1. The University of Sheffield: Admissions & Access
Heather Macleod Jones : Senior Admissions Officer (Access)

2. What we’ll cover… Qualification Updates General Admissions Updates
Sheffield Admissions
Access Sheffield
Access+
Disrupted Studies
SHU Progress
How you can help!
Q&A

4. Qualifications Reform
GCSE/AS & A Level Reform now at an end – all new qualifications are in place & unreformed qualification in their final exam phase
Roll out of T Levels – new technical qualification route – each equivalent to three A Levels
Design, Surveying & Planning
Education
Digital production, Design & Development
DfE consultation & review of all remaining qualifications at Level 3 in England (BTEC etc)

5. Expected to be graded Pass, Merit, Distinction (Distinction
Expected to be graded Pass, Merit, Distinction (Distinction*?) for the technical qualification element
Expected to be assigned UCAS tariff points
More engagement with awarding bodies and providers needed

6. Admissions in General Relatively stable
Universities are still feeling the impact of the demographic dip – it’s a buyers market & competition for students is rife
Increase in ‘direct to clearing’ applications – “one & gone”

7. Admissions in General
UCAS delayed the role out of their new UG application system
Now expected in May 2020 for 2021 entry
With this will come suite of ‘new’ questions around applicants with individual needs
Disability & Care Experience
Carers
Students with parenting responsibilities
Estranged students
Refugees & Asylum Seekers
Students from military families

8. Every University is likely to be handling this in different way(s):
Some asking at the point of application
Some asking at the point of an accommodation application
Some asking at the point of registration/enrolment
Some not asking at all
Less transparent, more confusing, UCAS can no longer provide universal support & took an option away from Universities before their rationale for having/using this information was adequately explored.
05/08/2019
© The University of Sheffield

9. Admissions in General Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed
Entry Requirements
Qualifications achieved
Predicted Grades & subject pre-requisites
The Personal Statement: Motivation, commitment, personal experiences and extenuating circumstances
The Reference: Providing additional key context

10. Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed
Admissions at TUoS
Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed
Contextual Information
LPN – Polar3/4 quintile 1: Submitted via UCAS
Care Experience – Answer to UCAS Care question will trigger request for Access+ eligibility declaration
Estrangement, Caring Responsibilities: additional information in reference, personal statement or other correspondence will trigger request for Access+ eligibility declaration
Disrupted Studies: additional information in reference, personal statement or other correspondence will trigger request for disrupted studies form
We also hope applicants will identify Access+ and Disrupted Studies themselves before our triggers
05/08/2019
© The University of Sheffield

11. Access Sheffield
05/08/2019
© The University of Sheffield

12. Access+
Big change for contextual admissions at TUoS – clearer, fairer and more transparent
Formalises additional consideration always afforded to care leavers, carers and estranged applicants into an alternative offer
Usually one grade below the standard A Level or equivalent requirements for their course – conditional on making Sheffield their firm choice
In the interim between now & new UCAS system we rely on self-declaration via personal statement, reference and/or Access+ eligibility declaration – we also don’t want to lose sight of other/related Disrupted Studies
05/08/2019
© The University of Sheffield

13.
05/08/2019

14. Support for students whose personal circumstances might mean that they face barriers to going to university.
Support is provided in the year of their application and beyond by linking students to post-enrolment teams.

15. Support with making the best application
At offer making and confirmation stage
Take student's circumstances into context - recognise their potential to achieve
Offered on SHU Progress only for students who are:
care Leavers
carers
estranged
homeless
from a refugee background
experiencing extenuating circumstances
Forward extenuating circumstances to

16. Special Consideration during the admissions process
Advice on the UCAS Process and Personal Statement writing for students and their supporters
Subject specific interview IAG for:
Architecture
Art and Design
Health and Social Care
Photography
Teacher Education
Online, individual chats or group applicant support sessions
Admissions referring students with WP indicators in their personal statement / reference to SHU Progress
Second review of WP students with mandatory preparation sessions and invite to interview

17. How you can help?
Support applicants to declare their circumstances via UCAS (personal statements or additional questions) or via other means (additional correspondence, disrupted studies, Access+ eligibility declaration, SHU Progress)
Use the UCAS resources and signpost young people to these
Encourage Open Day attendance
Encourage open lines of communication with Admissions service, Department contact, transition support teams and welfare & guidance services once at University
Keep in touch

18. Thank You & Any Questions?