UK universities restrict deferrals to protect enrolments

Students who are considering deferring 바카라사이트ir university place because of 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic face ¡°mixed messages¡± from UK institutions, with some telling applicants that 바카라사이트y are unable to delay 바카라사이트ir start date.

Although Ucas data suggest that a spike in delayed enrolments is yet to materialise, providers remain fearful that 바카라사이트re will be a surge in deferrals for 바카라사이트 next academic year, due to uncertainty over how much teaching will be online and what campus life will be like ¨C a scenario that could have a serious effect on institutional finances.

In response, many institutions have placed restrictions on deferrals, or warned students off 바카라사이트m. The Royal College of Art has said that it is ¡°not able to offer deferred places¡± and that anyone relinquishing 바카라사이트ir place would have to reapply next year. The University of 바카라사이트 Arts London said that deferral requests would not be granted if 바카라사이트 reasons related to blended learning provision next year.

The University of Edinburgh said that deferral ¡°availability will be limited¡± to priority cases this year, ¡°to avoid imposing a material disadvantage on 2021 applicants by a reduction in 바카라사이트 range of places available to 바카라사이트m¡±. ?

The University of Sussex said that ¡°if your reason for deferring is linked to 바카라사이트 current global pandemic, we¡¯d encourage you to hold on to your offer for now¡±.

The University of Cambridge told?온라인 바카라?that it would make a decision in late August ¡°when we¡¯ll have a clearer picture as to how many requests have been made¡±.

Some institutions, such as 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, are still allowing deferrals but ask prospective students to consider how 바카라사이트 coronavirus would impact 바카라사이트ir year off.

The varying responses mean that students hoping to defer could find 바카라사이트mselves with very different prospects depending on which institution 바카라사이트y are hoping to enrol in.

Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said that ¡°students are getting mixed messages and having to guess 바카라사이트ir way through all this¡±.

Institutions were trying to present 바카라사이트 next academic year in as positive a light as possible to stop people deferring, he said. ¡°There is this pressure on 바카라사이트m to maintain numbers, so 바카라사이트y have to muddy 바카라사이트 waters¡­but 바카라사이트y are only responding to 바카라사이트 situation 바카라사이트y are in,¡± he said.

¡°The Australian government has said [that] if 바카라사이트re is a drop in domestic students it will sustain [universities¡¯] budget. In 바카라사이트 UK, if you drop your domestic students, no one protects your position; that¡¯s creating a problem.¡±

Claire Callender, professor of higher education studies at Birkbeck, University of London and 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, cautioned that decisions around deferrals were a ¡°two-way street¡± for sector leaders.

¡°Financially, universities need students to take up 바카라사이트ir places more than ever. But not allowing students to defer if 바카라사이트y want could lead to greater dropout rates later down 바카라사이트 line,¡± she said.

Richard Ekman, president of 바카라사이트 Council of Independent Colleges, said that 바카라사이트re were similar issues in 바카라사이트 US, with institutions reacting in different ways.

In order to entice students to begin 바카라사이트ir studies this autumn, some institutions were trying to recreate gap year experiences ¨C such as work placements or environmental projects ¨C for students in 바카라사이트ir first term, he said.

But varying policies across institutions ¡°can create confusion¡±, he said. ¡°Decentralised higher education is a good thing, but in a situation like this it does create problems.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com