemes which you may be eligible for, depending on your circumstances and experiences. If you are eligible, you will typically receive either a reduced offer or additional consideration, depending on the course you have applied to study. This will be applied automatically based on the information you provide when you apply. These schemes apply to all of our Undergraduate courses at Keele with the exception of D100 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, and Keele’s Foundation Year courses. These schemes are open to A level (including the Welsh Baccalaureate), BTEC, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Higher, or Access to HE Diploma students only, as outlined under each scheme.

1. Contextual Offers 

We recognise that our applicants have different backgrounds and experiences and that some applicants may not have had the same opportunities as others. We are committed to ensuring that applicants are not disadvantaged because of their personal circumstances and have a strong record in admitting students to Keele with a wide range of educational experiences.

To receive a contextual offer applicants must meet ONE of the following indicators:

  • Currently at a state school, academy or college and living in an area with low participation in higher education (defined as POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2)
  • Currently at a state school, academy or college and living in an area of relative deprivation (defined as IMD quintiles 1 and 2)
  • Care leavers who have spent any length of time in local authority care, either with foster carers or in a children’s home (or in Scotland under a home supervision order)
  • Refugees, Asylum Seekers or those under Humanitarian Protection.
  • Receive (or have received) Free School Meals
  • You are a young carer
  • First in the family to enter Higher Education (First in family to enter higher education, as defined by UCAS. Applicant must indicate on UCAS application form. Parental higher education includes those who have gained a degree or equivalent overseas, or have qualified in a profession within a workplace setting (e.g. doctor, pharmacist or other registered healthcare professional; solicitor; higher education teacher; chartered-status accountant, engineer, etc.)
  • Either parent served in Armed Forces, you served in Armed Forces, or you are a Service Leaver

The following table provides a guide to how our standard offers will be adjusted to become contextual offers. If you are not certain how or whether this would apply to you, please contact Admissions who will be happy to confirm:

Subjects A Level, IB, Advanced Higher BTEC Access to HE

Physiotherapy, Radiography, Medicine, Paramedic Science, Pharmacy, Children's Nursing and Midwifery

A reduction of one full grade compared to the standard offer and an additional point at shortlisting for interview stage.

Examples:

BBB = BBC

or

555 = 554

A reduction of one full time grade compared to the standard offer and an additional point at shortlisting for interview stage.

Note: BTEC Extended Diploma not included.

Examples:

Diploma with A Level:

Distinction, Merit, B = Distinction, Merit, C

National Extended Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma with A Levels: 

Distinction, B, C = Distinction, C, C

A reduction of 3 points in the stated Distinction requirements to be met instead by the Merit requirements, and an additional point at shortlisting for interview stage.

Example: 144 points D45M0P0 = 141 points D42M3P0

All other courses (except Veterinary Medicine)     

A reduction of two full grades compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

  • ABB = BBC
  • BBB = BCC
  • BBC = CCC

or

  • 655 or 32 points = 554 or 29
  • 555 or 30 points = 544 or 28
  • 554 or 29 points = 444 or 27

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

Extended Diploma:

  •     DDM = DMM

Diploma with A Level:

  • Distinction, Merit, B = Merit, Merit, B

National Extended Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma with A Levels: 

  • Distinction, B, C = Merit, B, C

 

A reduction of 6 points in the stated Distinction requirements to be met instead by the Merit requirements.

Examples:

  • 122 points D24M21P0 = 115 points D18M27P0
  • 112 points e.g.D18M24P3 = 106 points e.g. D12M30P3

 

Note for A level, IB and Advanced Highers any subject requirements (e.g. B in Physics, 4 in Chemistry etc.) are not reduced. The reduction will apply solely to other elements of the offer e.g. for a typical subject at BBB with B in History and B in Geography a contextual offer would be BBD with B in History and B in Geography, rather than BCC.


2. Additional Qualifications 

Keele understands that applicants will demonstrate their aptitude to study in different ways and will sometimes undertake additional study alongside their primary qualifications. We formally recognise a range of these additional qualifications in your offer:

  1. Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
  2. AQA or Cambridge IPQ
  3. Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives
  4. International Baccalaureate Extended Essay (when not taken as part of / alongside the main International Baccalaureate qualification)
  5. Core Maths

Applicants undertaking the following qualifications, in years 12 and 13, will receive two offers when they apply to Keele, a standard offer and an alternative offer (or, if they are eligible, a combination of alternative offers). You will only need to meet the requirements of one of these offers to qualify for entry.

The following table is provided as a guide to how our standard offers will be adjusted to account for additional qualifications. If you are not certain how or whether this would apply to you, please contact us and we will be happy to confirm.

Subject A Level, IB, Advanced Higher BTEC
Physiotherapy, Radiography, Paramedic Science, Pharmacy, Children's Nursing and Midwifery

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer with B in an additional qualification (or M2 for Pre-U).

Examples:

  • ABB = BBB + B in the EPQ
  • BBB = BBC + B in the EPQ
  • BBC = BCC + B in the EPQ

or

  • 655 or 32 points = 555 or 30 + B in the EPQ
  • 555 or 30 points = 554 or 29 + B in the EPQ
  • 554 or 29 points = 544 or 28 + B in the EPQ

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Note: BTEC Extended Diploma not included.

Examples:

Diploma with A Level:

Distinction, Merit, B = Merit, Merit, B + B in the EPQ

National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with A levels:

Distinction, B, C = Merit, B, C + B in the EPQ

Medicine

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer with A in an additional qualification (or M1 for Pre-U) excluding a fourth A level.

