Admissions to Higher Education – current challenges and future direction

1. Admissions to Higher Education – current challenges and future direction Helen Thorne Director, Policy & Research UCAS 15 March 2012

2. Summary • 2012 admissions cycle • 2012 Confirmation & Clearing • UCAS Admissions Process Review: • why reform is needed • the review • findings, recommendations & implementation • UCAS Qualifications Information Review

3. Applicants 2011 & 2012 cumulative: 23 April 2012

4. 23 April 2012 – Applicants by domicile % change 2012 % Diff 2011 • Applicants: 635,893 586,773-7.7% • UK: 542,842 494,235-9.0% • EU (excl. UK): 44,845 39,286 -12.4% • Non EU: 48,206 53,25210.5%

5. 23 April 2012 – UK domiciled by country % change 2012 % Diff 2011 • UK Applicants: 542,842 494,235-9.0% • England: 457,798 411,642 -10.1% • N. Ireland: 19,742 18,870 -4.4% • Scotland: 42,263 41,331 -2.2% • Wales: 23,039 22,392 -2.8%

6. 23 April 2012 – Regional changes in the North % change 2011 2012 % Diff • Domicile • England: 457,798 411,642 -10.1% • North East: 20,555 18,105 -11.9% • North West: 62,996 57,059 -9.4% • Yorks & • The Humber: 41,871 38,218 -8.7%

7. 23 April 2012 – cross border flows

8. 23 April 2012 - UK applicants by age 2011 2012 % change Applicants 635,893 586,773 -7.7% 19 & under: 425,452 400,242 -5.9% 20 to 24: 133,695 118,521 -11.3% 25 to 29: 32,552 28,610 -12.1% 30 to 39: 29,361 26,220 -10.7% 40 & over: 14,833 13,180 -11.1%

9. Position at 23 April 2012 – UK aged 18 by domicile % change 2012 % Diff 2011 • UK 18 year old • applicants: 238,533 229,790 -3.7% • England: 204,104 195,619 -4.2% N. Ireland: 8,779 8,629 -1.7% Scotland: 15,144 15,182 0.3% Wales: 10,506 10,360 -1.4%

10. Application rates for 18 year olds by country: Jan deadline

11. Application rates for 18 year olds in most disadvantaged areas: Jan deadline

12. Application rates for 18 year olds in most advantaged areas: Jan deadline

13. 2012 - Confirmation and Clearing – key dates • 30 June last date for applications with choice • 5 July IB results • 10 July BTEC results start to be processed • 30 July Track frozen for applicants • 7 August SQA (Scottish) results • 16 August A Level results

14. 2012 - Confirmation and Clearing • Improvements for applicants: • pro-active communications: expecting to send emails to successful and Clearing applicants on results days • more information in Course Vacancy Search • Track, new cloud service with external partner • Improvements for advisers: • Improved availability of Advisor Track & more communications

15. 2012 – Confirmation & Clearing • Challenges for HEIs: • Widening participation (access targets) • New student number control targets to avoid over or under recruiting • Challenges for teachers & advisers: • Adjustment? • Clearing or re-application? • Individual advice needed to deal with more complex circumstances

16. Admissions Process Review - rationale for admissions reform • Putting students at the heart of the system • Incremental change = complexity • Diverse applicants, new providers, new modes of delivery • Multiple changes in policy, funding & student support • Opportunities to use new technology • Efficiency drivers

17. Issues from APR research • Complexity (creates need for advice) • Some young applicants apply too early • Insurance choice • Clearing • Inefficiency • Predicted grades

18. UCAS Admissions Process Review consultation • The consultation proposed changes to full time undergraduate admissions in order to: • Implement a more streamlined and improved version of current process from 2014 year of entry • Move to application with results process? – 2016 year of entry at the earliest

19. We held: Seven events across the UK attended by 500 delegates A widening participation event with 50 experts Four in-depth focus groups with undergraduate students 12 in-depth interviews with schools and FE colleges APR consultation events Map of consultation events and number of attendees Glasgow 56 Edinburgh 66 Belfast 66 Birmingham 71 Keele 59 Cardiff 37 London 149 Discussing the consultation proposals with universities, schools and colleges was seen as hugely positive

20. APR consultation responses Responses by source • 454 responses were received across a broad cross section of the sector • 11,164 survey responses were received from current year applicants about the APR proposals • Institutions have discussed the issues thoroughly and at the highest level before responding. • Source: UCAS Response Analysis The responses were detailed and showed real insight

21. Support conceptually for applications post results but concerns 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 UCAS will not be pursuing PQA Findings & recommendations(1)

22. Maintain centralised UK-wide admissions system Strong endorsement for many of the proposals implementation of: myUCAS web portal Better online application, mandatory fields & help Uploading of documentation Improved terminology More verified qualifications information More information exchange e.g. With SLC Improved advice on Insurance choices Optional results matching service for HEIs Findings & recommendations(2)

23. Findings & recommendations(3) • Further work with the education and HE sectors on: • Consistent adherence to deadlines • A defined offer window • Increasing the flexibility of “Extra” • Introducing a short gap between Confirmation and Clearing • Replacing Clearing with a managed final application window • Addressing the needs of international applicants & those applying for part-time courses

24. Qualifications Information Review - rationale • To understand and articulate what needs learners, institutions and others have for information about qualifications to enable fair, transparent and efficient admissions to higher education • Review how effective the UCAS Tariff and other approaches are in meeting these needs • To work with a range of stakeholders to develop and consult on improvements and alternative approaches

25. Qualifications Information Review - consultation • Consultation on a set of recommendations to provide: • Improved information to HEIs about qualifications to support admissions • A standardised means of reviewing and comparing qualifications for HEIs and policy makers • Improved information for learners and advisers about the value of qualifications for progression to HE – to move away from a “points means places” approach

26. Qualifications Information Review – emerging findings • Consultation closed on 16th April – proposals to UCAS Board in June • Support for qualifications information profiles • Support for better information for applicants and advisers • Mixed views about the UCAS Tariff • Concerns about methodology for measures of qualification demand and size • Concerns about consistency of standards in qualification families • UCAS is working with Ofqual and others to shape the recommendations

27. Questions Helen Thorne Director, Policy & Research h.thorne@ucas.ac.uk