Criminal Background Checks

Applicants holding an offer for a course that includes a placement must meet specific criminal background check requirements. These checks ensure you are eligible to undertake placements as part of your programme.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

If your degree includes a placement, you must hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate. This will be a condition of your registration, and we must receive a satisfactory DBS outcome before you can be considered fully registered.

Criminal Record Self‑Disclosure

If you accept our offer as your firm choice, you must inform us as early as possible if you have any criminal record information to declare. You must complete the Criminal Record Self‑Disclosure Form, even if you have already declared this on your UCAS/DfE Apply application or during interview. Those declarations alone are not sufficient and will not be processed correctly.

This is a complex area, so all applicants should read our Criminal Record Self‑Disclosure information page, even if you believe you have nothing to disclose.

Applying for Your DBS Check

We will contact all firm offer holders around three months before the course start date to begin the DBS application process.

Important: You must apply for your DBS check via the University of Cumbria, not through another organisation.

DBS Application Fee

Our 2026/27 DBS fee is: £69.50

The majority of our courses are charged the DBS fee. Only certain health courses are exempt from this.

Payment is made online during your DBS application.

Update Service

If you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service, you may not need a new DBS check, provided your existing certificate meets the requirements for your course.

Important: Use of the Update Service is not automatic. You must take specific steps for us to verify your certificate. Full guidance is available on our DBS Update Service webpage.

Overseas Police Checks

DBS checks only cover time spent in the UK. If you have lived outside the UK, you may need to obtain an Overseas Police Check from each relevant country.

This applies to both UK and non‑UK applicants.

Please refer to our Overseas Criminal Records Checks guidance for details on who this applies to and how to obtain the correct documentation.

Need Help?

Our DBS Team is here for you:

Email: dbs@cumbria.ac.uk  
Phone: 01228 888730

You can also visit our DBS FAQs page.