Applicants - Covid-19 updates

Latest coronavirus (Covid-19) information for applicants and prospective applicants

We understand that is an extremely stressful time if you’ve already applied to us or would still like to apply. We’ll take into consideration the disruption caused by the cancellation of UK exams when assessing applications and will apply this to our Contextual Admissions policy.

Scroll down to see answers to your most frequently asked questions. Contact us if you can't find the answer to a query you have. Email sro@abertay.ac.uk We can reply by email or arrange to call or Skype you.

We’ll update this page as more information becomes available. We are following the latest advice from Student Information Scotland (a new Scottish Government website for up-to-date information), the Scottish Government and NHS Inform as well as relevant local agencies.

In addition to the guidance on this page, we’ll continue to keep in touch with all our applicants via regular emails. 

If you can’t (currently) come to us, we can come to you. Abertay has launched its Virtual Applicant Day page where you can create your own tailor-made applicant experience, including academic programme talk, and tours our campus, the city of Dundee and more. Just choose your programme from the drop down list.  

 

Updates

Recent Updates

HN assessment plans for colleges
26 March, joint statement from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)and Colleges Scotland. Higher national students at Scotland’s colleges will be assessed through a combination of estimated grades on the basis of lecturers’ grades and a ‘reduced external verification model’.

UCAS extension
25 March, UCAS announced a two weeks' extension for applicants to make their university decision.

 

Campus lockdown
24 March, the University is in effective lockdown following UK and Scottish Government instructions. Do not come to the campus for any reason. Any interviews scheduled will now happen online about which we will contact you.

Applicant Visit Days
The Applicant Visit Day on Saturday 21 March was cancelled. We appreciate that you still may need information, so we are creating virtual Applicant Day pages for each undergraduate course, and these will be published shortly.

General Applicant FAQs

Show all sections

Will classes start in September and will all courses be completely online?

Classes will start on September 21st and we expect students to attend the campus from the first week of Term 1 for blended learning (a mixture of face-to-face and online) dependent on the advice of the Scottish Government at that time. We will have more detailed information on your timetable once we get closer to the start of Term.

 

When can I apply for Abertay accommodation, and what if I need to cancel?

Our accommodation applications will be open to those applicants who have firmly accepted our offer of a place from w/c June 15 2020. Don't worry- we have not made any accommodation offers before this date and your application will be processed in order when we are able to do so. We will be putting in place social distancing where this is required. Where your arrival is prevented and you have already signed your lease, you are able to cancel your lease with 28 days notice.

Residences contract dates will align with the revised start date for the 2020/21 academic year, with Orientation Week now due to begin on September 14. We do not take a deposit, but you will be asked to make a prepayment of rent when you accept your room offer. If you cannot attend due to Coronavirus restrictions in your home country, or the UK, the prepayment will be refunded. More details can be found on our Accommodation web pages here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/accommodation/

 

Can I take my course online only? (Due to health or overseas travel issues)

We are planning for blended learning in 20/21 (a mix of on-line and face to face). We know that some students may have difficulty in attending in person dependent on your individual circumstances (travel plans/ shielding needs) and we would of course try to adapt to meet any special circumstances wherever possible to personalise your learning in order to support you. It will not be possible for some courses to be undertaken wholly online due to their teaching requirements, so we ask you to make contact with our advisory service by email - advisory@abertay.ac.uk who will liaise with academic staff on your behalf regarding arrangements that could be made for your particular course.

Is Abertay University still receiving and considering applications?

Yes, we are! Our undergraduate programmes for 2020 enrolment are still able to receive applications and these are being assessed as normal. Our postgraduate courses are also open.

See How to Apply.

Applicant Visit Day was cancelled. How can I get the information I need?

We had to cancel Applicant Day as per Government advice.

To give you all the information you need, we created a Virtual Applicant Day experience for each undergraduate course, available here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/visit/open-days/applicant-visit-days/

I have an interview date. What should I do?

All interviews will now happen online. We will be in touch with you to arrange this.

My school is closed & I'm not in self-isolation. Can I still visit the campus?

Regrettably no. We have taken the decision to cancel all on campus visits. You can check our our Virtual Applicant Days here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/visit/open-days/applicant-visit-days/ If you’re a Postgraduate student, get a feel for our campus and facilities on our Virtual Open Day.

 

What if I need to defer to a later start date?

Should you need to defer because of COVID-19, you can defer to the next available start date.

All of our undergraduate degrees start in September, but some of our postgraduate degrees have both September and January start dates. We appreciate that many students have already made firm plans to come to Abertay this September and we are working on the basis that this is still be the case.

If you have already deferred once, we will allow you to defer again. If you have been awarded a scholarship for your studies, this can also be deferred. 

If you are an EU student, you may need to consider the decision to defer carefully as the current fee guarantee by the Scottish Government is applicable to those EU students entering in September 2020.

Where can I find Government information and updates?

The new Scottish Government Student Information Scotland website is providing all the latest information for Scottish Further and Higher Education.

UK Applicant FAQs

Show all sections

I'm Scottish. What happens now I can't take my exams?

