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UCAS update & developments
UCAS update & developments
Setting the scene
▪ Central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time higher education (HE) courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
▪ We operate on behalf of all full-time courses at member institutions
▪ Number of institutions▪ Number of courses
37037,000+
The competition for university places
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
68.0%
69.0%
70.0%
71.0%
72.0%
73.0%
74.0%
75.0%
76.0%
77.0%
78.0%
Acceptances Unplaced Acceptance rate
Acceptances495,5966.6%
Applicants677,3733.6%
Admissions dynamic
• Applicants chasing places2011 • Places chasing
applicants2012• Continued
gains for applicants
2013
The 2013 cycle in review
▪ Increased number of applicants with offers▫ Offers made increase by 9% to 1.7m (highest recorded total)▫ Nearly 1/3 of applicants received 5 offers
▪ Broader levels of activity on results day▫ New highs for acceptances to Firm choice▫ 350 universities and colleges with courses in Clearing▫ 34,000 courses in Clearing▫ Russell Group institutions openly advertising in Clearing
Admissions in context
UCAS End of Cycle report 2013
▪ Applicants, acceptances and the shape of the cycle▪ Application rates▪ New applicants and reappliers ▪ Acceptance rates▪ Outcomes for young people holding offers▪ Deferred applicants and acceptances by entry year
The 2013 cycle in review
Source: UCAS End of Cycle report 2013
050,000
100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000400,000450,000500,000
Adjustment
Clearing (direct)
Clearing (main scheme)
RPA
Extra
Main scheme
410,3837.3%
7,8150.6%
19,0819,2%
42,2842.6%
14,81420.5%
1,2198.3%
Student Number Controls
▪ Government (HEFCE) continues to change university number control arrangements
▪ Students with ABB+, at A level or equivalent, exempt from number controls ▫ Institutions can choose to recruit as many ABB+ students as they
want – but still have to compete with each other
News for 2014▪ Students holding certain combinations of qualifications equivalent to
ABB+ at A level will be exempt from the control▪ Cap to be lifted in 2015
How does this affect students?
▪ More / earlier offers for ABB+ predicted applicants?▫ ABB+ does not equal entitlement / guarantee a place
▪ More ‘quality’ places in Clearing?▪ Issues around the ABB boundary▫ Entry requirements▫ Grade predictions▫ Offer making▫ Confirmation
▪ Requirement to understand the Adjustment process
Adjustment
UF
day 1
day 2
day 3
day 4
day 5
CF UFCF
day 1
day 2
day 3
day 4
August 2014
Th14
F15
Sa16
Su17
M18
Tu19
W20
Th21
F22
Sa23
Su24
M25
Tu26
W27
Th28
F29
Sa 30
Su 31
Eligible applicants must have:▪ Had their firm choice offer confirmed (CF UF)
and▪ Academic results that meet and exceed the requirements of
this original conditional offer
UCAS Extra
▪ Operates from end of February through to early July▪ Additional single choices, considered one at a time▫ 21 calendar days referral
▪ Applicants are eligible for Extra when:▫ Already made 5 choices▫ Received decisions from all these choices▫ Either hold no offers or declined all offers received
▪ Vacancies appear on our website
UCAS developments – recent, ongoing, future
Continuingto develop
In progress
Beingconsidered PS
ucas.com
Cloud technology
DDC Clearing Adviser Track
Apply 2015Adviser toolkits
New tariff system
TrackUCAS
trainingSearch
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
A level reform in England
Key considerations for the UCAS cycle
▪ Dummy application for staff▪ Ex-students Apply group▪ Valid and validated email address▪ Qualifications shortlist▪ Strategic choices / Tactical replies▪ ‘ABL’ matched qualifications▪ Plan B at Confirmation▪ Nominated access
At the heart of connecting people to higher education
Adviser guides and resources
▪ Adviser newsletters▪ Applicant letters and guides▪ UCAS Extra toolkit▪ Confirmation & Clearing toolkit▪ International toolkit▪ Pre-application toolkit
Contact Centre @ UCAS 0871 468 0 468
