Admission by Gathered Field

Gathered field application process

For some courses, the University operates a ‘gathered field’ approach for admission. Gathered field means grouping applications together and is used where the candidate quality and the level of interest in the course exceeds the number of places available. To make the admissions process fairer to applicants, a gathered field will be introduced.

Gathered Field - The process

Applying

An application deadline is set which must be adhered to.  Applications are then considered for interview short-listing as they are received. Those short-listed will be invited to attend an interview. 

There will be a limited number of interview dates and if an applicant is unable to attend a specific date/time, where possible an alternative will be offered.  However, as part of the gathered field, so as not to delay decision-making, there may not be any alternative dates available meaning their application may not be processed any further. This will automatically be the case if the applicant is invited to an interview and does not attend.

Considering your application

After all interviews have been completed, the academic team will set a selection meeting where each application will be considered for an offer of a place in line with the number of places available. 

The outcome

As part of this selection meeting, some applicants will be offered a place, some will be unsuccessful, and some may be placed on a waiting list where applicants will be offered a place should one become available.  This could happen if an applicant is no longer able to take up a place or where the course is able to increase its cohort size. If there is an insufficient waiting list, then the course may be opened again for new applications.

Candidates placed on a waiting list may not receive further communication until a place arises or where we are eventually able to finalise our recruitment on the course and therefore, we can confirm no places are available. Due to the changeable nature of the admissions process, this could occur at any point up until the course starts.

Applicants who do not make the short-list for an interview or who are invited to interview and do not attend will be contacted straight away to inform them that their application is unable to continue. 

Deferrals

In a gathered field model, deferral of an application or place is not possible i.e., moving your application/offer to be considered for the next intake. This means even if an applicant has received an offer but can no longer take up the place, or where an applicant has been placed on a waiting list, but a place is not available – a new application would need to be submitted in the following cycle for the next intake. This would therefore mean being re-interviewed, etc. 

The University reserves the right to change entry criteria year to year, therefore if you are re-applying, it is important to be aware of any relevant changes.