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Admissions in a competitive market. Lee Hennessy, University of Bath. Issues and Challenges. Impact of 14-19 reforms: Changes to A-level assessment Extended Project Diploma qualifications Baccalaureates and Pre-U Admissions Tests Possible changes to UCAS process
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Admissions in a competitive market Lee Hennessy, University of Bath
Issues and Challenges • Impact of 14-19 reforms: • Changes to A-level assessment • Extended Project • Diploma qualifications • Baccalaureates and Pre-U • Admissions Tests • Possible changes to UCAS process • Variable tuition fees • Employability • Recession and government cuts in HE spending
Competitive Programmes at Bath • Architecture • Economics • Engineering (Mechanical) • Maths • Politics • Psychology • Sports Science
What Else? • Preference for applicants who show a strong interest in the subject demonstrated by: • relevant extra-curricular activity • evidence of study in addition to core subjects such as additional AS level or an extended project
English at Exeter AAA – AAB or equivalent (in practice all offers made at top) 1529 applications for 226 places Seeking to make 820 offers (3.6 offers for one place) 1090 (72%) at AAA or higher 270+ AAA students will be unsuccessful SO….. No preference for A* or more than 3 As GCSE’s – preference to A/A* English Lang and Lit – plus others? Enthusiasm for subject/Personal Statement/Reference Other contextual factors – eg illness or school performance? May make alternative offer – different course or campus?
Selecting on competitive courses? • How else can/should we filter for competitive subjects? • Preferred/non preferred subjects at A level? • (could discourage creativity and diversity) • Additional Level 3 qualifications? • (Extended Project, additional A level) • Controversial A* at A level • Elite qualifications e.g. Cambridge Pre-U, AQA Bacc • Diversity of other qualifications e.g.BTEC • Subjectivity of Personal Statement
The Dilemmas • Clarity of criteria • Being prescriptive versus transparency? • Parity of qualifications • e.g IB versus A levels • Gathered field • (Decisions not conveyed to October applicants until end • of January? ) • Constructive Feedback to applicants?
Recent news headlines • University budgets slashed by £449 mill in 2010/11 - 1.6% reduction (£215 mill) in teaching funding - 16.9% cut in capital funding • UCAS publishes application stats next week - reports of increases in applications • Deficit of some 6000 places in Summer 2010? (Universities UK predict 1.5 applicants per place – compared to 1.3 in 2009) • Further threats of fines for over-recruitment
What does this mean? Certainly: • Diversity of intake = less reliance on Gov’t funding • Universities are constrained by threats of financial penalty Maybe: • Growth of international and postgraduate markets? • Fewer places available for Home/EU applicants to undergraduate courses? • Fewer places available in the arts/humanities? • Rising entry requirements/standards particularly for competitive courses