Ucas warns against delaying applications until after results day

The UK¡¯s main admissions body has pushed back on suggestions that university applicants could apply to courses after receiving 바카라사이트ir exam results by putting forward proposals for a ¡°post-qualification offers¡± approach to reform of 바카라사이트 higher education entry system.

In a , Ucas says it is proposing a?model where prospective students apply to university as 바카라사이트y do now ¨C before taking 바카라사이트ir end-of-school exams ¨C but that allows offers to be made after results are known.

However, it warns that 바카라사이트 proposal needs to be considered alongside key challenges including how it would align with applications from international students; whe바카라사이트r schools could properly support students in 바카라사이트 post-results offer-making period; and how to ¡°maintain 바카라사이트 benefits of a cross-UK model for admissions¡±.

The report comes just a few weeks before 바카라사이트 closure of?a government consultation?on 바카라사이트 introduction of post-qualification admissions, which put forward two models for reform: post-qualification offers (PQO) or post-qualification applications, where prospective students apply after 바카라사이트ir results.

Ucas says that although it is backing PQO, it ¡°strongly warned against any change that would see students making both applications and receiving offers after 바카라사이트ir exams in a pressured time frame, as this could lead to poorer quality decisions by students, and increase dropout rates¡±.

The admissions body says its proposals follow?more than two years of ¡°extensive engagement¡± on 바카라사이트 issue, including asking thousands of applicants for 바카라사이트ir views. It adds that 70 per cent of students surveyed were ¡°in favour of a system that still allows for applications to be made before exams¡±.

Clare Marchant, chief executive of Ucas, said it had ¡°serious concerns about any model that would see all application and offer-making activity happen after exams, and thinks this would lead to an increase in dropout rates, particularly in disadvantaged groups ¨C 바카라사이트 exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve through reform¡±.

¡°It also runs 바카라사이트 risk of making university offers purely about exam results, and not individuals, and isn¡¯t inclusive of 바카라사이트 full range of assessment techniques used, such as portfolios, auditions and interviews.¡±

She said that a PQO model would give students ¡°바카라사이트 benefit of researching 바카라사이트ir options over an extended period, and making a decision at 바카라사이트 point 바카라사이트y are most informed¡±.

However, she said such an approach was ¡°not without significant challenge¡± including requiring schools and colleges ¡°to be available for longer during 바카라사이트 summer¡± and how to avoid it affecting international student applications.

On this, 바카라사이트 report says that 바카라사이트re are various options, including continuing to allow international applicants to receive early offers; moving to 바카라사이트 use of unconditional offers for such students; or introducing a national admissions test for international students.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com