UCAS update and developments

Matthew WelbournProfessional Development Manager

The recent admissions dynamic

Applicants chasing available places

<2011

HEPs pursuing suitable applicants

2012Continued gains for applicants

2013>

▪ Relaxation and subsequent removal of HEFCE numbers cap▪ Evolution of the HE market place▪ Unconditional and incentivised offer making▪ Record breaking admissions figures▪ EU universities engagement with UCAS

Themes

The 2014 admission cycle in review

The international perspective

Digesting the statistics

UCAS End of Cycle report

▪ Applications and acceptances▪ Shape of the cycle▪ Application / acceptance rates

▫ Subject groupings▫ HEP groupings▫ Qualifications held▫ Country / domicile▫ Background▫ Gender

▪ Data tables and figures

Qualification reform

▪ Qualifications in the UK are currently undergoing significant reform▪ The flexibility offered by the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland and the

decoupling of the AS from the A level in England means that secondary schools and colleges are likely to offer increasingly diverse programmes

▪ In the next few years it's likely that significant numbers of students will be applying to HE with new qualifications and new combinations of qualifications

▪ We have produced a range of support materials to provide you with information on qualification reform across the UK

▪ We'll be updating these throughout the year, and providing toolkits and FAQs

▫ // ucas.com › Advisers › Guides and resources › Qualification reform

▪ HEPs are already reviewing their entry requirements and offer-making approaches to ensure applicants are not disadvantaged

“We strongly encourage potential applicants to take AS level examinations in at least three, and preferably four, subjects, whether reformed or not, at the end of Year 12” (Cambridge)

“We will not discriminate against schools or students who have not taken or certified stand-alone AS levels. If a school chooses to enter its students for AS levels then this should be stated on the UCAS form and in the reference” (Aston)

“Where possible we would also ask referees to provide a picture of the applicant’s progress through both GCSE and A level study, to give us an added context to A level predictions” (UCL)

“Neither advantage, nor disadvantage will be given to students who present AS qualifications at the time of application and therefore this should be a matter for the individual school” (King’s)

Qualification reform

Development in IAG…CONNECT with UCAS online

▪ Blogs▪ Case studies▪ Videos▪ Web chats

▪ UCAS has developed three very accessible 90 second videos on hot topics for parents:▫ The UCAS process▫ Open Days▫ Student finance

UCAS Progress

▪ Search and Apply function for Year 10 and 11 students

▪ Current national roll-out project underway

▪ With all young people under 18 in England now required to stay in education or work-based learning, UCAS Progress offers an important source of IAG

Developments in the UCAS Tariff

▪ New Tariff to be introduced for the 2017 admissions cycle▫ The new Tariff points were published in summer 2014

▪ This timeline will ensure that prospective applicants to HE will have access to the new Tariff information in 2014, at least a year in advance of commencing a two year programme of level 3 study

▪ This also gives HEPs and other organisations 18 months to prepare for the transition and to make any changes necessary to internal systems, processes and information

New Tariff resources

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/advisers-and-referees/tariff-2017

▪ Background information on the new Tariff▪ Factsheets and videos for schools and advisers, parents, and students▪ Key changes▪ New Tariff toolkit for teachers and advisers▪ New Tariff tables▪ New Tariff qualifications list▪ New Tariff calculator▪ FAQs

Services on A level results day (timings tbc)

From 6 July

06:00 07:30 08:00 17:00 20:00

Clearing vacancies displayed on UCAS search tool

Social Media support starts

Adviser Track goes liveContact Centre opens

‘Restricted’ Track goes live

‘Full’ Track releasedClearing additions available

Contact Centre and Social Media hub close

UCAS widget

▪ The UCAS widget has been designed to be hosted on any website or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

▪ Link your students and their parents to important information about UK HE and the UCAS application process

▪ The widget takes the user through to an easy to use menu of information and advice to help applicants and their parents

▪ The content will be reviewed regularly by UCAS so it remains up-to-date and relevant

Launching in 2015/16

▪ Identity – a dashboard that will enable advisers and parents to personalise and improve their experience on ucas.com

▪ Digital Learning Platform – launching in September, all advisers worldwide will be able to access online learning modules on the UCAS process and systems

Questions?

Matthew WelbournProfessional Development Manager

01242 544 958 m.welbourn@ucas.ac.uk

uk.linkedin.com/in/mwelbourn

// www.ucas.com/training