What can we do to help you?
Deciding to come to university is a big decision and we offer a wide range of courses across our faculties at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Contact us for advice and guidance and to discuss your options on:
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Choosing the right course for your future development and/or career.
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What qualifications you need to apply to University.
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What funding and financial support you are eligible for.
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Whether full-time or part-time study would be your best option.
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How to apply and when.
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How to write an effective personal statement.
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The needs of mature students and those who have been out of education for a while.
Before you start with us, we can advise you about the different sources of financial support which you may be entitled to (and can help you complete application forms where necessary). Make an appointment with us to discuss:
- Tuition fee loan
- Grants and loans for living costs
- NHS funding for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions degrees
- Parent Learning Allowance
- Help with childcare costs
- Scholarships
- Funding for postgraduate courses
See our money matters and scholarships pages for more information.
How to contact us:
To ask a question, or make an appointment with an Education Guidance Adviser, please telephone 01902 321032 or email gateway@wlv.ac.uk. Appointments are offered by phone, Zoom or Teams or in person at the George building. Address for in person appointments is: MG (The George) City Campus South on the corner of Wulfruna Street (WV1 1LY). What 3 Words location: ///driver.vibe.deep.
To find us see maps and directions.
Book an appointment:
If you would like to request an appointment please complete the form Gateway appointment request form and you will receive a call back to arrange a convenient day and time.
Attend an event:
The University runs regular events for people looking find out more about studying at Higher Education including events targeted specifically at mature learners. For more information on when the next event is running contact the Gateway Team or go to Events.
Frequently asked questions:
If you are applying for a full time undergraduate course (Bachelor degree, HND or Foundation degree) then you need to apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com (opens in new window) even if you are a mature student. If you are applying for part time study or for a postgraduate course (Masters, PG Diploma or PG Certificate) then you apply directly to the University by clicking on the ‘apply now’ button on the course page. If you need help with completing your application form then contact the Gateway.
To avoid being a ‘late’ applicant you will need to submit your application by the 26th January. Some courses will become full after this date, but many will still have places so check on the website or contact the Gateway to see whether the course you are interested in is still open. The normal UCAS application process closes on 30th June, after that date you will need to apply through ‘Clearing’. For further information, please visit www.ucas.com (opens in new window).
Personal statements should be a persuasive piece of work that encourages the reader to read on. The reader in this case is the admissions tutor for the course that you are applying for, and your personal statement should convince them why they should choose you. The general rule is to state which course you are applying for and give your reasons for choosing that course. Demonstrate that you have the personal qualities that will assist you with the course. Give examples of any work experience that you have, paid or unpaid. Display a knowledge of the course that you are applying for. Draft and redraft your personal statement and get teachers, advisers and family members to read it through. Finally, a personal statement littered with spelling and grammatical errors never leaves a good impression and you can’t always rely on spellchecker. For further information please visit www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/making-your-application or www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when-apply/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-personal-statement (opens in new window).
The University accepts a range of level 3 qualifications not just A levels. For more information on courses which accrue UCAS tariff points and so will be considered for most courses go to www.ucas.com/tariff (opens in new window).
For some professional courses you do need to meet the entry requirements listed on the course page, for other courses the academic staff can take into account professional qualifications or significant relevant work experience when deciding whether to offer you a place.
You can come along to an Open Day and talk to the tutors to see whether you would be considered (visit www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays for dates) or you can contact the Gateway for further advice. If you do not have the skills and knowledge to go directly onto a degree course you may be offered a Foundation Year course which will prepare you for studying at University. More information on support for mature learners applying to University can be found at www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/guidance-for-mature-applicants.
You can apply for the standard tuition fee loan and maintenance loan plus you can apply for a Parents’ Learning Allowance and a Childcare Grant (if you need to use paid childcare to enable you to attend University). You should still be eligible for Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit and you will be reassessed for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
For more information see www.gov.uk/student-finance/extra-help (opens in new window). If you would like to discuss sources of funding and eligibility criteria in more detail then contact the Gateway.
For most full time academic courses you will be in a formal teaching setting (e.g. lectures, tutorials, workshops, lab classes) for about 12-16 hours per week. In addition to this you will be expected to spend 20 – 30 hours a week doing research, background reading, writing assignments etc. Some professional courses such as teaching, nursing, allied health professions courses and social work will have full time placements as part of the course which you will be expected to attend for 35-40 hours per week. For part time courses you will normally be in attendance for 6-8 hours per week. If you would like to discuss the course requirements in more detail then come along to an Open Day to talk to the academic staff (visit www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays for dates).
Deciding which course to study will depend on whether you have a clear career goal. The Gateway can help you to explore different career options in relation to your interest, skills and experience. If you have a particular interest in a subject, then we can discuss where courses can lead to in relation to graduate careers. To arrange an appointment with an Education guidance Adviser, please contact the Gateway. You may also like to come along to a University Open Day so that you can chat to the academic staff about the courses we offer. To find out more go to www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays.
Full time undergraduate students can apply for a Childcare Grant towards the cost of childcare, but this is very tightly means-tested against income. If you are a single parent then you should receive up to 85% of your childcare costs. If you have a partner who works full time then you are unlikely to receive the Childcare Grant. For more information go to www.gov.uk/childcare-grant (opens in new window) or contact the Gateway.
Full time students can apply for a maintenance loan to help with their living costs. The exact amount you get will depend on your household income (normally how much your parents or partner earn). It does not matter how much you earned previously as this is not taken into account. You can also work part time alongside your course without this affecting your maintenance loan. You can get an estimate of your entitlement by using the finance calculator at www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator (opens in new window). All eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance (living costs) loan. If you want to talk to an adviser about your specific circumstances then contact the Gateway.
Students with a disability can apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) for assistance with extra costs directly related to their disability. The amount you receive is dependent on your needs and not your household income. More information on the DSA and the form you need to complete can be found at www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas (opens in new window). It is important to declare your disability on your UCAS form, so the University is aware of your needs. If you need to discuss this in more detail then contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Team, see www.wlv.ac.uk/student-life for contact details. More information on support can be found out www.wlv.ac.uk/current-students/student-support/student-support-and-wellbeing-ssw/advice-for-students-with-disabilities--splds/i-am-applying-to-university.
Gateway Statement of Service
Please see the Gateway Statement of Service, this highlights what you can expect from our service.
Previous Gateway clients have said...
"Staff were very helpful and polite. Warm welcome and friendly atmosphere. Happy with the information I was given today and feel comfortable returning in the future."
"Thank you so much for getting back to me. The information you provided is very useful, and will hopefully help my son make a decision on the Policing and Intelligence course at Wolverhampton."
"I wanted to thank you again for your previous help and time. I went to the open evening this evening and when I got home I received an offer! Which is amazing!"
"I was feeling stressed and thought there was no pathway to the career I wanted to do. You've taken the stress away and I feel I have hope. The information you have given me is more than I was expecting. Thank you."
"Adviser went above and beyond today, helping me work out my funding options. They phoned student finance, admissions and various people to give me the best advice and helped with my student finance application. Many thanks; I will definitely come again if I need help. Fantastic staff!"
"Really helpful - excellent service, able to answer my questions and support me. Thank you."
"Thank you so much for your time today I feel more confident moving forward"
"Thank you so much for your feedback this morning and also for all of your help last week. I really appreciate it."