UCAS Presentation

Peter MulliganProfessional Development

Session Outline

Application process

UCAS tariff

Admissions tests

League tables

UCAS updates

Questions

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF UCAS

MAY 2010

199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010

When did UCAS come into existence?

UCCA PCASMAY 2010

UCAS IS MORE THAN JUST UCAS

UCAS = Universities & Colleges Admissions Service

600,000 applicants 300 institutions50,000 courses

GTTR = Graduate Teacher Training Registry

50,000 applicants 137 institutions

CUKAS = Conservatoires UK Admissions Service

3,500 applicants 7 conservatoires

UKPASS = UK Postgraduate Application

& Statistical Service

8,500 applicants 19 institutions

All these admissions services are run from

UCAS HQ in Cheltenham

Our one and only office!

MAY 2010

?

99,999

452,981

c. 30,000,000

12,345,678

!

MAY 2010

In that time we’ve placed > 5 MILLION

actual people on to HE courses

That’s more than the whole population of Norway!

MAY 2010

Each year we speak to > 250,000 prospective

students at > 50 regional HE events

MAY 2010

Equivalent to 7 full Wembley Stadia

2009 was a record breaking year for UCAS

639,860 Applicants

MAY 2010

2009 was a record breaking year for UCAS

481,854 Applicants accepted onto a course

Roughly equivalent to the whole city of Edinburgh

MAY 2010

45.3%54.7% MaleFemale

76.1%23.9% 20 & under

21 & over

2009 was a record breaking year for UCAS

481,854 Applicants accepted onto a course

MAY 2010

MAY 2010

2009 was a record breaking year for UCAS

What was the most popular degree subject by accepted applicants?

QUESTION

LAW

1. Law2. Design studies3. Psychology4. Computer science5. Business studies

6. Management studies7. English studies8. Business / admin9. Sports studies10. Social studies

6. Management studies7. English studies8. Business / admin9. Sports studies10. Social studies

1. Law2. Design studies3. Psychology4. Computer science5. Business studies

MAY 2010

2009 was a record breaking year for UCAS

… and the top ten?

Green = % rising Red = % falling

WHAT WILL 2010 LOOK LIKE . . .

MAY 2010

2010 cycle figures

▪ Total applicants 570,556 22.9% ▫ 20 and under 447,342 16.5% ▫ 21 and over 123,214 53.7%

▪ UK domiciled 499,451 22.1% ▫ 20 and under 390,826 15.3% ▫ 21 and over 108,625 55.6%

As of 31 May 2010 there were 640,760 applicants, a rise of 77,758 or 13.8% over 2009

2010 cycle figures

Nursing

Design studies

Pre-clinical Medicine

Training Teachers

Sports Science

0 40000 80000 120000 160000

Degree Foundation Other

Source: UCAS Statistics Unit

▪ Top 10 subjects – UK domiciled

The UCAS journey

12345678910

▪ Potential applicant researches and finds a course▪ Registers online with UCAS Apply▪ Completes form and processes payment▪ Academic reference added by school / college▪ School / college sends form electronically to UCAS▪ UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen HEIs▪ HEIs submit decisions (offer or unsuccessful)▪ Applicant views decisions on Track▪ Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm / Insurance)▪ HEIs confirm places when results are released

Key features of admissions scheme

Maximum of 5 choices

Some choice restrictions: Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices Oxford or Cambridge

Simultaneous consideration

‘Invisibility’

Key dates

Mid June

Early September

15 October

15 January

24 March

30 June

Release of Apply software

First day for receipt of applications

Medicine, Veterinary and DentistryOxford or Cambridge

‘On time’ applications

Various Art & Design Courses

Applications after this date held for Clearing

Factors for successful applications

Research

Application

Consideration

Research

Paper

On-line

Experiential

Course Search Post-it

University of Abertay Dundee

Southampton

Solent University

Edinburgh

College of Art

University of the

West of ScotlandLiverpool Hope

University

University of Exeter

University of Brighton

Duchy College

University of

Nottingham

Post-it is…or Post-it isn’t

Motorsport

Design

Engineering

Football Studies& Music

Viticulture& Oenology

Bovine Management

Ethical Hacking & Countermeasures

Yacht & Powercraft

DesignViking StudiesPerfumery

GlassQuantum Science

& LasersTournament Golf

Ballistic Engineering

Possible Chemistry HE courses

Medicinal Chemistry Chemical Physics Environmental Chemistry Chemical Engineering Biochemistry Chemistry with Patent Law Chemistry with Nanotechnology Chemistry with Oceanography Chemistry for Forensic Science Chemistry for Drug Discovery

Edit, edit, edit!

