Current position
- The recently announced Government support package for universities and students contains the following guidance with regards to admissions:
- Student number controls for UK and EU students based on provider forecasts plus 5%
- Government will allocate 10,000 additional places (5,000 of these to nursing and allied health courses) and may make more exemptions
- OfS will consult on a new temporary registration Condition to address provider behaviour in admissions
- OfS has provided guidance for registered providers about how they will approach the regulation of student protection during the period of disruption resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
- UCAS has announced changes to Clearing 2020. Both ‘placed’ and ‘unplaced’ students will continue to have the opportunity to change their choice of provider/course including once they receive their grades. There will also be a new service that will can suggest alternative opportunities, based on their achievements, their course interest, and other preferences. They will also be working with BBC Bitesize to give students enhanced advice on applying to university and Clearing. The service will be available to students from early July.
- Summer examinations including A Levels have been cancelled.
- DfE has confirmed that grades for cancelled A level exams in England will be published on 20 August.
- SQA has confirmed that results for Scottish Highers would be available on 4 August.
- Ofqual has published their initial decisions on GCSE and A level grading proposals for 2020 and a statement on their updated guidance for private candidates.
- The OfS Admissions Review has been paused.
- QAA is in discussion with DfE, Ofqual and others to establish clear assessment guidance for Access to HE students.
- Government has shifted its policy on franchise/subcontract students being included in Student Number Controls. Following IHE’s engagement with the Department for Education, and collaboration across the sector, the Government has announced that students recruited to courses delivered as part of subcontract arrangements that were agreed after an awarding provider’s annual financial return was signed off and submitted to OfS but before 1 June, will not count towards the SNC.
Official guidance
- DfE – Cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A Levels in 2020
- OfS – Further extension to moratorium on unconditional offer-making
- DfE – Student number controls
- OfS – Guidance for providers about student and consumer protection during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic - DfE – A statement on our updated guidance for private candidates
- DfE – Government support package for universities and students
- UCAS – More personalised options and support than ever for students in Clearing 2020
- Further Guidance on Student Number Controls