Contextualised admissions and UCAS' contextual data services
Contextual information and data can be used by universities and colleges to assess an applicant’s achievement and potential in light of their educational and socio-economic background.
The aim is to form a more complete picture of an individual applicant’s characteristics.
To support contextualised admissions, we currently offer two contextual data services for providers:
UCAS' contextual data service
The contextual data service supplies historic data (going back to 2008) about an applicant’s school or college.
It also provides local area data in the form of POLAR2, POLAR3, POLAR4, and the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).
The following data is available for use in the 2025 admissions cycle:
| Measures | England | NI | Wales | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average attainment 8 score per student | Yes | |||
| Average Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) points per A Level entry (or equivalent) | Yes | |||
| % of students achieving five A*--C GCSEs, including English/Welsh and maths (or equivalent) | Yes | Yes | ||
| % of students entitled to free school meals (FSM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| % of students entitled to Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) | Yes | |||
| Average UCAS points for Highers per student | Yes* | |||
| Average UCAS points score for Highers per entry | Yes* | |||
| % of students registered for free school meals (FSM) | Yes | |||
| % of pupils receiving Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) | Yes |
*Only available in web-link
UCAS' modernised contextualised data service
The modernised contextual data service (MCDS) provides your in-cycle applicant data, coded up by contextual statistics, including FSM data, and the multiple equality measure (MEM) variants. The use of this data is entirely up to the provider itself, and there is no cost for the data files.
MEM – the multiple equality measure – calculates the probability of your applicants entering higher education based on several equality factors, enabling contextual admissions.
The data provided to you through this service will give you an insight into an applicant’s individual circumstances.
It includes:
- Verified free school meals (FSM) status for applicants from state schools
- Verified bursary indicator for applicants from independent schools
- Multiple equality measure (MEM)1 and MEM2 groups
- Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) quintile
- POLAR4 quintile
The data is available for UK 18 and 19 year olds. Verified free school meal information is also available for applicants in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The
includes information on the methodology, applicants included, and the variables within the dataset. Please ensure you read this guidance if you are new to using MCDS.The guide will be updated each cycle, and we’ll highlight here any relevant changes at start of cycle
*Please note FSM and MEM are only available where the link can be made, which is currently around 90% of applicants.
When is the data available?
| Contextual data service | Modernised contextual data service |
|---|---|
| The data, which refers to the previous year's school cohort, is published by UK education departments and transferred to UCAS, usually as the cycle opens. Once all the data has been received and processed it will be made available to providers. |
Transfers of this data will be made daily (Mon – Fri) as default. If you haven’t yet signed up, there is an option to indicate frequency in the sign up form linked below. It you have already signed up and would prefer transfers either weekly or monthly (first Monday of the month), please contact the Customer Success Team: cst@ucas.ac.uk |
How do I register for this service?
| Contextual data service | Modernised contextual data service |
|---|---|
|
To use the contextual data service, you need to register with us, and make it clear to applicants that you’re accessing this, and how it is being used in the admissions process. If you have already signed up to receive contextual data, then you will continue to receive it as per previous years. If you haven’t already registered, please contact cst@ucas.ac.uk Our Customer Success Team can assist with questions. |
Existing MCDS customers will receive MCDS data each cycle. There is no need to sign up on an annual basis. If you don’t currently subscribe to MCDS, but want to access the data, complete our webform to sign up. You have the option to request data on a daily (Mon – Fri), weekly or monthly (first Monday of the month) basis. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Success Team. |
Once registered, how do I access the data?
| Contextual data service | Modernised contextual data service |
|---|---|
|
To access the data via xml-link xml: getUCASApplicantContextualData , getContextualData More information on how to access contextual data through the link products is available in the system guides. web-link: Data is available in the Applicant Context tab from the applicant overview. You can find information on how to access contextual data through web-link in the . |
You will receive a zip file over MOVEit called XXX_MCDS_CYCLE_YYYMMDD.zip (XXX is your provider code). Within this zip file you will find one applicant-level CSV data file:
For help using MOVEit, view our Each provider has up to five MOVEit account holders. Your Primary Correspondent is usually the key account holder and will be able to request additional accounts, or amendments to accounts, if needed. Our Customer Success Team can assist with questions. |
MCDS – changes for current cycle (2025)
The terms and conditions for MCDS have been updated (Oct 2024).
There are no other significant changes for the current cycle.
Contextualised admissions best practice
This guide builds on the contextual data principles developed by SPA in 2010, and the work done in Fair Access since then. It has been approved by UCAS’ Provider Advisory Group, and developed through discussions across the sector.
The aim of using contextual information and data in admissions is to form a more complete picture of the characteristics of an individual applicant and to identify particular circumstances or challenges that may have impacted their education or results. This can then be used to give applicants a fair chance to access their chosen course.
As part of our ongoing commitment to widening access and participation for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, UCAS introduced seven questions into the application so a broader range of students can easily flag their circumstances and access the right support for their needs.
Providers may use a range of criteria, including to inform their contextual admissions process. Information in the rest of the application form, including the reference, may also inform the contextual admissions process. Contextual admissions strategies can include reduced offers, guaranteed interviews, and foundation years; individual institutions are autonomous in the contextual data they use and how it is used within their admissions decision-making process.
- The use of contextual data within a course’s entry criteria/decision making must be research based and justifiable, and should be evaluated at the end of each cycle.
- It should be used to improve inclusivity, by recognising potential and assessed using evidence-based judgement (i.e. applicants may not be treated in exactly the same way as different factors maybe be considered; all applicants are individuals with different backgrounds).
- Contextual data should be used as a part of the overall consideration of an applicant and not in isolation; a combination of items should be used to arrive at an holistic assessment of the applicant’s potential for the course/programme.
- Contextual admissions policies should be accessible and transparent to applicants and their advisors in terms of what contextual data is used, how it will be used and when it is used.
- If a provider makes a contextual offer, it should be clearly indicated in the offer text sent through UCAS.
- Contextual offers should not be conditional upon students firming offers – this conflicts with principle 9 of the UCAS Application and Recruitment Policy
- Applicants needing additional learner support or practical advice during their application, transition or when registered as a student, should receive appropriate transition and in-session learner support to ensure their potential continues to be developed.
- Contextual admissions may form part of an institution’s access and participation plan.
- Some contextual information e.g. address may change post-application submission. Providers should be flexible with this, and act in the best interests of the applicant when deciding how to use any updated measures.
Contact for support
Our Customer Success Team can support you with any questions about your contextual data or MCDS supply– email them at cst@ucas.ac.uk
If you experience any issues with the provision of MCDS, please raise a Halo request or contact our Customer Success Team.