UCAS update – what’s
new for teachers and
advisers?
Matthew Welbourn
UCAS Professional Development Manager
UCAS – who we are and what we do
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UCAS is an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions
services to inspire and facilitate educational progression
We are the organisation responsible for processing and managing all applications to
full-time higher education (HE) courses in the UK
We operate on behalf of all full-time courses at higher education providers (HEPs)
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Number of universities and colleges
Number of courses
370
37,000+
UK population decline and its impact on HE
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One-off population rise in the
18 year old cohort in 2015,
against a downward trend
By 2020 there will be 80,000
fewer 18 year olds coming out
of schools and colleges
Consideration for:
▫ Range of qualifications
▫ PT and mature learners
▫ Online and distance learning
Setting the scene – record breaking numbers
800,000
80.0%
700,000
78.0%
600,000
76.0%
500,000
400,000
74.0%
300,000
72.0%
200,000
70.0%
100,000
0
68.0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acceptances
Source: UCAS End of Cycle report 2015
Unplaced
Acceptance Rate
2015 cycle by acceptance route
600,000
Acceptances
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
35,680
1,135
15,210
6.9%
49,130
2.2%
10.2%

7,490
3.4%

39,490
384,130
1.7%
7.5% 

3.2% 
Other
Adjustment
Clearing (direct)
Clearing (main scheme)
Extra
Insurance
Firm
UCAS data and analysis
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Key statistical releases across the cycle, core numbers on applications or acceptances
▫ UCAS Undergraduate
▫ UCAS Teacher Training
▫ UCAS Conservatoires
Reports on undergraduate applicant statistics after each of the main UCAS deadlines
Daily Clearing analysis from SQA and A level results days
UCAS Undergraduate data, analysis and resources
▫ End of Cycle Report
▫ Interim assessment (post-A level results)
▫ UK application rate (15 January data)
Thematic reports
Bespoke analysis
Qualification reforms
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Qualifications in the UK are currently undergoing significant reform
In the next few years it's likely that significant numbers of students will be applying
to higher education (HE) with new qualifications and new combinations of
qualifications
The decoupling of the AS from the A level in England means that secondary schools
and colleges are likely to offer increasingly diverse programmes
Higher Education Providers (HEPs) have been reviewing their entry requirements and
offer-making approaches to ensure applicants are not disadvantaged
// www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/qualification-reform
The impact of the AS changes
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Use of AS in admissions is variable
▫ Not used widely in entry requirements and unlikely to change
Loss of AS results could lead to greater reliance on subjective information
▫ E.g. predicted grades, personal statement, reference
▫ And/or greater reliance on GCSEs
Some (continued) uncertainty about accuracy of predicted grades
Increase in admissions tests unlikely
Concern about impacts on widening participation
Universities will want to know the curriculum that schools will offer
// www.spa.ac.uk/resources/qualification-reforms-nett
Guidance for school and college references
Qualification Reforms – what HEPs would like to know
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Space in the Apply reference is limited, and the main focus of the reference should
be on the applicant’s suitability for the courses for which they have applied
Recommendation that schools and colleges create a webpage that details their
qualification offering
The URL to this page can then be inserted into the reference to provide valuable
additional information to HEPs about the school or college
This recommendation has been endorsed by members of the NETT, with the
exception of Cambridge
Developments in the UCAS Tariff
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A new Tariff has been introduced for the 2017 admissions cycle
▫ The new Tariff points were published in summer 2014
Advisers and prospective applicants to HE had access to the
new Tariff information in 2014, at least a year in advance of
commencing a two year programme of level 3 study
This also gave HEPs and other organisations 18 months to
prepare for the transition and to make any changes necessary
to internal systems, processes and information
The key changes
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The new UCAS Tariff points are based on a different
methodology to the current Tariff
All Level 3 qualifications that are currently on the UCAS
Tariff will continue to attract points under the new system
Approximately one third of courses in our search tool use
the Tariff currently and we are not expecting more
universities to start using the new Tariff
New Tariff methodology
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Tariff points are determined by multiplying size and grade bands
Tariff points = size (points) x grade (points)
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Size bands – qualifications will be allocated a size band of 1 to 4, based on their
guided learning hours (GLH)
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Grade bands – qualifications will also be allocated a grade band
▫ Recommended option contains 12 grade bands across a value range of 3-14
New Tariff size bands
Size band
GLH
GLH
1
< 120
60
Free Standing Mathematics
2
120-219
120
150
180
180
200
Extended Project Qualification
IB Core
AS
BTEC L3 Certificates
IB Standard Certificates
3
220-319
240
Scottish Higher
320+
320
360
360
360
380
Scottish Advanced Higher
A level
IB Higher Certificates
BTEC National L3 Subsidiary Diploma
Pre-U Principal Subjects
4
Qualifications included
New Tariff grade bands
Grade Points
AS level
14
A level
A*
13
12
A
11
10
▪
