Eligibility for The Smart Start Experience 2024

In order to be eligible for Smart Start or Smart Applications, you must meet the following basic eligibility criteria:

  • be in year 12 (or equivalent) and attending, and have always attended, a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college; 

  • be classed as a home student, or expect to be, by the time you apply for a university place (Home students are those living in the UK/Republic of Ireland/EU nationals with settled status in the UK for three full years immediately before the first day of the course)

PLUS, you must also meet a least one of the following additional criteria. Applicants who meet more than one additional criterion are more likely to receive a place on the programme.  

  • You have grown up in a household where no parent or guardian has achieved a qualification at a university in the UK; 

  • You are currently in receipt of, or have previously received at secondary school, free school meals, Education Maintenance Allowance and/or 16 to 19 Bursary

  • Your parent(s)/guardian(s) receive income support or housing benefits

  • You have been, or are currently, in local authority care (for a period of three months or longer)

  • You are, or have been, a full-time or part-time young carer

  • You came to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker

  • You have grown up in a household where a parent or carer has served in the regular armed forces

  • You are attending a school or college with:

    • below average A-Level or Higher points score

      and/or

    • low rate of progression to higher education

      (You do not have to tell us whether you attend a school that has below average attainment and/or progression to higher education, we will check this ourselves).

PLEASE NOTE: if you do not meet all the basic criteria, but you do meet more than one of the additional criteria please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your application. Similarly, if you are unsure whether you meet the criteria, please get in touch at the same address.

How to apply

Applicants are able to apply to an individual or both programmes through the same application process. Successful applicants will only take part in either the Smart Start Week or Smart Applications (you cannot participate in both).

The first step in applying to either of these programmes is to attend a Smart Choices information session.

These events will provide support and information on the next stages of the application, and guidance on which scheme suits your needs. After attending a Smart Choices event, the application form will be made available to all participants.

Smart Choices will be taking place as both virtual online sessions, and in person events. Interested participants will need to attend one of these in order to be eligible to apply for Smart Start Week or Smart Applications.

Please note that Smart Choices events are now complete for 2024, and registration is now closed.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].