2.1. Introduction

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Within the University, the Dean of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration reports formally to the President of the University. The University operates a centralized admissions structure with initial decisions on applications made by the Dean of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration. All decisions are made in accordance with the University Regulations and the University Admissions Policy. The University Council determines the number of students to be admitted each year based on the recommendations presented to the Council of Deans by the respective university colleges.

The work of the Deanship of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration in recruiting and admitting new students supports the goals and ambitions set out in its Mission Statement and Strategy. The University aims is to attract the most talented students, irrespective of background, and prepare them to be confident citizens and potential leaders in an increasingly globalized work environment, further, it aims to:

  1. Attract applicants who enjoy the challenge of forward thinking, the excitement of research-led teaching, and the high standards of learning and teaching which we set ourselves.
  2. Recruit students from a wide range of backgrounds who we believe have the potential and motivation to succeed on our challenging programs and who can make a valuable contribution to University life.
  3. Foster a diverse learning community in which our students will meet people from different cultures, thereby enhancing their skills of critical reasoning, teamwork, and communication.

2.1.1 Admissions Criteria

  1. The University’s general entry requirements are published annually in the Deanship of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration website.
  2. The University will publish annually the typical academic admissions criteria for all its programs of study. This information will be included in both its print and digital prospectuses and on all its social media accounts.
  3. Typical academic admissions criteria are set by the relevant College and approved by the University Council. Reporting to the President, the Deanship of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration will additionally consider the strategic and cross-college implications, which may arise as a result of a proposal to alter typical academic admissions criteria.
  4. Colleges will periodically review these criteria in consultation with the Deanship of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration. Such criteria will not normally be changed during an admissions cycle. The criteria published on the University web site will be the most up-to date and will always take precedent over that contained in hard copy publications, and/or third-party web sites.
  5. Typical academic admissions criteria represent the usual level of academic attainment an applicant is expected to achieve prior to being admitted to that program. These criteria are not intended to provide a guarantee that all applicants who satisfy the criteria may be offered a place, nor that all applicants to be made an offer will receive an identical offer to one another.
  6. The Deanship of Student Affairs, Admissions and Registration have the discretion to vary the weight they give to examination results and other indicators of achievement and potential (for example, extra-curricular activities, motivation for the subject, work, or voluntary experience) and, therefore, to vary the offer they make provided this remains consistent with the principles of fair access and with this policy
  7. The University is committed to giving full and fair consideration to all relevant academic qualification information presented by each applicant. Whilst the University expresses its typical academic admissions criteria in the terms of a range of the most presented qualifications, the University welcomes applications from candidates who have (or who will) achieve an equivalent standard in a range of other qualifications, including those offered internationally.
  8. The University receives many more applications than it has places available and as such, the admissions process is competitive. Achievement (or predicted achievement) of relevant qualifications does not itself guarantee an offer of admission. The University may consider any, or all, the applicant’s academic achievements, research proposal, references, performance at interview (or similar), and test results.
  9. The criteria published on the above web page will be the most up-to-date and will always take precedent over that contained in hard copy publications, and/or third-party web sites.