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Advice for Applicants

Feel Supported

Embarking on your university journey is an exciting milestone—and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Choosing the right course is a big decision, and we understand that the application process can feel overwhelming at times.

Whether you’re a school leaver or returning to education later in life, our advice and guidance are designed to make things clearer. From writing a standout personal statement to understanding course-specific requirements like a DBS check or learning about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), our resources are here to help you make informed choices.

Take your time exploring the information we’ve put together. If you’re still unsure about something or need a bit more support, don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Before Applying

The University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures exist to enable applicants to claim credit for learning that has been previously assessed and certificated, or for experiential learning to be evaluated and awarded credit. Such credit may be used to gain entry to a programme, exemption from parts of a programme, or advanced standing towards an academic award. 

Further information is contained in the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy.

  • Applicants who have previously acquired credits through formal study at Higher Education level, may make a claim for Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL).  These credits might have been acquired at a different institution, from professional certification or from a different programme of study to the programme upon which the applicant now wishes to register.

    Applicants who have acquired similar knowledge and skills during the course of their working life, whether paid or voluntary or through study/training not formally attested through any educational or professional certification may make a claim for the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL).

    If you are a prospective applicant who is looking to claim credit for learning that has been previously assessed and certificated at HE level, or for experiential learning to be evaluated and awarded credit, please ensure that you apply for the correct level of entry on your application form and make reference to this in your personal statement. 

  • Decisions regarding the recognition of prior learning will be based on equivalence.  The prior certificated or experiential learning must be demonstrably equivalent to the learning that could have been achieved by following the module(s) for which exemption/transfer of credit is sought.

    RPL may only be granted if it doesn’t result in ‘double counting’.  This means that credited learning that has already contributed to the award of one qualification cannot be used to gain RPL-based exemption in another qualification at the same level or lower.

    Applicants who indicate that they wish to make a claim for recognition of prior learning will be asked to complete an RPCL / RPEL application form as part of the admissions process. 

    Applications must normally be processed before the applicant registers in order for exemption(s)/transfer of credit(s) to be granted.

    Programme Managers will be responsible for making decisions on RPCL applications for their programmes of study.  The Executive Head of Registry and the Head of Admissions will check that due process has been followed before approving a claim. 

    Any applications for Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) will be considered by the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning and Accreditation Board.

  • In addition to meeting any academic conditions stipulated in the offer letter, applicants who have applied for Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL) will be required to successfully complete the RPCL process before their place can be confirmed. 

    After accepting our offer, a notification will be sent to the applicant via the applicant portal, MyTSD, inviting them to complete an application form for RPCL.

    The applicant will need to provide detailed information regarding their certificated learning on the RPCL application form and documentary proof (in the form of a transcript) that the qualification or part thereof, has been obtained.  Credits being claimed must be presented on the same application form. 

After you Apply

After you have submitted your application, whether this is done through UCAS or directly using the University’s online application form, you will be emailed your log in details to the University’s applicant portal, MyTSD.  This will become your student portal if you later enrol on a programme at UWTSD. 

Please notify the University’s Admissions Team (and UCAS where relevant) if the email address on your application form was entered incorrectly, as this is how we will communicate with you regarding the status of your application, and any tasks that you may need to complete during the admissions process.

Once received, your application will be assessed by the relevant Admissions Tutor. Depending on the programme you have applied for, you may be invited to attend an interview or audition or to provide a portfolio. 

Please ensure that you respond to any such invitation through the relevant system. This will be your UCAS Hub account if you applied through UCAS or through MyTSD if you applied directly to the University using our online application form.

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Fee Status Assessment

UK Government legislation allows publicly funded educational institutions to charge two levels of fee: a lower ‘home’ student fee and a higher ‘overseas’ student fee.

In order to be charged a lower ‘home’ student rate of fee, you must meet certain residence and immigration status requirements. Details of the  can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website. 

If the University is unable to assess your fee status using the information provided in your application for admission, you will receive a notification via MyTSD asking you to complete a Fee Assessment Form and provide relevant supporting documentation.

Please ensure that you complete and return the form as soon as possible to avoid any delays in the processing of your application.

Upon receipt of your Fee Assessment Form and supporting documentation, the University’s Admissions team will assess your fee status and will contact you if they require any further information from you.

Contextual Data

We use the information provided in your UCAS application to fairly evaluate your chances of succeeding during your studies with us. We ensure that we use more than just your grades and predicted grades to consider whether you will benefit and thrive from our study experience. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’.

We take your whole application into account when making and confirming offers. During the application process, we will consider your personal statement to identify your motivations for studying with us, your reference, and your predicted grades. Using contextual admissions enables us to use and consider further information when making or confirming your offer. We build a picture of who you are in order to be sure that you can thrive at UWTSD.

UWTSD is committed to widening access and ensuring that those with the potential to succeed are encouraged to apply to study with us.  You can check if your postcode falls into Quintile 1 or Quintile 2 on the register of .

We will gather the information we need from your UCAS application so there is no need for you to provide any additional information.  If you have been identified as eligible for a contextual offer, this will be made clear to you in the offer letter sent.

Contextual Offers are only available to UK students applying via UCAS for direct UWTSD courses.

  • Every application is considered on an individual basis and the information we use is obtained from your UCAS application.

    To identify whether you qualify for a contextual offer, the following information will be taken into consideration:

    1. Your home postcode is in a Low Participation Neighbourhood

    If you are identified as being in POLAR4 quintile 1 or 2 you will qualify for a contextual offer.

    The information provided to us by UCAS enables us to identify if you currently live in a postcode assigned to the lowest POLAR4 quintile.  Please check  to see if your postcode is within POLAR4 Quintile 1 or 2. 

    2. First generation to attend Higher Education  

    If you are the first generation of your family to enter Higher Education, you will qualify for a contextual offer. This information is provided to us by UCAS, as part of your application form.

    3. You have been in care or have been looked after for three months or more 

    If you have been in care or have been looked after for three months or more, you will qualify for a contextual offer. 

    This information is provided on your UCAS application, so it is important that you declare this when applying. 

  • If you qualify for a contextual offer, you will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that course or will have this taken into consideration when results are released, meaning that we may be able to accept you even if you marginally fail to achieve your predicted grades.

    The use of contextual data enables us to fairly identify that you can succeed on your chosen programme at UWTSD, and this means that we can confidently make you an offer at a lower grade.