admissions trends and behaviours
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Admissions Trends and Behaviours. Andrea Johnson Head of UK Recruitment & Admissions Plymouth University Ian Blenkharn Head of Recruitment & Admissions University of Exeter. Contents. 2012 cycle so far Deferrals – who’s in and who’s not… To AAB or not to AAB 2013 cycle Horizon scanning - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Admissions Trends and BehavioursAndrea JohnsonHead of UK Recruitment & Admissions Plymouth University
Ian BlenkharnHead of Recruitment & AdmissionsUniversity of Exeter
Contents 2012 cycle so far Deferrals – who’s in and who’s not… To AAB or not to AAB 2013 cycle Horizon scanning Fair access Contextual data Summary
2012…to date UCAS applications down 7.4% (15 Jan) Little change on 15 October deadline Trend for later applications – more research? Seems to be a shift towards subjects with a more
‘vocational’ focus
Source: UCAS
Plymouth Picture UCAS applications in line with the UCAS national picture,
and significantly up on 2010. Much later application behaviour Subject growth vocational and societal
Exeter Picture UCAS applications exactly in line with 2011 – although
slightly higher quality Growth areas mainly in Science/Engineering/Law
Deferral behaviour UCAS applications don’t give the whole picture Fewer deferrals for 2012 entry from 2011 as a result
of higher fees Deferral rates from 2012 to 2013 back to ‘normal’ –
therefore a bigger net reduction in applications per place in 2012
Unclear as to how all of this will affect pressure for places at Clearing/Confirmation/Adjustment
To AAB or not to AAB... New ‘Core and Margin’ model fundamentally changes
the admissions process for HEIs HEFCE/Government have not used a comprehensive
equivalency model for AAB+ HEIs need to ensure fairness, transparency and
consistency
Horizon scanning 2013 cycle UCAS Admissions Process Review Proposals for 2014 and 2016
2013 cycle Advice & guidance difficulties – although less than for
2012 Fee rates / student support packages won’t be confirmed
until July(?) Will ‘core and margin’ threshold be lowered to ABB for
2013 entry?
Admissions Review
Admissions Review UCAS Admissions Process Review GTTR Review UCAS Tariff
UCAS APR Consultation closed on 27 January Two models
Modifications for 2014 PQA for 2016 (or later)
Reduce pressure point of clearing Re-establish ‘fairness’
Admissions UCAS Review 2014 ‘Modifications’
UCAS Process improvements Same number of choices Clearer deadlines and timeframes Future of insurance choice Compulsory gathered field Offer release date Managed ‘Clearing’ commencing after A level results New terminology and labelling
Admissions UCAS Review 2016 Model
Full PQA; apply with known results Two choices Earliest possible 2016/2018 Subject of much debate
UCAS Tariff Expected to have reached end of its life by 2014 entry Return to grades Clarity of entry requirements/grade requirements
Fees and Funding
Simple messages No fees paid upfront, costs covered by a loan Loans repaid at £21k earnings threshold Real rate of interest – RPI plus up to 3% Fees charged up to £9k (plus a bit for 2013) Grant support available – income threshold of £42k National Scholarships programme Institutional scholarships/bursaries
Fair Access - Exeter Confusion between ‘Fair Access’ and ‘Widening
Participation’ Milburn’s ‘Fair Access to the Professions’ – particular
focus on research intensive / selective institutions Fair Access primarily focused on admissions and
assessing potential (Hoare, 2010)
Contextual data What is it!?
Additional information to aid and support the decision making process and improve inclusivity
Evidence based judgement Applicants may not be treated in exactly the same
way as different factors maybe be considered, all applicants are individuals with different backgrounds.
Educational factors School/college progression rates School performance at GCSE Progression from year 11 to FE Average QCA points per qualification
Personal factors Disability Ethnicity Age/experience (eg Mature Students)
Socio-economic factors• In receipt of free school meals• Living in a low progression neighbourhood• Socio-economic class IIM-VII• In care for longer than three months
Plymouth’s use of contextual data Not actively collecting or using at present Confidence in our admissions policy that we are inclusive
in our approach and constitution
Exeter’s use of contextual data Very much focused on educational factors: See
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/applications/policy/
Evidence-based approach, reviewed annually Part of our holistic assessment of an applicant’s potential
to succeed
Summary Turbulent times continue Unknown impact of reforms on
Clearing/Confirmation/Adjustment for 2012 entry and beyond
Questions?
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