1. Admissions Trends and Behaviours
Sally Rutterford, Head of Admissions, Student Records & Immigration Compliance

2. Topics for discussion Reflections 2014
2015 cycle so far
Reflections 2014
2016 cycle – The A/AS Level question
Contextual data
Questions

3. 2015 cycle so far… Context – removal of Student Number Control
2.1% rise in UCAS applications
Home 3.1% European 7.4% International 3.1%
Pre-clinical Medicine – 11%
Source: UCAS (data as of 25 Jan 2015)

4. The Exeter picture
Seeing an increase in applications – Home undergraduate applications currently up 7.7%. Follows on from a 10.3% increase in applications for entry.
Increases notable in the Mathematical Science subjects up 21% & Social Science subjects up 15%.
Quality of applications also appears to be up. Increase number of AAA+/IB36+ students slightly ahead of increase in applications +8%.

5. Reflections on 2014
Record number of students placed in 2014 – breaking half a million for the first time.
Resurgence in applications – nearly on par with pre £9k fees
Rise of the BTEC (20% more likely) A-Levels still highest NQF L3
Gains for Widening Participation – Disadvantaged young people over 10% more likely to enter HE than in 2013
Gap between gender increase – women 46% more likely to enter HE

6. Reflections on 2014 Removal of Student Number Control
Brave new world, greater competition in the market place – growth of incentivised offers v. traditional offers.
Student choice or pressured sales?

7. Future cycles
Falling 18 year old demographic – ever increasing competition on the horizon
Question around the A/AS Level qualification reforms and the impact on entry to HE
Changes to UCAS tariff – More inclusive approach supporting WP and non UK qualifications.

8. The A/AS-Level question
Decoupling of the AS/A-Levels from September
Linear qualifications – assess on final exam Findings from Ofqual Research:
Too many resits
Too many assessments disrupting teaching,
Negative effect on other subjects (assessment prioritisation) Modular system not providing broad range of knowledge.

9. AS and A-Level reforms Exeter’s position
Offers based on predicted grades
Contextualised offers
Reduction in tariff for AS – Offers likely to remain over 3 A-Levels (unless for contextualised reasons or subject availability)

10. Questions…?