Student Recruitment and Admissions Policy: Admissions Cycle 2023/24 and 2024/25

Overview

This policy is aligned to the University of Dundee’s Transformation Vision and the University of Dundee Strategy. It aims to provide clear and accurate information to all those who require it.

This policy guides University practice in ensuring fair and transparent admissions procedures for the 23/24 and 24/25 academic years. When you matriculate at the University of Dundee, you agree to the Student Terms and Conditions.

The University will strive to attract applicants from a wide and diverse community, who have the appropriate commitment, ability, knowledge and experience to fulfil their academic potential and who will benefit from the University’s educational provision and student experience.

The University will provide clear, consistent and accessible information for all stakeholders, including staff who are involved in the admissions processes.

Recruitment, enquiries, support and guidance

The University of Dundee provides high-quality information, advice and guidance to applicants and their advisors on our recruitment and selection processes. We provide this information on our website, in our prospectus and in person.

The University will also respond to enquiries about applying to the University in a timely fashion. The University of Dundee website is the gateway for applicant information and enquiries. An applicant can also contact our Enquiry Team for further advice on +44(0)1382 383838. The Enquiry Team are available from 9.00 to 17:00 Monday – Friday.

We provide a wide range of recruitment and support activities. These include, but are not limited to, student recruitment activities in Scotland, the Rest of the UK, and overseas.

The University has a wide range of services available for potential applicants, including specifically tailored support:

• Visiting the University – We run a number of Open Days and on-campus events. If an applicant would like to visit the University, they can find all the latest information on our Visit Us pages.
• We also attend and arrange events to share information about the University all over the world. Overseas applicants can find out information about how to contact us in their country on our International pages.
• We have a range of Access support for eligible applicants.
• The University of Dundee offers pre-sessional English language support.

The University of Dundee website is the most up to date source of information on entry criteria. While the University makes every effort to ensure published entry criteria are correct, applicants should always check the website to make sure they have seen the latest entry criteria available.

The University is committed to providing information in a variety of formats. The choice of format will depend on the individual requirements of the applicant and will consider any impairment. Further details are available from the University of Dundee - Alternative Formats Service and in our Accessibility Statement.

For International Students, International College Dundee is an embedded college in the heart of the University of Dundee campus, operated by Oxford International Education Group. This offers an alternative way to begin an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the University of Dundee.

For pre-application enquiries contact us service for further guidance.

Your application

There is an expectation, for all programmes of study and research, that every applicant will be able to achieve the outcomes of the programme at the required standard. This can be demonstrated by a wide variety of forms of preparation, including:

• achieved academic qualifications
• pending academic qualifications
• the context in which those qualifications have been achieved, including any mitigating circumstances
• academic and/or professional references
• suitability for and interest in the subject as demonstrated in the Personal Statement, which should be solely your own work
• vocational, professional, access, and overseas awards
• where required, an applicant’s performance at an interview
• where required, an applicant’s portfolio or sample of written work
• an applicant’s English language proficiency
• for research programmes, an outline of the research proposal
• any other selection tasks as required by the University

The achievement of formal qualifications is not the only barometer of an applicants potential. We are fully supportive of credit accumulation and transfer and the recognition of informal (experiential) learning. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process for recognising either formal or non-traditional (informal or experiential) learning in order that students may access degree programmes, enter programmes at an advanced level or gain exemption from parts of programmes. The University’s approach to RPL is outlined in the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

As part of our assessment, we will assure ourselves that all applications and qualifications received are genuine, in line with UK Government Requirements. Applicants may have to attend credibility meetings with our partners. If an applicant’s application is deemed to be fraudulent in any way their application will be withdrawn.

There is no obligation for an applicant to declare a disability, however, we encourage applicants to disclose any information so that we can make any reasonable adjustments and provide them with the correct level of support for their application. This includes support for programmes that require an interview.

We commit to assessing all applications in a fair and transparent manner, as outlined on the University website.