Similarity Detection Service

Personal statements are checked against a library of those already in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications

Each new statement is added to the library after processing

Common errors in APPLY

Missed Qualifications (GCSE’s)

Non-existent criminal convictions

Poor choice of email address

Choices too broad

Weak personal statement

Ref / PS mentions one institution by name

Weak vocational references

UCAS Tariff

The Tariff came into practice for 2002 entry and originally encompassed the following qualifications:

Curriculum 2000Scottish Qualifications

It enables you to make offers and specify entry requirements under a single numerical score

To be within the UCAS tariff a qualification would normally have been accredited at the English NQF level 3

Tariff statistics

Use of Tariff for 2010entry requirements:

81% of institutions using the Tariff

65% of courses using the Tariff

GCE A Levels

Grade Tariff Points

A* 140

A 120

B 100

C 80

D 60

E 40

Diplomas in the UCAS Tariff

Progression Diploma (Principal and Generic Learning) Maximum 350 points

Additional & Specialist Learning (ASL) Maximum 140 points

Advanced Diploma = Progression Diploma plus ASL Maximum 490 points

Progression Diploma

Grade Tariff Points

A* 350

A 300

B 250

C 200

D 150

E 100

Diplomas in the UCAS Tariff

Principal & Generic Learning combined grade (Progression Diploma)

Additional &

Specialist Learning

UCAS Tariff Points

E D C B A A*

100 150 200 250 300 350

E 40 140 190 240 290 340 390

D 60 160 210 260 310 360 410

C 80 180 230 280 330 380 430

B 100 200 250 300 350 400 450

A 120 220 270 320 370 420 470

A* 140 240 290 340 390 440 490

▪ 1,265 level 3 qualifications on ASL catalogue▪ 49% of these attract UCAS Tariff points

Tariff points

Principal Learning

Grade Tariff Points

A* 210

A 180

B 150

C 120

D 90

E 60

Extended Project

Grade Tariff Points

A* 70A 60B 50C 40D 30E 20

Functional Skills

Grade Tariff Points

Level 2 10

Example 1

A student has failed their Advanced Diploma due to the failure to achieve a maths functional skill

However they have achieved: A grade B in Principal Learning = 150 tariff points A grade C in their Extended Project = 40 tariff points Functional Skills in English and IT = 20 tariff points An A level in Maths at grade C = 80 tariff points

In total this student has achieved 290 UCAS tariff points

Example 2

A student had not received and Advanced Diploma because they did not pass the extended project and some functional skills

However they have achieved: A grade C in Principal Learning = 120 tariff points A functional skill in English = 10 tariff points An A level in Spanish at grade B = 100 tariff points

In total this student has achieved 240 UCAS tariff points

Vocational Routes to HE

BTEC

OCR

NVQ

Question1: BMAT

A farmer has an underground water tank which he decided to calibrate by adding known volumes of water and measuring the depth using a dip-stick. His calibration graph is shown below. The horizontal cross section of the tank is circular at all points.

Question 4: LNAT Essay question

What tests are available

▪ BMAT▪ ELAT▪ GAMSAT▪ HAT▪ HPAT▪ LNAT▪ MML▪ STEP▪ TSA Cambridge▪ TSA Oxford▪ TSA UCL▪ UKCAT

BioMedical Admissions TestEnglish Literature Admissions TestGraduate Medical School Admissions TestHistory Aptitude TestHealth Professions Admissions TestThe National Admissions Test for LawModern and Medieval Languages TestSixth Term Examination PapersThinking Skills AssessmentThinking Skills AssessmentThinking Skills AssessmentUK Clinical Aptitude Test

