Ambition Nottingham 16-18: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Ambition Nottingham 16-18 is a free two-year scheme run by the University of Nottingham for Year 12 students anywhere in the UK, mostly online with a VIP open day on campus. Participants are placed in Tier 1 or Tier 2 and book subject tasters, student Q&As and guidance on choosing courses, finance and selection. Tier 1 students who attend at least 8 live sessions get an enhanced contextual offer for Medicine and a bursary at Nottingham.
- Closes
- Open now
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine
- Where
- Anywhere in the UK
- Gives you
- Lower offer, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Ambition Nottingham 16-18 gives you a lower offer and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine.
- Enhanced contextual offer of ABB with an A in Biology or Chemistry for Medicine (A100), made after you pass the interview
- £1,000 a year Nottingham Potential Bursary if you study at Nottingham, awarded automatically
- No guaranteed interview, and no further reduction for the Foundation Year (A108)
To get it, you must
- Qualify for Tier 1 (the contextual criteria) and attend at least 8 live sessions
- Pass the interview; the offer is made afterwards
Who can apply
You need to
- Live anywhere in the UK
- Be in the first term of Year 12 at a state school, studying Level 3 qualifications, with UK Home fee status
- A Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background qualifies on its own, and a military family counts alongside the other criteria
- Have GCSE English at grade 4
Plus at least two of
Deprived postcode, or free school meals, or refugee or asylum seeker, or care-experienced qualifies on its own.
- Deprived postcode
- Free school meals
- Low household income
- Young carer
- First in family to university
- Disabled or long-term health condition
- Estranged from parents
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Care-experienced
What it involves
- Attend at least 8 live sessions over the two years
Dates
- Applications open
- Open now (usually from September)
- Applications close
- Not published, last cycle 7 December 2025
- Programme runs
- Two years of mostly online sessions from autumn 2026 to summer 2028, with a VIP open day
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Ambition Nottingham 16-18 page. It is run by Nottingham Schools Liaison. Questions go to ambition@nottingham.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ambition Nottingham 16-18 guarantee an interview?
No. Ambition Nottingham 16-18 gives a lower offer rather than a guaranteed interview. Enhanced contextual offer of ABB with an A in Biology or Chemistry for Medicine (A100), made after you pass the interview.
Who is eligible for Ambition Nottingham 16-18?
Live anywhere in the UK. You need to be in the first term of Year 12 at a state school, studying Level 3 qualifications, with UK Home fee status, a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller background qualifies on its own, and a military family counts alongside the other criteria, have GCSE English at grade 4, and meet at least two of its widening participation criteria, such as deprived postcode, free school meals, low household income.
When is the Ambition Nottingham 16-18 deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, last cycle 7 December 2025. Applications open now (usually from September).
What offer do Ambition Nottingham 16-18 students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. Enhanced contextual offer of ABB with an A in Biology or Chemistry for Medicine (A100), made after you pass the interview
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