DBS Admissions Checks

Important note to all applicants

Detailed below are instructions and further information regarding the next steps that you will need to complete prior to starting your course. Please note that failure to meet your offer conditions prior to the course starting could lead to you losing your place or the release of financial support being delayed.

Proof of qualifications checks

If your qualifications are listed as an outstanding element on the email which directed you to this page, you will need to provide evidence. If you are starting a foundation year (year 0) or year one of a degree, you must provide copies of all your level 3 qualifications. If you're entering year two, three, a top up programme or a post graduate degree we must see the qualifications you have used to gain entry to the University of Cumbria programme (i.e. CertHE/DipHE/Fdeg/HND/Degree).

Copies of qualifications should be uploaded using your Applicant Portal, once you have uploaded the document, don't forget to click 'next' to complete the upload.

If you are due to take a GCSE equivalency test in summer 2024

If your course has GCSE entry requirements and you are due to sit a GCSE or equivalency exam this summer, please contact us as soon as you have your result and upload a copy of your certificate to your Applicant Portal. Once you have uploaded the document don't forget to click 'next' to complete the upload.

What will you accept as evidence of my qualifications?

Please note if we need to see copies of your GCSE's this will be listed on your Applicant Portal and in your offer email – if we have asked for these please upload evidence to your Applicant Portal. If you have already completed your level 3 qualifications (or your degree for postgraduate courses), we must see copies of those qualifications prior to the start of the course. We can accept certificates, candidate statement of results, official transcripts or a signed letter on headed paper from your school, college or University confirming the qualifications awarded to you. We can also accept an email from your school or college sent directly to the Admissions Office dealing with your application.

What if I have lost my qualifications?

Please see above for acceptable forms of evidence. It is vitally important that you obtain replacements of required qualifications as soon as possible. If you are unable to provide evidence of level 2/3 qualifications (or degree certificates for postgraduate courses) which meet the entry requirements by 4 September for courses that start in September, or 3 weeks prior for other course start dates, you may not be permitted to start the course and you may lose your place. Please note that replacements can take some time to arrive, so you need to order them as quickly as possible.

Information on obtaining replacement certificates can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Here are links to some of the main examination boards:

AQA
EDEXCEL
OCR

What if I am still studying?

UCAS will automatically send us the results of Level 3 qualifications in summer (e.g. A-level, BTEC, Irish Leaving Certificate, Baccalaureates, Access to HE). If your offer requires GCSE results, then you will need to notify us of these when you receive them by contacting the Admissions Office dealing with your application. All results must be available by 4 September for courses that start in September, or 3 weeks before for other course start dates.

For postgraduate, advanced entry or top-up applicants, the university does not automatically receive degree results therefore, all applicants will need to provide proof.

How can I provide documents?

I have already brought my certificates, do I need to bring them again?

Do you accept Level 2 Adult Literacy & Numeracy & Key Skills as GCSE equivalent?

The University will not accept Level 2 Adult Literacy or Numeracy or Key Skills as equivalent to GCSE English or Mathematics for Teaching courses or Diagnostic Radiography and Paramedic Science courses.

We are able to accept these as equivalent for most other programmes. Please check the entry requirements on our course pages.

Please note we are unable to accept science units from an Access to HE in lieu of GCSE Science.

What is the ‘Right to Study’ check?

Please Note: we will contact you about your Right to Work check when we contact you about your DBS check from three months before your course starts.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that every student studying at the institution on a course that requires a DBS check, has the right to work in the UK.

Right to Work: If you are already resident in the UK, we will ask you to provide evidence of your right to work as part of your DBS application.

If you are not already resident in the UK and will be joining us on a student visa, ylou will not be able to complete the right to work check until you arrive in the UK.

Disclosure & barring service (DBS) clearance

If you have applied to a professional or vocational course that requires DBS clearance for you to work with vulnerable groups, please see our DBS information page for further information, and you will receive an email with further instructions on starting your DBS check.

International students

We are pleased you have accepted your place at the University of Cumbria. We would like to make your transition as smooth as possible by helping where we can.

If you are required to apply for a Student Route Visa, to progress further by obtaining your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) you will need to ensure that all offer conditions have been met. Once these have been completed, your offer will be upgraded to unconditional. Within the following 24 hours, you will receive an email inviting you to log into CAS Shield. There you will need to answer the questionnaire and complete each section when prompted. Should you have any queries at this stage, please use the CAS Shield messaging service so that our compliance team can respond to you promptly.

Please note, we will only request you pay your deposit once you have passed your credibility interview (if applicable).

Once your CAS has been issued, you will receive this via email.

The original copies of all qualifications you have used to gain entry to the UoC programme must be seen at international registration. For any CAS or Visa queries, please email UKVICompliance@cumbria.ac.uk.

For any queries regarding your outstanding conditions or queries relating to your application, please email international.admissions@cumbria.ac.uk.

If your course requires Medical and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance then please go to our DBS Information page for further information.

Accommodation information

Further information about accommodation options in Lancaster, Carlisle and Ambleside is available on the accommodation webpages. A link to the accommodation application forms is sent automatically to applicants that accept UoC as their firm choice.

Finance information

Money Advisers from our Student Services team will be available to help with finance and funding enquiries. Further information about tuition fees for your course and funding support available is available on the Student Finance webpages.