Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Admissions Process Review Cathy Gilbert Supporting Progression Conference Teesside University, 21 March 2012

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style What we have learned from APR What happened in 2011? What will 2012 admissions throw at us? New services from UCAS for school/college liaison folk Agenda

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style 50 years of centralised admissions

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Is it a fair admissions process? Does it support the best match of applicant to course? Is it efficient? Does it put the applicant at the heart of the process? Does it support the best admissions decisions? Does it support different types of applicant? Does it support different types of courses? Does it provide excellent service? Does the system need to change?

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Complexity (creates need for advice) Young have to apply too early Insurance Clearing Predicted grades Big issues from research

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Complexity creates the need for advice –Advice about the process vs what and where to study –Widening participation Big issues 1

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Course Finder

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Preparing the Professionals Summer 2011: 6 events held across the UK Over 300 professionals attended or received packs of UCAS materials Over 90% of our member universities involved Phase 2 – The ‘professionals portal’ is in final stage of development – look out for launch info soon!

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Young have to apply too early –Halfway through first term –Changed choices –Rejected offers –Visits Big issues 2

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Insurance –42% hold insurance offers with conditions that are not easier than firm choice –Reapplying as a strategy Big issues 3

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style UK applicants split by whether they are ‘first time’ or have made a previous application

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Clearing –Fair? –Applicants stuck in the system –HEIs managing numbers not applicants Big issues 4

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Big issues 5 – Predicted Grades Predictions made five to eight months before exams Fewer than 10% accurate over three A Levels Would 90% have made a different application? 28% with at least one under-prediction Over-prediction is a problem as well as under-prediction

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Our proposals 2014: implement a streamlined and improved version of current process 2016 (at the earliest): move to application with results process Consultation now closed

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Overall, the responses were clear on the need to maintain a centralised UK-wide admissions system The system must enable the UK to maintain a leading position in the global market for higher education The responses show strong endorsement for many of the enhancement proposals, for example: –myUCAS –Uploading of documentation –Improved terminology –More discipline on deadlines –A more structured Clearing process Emerging themes (1)

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Further exploration will be required on: –An offer window –Reducing the number of choices –The Insurance choice –The needs of international applicants –The needs of those applying for part-time courses Emerging themes (2)

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style There was support conceptually for applications post results, but not the model proposed Concerns centred around: –A detrimental impact on Widening Participation and less well supported applicants –Loss of teaching time –A risk of a move to more mechanistic assessment Emerging themes (3)

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style 2012 Demand?

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style UK application rates by selected age group

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Key 18 year old cohort peaked in 2009 for UK

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style UK application rates for 18 year olds by gender

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Acceptance rates for UK-domiciled 18 year olds attaining selected A level grade combinations

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Position at 20 Feb 2012 – Domicile Applicants: 604,705560, % UK: 522,810478, % EU (excl. UK): 42,33037, % Non EU: 39,56544, % % change

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Position at 20 Feb 2012 – UK applicants by age UK applicants 522,810478, % 19 & under: 362,396336, % 20 to 24: 97,16585, % 25 to 29: 25,87823, % 30 to 39: 24,80622, % 40 & over: 12,56511, % % change

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Position at 20 Feb 2012 – UK 19 & under by domicile UK 19 & under Applicants: 362,396336, % England: 305,971280, % N. Ireland: 14,19513, % Scotland: 27,03626, % Wales: 15,19414, % % change

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style UK 19 & under applicants 2012 cycle – 2012 cycle Cumulative: 20 Feb 2012 *Incomplete month for Feb 2012 cycle

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style UK 19 & under applicants 2010 cycle – 2012 cycle By month: 20 Feb 2012 *Incomplete month for Feb 2012 cycle

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style 2012 Demand? AAB+ What does Clearing look like?

Admissions Process Review 2011 Click to edit Master title style Questions Cathy Gilbert Director of Customer Strategy  +44 (0) 