Changes to the UCAS Admissions process

1
Changes to the UCAS Admissions process

• Zoë Heathcote
• Head of Admissions and Student Data

2
UCAS changes for 2005 cycle

• UCAS communication with applicants - more email,
  less paper
• Application methods
• EAS (CD-ROM) in its last year
• Expand ucasapply (web)
• Copy application forms - available at net.update
• Electronic RPA (record of prior acceptance)

3
UCAS changes for 2005 cycle

• Application and criminal convictions
• Restrict scope of questions to relevant
  (offences against the person whether violent or
  sexual, commercial drug dealing/trafficking
• Disclosure is not mandatory, yes tick box only

4
UCAS changes for 2005 cycle

• SWAS closure - postgraduate diploma courses go
  through UCAS
• UCAS Extra and Medicine (can have choice 5
  through Extra

5
UCAS beyond 2005

• Electronic applications only for 2006 entry
• Replace Marvin coding with Hercules
• Schwartz proposes post-qualification admissions
• Group looking at proposals for implementation in
  2008

6
University changes - operational

• Selectors Notes grow into Admissions process
  documentation (November)
• Communication plan
• add rejection letter
• fee/residence classification in the formal offer
  through UCAS
• Operational Admissions statistics at
  https//www.adminservices.soton.ac.uk/adminweb

7
University changes - operational

• Revised Banner manuals to be published
• avoidance of UCAS errors
• easier navigation
• Provisional Enrolment process
• Accommodation systems development

8
University changes - policy and strategy

• Fair Admissions/Schwartz review
• Elaborate admissions policy
• Embed recommendations into operation
• Access Agreement and HE Bill
• Work to do on Universitys offering of
  scholarships and bursaries

9
UCAS net.update

• Data on courses for admission in 2005 and 2006
• Data on fees, scholarships, bursaries
• Data on entry requirements and entry profiles
  (co-ordinated by Student Marketing)

10
UCAS net.update

• Roll out update access to Schools
• Fewer intermediaries better quality information
• More focused support from central services

11
Student finance 2005 entry

• Up-front fee up to 1.2k
• Means-tested grant (introduced in 2004) up to 1k
• Student loan up to 4.1k (students living away
  from home but not in London)
• 25 of loan is means-tested
• Loan repayment starts April after leaving, if
  income exceeds 15k

12
Student Finance 2006 entry

• Tuition fee set by institution, up to 3k maximum
  (but only if OFFA support the HEIs Access
  Agreement)
• Means-tested grant up to 2.7k (plus 300
  bursary from the HEI)
• Student loan up to 4.2k (students living away
  from home but not in London)
• 25 of loan is means-tested
• Loan balances to be written-off after 25 years

13
Student Finance - Gap Year

• DfES say
• If a student, who is eligible to go to
  university in September 2005 decides to take a
  gap year before starting in 2006 then as long as
  they receive written confirmation of their
  deferred place from their university or college
  by 1 August 2005 they will be eligible for the
  same financial help as a student who started in
  2005
• Source http//www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/

14
Gap Year processes - new for Summer 2005 only

• 2006 UCAS applicants will need written
  confirmation from us by 1 August to be eligible
  for 2005 student finance entitlement.
• 2005 UCAS applicants who decide to defer until
  2006 must agree this with us and get written
  confirmation from us by 1 August to be eligible
  for 2005 student finance entitlement.

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Conclusion

• Questions?
• Feedback forms