Applying to Norland University

Your personal statement is your opportunity to help us understand who you are, why you are interested in studying at Norland, and what has inspired your interest in working with children and families.

There is no single formula for a successful personal statement, so we encourage you to focus on the experiences, qualities and motivations that are most meaningful to you. This might include your experience of working with children, your interest in child development and early childhood education, or your reasons for wanting to become a Norland Nanny. We are interested in understanding what has shaped your aspirations and what you would bring to the Norland community.

If you have experience with children through work, volunteering, placements, caring responsibilities or extracurricular activities, it can be helpful to reflect on what you have learned from these experiences and how they have influenced your interest in the profession. Equally, if you have a particular interest in child development, education or developmental theory, you may wish to discuss how this has developed and why it interests you.

We understand that you may be applying to a range of universities and courses and therefore may be unable to tailor your UCAS personal statement specifically to Norland or to a career working with children. If you would like to tell us more about your interest in Norland and your aspiration to train as a Norland Nanny, you are welcome to submit an additional personal statement directly to our Admissions team.

This additional statement will be considered alongside your UCAS application and should be no more than 4,000 characters. There is no requirement to follow the UCAS format, so you are free to structure it in a way that best reflects your experiences, motivations and aspirations. This is an opportunity to explain why Norland is the right choice for you and highlight any relevant qualities or experiences that may not have been included in your UCAS personal statement.

Ultimately, we are looking for thoughtful, genuine applications that demonstrate your interest in supporting children’s development and making a positive difference to the lives of children and families.

A common mistake is omitting an academic reference or failing to list all qualifications. Please check your application carefully before submitting it to make sure that all information is complete and accurate. Missing information can delay your application being processed.

For interviews, give yourself time to prepare and reflect on why you want to study at Norland and work with children and families. The interview is an opportunity to discuss your motivation, relevant experiences and suitability for the course. Norland staff will help you feel as comfortable as possible, but thoughtful preparation will enable you to give clear and genuine answers.

We recommend submitting your application ahead of the UCAS equal consideration deadline. We advise submitting it as soon as it is complete and you are confident that the information is accurate. Applications submitted by the equal consideration deadline will be assessed equally, so applying earlier does not give you an admissions advantage.

Applications submitted by the UCAS equal consideration deadline are assessed fairly, whether they are received in September or closer to the January deadline. Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if places remain available. Norland receives a high volume of applications for around 100 places, so applications may close after the deadline once sufficient suitable applications have been received.

If you meet our entry requirements, you will be invited to attend an interview. Interview sessions begin in November and continue throughout the admissions cycle. Some applicants choose to apply earlier so they can begin the process sooner, but you will not be disadvantaged by applying later, provided you submit your application before the UCAS equal consideration deadline.

If you would like to explain more specifically why you want to study at Norland and train to become a Norland Nanny, you are welcome to submit an additional personal statement directly to our Admissions team. This will be considered alongside the rest of your application. Some students prefer to apply earlier as it gives them more time to prepare for an interview. If they receive an offer, it also provides more time to prepare an application for a bursary.

A portfolio is optional and can include a small selection of items that represent your interests, experiences and work. These might include textiles, photographs, documents, references or other examples that could help start a conversation at interview. There are no set criteria, so choose items you can explain confidently rather than trying to include everything.

Our standard minimum entry requirement is 96 UCAS Tariff points, and applicants do not need to have studied specific subjects. If your current qualification will not provide enough points, you may be able to complete further study, such as an Access to Higher Education course, before applying. The Admissions team can advise you if you are considering a particular course or qualification to increase your UCAS Tariff points. Contact them at [email protected].

You can also use the UCAS Tariff calculator to calculate your points.