Admissions tests

▪ 14% of HEIs in UCAS scheme using one or more tests

▪ 84 separate tests now in use

▪ 2 ‘generic’ tests being piloted / researched

▫ SAT and UniTEST

▪ Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) initial

report on admissions tests available at www.spa.ac.uk

Where to find information

▪ UCAS Apply

▪ UCAS website

▫ Informational links

▫ Course Search / Entry Profiles

▫ UCAS Publications

▫ Big Guide

Big Guide

December 2009 a survey was conducted into UKCAT 4620 responders 19.5% of all those who sat it

45% think UKCAT tests the right attributes 54% think it tests innate ability 83% travelled less then 20 miles to a test centre

6.4% found out about the test from careers advisers 18% thought their school very informed about UKCAT 10% didn’t take the online prep test

UKCAT survey

League tables

Sports facilities

Distance from home

Friends applications

Campus

City v rural location

Nightlife

Updates

Process brought in line with Route A: Simultaneous 5 choices Invisible

For Art & Design courses formerly recruited through Route B, HEIs had the opportunity to select a deadline date of either:

15 January 24 March

Application deadlines will display on UCAS Course Search for each course

Art & Design 2010

Invitation requests (1)

HEIs have the facility to send an invitation transaction requesting applicants to:

Attend an interview Provide a portfolio Provide other evidence

It will be possible for a college/university to provide optional additional text.

A date will be specified (they will be the option to specify a time also)

This transaction will be displayed on the applicant’s Track screen

Invitation requests (2)

The applicant will be able to view & respond to invitation via Track:

Accept the invitation Decline the invitation Request a new date/time

Communication around changes of date/time will take place outside of UCAS

The college/university will be able to view the response from the applicant on the link-products

Course closures

Adjustment process 2010

▪ For the 2010 entry cycle, Adjustment will be available from 19 August (A level results day) to 31 August

▪ During this period applicants have five calendar days (5 x 24 hours) to register and secure an alternative course

▪ An applicant's individual Adjustment period will start when▫ CF UF▫ 19 August(whichever is the later)

Adjustment stats 2009

▪ Over 40% of applicants had the opportunity to use Adjustment ▪ 3,600 Applicants registered

▪ Numbers placed

▫ 2,355 reconfirmed with their original choice

▫ 444 were placed in another choice (Main/Extra/Clearing)

▫ 382 were placed in their Adjustment choice

Increase of application fee to £21 and £11

Removal of application number

Enhancement of the criminal convictions question

Nominated access details to be available to institutions

Collection of passport details

Compulsory question on highest level of qualification

The ability to carry conditional offers through to the next

cycle for courses that start mid-cycle

Increase of application fee to £21 and £11

Removal of application number

Enhancement of the criminal convictions question

Nominated access details to be available to institutions

Collection of passport details

Compulsory question on highest level of qualification

The ability to carry conditional offers through to the next

cycle for courses that start mid-cycle

Apply 2011

Competitiveness

▪ Differentiation

▪ Entry Requirements

▪ Application numbers

QU + E + S + T = Degree offerQU + E + S + T = Degree offerQU + E + S + T = Degree offerQU + E + S + T = Degree offerQU + E + S + T = Degree offer

Successful Equations

Qualifications Experience Skills Testimony

QU = Degree offer

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.1

2.2

Previous projection (2007 report)Latest projection (2008 report)

Pop

ulat

ion

aged

18-

20 (m

illio

ns)

Future demand for higher education

Source: HEPI ‘Demand for Higher Education to 2029’ (11/12/2008)

2009 cycle statistics

Source: UCAS Statistics Unit

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009350,000

400,000

450,000

500,000

550,000

600,000

650,000

700,000

78.56%77.68% 77.63%

77.20% 77.35% 77.57%

75.31%

UCAS applicants and accepts

Applicants Accepts Acceptance rate

Competitiveness

18 – 20 Demographics

2009Applicants

MatureStudents

Adviser Guide Changes for 2010 entry Application flowchart Big Map

A dedicated priority telephone line for schools, colleges and careers offices

Your call will bypass our queuing system and you will be put straight through to one of our Customer Service Advisers

Please do not distribute to applicants or parents

0845 123 8001

The UCAS Schools’ Team

Questions

Peter MulliganProfessional Development

p.mulligan@ucas.ac.uk