Examples:

A*AA = AAA + A in the EPQ

or

766 or 37 points = 666 or 36 points + A in the EPQ

BTEC is not accepted for Medicine
All other courses (except Veterinary Medicine)

A reduction of two full grades compared to the typical offer with B in an additional qualification (or M2 for Pre-U).

Examples:

  • ABB = BBC + B in the EPQ
  • BBB = BCC + B in the EPQ
  • BBC = CCC + B in the EPQ

or

  • 655 or 32 points = 554 or 29 + B in the EPQ
  • 555 or 30 points = 544 or 28 + B in the EPQ
  • 554 or 29 points = 444 or 27 + B in the EPQ

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

Extended Diploma:

DDM = DMM + B in the EPQ

Diploma with A Level:

Distinction, Merit, B = Merit, Merit, B + B in the EPQ

National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with A Levels:

Distinction, B, C = Merit, B, C + B in the EPQ

3. Keele Region Applicants

Since our foundation in 1949, we’ve been deeply rooted in our region: Stoke-on-Trent and the Potteries, Staffordshire, and the wider countryside between Greater Manchester and the West Midlands conurbation. We are committed to our civic role and want to support applicants who choose to study locally - for whatever reason - and commuter students who have fewer local study options available. On that basis, applicants studying at a School or College in the defined ‘Keele Region’, or independent applicants living in the region, will receive an alternative offer.

The Keele Region includes the following local government areas:

  • Cheshire East
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • Derby
  • Derbyshire
  • Shropshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Telford and Wrekin
  • Wrexham

Keele Region Areas

Map to highlight the Keele Region areas

Subjects A Level, IB, Advanced Higher BTEC Access to HE
Medicine Additional point on the UCAT grade used at the shortlisting for interview stage BTEC is not accepted for Medicine Additional point on the UCAT grade used at the shortlisting for interview stage
Physiotherapy, Radiography, Paramedic Science, Pharmacy, Children's Nursing and Midwifery, Speech and Language Therapy

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

  • ABB = BBB
  • BBB = BBC 
  • BBC = BCC

or 

  • 655 or 32 points = 555 or 30
  • 555 or 30 points = 554 or 29
  • 554 or 29 points = 544 or 28

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

Note: BTEC Extended Diploma not included.

Diploma with A Level:

Distinction, Merit, B = Distinction, Merit, C

National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with A Levels:

Distinction BC = Distinction CC


A reduction of 3 points in the stated Distinction requirements to be met instead by the Merit requirements, and an additional point at shortlisting for interview stage.

Example: 144 points D45M0P0 = 141 points D42M3P0


All other courses (except Veterinary Medicine)

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

Examples:

  • ABB = BBB
  • BBB = BBC 
  • BBC = BCC

or 

  • 655 or 32 points = 555 or 30
  • 555 or 30 points = 554 or 29
  • 554 or 29 points = 544 or 28

 

A reduction of one full grade compared to the typical offer.

 

Examples:

Extended Diploma:

DDM = DMM

Diploma with A Level:

Distinction, Merit, B = Distinction, Merit, C

National Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with A Levels:

Distinction BC = Distinction CC

A reduction of 3 points in the stated Distinction requirements to be met instead by the Merit requirements, and an additional point at shortlisting for interview stage.

Example: 144 points D45M0P0 = 141 points D42M3P0

 

4. Widening Access to Medicine (A100)

We are committed to ensuring that applicants are not disadvantaged because of their personal circumstances and have a strong record in admitting students to Keele with a wide range of educational experiences. For our Medicine (A100) programme, we offer the following schemes:

Scheme A Level and IB Access to HE
Steps2Medicine OR alternative UKWPMED programme

Automatic interview (if GCSE requirements and minimum UCAT threshold scores are met)

and

A reduction of three full grades compared to the typical offer.

Note: Advanced Highers not included.

Examples: A*AA = ABB

or 766 or 37 points = 664 or 32

Non-applicable
UCAT Bursary Additional point on the UCAT grade used at the shortlisting for interview stage Additional point on the UCAT grade used at the shortlisting for interview stage

Education significantly disrupted but are not eligible for an alternative offer?

Special consideration will be given to those applicants whose education has been significantly disrupted or disadvantaged through health, personal problems, disability or other circumstances. Applicants should contact the Associate Director of Admissions and Enquiries in the first instance and will be required to provide documentary evidence.

Medicine Applicants

All requests to consider extenuating circumstances should be sent to medicine@keele.ac.uk at the time of application submission and no later than 31 October 2023 for 2024 entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may be eligible for more than one of the alternative offer schemes listed above. Please note, however, that the benefits listed do not stack: you will instead be offered either the most generous of the offers available, or will receive more than one offer. You will only need to meet the requirements of one of these offers to qualify for entry.

We will automatically apply the alternative offer when considering your application and it will be visible in your offer text

Yes, with the exception of D100 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and Keele’s Foundation Year courses. Please note that the adjustment made to each course’s offer will be different depending on the course you have applied for at Keele. Please see the examples detailed above and the relevant course pages.

Veterinary Medicine and Surgery is delivered by the Harper and Keele Veterinary School in partnership with Harper Adams University and operates a separate admissions policy including different alternative offers. This is available on the School’s website.

This is where we take into account the context in which applicants have gained their academic qualifications. In doing this we consider the additional data and information provided on the application (the contextual data).

Yes, we realise that some applicants will take their EPQ in year 12 or earlier.

The Keele Region offer is based on the geographic location of the study centre which you have applied from. However, for independent applicants who are not applying from a designated centre, the offer will be based on your current postcode as stated on your application form.