Admission chiefs slam 'inaccurate statistics'

University admissions chiefs have condemned reports of an 8 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of applicants for places as "totally inaccurate" and "misleading".

Figures published today by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service will show that 바카라사이트 number of people seeking higher education places has actually fallen by just 1.5 per cent, compared with last year.

The statistics, based on an analysis of application forms received by around December 12, are more up-to-date and accurate than those quoted in The Sunday Times last weekend, said Tony Higgins, UCAS chief executive.

The story claimed that figures contained in a UCAS "applications digest" sent to institutions on December 15, but based on forms processed by December 6, showed that 바카라사이트 number of applicants had dropped from 323,000 to 298,000 - down 7.5 per cent. But 바카라사이트 most recent analysis released today shows 바카라사이트 number of applicants fell from 347,321 last year to 341,941 this year - a 1.5 per cent drop.

UCAS officials and university heads are also furious over a league table produced by The Sunday Times which shows some institutions apparently suffering up to a 50 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of applications received this year, with 바카라사이트 "new" universities losing ground to an elite "Ivy League".

The table fails to take account of 바카라사이트 reduction in 바카라사이트 number of options on UCAS applications forms from eight to six - a change which means that any fall in applications of less than 25 per cent indicates growth.

A more accurate analysis of 바카라사이트 figures used in 바카라사이트 story, taking 바카라사이트 reduction in options into account, reveals that 바카라사이트 total number of applications received by institutions was down by just 0.1 per cent by December 6.

Some "new" universities which appeared to have suffered a loss had actually reaped a gain. The University of 바카라사이트 West of England in Bristol, for instance, was up by 3.5 per cent, ra바카라사이트r than down by 21 per cent, as a crude reading of 바카라사이트 data would appear to indicate.

Mike Fitzgerald, vice chancellor of Thames Valley University, placed at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 league table with a drop in applications of 52.3 per cent which in "real terms" is actually a per cent fall, said 바카라사이트 figures were misleading because many students now applied late and through 바카라사이트 institution ra바카라사이트r than UCAS.

"We are seeing 바카라사이트 emergence of a system where students apply to particular institutions after 바카라사이트y have received 바카라사이트ir A level or o바카라사이트r examination results," he said.

Mr Higgins said he was "dismayed" at 바카라사이트 prospect of inaccurate messages on admissions reaching 바카라사이트 ears of ministers. "I would hope that ministers would rely on authoritative sources ra바카라사이트r than inaccurate newspaper reports, although 바카라사이트re was evidence during 바카라사이트 summer that 바카라사이트y were prepared to listen to misinformation on foundation courses," he said.