A
B
B
C
6
C
D
5
D
9
8
7
4
3
E
E
The AS has been
repositioned as 40% of an
A level in light of the
qualification regulators'
statements regarding the
standard and demand of
the AS
What the new points mean to students
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New UCAS Tariff points should not have any impact on
students' decisions on qualification choices at school or
college, or their preparation for HE
The change to new UCAS Tariff points will not in itself
change entry requirements for university or college
courses
HEPs are autonomous organisations and each year they
decide how to set their entry requirements
Those universities and colleges that use UCAS Tariff
points to express their entry requirements have simply
set their requirements using the new number system
// www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/tariff-2017
UCAS services on A level results day
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Clearing vacancies displayed in the UCAS search tool
The Telegraph app and desktop Clearing vacancy listings go live
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UCAS social media support available
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UCAS Customer Experience Centre opens
Adviser Track available
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Applicant Track available
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Direct contact service available to universities
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Clearing referrals start – applicants are able to make Clearing choices
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UCAS social media support and Customer Experience Centre close
5 July
06:00
07:30
08:00
12:00
15:00
20:00
The Confirmation process
Awarding Body Linkage (ABL)
Results are sent to UCAS from the Awarding Bodies
 matched with applicant records against qualifications entered in Apply
 and sent electronically in bulk file transfers to universities who hold applicants CF/CI
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Schools and colleges can assist the process
Embargo periods and Track services
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UCAS receives A level results several days before they are published
▫ Under a strict embargo
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Track and Adviser Track services are suspended during these periods
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A level embargo
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Track and Adviser Track suspended from 14:00 on 12 August
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Adviser Track status view updated from 07:30 on 18 August
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Restricted Track status view updated from 08:00 on 18 August
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Full Track service (can add Clearing choice) from 15:00 on 18 August
Unconditional Change at Confirmation
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Sometimes referred to as Unconditional Change of Course because the offer is
usually for an alternative (but similar and appropriate) course
▫ Could be for an alternative start date, point of entry etc
Applicant has 5 days to reply
▫ From the date both confirmation decisions are known (if holding firm and
insurance choices)
▫ UCC replies can be made in Track or by calling UCAS
Applicants don’t have to wait for insurance choice decision if they want to accept a
UCC from the firm choice
▫ This can be actioned by UCAS
Applicants do have to wait for the decision from the firm choice if the insurance
choice records a UCC decision first
UCC scenarios – what are applicant options?
1. Firm choice offers UCC, no Insurance choice
Accept UCC at Firm or enter Clearing
2. Firm choice offers UCC, Insurance choice confirms
Accept UCC at Firm or placed at Insurance choice
3. Firm choice confirms, Insurance choice offers UCC
Placed at Firm choice
4. Firm choice declines, Insurance choice offers UCC
Accept UCC at Insurance or enter Clearing
5. Firm choice still CF, Insurance choice offers UCC
Must wait for Firm choice decision
6. Firm choice offers UCC, Insurance choice still CI
Can wait for Insurance choice before deciding, or can accept UCC by calling UCAS
7. Firm choice offers UCC and Insurance choice offers UCC
Can accept either or decline both and enter Clearing
Exam remarks
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Applicant registers an Enquiry about Results (EaR) appeal with the Awarding Body
ASAP via school or college (exams officer)
Applicant must notify their Conditional choices
Providers are invited to keep offer open until 31 August
▫ Any later is at their discretion
Applicant is responsible for sending remark results to providers
Awarding bodies are well-versed in deadlines and processes
UCAS Clearing
IfApplicant
rejected,
applicant
placed
on
starts
over
course
Provider
considers
application
Eligible
applicant
researches
vacancies
Contacts
provider(s) to
discuss
application
Applicant enters
choice details
on Track
UCAS Adjustment
Eligibility
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To be eligible to use Adjustment, applicants must have:
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Their Firm choice offer confirmed (CF  UF)
and
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Academic results that meet all and exceed at least one of the requirements of
the Firm choice offer
UCAS Adjustment
TIMELINE
August 2016
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The UCAS Schools’ Team
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Dedicated priority contact channel for schools, colleges and careers offices
Please do not distribute to applicants or parents
 0345 123 8001
 [email protected]
Confirmation and Clearing toolkit
Home › Advisers › Guides and resources › Confirmation and Clearing toolkit
Questions
Matthew Welbourn
Professional Development Manager
 01242 544 958
 [email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/mwelbourn
// www.ucas.com/training