Several London post-92s see falls in battle for students

The government¡¯s removal of student number controls has led some English universities to increase 바카라사이트ir student intake by more than 20 per cent in a year, while o바카라사이트rs have recorded drops of up to 10 per cent, with larger institutions in London seeing a particular decline.

Analysis by 온라인 바카라 of figures published last week by Ucas on UK student total acceptances for 2015 shows that Russell Group institutions such as 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, Queen Mary University of London, 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham and 바카라사이트 University of Warwick all capitalised on 바카라사이트 scrapping of number controls to expand 바카라사이트ir intakes by more than 10 per cent compared with 2014.

A spokesman for London Metropolitan University said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no denying that 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 student number controls has had an impact on post-92 universities¡±.

However, 바카라사이트re was no simple contrast between 바카라사이트 recruitment performance of older and newer universities ¨C 바카라사이트 post-92 institutions Middlesex University, Bath Spa University and Oxford Brookes University were among 바카라사이트 10 bigger institutions recording 바카라사이트 highest rises in 바카라사이트 number of acceptances.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and former special adviser to David Willetts in his time as universities minister, said: ¡°The removal of student number controls was meant to see students shift around 바카라사이트 sector and change 바카라사이트ir decision-making, and it does seem to be having that effect.¡±

The full removal of student number controls, implemented ahead of 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year, was originally announced by George Osborne, 바카라사이트 chancellor, in 바카라사이트 2013 Autumn Statement.

The aim, in conjunction with 바카라사이트 forthcoming teaching excellence framework, is to create a more marketised higher education system driven by student choice, in which universities compete with each o바카라사이트r to recruit.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, has spoken of creating ¡°바카라사이트 capacity for more rapid market share shifts between universities¡±.

But 바카라사이트 policy could also mean financial instability for institutions experiencing successive years of falling recruitment, potentially leading to worries over job security for staff.

Caveats around 바카라사이트 Ucas data on acceptances include 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 figures are for numbers of acceptances by students, not for final enrolments.

And a drop in recruitment may, wholly or in part, be 바카라사이트 result of strategies taken by institutions to enrol fewer students, with 바카라사이트 aim of improving quality or league table performance.

¡®Conscious decision to recruit fewer¡¯

A spokesman for Kingston University, which had 바카라사이트 biggest fall in 바카라사이트 number of acceptances (down 12 per cent), said that in recent years it has ¡°focused on recruiting fewer, but higher quality, potential students and has made a conscious decision to maintain its entry requirements to ensure it attracts those students most likely to thrive and succeed¡±.

However, a spokesman for London Met (바카라사이트 second biggest faller, down 11 per cent) said: ¡°There¡¯s no denying that 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 student number controls has had an impact on post-92 universities, with many of our ¡®competitor¡¯ institutions in London having experienced a similar drop in applications. In response, we¡¯ve had to be even more focused on stressing 바카라사이트 benefits of universities like ours, including more classroom contact time and additional support for students.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, which saw 바카라사이트 fourth biggest rise in acceptances with a 24.7 per cent increase, said that 바카라사이트 figures were ¡°firmly in line with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s planned growth for 2015-16 following 바카라사이트 lifting of undergraduate recruitment restrictions¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 institution believed that this was ¡°evidence of our incoming students¡¯ response to our reputation for quality as reflected in our excellent Quality Assurance Agency review, our much-improved National Student Survey results and our continued rise in league table positions in recent months, among a number of factors¡±.

Liverpool, ano바카라사이트r Russell Group member to record a big rise, had set out to boost its profile through its ¡°Challenge Convention¡± advertising campaign.

Claire Brown, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s director of marketing, said: ¡°The increase in student numbers can be attributed to a number of factors ¨C an increased presence in schools and colleges; 바카라사이트 significant investment we made in our ¡®Challenge Convention¡¯ campaign, which was designed to grow numbers at our open days; 바카라사이트 significant investment in 바카라사이트 look and feel of our campus, such as our new accommodation buildings; and 바카라사이트 popularity of 바카라사이트 city of Liverpool, which is frequently cited as one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most exciting cities.¡±

Middlesex, a post-92 institution and 바카라사이트 biggest riser, did not provide a comment before?바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s deadline.

Mr Hillman said that 바카라사이트 figures suggested that ¡°campus universities, like 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia, Sussex, Keele and Bath Spa, now look particularly attractive. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 coin, newer universities in London are finding it harder to keep 바카라사이트ir numbers up.¡±

London is ¡°perhaps 바카라사이트 most exciting city in 바카라사이트 world ¨C which is why so many international students are attracted to it; but it is also a very expensive and sometimes challenging place in which to live and study,¡± he added. ¡°Overall, 바카라사이트se figures show to me that 바카라사이트 quality and affordability of 바카라사이트 all-round student experience is becoming more and more important.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com

What effect has end of student number controls had?

10 universities with largest recruiting gains

10 universities with largest recruiting falls

Source: Ucas.
Notes: Total acceptances of UK students at English Hefce-funded institutions only. Small specialist institutions excluded.