Admissions Trends and Behaviours Ian Blenkharn, Head of Admissions and Registry Services

Topics for discussion  2013 cycle so far  Reflections on 2012  To ABB or not to ABB  2014 cycle  Fees and Funding  Fair access  Contextual data  Summary

2013 cycle so far…  Total UCAS applications up 3.5% (15 Jan)  Trend for later applications up to 15 January deadline – more research?  International applications are up, as are mature student applications – although mature student applications were down considerably in Source: UCAS

The Exeter picture  Huge increase in applications – Home/EU undergraduate applications currently up 29% (37% if you include applications to our new Medical School).  Increases across almost every subject area and across all campuses – in Exeter and in Cornwall.  Quality of applications also appears to be up. The increase in the number of AAA+/IB36+ students is ahead of our increase in applications.

Reflections on 2012  A ‘perfect storm’ for universities  Fall in application rates, fewer deferrals from 2011, tougher marking in A Levels  First year of new AAB+ controls – see later slides  Some advantages for students – more choice/capacity at Confirmation, Clearing and Adjustment. We saw much more movement of students in this period.

To ABB or not to ABB….  New student number controls introduced in  HEIs now able to recruit as many ‘high quality’ students as they like.  Definition of ‘high quality’ is ABB+ or equivalent – but there are plenty of exceptions. This has been relaxed from AAB+ in  Because of under-recruitment across the sector in 2012, HEFCE have been able to be more generous with their SNC allocations – good for fairness and transparency!

2014 cycle  Still going to be a lot of unknowns about 2014 entry.  Impact of UCAS reforms to application process?  Fee/funding levels won’t be agreed until close to the start of the recruitment cycle.  Could be further changes to student number control system – relaxation to BBB+?  Will there continue to be demand for places….?

Fees and Funding  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 inflationary increase?)  Grant support available – income threshold of £42k  National Scholarships programme  Institutional scholarships/bursaries

Fair Access  Confusion between ‘Fair Access’ and ‘Widening Participation’  Milburn’s Social Mobility Report – 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

Exeter’s use of contextual data  Very much focused on educational factors: See  Evidence-based approach, reviewed annually  Part of our holistic assessment of an applicant’s potential to succeed

Questions…?