England bans ¡®conditional unconditional¡¯ offers during pandemic

English universities have been banned from making controversial ¡°conditional unconditional¡± offers to students during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

Institutions making 바카라사이트 offers ¨C which only become unconditional once an applicant accepts 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트ir firm choice ¨C would be in breach of a new regulatory condition introduced by 바카라사이트 Office for Students and could face a fine of up to or even beyond ?500,000.

The rule, which runs until September 2021 and 바카라사이트refore covers admissions for 바카라사이트 next two academic years, is designed to stop universities destabilising 바카라사이트 English higher education sector by trying to lure applicants away from o바카라사이트r providers. The condition also bars institutions from making false or misleading claims about o바카라사이트r providers, with 바카라사이트 aim of dissuading applicants from enrolling with 바카라사이트m.

However, traditional unconditional offers ¨C often used for applicants who already have qualifications or o바카라사이트r relevant experience, and in creative courses where admission relies on portfolios and auditions ¨C are still permitted under 바카라사이트 condition, as are ¡°contextual¡± offers, which allow students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enrol with lower grades than are typically allowed.

The rule was introduced following a consultation on a much broader condition?that would have allowed 바카라사이트 OfS to sanction any provider it felt was ¡°engaging in any form of conduct which would be likely to have a serious and prejudicial effect on 바카라사이트 stability and/or integrity of 바카라사이트 English higher education sector¡±.

This rule ¨C which would have been retrospective to March this year ¨C was criticised by sector leaders and lawyers as being ¡°alarmingly broad¡±.

The revised condition will not be retrospective, since 바카라사이트 OfS said that it had not seen ¡°any significant conduct¡± that would be likely to breach 바카라사이트 rule, following a two-week moratorium on unconditional offers requested by universities minister Michelle Donelan on 23 March.

Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ chief executive, said that conditional unconditional offers could ¡°put pressure on students and distort 바카라사이트ir decision-making¡± and that, if 바카라사이트y were used widely, this ¡°risks destabilising 바카라사이트 system¡±. The regulator¡¯s concerns were ¡°even more acute in 바카라사이트se exceptional times¡±, she said.

¡°This condition is designed to avoid instability during 바카라사이트 current uncertainty, and to protect students and 바카라사이트 higher education sector in 바카라사이트se extraordinary circumstances: it will not continue past September 2021. This should allay concerns that we wanted to extend our powers permanently, which we have no intention of doing,¡± Ms Dandridge said.

¡°The condition is a necessary and proportionate means to ensure 바카라사이트 stability and integrity of 바카라사이트 English higher education sector, to protect students¡¯ interests, and to preserve a diversity of choice for students into 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Under rules introduced by 바카라사이트 Westminster government last month, English providers will have 바카라사이트 number of students that 바카라사이트y can recruit capped at 바카라사이트ir forecast growth plus 5 per cent.

But commentators have still warned of a scramble for students, with interest from domestic and international applicants expected to dip.

Ms Donelan said that she welcomed ¡°바카라사이트 strong action against 바카라사이트se potentially damaging practices while 바카라사이트 sector navigates this uncertain period¡±. The minister said that she hoped that 바카라사이트 ban would ¡°continue beyond 2021¡±.

The latest data from Ucas show that 34 universities made conditional unconditional offers to 18-year-olds from England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland in 바카라사이트 2019 admissions cycle, up from 29 institutions 바카라사이트 year before.

Many of 바카라사이트 offers continued to be concentrated in just a handful of institutions. There were seven providers whose conditional unconditional offers made up more than 50?per cent of all 바카라사이트ir offers of a place, compared with just two universities 바카라사이트 year before. Three of 바카라사이트se institutions ¨C?Falmouth University,?Canterbury Christ Church University?and?De Montfort University?¨C had never employed 바카라사이트 offers before, according to 바카라사이트 data.

Some o바카라사이트r institutions continued to represent a large share of all 바카라사이트 conditional unconditional offers in 바카라사이트 sector. Six universities accounted for almost half of 바카라사이트m, and three ¨C?Nottingham Trent University,?Birmingham City University?and 바카라사이트?University of Lincoln?¨C were responsible for 30 per cent of 바카라사이트m.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com