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  • Advice for students applying to start uni in 2021

Advice for students applying to start uni in 2021

Current advice as of 23 January 2021

If you’re planning to go to university in 2021 we’re here to support you in making a strong application and in choosing the course and university that best meets your aspirations for the future.

This FAQ covers

  • Latest headlines about COVID and the university application process for 2021
  • Applying, entry requirements and accepting your offer
  • How to get to know the University of Brighton
  • Accommodation
  • Student finance

Applying for uni 2021: what you need to know

  • You can apply now for university courses starting in England in 2021.
  • The main UCAS application deadline has been extended to 29 January, however we will continue to accept applications for most courses after that date. Find out if this is the case for your course on the course page.
  • The A-level and GCSE examinations due to take place this summer in England have been cancelled. Students will be awarded qualifications on the basis of teacher-assessed grades. Ofqual are to put processes in place to ensure fairness and consistency. More details are awaited.
  • For most students applying for undergraduate courses the deadline by which they need to decide which offer to accept is 10 June 2021, this is four weeks later than usual. Applicants for postgraduate study can accept offers until the month before their course starts. Eligibility for scholarships may depend on making an earlier decision on an offer.
  • A-level results day is currently due to be on Tuesday 24 August 2021, with GSCE results being published on Friday 27 August. Results day for Scottish Highers is currently 10 August.
  • Clearing opens on 5 July 2021.

This FAQ is updated regularly and if we hold your contact details, we will get in touch to tell you about important changes. Applying to university in 2021? You can sign up for updates.

Applying, entry requirements and accepting your offer

+–Will COVID change the way I apply to the University of Brighton?

No. If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a PGCE then you should apply through UCAS in the usual way.

For our postgraduate courses – MA, MSc, MRes or PhD – you should apply direct to the university.

Find out more and advice on how to apply.

+–My course involves an interview, how will this work?

Interviews will still take place and will be held online. We will provide you with you full details on what to expect and how to prepare after you have applied. The format the interview takes will vary depending on the requirements of the course. We will also be running online drop-in advice events to support students whose courses involve interview.

+–How will you review my portfolio?

We will be asking for digital portfolios, there will be no requirement for you to provide a physical portfolio of work. Find out more about what this means. What you are asked to provide will vary depending on the course and you will be given full details on formats, and what we are looking for once you have applied. We will run online advice events to support you in preparing your portfolio.

+–Work on my portfolio has been disrupted by lockdown and I am concerned about meeting the deadline, will you take this into account?

We understand that for some students it may be difficult to work on creating a portfolio in the same way that you would usually. When we are looking through your online portfolios we will be aware that for some applicants, putting it together has been more of a challenge during the pandemic – and because of this we want to reassure you that showing ideas, sketchbooks and unfinished work (from the previous year and other years) is absolutely fine. This year we will be taking a more flexible approach to portfolios, including any adjustments around deadlines that we can accommodate while you are under lockdown. However, sending it to us so that we can see work you have done so far is the most important step you can take in becoming a University of Brighton student in 2021.

Entry requirements

+–Will you be reducing your entry requirements?

No. Entry requirements for most of our courses sit within a range, so there is no need for us to make significant changes in response to COVID. We can and do accept students who do not achieve the published entry requirements. This is because we make personalised offers, operate a flexible admissions policy and use the UCAS tariff to assess all kinds of achievement.

+–I am concerned that my grades will be affected by disruption to my studies, will you take this into account?

Yes. We welcome the contingency plans and changes to exams announced by the government so far. However, we recognise that even with these measures in place, the impact of COVID on individual performance in exams and other assessments will vary greatly, with some students more negatively affected than others.

At Brighton we are committed to doing all we can to support our students and applicants and to ensure that the impact of COVID on your progression to university is minimised. Our approach is guided by:

  • appreciation of the complex range of factors – at regional, school and individual level – that could impact on students achieving the qualifications and grades they need to progress to higher education
  • the particular challenges students from disadvantaged backgrounds are experiencing as a result of the pandemic
  • how we can balance the challenges you will face this year with the mandatory requirements of the professional bodies which accredit some of our courses, like nursing and teaching.

Accepting your offer

+–How long will it take to hear from you with a decision on my application?

We aim to make decisions on all applications as quickly as possible, however the time will taken depend on the course you have applied for, which may have an interview or portfolio review as part of the admissions process.

As our admissions team are working remotely please bear with us and check your applicant area regularly to make sure you have provided all the information we need to make you an offer.

The deadline to make your decision on which offer to accept is 10 June 2021. There is no advantage in accepting the place earlier – it is important to take your time, attend applicant events and talk to students and staff and be confident in your choice of course and university.

+–Will you make me an unconditional offer?

Yes, if you have completed your qualifications and have your grades. At Brighton we make unconditional offers to students who already hold their qualifications. We do not change conditional offers to unconditional until we have students’ confirmed grades.