Academic entry requirements

For undergraduate study, each programme page will list our standard and widening access entry requirements, including the typical standard and widening access grades required for the University to consider an applicant’s entry to their chosen programme. Applicants will also be able to find this information in our prospectus. We provide an alternative means for some applicants to demonstrate their potential via the Access Summer School. Applicants who are eligible for this will be made aware in their offer.

For postgraduate applicants, the programme pages will list the typical entry requirements required for entry.

The University Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee oversees entry requirements for each programme. We publish entry requirements for the qualifications most commonly presented. International qualifications can be found on course pages using the country and qualification filters. 

In extreme circumstances, the University may change entry requirements or condition of offer following application deadlines.

The University of Dundee offers an alternative pathway through International College Dundee, for International undergraduate and postgraduate students, who do not meet our minimum academic requirements. Applicants who do not meet the University's minimum academic entry requirements will be provided with information about International College Dundee and asked if this is a route they wish to consider and if they consent to their application being shared with International College Dundee.

Non-academic entry requirements

Some programmes may also apply additional non-academic entry requirements. Information on these is listed on our programme pages, and further information will be provided upon application to the University.

International students will be required to meet UK Visa requirements in addition to academic entry requirements. Further information can be found on our Apply for a Student visa to study in the UK for six months or more guide.

English Language Requirements

All programmes are taught in English and it is therefore a requirement that all applicants meet our English language standard to be successful in their application.

For International students, the UK Visa Immigration office (UKVI) also has regulations about the level of English required before they will issue a visa to study in the UK. Applicants can find out more information on the UKVI requirements on their website. As a trusted sponsor, the institution determines which tests are appropriate for an applicant to undertake. Therefore, our English language entry requirements are higher for postgraduate study than the UKVI requirements. 

The University of Dundee offers pre-sessional English language programmes or an alternative pathway through International College Dundee (separate application required), for international undergraduate and postgraduate students, who do not meet English language requirements. These programmes will prepare applicants for University study and provide extra English language tuition. Offer of entry to the University will be conditional based on an applicant’s progression and success during the pre-sessional programme.

Deferred entry

If an applicant defers their entry date to the University of Dundee, they will pay the fee applicable to their year of entry, not the fee at time of application. We will also apply any tuition fee policies applicable to the applicant in the year in which they enter, not the year in which they applied.

If an applicant is awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Dundee, this is valid only in the year of application and would not normally be transferred to a future academic year.

If an applicant defers their entry date to the University of Dundee, their fee status assessment will remain the same as at point of application, not at point of entry. To have a fee status re-assessment, applicants will need to withdraw their application and re-apply.

Applicants will need to meet the academic entry requirements at point of application, not at point of entry. UK Visa requirements can change year to year and applicants will be required to meet the visa requirements (for example in their English Language qualification) in their year of entry.

When an applicant defers entry, we may re-assess qualifications to ensure they have been taken within the allowed timeframe. All qualifications must remain valid at point of entry and not at point of application.

UK undergraduate applicants can apply for deferred entry by indicating their planned year of entry in their UCAS application form. We only hold a limited number of deferred entry places, so to be considered for a deferred place applicants must outline their reasons in their personal statement. These are considered by our Admissions Officers and a decision made.

If an applicant’s country of residence requires mandatory National Service, we may be able to defer their place at the University.

The University may defer applications if entry to the preferred intake date is not possible.

For applicants who defer their entry for medical or personal reasons, the University may offer flexibility with deferrals. Further information on protected characteristics can be found on our protected characteristics guide.

Contextual admissions

Achieving a strong set of school or college grades is key to earning a place at our university. However we know that academic performance can be influenced by things outside your control. That’s why each year we look at each student's application in detail including circumstances outside of your control that may have impacted your potential.

Information on Contextual Admissions at the University of Dundee, as applied to home Undergraduate applicants, can be found on our contextual admissions policy.

Fee and immigration status

An applicant’s Fee status determines the tuition fee amount that they are required to pay and will be detailed in our communication with them.

