Admissions

Student marketing spend trebled as Salford shut low-demand courses

On average each Russell Group university admits just 64 of the poorest young people per year, as measured by those receiving free school meals

Ucas could help ensure that all students are assessed on the same information, says Miles Hewstone

Universities struggle to cover costs of dropouts as government support is cut

The number of English students who had applied for university by mid-December is lower than in the last four years.

Oxbridge pair predict more use of assessments of potential in admissions

A number of universities have decided to use their own funds to replace state scholarship money that was axed last year

Fewer sixth-form students want to attend a university near their home despite tuition fees rising to £9,000 a year, a new survey says.

Targets for financial support don’t know terminology, research finds

Participation widens, but questions may be asked over falling entry requirements

Engineering body fears impact of post-16 maths and English workload

Generous funding and quality tuition make US universities an attractive choice, says Alan Ryan

Two Welsh universities have set up a centre designed to tackle educational inequality in the country.

Discrepancies not fully explained by attainment levels, report finds

Traditional ‘royal route’ to a degree holds sway over credit transfers

UKCAT study chimes with Hefce research on contextual admissions

Initiatives must reach out to wider audience with success stories and ‘risk-taking’, according to Graeme Atherton

At least a quarter of the “access gap” for “top” universities in three countries cannot be explained by academic achievement, a new report says

Preliminary findings of major study revealed

2013-14 figures assuage fears of course closures

The accuracy of predicted A-level grades may be much worse than feared, research suggests.

Applications for early-deadline university courses have generally risen compared with last year, though Northern Ireland has seen a 10 per cent drop.

Internal papers show 3 per cent decline in firm acceptances for University of Central Lancashire

Institutions struggle as the pool of potential students shrinks

KwaZulu-Natal leader unveils controversial ‘equity index’ measuring universities’ performance on ethnicity and gender equity

Hefce figures show disparities between young people from the capital going to university compared with those from English regions

State school pupils do better at university than those from private schools with the same grades, according to a new report which recommends the increased use of contextual data in admissions.

University hails no-strings pilot’s success

Plans to overhaul A-levels will have “tragic consequences” on fair access efforts, the University of Oxford’s admissions head has said.

Move would level playing field for state school applicants

A youth mentor has defended Oxbridge against charges of racial bias in admissions, earning a standing ovation at the Conservative Party conference.

By Michael Stratford, for Inside Higher Ed

New universities may gain most from policy change, argues GuildHE head

End of racial affirmative action may not be bad news for minorities, study shows

Reform must go all the way, argues Bill Rammell

A cross-party group of MPs has launched an inquiry that will look at the black and minority ethnic community’s interaction with higher education.

University rethinks stance after claim that the demand discriminated against poor students

Independent Commission on Fees sounds warning over applicant numbers

Winners emerge in tug-of-war for ABB students

The Russell Group will only need to revamp two A-level subject areas after a review said just minor changes were needed to most qualifications.

Fewer 18-year-olds and rise in BTECs could leave highly selective universities vulnerable, says Ucas chief

Quintin McKellar discusses clearing, post-qualifications applications and tuition fees

Universities are seeking alternatives to race-conscious admissions policy

The Russell Group has warned that private school pupils are more likely than state school counterparts to choose science and languages subjects at GCSE, which could give them an advantage in university entry.

High fees prove no object to demand, but student standards may invite scrutiny

Undergraduates ‘reproduce social inequality’, paper argues

The upturn in students accepted into university this year could disguise big falls at some institutions, a vice-chancellor has warned.

The number of students accepted on to university courses is up 9 per cent despite a fall in the number of top grades awarded at A level.

Oxford and Cambridge agreement could amount to breach of competition law, say experts

But data show that grades in each subject may be rather more equal

Will Michael Gove’s reform plans endanger the traditional values he seeks to promote? Jack Grove investigates

Students who apply to university after receiving their A-level results are almost twice as likely to be dissatisfied with their course, a survey says.

British universities may benefit from local clubs’ international exposure

Observers predict admissions turmoil as Russell Group members join clearing

The pass rate for Scottish Highers has risen again, while more Scottish students have also won places at universities or colleges in the country.

Three universities have joined a national scheme to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain places at highly selective universities. 

Revamped IT systems are ready for admissions deluge, states Mary Curnock Cook

Jon Marcus asks whether British universities would be wise to emulate the US elite

A greater proportion of Asian and black state-school pupils are entering higher education than their white peers, according to data released today

The proportion of 18 year olds applying for non-European language degrees has fallen by more than a third in three years, according to new research