ucas update & developments. setting the scene ▪ central organisation through which...

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