An applicant’s immigration status is based on whether they require a UK Visa to study and live in the UK, this is also detailed in our communication with them.

Examples of communication include, but are not limited to, Offer Letter, an Acceptance Letter, Admissions Letter, CAS Statement (if applicable) and Confirmation Letter.

How we determine an applicant’s fee status is based on a range of factors. Fee status at the time of application cannot be changed after matriculation and will remain the same throughout the period of study. An applicant’s immigration status may change throughout this period of study, but this will have no impact on their Fee status. Please see our Fee Status assessment page for more information.

Tuition fees (including deposits) and Scholarships

For International Fee Status applicants, they will be required to make a pre-payment to the University for their programme of study. Please see our advance payment page for more information.

Information on Scholarships are available on each individual scholarship page, including Terms and Conditions. Scholarships are available to view on our Scholarship pages.

If an applicant is required to apply for a scholarship, whether external or a University of Dundee Scholarship, we will verify the information they provide in their application against the information we have on their applicant record.

Your offer

Your offer will be based on the following criteria:

• certified Qualifications as indicated on your application
• pending Qualifications as indicated on your application
• English language
• your fee status
• your immigration status
• your contextual status (Home Undergraduate applicants only)
• Programme-specific non-academic requirements
• The outcome of any selection process

Offers and the conditions attached to them are communicated via UCAS (if this was the application route), our Applicant Portal, My Application, and via an email Notification of Offer.

To qualify for a place all academic and non-academic conditions must be met by the deadline outlined in the Offer letter.

Instructions on how to accept an offer are made available in the Notification of Offer.

The criteria which form the basis of an offer will be verified before matriculation.

If any of the criteria form the basis of an offer change, the University reserves the right to withdraw the offer.

Should the content or focus of a programme of study change before an applicant matriculates, we will notify the applicant of the change in writing and inform them of their options.

Use of University agents

In some countries the University works with agents to promote the University of Dundee in market, and provide support to enquirers and applicants.

The University lists the agents we have a contract with on the country pages on the University website. The University works closely with these agents to ensure they provide up to date information on the University, our programmes and admissions process.

All applications made through an agent are subject to our standard admissions process.

The University pays a commission to agents to provide these services.

Partnerships

The University of Dundee has formal partnerships that may have approved exceptions to published entry requirements, fees, and scholarships.

Details of any exceptions are found in individual agreements with each partner.

Criminal convictions

To help the University reduce the risk of harm or injury to students and staff caused by any prior criminal behaviour of applicants, we must know about any relevant criminal convictions that an applicant may have.

All applicants are required to declare any unspent convictions on the application form and complete the Criminal Convictions task.

Where a conviction is declared, the University may request additional information.

For programmes where applicants may come in contact with vulnerable adults or children all offences including spent and motoring offences must be declared and will be taken into account.

For further guidance on how the University considers criminal convictions please see our Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants with Criminal Convictions.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to supporting all students to thrive and make the most of their time at the University of Dundee.  You can find out more about how we can support you on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages.

Governance

This Admissions policy is developed and monitored by the Vice-Principal of Education, through the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

Operational responsibility for ensuring admissions processes are in line with this policy lies with the Director of Future Students.

The policy will be reviewed annually by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee.

Complaints

Please see our Complaints policy.

Data protection

The University is committed to storing and using personal data securely. The most up to date information on the University of Dundee’s Data Protection policy can be found on our Data Protection pages.

Our Privacy Notices give full details of how we may use and store personal information:

• before you apply
• after you have applied

Document information

Admissions Policy: this policy is approved by the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee, via the Vice-Principal (Education) with the operational responsibility with the Director of Future Students. This policy is reviewed on an annual basis.

Terms and Conditions: these are the responsibility of the Student Recruitment and Admissions Committee, with the review and sign off by the Academic & Corporate Governance department on an annual basis. Please look at our most up to date student Terms and Conditions.