Eligibility criteria

This page is about the eligibility criteria for Headstart Huddersfield.

To be eligible you must:

Be living permanently in the UK and eligible to pay ‘Home’ fees.
Be taking or already hold Level 3 qualifications or equivalent to enable progression to higher education.
Be considering applying to a full-time undergraduate degree programme at the University of Huddersfield.
Not already hold a Higher Education Qualification.
Not be studying an Access to HE or foundation qualification.
Not be studying or have passed the Progression Module.
For under 21 students only - Have entered or be entering Year 13/year 2 of a Level 3 programme in September of this year.
Register for Headstart before submitting a UCAS application.
Record Headstart on your UCAS application in order for the 8 points to be recognised.

You are a mature student over the age of 21, returning to full time study.
You are the first generation in your immediate family to apply to go to university.

You are eligible if your parents have not previously completed a higher education course. This does not include HE courses undertaken whilst you were in secondary education or any work-based, Open University or part time HE study that your parents undertook.
You are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
You are in receipt of 16-19 Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support.
You have ever been eligible to receive free school meals in the last 6 school years.

If you were entitled to free school meals, whether you claimed them or not, you are eligible under this criteria.

You attend or have attended a school which achieved below the national average Attainment 8 score at GCSE.

The England average Attainment 8 score for 2022 is 48.8. To find out if you qualify under this criteria check your school’s Attainment 8 score here: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

You live in a geographical area with low progression to higher education.

Check your eligibility using the online postcode checker. Only POLAR 4 young participation quintile 1-2 are eligible.

You are estranged from your parents.

You are estranged from your parents if you have not had verbal or written contact with both of your biological, adoptive parents or your only living parent for a significant period of time and your estrangement is irreconcilable. Further details are available here: http://standalone.org.uk/guides/student-guide/#independent-status

You are a young carer.

A Young Carer has sole or shared responsibility, unpaid, to care for a friend or family member who has an illness, disability, mental health illness or addiction who couldn’t manage without their support.
You have a disability, long-standing medical condition, a learning difficulty or mental health issue.
You are from a military service family, or you are a military veteran or service leaver.
You are from a Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman or Boater (GTRSB) community.
Your studies have been disrupted by circumstances in your personal life.

The adverse circumstances must be unforeseeable or unpreventable as far as the learner is concerned, and sufficiently disruptive to have a significant adverse effect on academic performance.