This applies mainly to first year entry to undergraduate degrees programmes offered by Newcastle Business School.
Our entry criteria exists for two reasons.
Firstly, we want to ensure that everyone who joins our programmes has the potential to succeed. Secondly, the reason we specify certain grades is to ensure a good experience for everyone. This is why we insist on GCSE Mathematics and English Language at grade C or above for all our programmes (usually achieved within a maximum of two attempts). We have also found that good numeracy and communication skills are essential to successful study.
The majority of undergraduate applications come to us from students undertaking GCE or VCE Advanced level qualifications. Increasingly we are seeing applicants with more than a straight three A Level profile - with additional A Levels, AS Levels and Key Skills qualifications.
As Business is a very broad subject, we believe that the breadth of study that these qualifications represent needs to be fully recognised and accordingly we make our offers based on the UCAS tariff and take account of all qualifications that are recognised in the tariff.
For example, BA (Hons) Business Management asks for 320 points. A 'traditional' profile could achieve this with grades ABB at A level. However it could also be made up of BBB at A level (300 points) plus one Key Skill award at level 3 (20 points) or by BBB at A level (300 points) plus an AS level at grade D (30 points).
We are looking for profiles that include at least two 6-unit awards or one 12-unit award and in some cases may ask for particular grades to be achieved within the overall tariff. General Studies is treated the same as any other subject and we accept up to 20 points from key skills and non-academic components at Level 3.
We do not ask for any particular subjects at A Level. Offers to applicants undertaking qualification under the Scottish Framework will also be made UCAS tariff offers.
The UCAS Application
We like to treat applicants as individuals and so we take into account the whole UCAS application when making decisions on applicants.
The personal statement in particular is used to assess awareness of business, commitment to the course, and interpersonal skills. Individual tariff offers will be made on the basis of the potential ability and commitment of applicants.
Other UK Qualifications
We accept a number of other nationally recognised qualifications such as BTEC Nationals and Higher Nationals, and awards from professional bodies such as AAT and LCCI. We also welcome the International Baccalaureate.
NVQs are useful qualifications for measuring job performance but may not give such a clear indication of the ability to study academically - accordingly we will recognise NVQs as enhancing other qualifications but would not usually offer place based purely on NVQ achievements.
Mature Students
We positively welcome applications from mature students (aged 21+) and are willing to consider, on an individual basis, those who do not meet traditional entry criteria.
However, that should not be read as meaning that we will generally accept applicants with no formal qualifications, and, where we do so, we would normally be looking for an appropriate level of relevant experience.
We are strongly supportive of the HEFC Access courses, which provide an excellent basis for preparing mature students for entry to Higher Education - more details are available from the Access and Guidance Centre.
Personal Statements
Personal Statements are a very important part of the application - they are really the one opportunity we have to get to know the applicant.
It is beyond the scope of this web page to give comprehensive advice on how to complete this part of the UCAS form but there are a few key issues.
A good personal statement tells us something about your particular strengths in current and recent studies, something about why you are applying for the course in question and something about you as a person.
It is better not to just list things you've done - a good personal statement will talk around your achievements and interests. If you're describing something about yourself try to think of something which illustrates that.
For example if you want to say you have good communication skills, think of something you've done which demonstrates this.
Conversely if you're telling us about something you have done, think about how that has developed skills that will be valued by us. For example if you have a part time job, apart from earning extra money, what have you learned from that job?
Overseas Qualifications
We accept a wide range of overseas qualifications - for further information, please contact Newcastle Business School. We normally require evidence of English proficiency, such as an IELTS score of 6.0 (Grade B from our ELAN programme) for first year entry and 6.5 (Grade A from ELAN) for final year entry.
Placements
The BA programmes in Business Studies, Travel and Tourism Management, Human Resource Management, International Business Management and Marketing Management are all 4-year courses incorporating a 1-year placement in the third year.
Students on the remaining 3-year programmes (except Corporate Management) are all able to extend their course in order to undertake a placement in the third year if they wish. Successful completion of the placement year to City and Guilds standards allows the university to award the Licentiateship of City and Guilds (LCGI).
Entry to 1-year completion degree programmes
The BA (Hons) in Business Administration, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, International Hospitality and Tourism Management and Accounting and Finance are 1-year completion awards designed for applicants who will hold an HND, Foundation Degree, or equivalent.
Such students can also apply for advanced entry to our longer programmes such as the 'Business with' programmes (subject to availability), the Travel and Tourism Management degree, or the International Business Management degree.
Application Procedure
All business courses recruit through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).