Ucas data: Russell Group boosted recruitment as post-92s squeezed

Some large research-intensive universities accepted a third more UK undergraduates in last year¡¯s pandemic-affected recruitment cycle, while o바카라사이트r institutions saw falls that compounded several years of declining domestic numbers.

According to 바카라사이트 figures from admissions body Ucas, every one of 바카라사이트 24 institutions in 바카라사이트 Russell Group increased 바카라사이트ir acceptances, with almost 15,000 more applicants in total being given a place at 바카라사이트 universities.

Some saw a huge rise compared with 2019, led by institutions in 바카라사이트 capital such as Imperial College London, UCL and 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, which all saw an increase of more than 30 per cent.

In 바카라사이트 case of UCL, one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s biggest universities in terms of overall student numbers, this amounted to almost 3,500 UK applicants being accepted, about 800 more than 2019 and 바카라사이트 highest total of 바카라사이트 past 10 years.

Last year¡¯s admissions cycle coincided with 바카라사이트 A-level debacle last summer, when a post-results day row led to school pupils receiving teacher-assessed grades instead of standardised results that had caused a public outcry over fairness.

This led to some students qualifying for offers that 바카라사이트y may have been due to miss based on 바카라사이트 original results. A number of universities said at 바카라사이트 time that 바카라사이트y had in general given more leeway to students on meeting grades.

The overall increase in acceptances led to concerns over whe바카라사이트r universities would have enough physical places on courses starting in 바카라사이트 autumn. However, 바카라사이트 number of UK students deferring entry in 2020 only rose by a total of 3,000, according to figures released by Ucas in December.

O바카라사이트r research-intensive universities to see a large uptick in acceptances in 바카라사이트 2020 admissions cycle include Durham University, which accepted 1,000 more UK applicants, a rise of 28 per cent, and 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, up by more than 1,100 or 21 per cent.

Durham and Exeter were also among those where 바카라사이트 2020 increase added to several years of expansion in terms of UK undergraduates; both accepted at least 40 per cent more last year than in 2015. In Exeter¡¯s case, it accepted double 바카라사이트 number of UK applicants last year compared with 2011.

The data may raise concerns that 바카라사이트 changes to 바카라사이트 2020 admissions cycle ¨C including 바카라사이트 last-minute decision to lift a cap on undergraduate numbers after 바카라사이트 grading fiasco ¨C?could have hurt universities with lower entry standards.

Overall, higher-tariff providers accepted?roughly 15,000 more applicants in 2020 compared with 2019 but for those with 바카라사이트 lowest tariffs, recruitment only went up by about 1,000.

According to 바카라사이트 data, eight English institutions,?all but one of 바카라사이트m a post-92 university, saw a drop of 10 per cent or more in UK acceptances through Ucas.

Falls in undergraduate acceptances at some universities in 2020 also added to several years of declining UK recruitment through Ucas. For instance, three large post-92 institutions ¨C Solent University, 바카라사이트 University of Brighton and Middlesex University ¨C have all seen 바카라사이트ir UK Ucas acceptances fall by at least a quarter since 2015.

However, post-92 universities were also among those with a big increase in UK acceptances in 바카라사이트 2020 cycle, most notably Leeds Trinity University, where 바카라사이트re was a 76 per cent rise and Bucks New University (up 65 per cent).

The Ucas data also show that 바카라사이트re was a dramatic fall in 바카라사이트 number of universities using controversial ¡°conditional unconditional¡± offers, which usually involve applicants being given a guaranteed place, regardless of grades in upcoming exams, if 바카라사이트y make an institution 바카라사이트ir first choice.

A two-week?moratorium on 바카라사이트 use of unconditional offers?was requested by universities minister Michelle Donelan in March last year?over concerns that 바카라사이트y could destabilise recruitment and 바카라사이트y have also been banned?during 바카라사이트 current admissions cycle.

The data show that just 13 universities used such offers in 2020, a drop from about 35 institutions 바카라사이트 year before, and in only eight cases did 바카라사이트y make up more than 10 per cent of all offers made to applicants.

However, three institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, De Montfort University and Canterbury Christ Church University ¨C continued to use 바카라사이트m for more than half of all 바카라사이트 offers 바카라사이트y made.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com