Access to Leeds: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Access to Leeds is the University of Leeds contextual admissions scheme, applied for alongside your UCAS application by anyone in the UK who meets at least two of its criteria. Eligible applicants get an alternative offer two grades below standard, then complete an online module from April to July before starting. There is no limit on places, but Leeds must be your firm choice to keep the offer.
- Closes
- 21 Oct 2026 at 12pm
- For
- Year 13 and adults students, medicine and dentistry
- Where
- Anywhere in the UK
- Gives you
- Lower offer, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Access to Leeds gives you a lower offer and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine and dentistry.
- ABB offer for Medicine and Dentistry, with Chemistry and Biology and an A in one of them
- Medicine GCSE minimum drops to 6 at grade 4 instead of 6 at grade 6, though scoring still uses your top 8
- No interview advantage for Medicine: Access to Leeds is not a shortlisting factor, and no UCAT cut-off applies
To get it, you must
- Make Leeds your firm choice
- Complete both parts of the online module between April and July of Year 13
Who can apply
You need to
- Live anywhere in the UK
- Not already hold a degree or be taking a foundation course
Plus at least two of
- First in family to university
- Deprived postcode
- Free school meals or low household income
- Low-progression school
- Young carer, estranged from parents or refugee or asylum seeker
- Care-experienced
What it involves
- Submit the Access to Leeds form and a referee form at the same time as your UCAS application
Dates
- Applications open
- Late September 2026, open now
- Applications close
- 21 Oct 2026 at 12pm
- Programme runs
- Online module Apr to Jul 2027 after your offer
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2026 for 2027 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Apply for Access to Leeds page. It is run by Leeds Access to Leeds team. Questions go to accesstoleeds@leeds.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Access to Leeds guarantee an interview?
No. Access to Leeds gives a lower offer rather than a guaranteed interview. ABB offer for Medicine and Dentistry, with Chemistry and Biology and an A in one of them.
Who is eligible for Access to Leeds?
Live anywhere in the UK. You need to not already hold a degree or be taking a foundation course, and meet at least two of its widening participation criteria, such as first in family to university, deprived postcode, low household income.
When is the Access to Leeds deadline?
Applications close on 21 Oct 2026 at 12pm. They opened late september 2026, open now. The programme then runs online module Apr to Jul 2027 after your offer.
What offer do Access to Leeds students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. ABB offer for Medicine and Dentistry, with Chemistry and Biology and an A in one of them
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