The Scottish Government announced on 19 March that exams for Scottish school pupils won’t take place this year. The Education Secretary stated that those who were about to sit them won’t be disadvantaged and will be graded in coursework, teacher assessments and prior grades. He added that examination awards would be made by 4 August so students could secure entrance to college or university in the normal timeframes.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also announced on 19 March that it is working at pace on an alternative certification model and the Deputy First Minister has asked schools and colleges to continue to work with students to ensure that any units and coursework are completed and estimated grades are provided by teachers. We will publish more information as it becomes available from the SQA.

I'm English/Welsh. What happens now I can't take my exams?

On Wednesday 18 March the UK Government announced that examinations in England and Wales will no longer take place in May and June. 

The Government is working closely with examination boards to find a solution which will minimise the impact this has on individual students. Further details are likely to be released soon and we will update this answer as more information becomes available.  Please also check UCAS Track for updates.

I have more questions, who should I contact?

You can email any questions to sro@abertay.ac.uk. We will do our best to answer you as quickly as possible.

International Applicant FAQs

Show all sections

I'm applying from overseas, who should I contact?

If you have questions relating to how Covid-19 may affect the application process, please get in touch with the relevant contact covering your area:

We will do our best to answer you as quickly as possible.

My exams have been disrupted. What should I do?

We understand that different measures are in place in different countries and are continually adapting our admissions policy in line with these changes.  You can contact us (see above for details) but also check your UCAS Track account for updates.

My university/school has been closed. What if this impacts my final grades?

We understand that this is an extraordinary situation which is outside your control. Our Admissions Policy means we take into account circumstances like these which impact on your ability to meet your potential.

I can't travel to the UK but have an interview appointment. What can I do?

All interviews will now happen online. We will be in touch with you to arrange this.

What is the situation with applying for my Tier 4 visa?

Currently, all UK visa application centres are closed due to Coronavirus restrictions. The university will be in touch once you are able to proceed with your visa application. Click here to get the latest information from UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Under normal circumstances, you are issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) letter once you have satisfied all conditions related to your offer of study, and not earlier than 3 months prior to the start date of your programme at Abertay. Please be advised that there are likely to be delays in this process this year, due to UKVI and school closures.

Will the dates for the pre-sessional English language courses be delayed?

We don't know at this point, but it is likely if the restrictions on global travel continue. If you have already applied, we will be in contact with you by email about this.

My English exams are cancelled. What English qualifications does Abertay accept?

Demonstrating knowledge of English is a UKVI (Tier 4 visa)requirement and/or a condition of your offer, if you are not from one of the countries listed here: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/knowledge-of-english. In light of COVID 19 restrictions, the university has revised and expanded the qualifications accepted. There are online options available, if you have not yet completed an accepted exam or qualification. If your IELTS test has been cancelled, note that we will accept IELTS Indicator, as well as TOEFL IBT and LanguageCert results this year. If you are an EU or International student, please see the list of all accepted exams, qualifications and relevant scores here: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/study-apply/how-to-apply/international-students/english-language-requirements/

If you need further assistance, please contact: international@abertay.ac.uk

 

Will my course still start in September?

We have delayed the start of the Academic Year 2020/21 by two weeks, with Term 1 teaching due to begin on September 21. We are working towards a blend of online and face-to-face teaching, however the timings around a return to campus will be dictated by government advice. We will keep these pages updated with the latest situation.

Can I start my degree late? What provisions are in place to support me?

We can accept students up to two weeks later than the start date for any course. We are also considering whether we can provide online resources where appropriate to ensure you will not miss any of the early work and are able to begin your programme.

I’m due to attend an Abertay University event in my country. Is it going ahead?

Unfortunately not as we have had to cancel all business travel and face-to-face meetings. Instead, you can check these pages for updates on the present situation and find further information about studying with us at Abertay here.

We recommend that you contact the Regional Manager for your country who will be able to help you.

We will do our best to answer you as quickly as possible.

When is the deadline for accepting/declining my offer?

We will be flexible with our deadlines in light of the current situation. We will advise you of any deadline changes as soon as we can.

Undergraduate applicants can accept their offer at any stage, and before the satisfaction of application conditions, via UCAS.

If you are intending to study with us, subject to your exam results, we encourage you to do so.

What if I'm travelling from overseas and have to quarantine for 14 days?

Should UK quarantine restrictions remain in place during September (and this may change), we will provide students who have been allocated university-owned accommodation (Meadowside and Lyon Street) and who are travelling from overseas, the flexibility to arrive early to allow you to undertake the quarantine period in advance of the start of Term. There will be no charge for this quarantine period.

Private accommodation providers such as Keillor Court and Parker House have also agreed to waive fees for any quarantine period.

We will support students through this period with advice and practical guidance.
This would mean that you would arrive around the last weekend in August. There are a number of private travel providers who will be able to transport you safely to Dundee from a local airport and we will provide you with full details.

I'm an international (non-EU) student and need a Visa. When will I get CAS?

We will issue your CAS letter from 1st July onwards once you have met our conditions and paid your deposit. We will do this in good time in order for you to have enough time to secure your visa and to make your travel plans. We expect students to come to Dundee for the start of term for blended learning ( a mix of on-line and face to face teaching) according to Scottish Government advice at that time.

Pause carousel

Play carousel