We believe it is important that you can consider which offer to accept informed by what will be best for you in the future as well as this summer. The Office for Students (OfS) has emphasised that practices such as changing conditional offers into unconditional offers before results are announced is not in the long-term interests of prospective students. For the same reason, the OfS has advised all higher education providers not to make time-limited offers, lower than usual conditional offers or provide other inducements to incentivise firm accepts.

+–Can I apply now and change my mind about the year I start?

If you have applied and decide to defer your place, please get in touch as soon as possible. In most cases it should be possible to hold the place open for you until 2022. Letting us know in good time that you have changed you mind will also enable us to offer the place to another student.

If you changed your mind about deferring and want to start in 2021 we will do everything we can to be flexible and make this change for you. The sooner you get in touch the more chance there will be we can make this happen.

+–Can I apply now for 2022 or do I have to wait?

Yes, you can apply now for 2022, you just need to indicate on your application that you wish to defer your place. We will keep in touch and will contact you well before you are due to start the course with advice and reminders on applying for accommodation and student finance.

+–I have an offer from the University of Brighton, when do I need to accept it?

For most students applying for undergraduate courses the UCAS decision deadline is 10 June 2021.

You need to accept your offer before you can start your accommodation application.

+–What happens on results day?

Results day for A-levels and equivalent qualifications is currently on Tuesday 24 August 2021, with GSCE results being published on Friday 27 August. Results day for Scottish Highers is 10 August. Grades will be shared with us in the usual way by UCAS.

For international applicants the picture is varied. We will be monitoring and acting on the advice and guidance provided by examination boards and the UK Home Office. We will aim to be as flexible as possible when assessing both your academic and English language qualifications.

+–How should I contact you if I have questions about my application?

Our enquiries team can advise you on all aspects of studying here. You can reach the team on live chat, through our website and by phone during office hours.

After you apply we will communicate with you through our applicant portal, so make sure you activate your account with us. We’ll tell you how to do this after you have applied.

+–When does my course start?

The 2021 academic year begins on 27 September 2021, with teaching for most courses starting the following week.

Teaching on many education courses, some health courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date.

Our Adult Nursing course offers to start dates in September and February each year, with a January start option also available for some postgraduate business courses.

It is important that you check the start date for your course. This is provided on your offer letter – a copy can be downloaded from the applicant portal.

Teaching timetables are confirmed shortly before the start of term. Bear in mind your timetable could be subject to some change, particularly in the first few weeks of the term.

Getting to know the University of Brighton

+–Are you holding open days?

Our next online open days will take place in the summer term. Talks and tours from our autumn open days are available to view on demand. Take a look at our online open day page.

We are running online events for applicants in the spring term, look out for your invitation.

We run regular live tasters and advice sessions and online events for students considering postgraduate study at Brighton too. You can book on these events here.

+–Can I visit the university?

No, we are not holding on-campus events for prospective students at the moment.

You can get a feel for our accommodation, learning facilities and campuses. Explore online 24/7 and take a wander around with our virtual tours.

+–Are you attending higher education fairs?

Yes, if you are considering undergrad or postgrad study you can expect to meet our student recruitment team if you sign up for online fairs and events. We are attending events hosted by UCAS, UKUniSearch, Prospects and many more organisations. We may also be attending online events at your college.

+–How can I find out what it’s like to be a Brighton student?

Sign up for email updates if you haven’t done so already. We’ll keep you up to date with information about the subjects you’re interested in and upcoming events, so you have all the latest from us.

Follow us on social – Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and chat to our lovely students on Unibuddy.

Accommodation

+–When can I apply for university accommodation?

Applications for university accommodation open in the spring term and the deadline is usually the end of June. You need to make Brighton your firm choice before you can apply. We’ll let you know when applications open.

Every eligible student who applies is guaranteed an offer of a room in halls.

+–Do you have halls on campus?

We have halls of residence on each of our teaching campuses and a residential site at Varley Park which is situated between our Falmer and Moulsecoomb campuses in Brighton. Students starting courses from September 2021 will also have the option of brand-new student halls located at our biggest campus at Moulsecoomb.

Our team are here to advise students of all their accommodation options including private halls and shared houses with other Brighton students.

+–Can I visit you before I apply for halls?

Whilst you can’t visit our campuses at the moment you can explore our halls now by viewing our 360º tours. You can also message our students and ask them about their experiences, and read their blogs about accommodation, moving away from home and lots more.

Student finance

+–When can I apply for student finance?

Student finance applications open in February 2021.

You can see details of the scholarships, bursaries and other financial support we provide here.

If you expect your household income to be more than 15% lower in the current tax year than it was last year ask for a Current Year Income (CYI) assessment when making your Student Finance England application.

Child Trust Funds

Young people born in the UK after 1 September 2002 now have access the savings held within their Child Trust Fund (CTF) – this is a long-term savings account to which the government made a contribution of £250. CTF have an average value of £1,500. 

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