4 / 9
Page
4
of
9
University Admissions Policy for 2018 entry – approved October 2017
5.5.1 Admissions decisions are to be based, within the constraints of the number of places available,
on professional judgement of applicants’ individual academic achievement, ability and
potential, taking into account all of the information presented in applications and applying
established entry criteria in a consistent manner.
5.5.2 It follows, therefore, that it is the responsibility of applicants and referees to provide full and
accurate information in an application and to notify the University of any changes or
corrections to the original application.
5.6 Some degree programmes have particular criteria for assessment of applicants other than entry
grade requirements. Admissions tests, portfolios or auditions are examples. Such requirements
will be set out in the entrance requirements for individual degree programmes.
5.7 For UK-domiciled undergraduate applicants only, contextual information relating to
participation in Higher Education and educational factors is provided to admissions tutors to
help them identify potential where this is not obvious from examination grades predicted or
achieved.
a)
For this purpose, applicants’
postcodes of domicile
are used to identify applicants who live in a
neighbourhood which has a low rate of participation in higher education.
b)
Information, where available, about average public examination performance in a given year
of the school(s) or college attended by an applicant is provided to show the relative
performance of the school(s) or college against the national average and to set the individual’s
predicted grades in context.
5.8 Admissions tutors may also take account, when making a judgement about achievement,
ability or potential, of other contextual factors that are disclosed and have affected or could
affect an applicant’s attainment. These include personal circumstances, opportunities for
extra-curricular activities and personal development, parental experience of higher education,
disabilities and involvement in special schemes or programmes (such as the University’s
PARTNERS Programme and the Realising Opportunities Project).
5.9 As part of our commitment as an accredited Buttle UK institution, applicants who indicate that
they have been in care will be offered the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues or
concerns with a Student Recruitment Officer in advance of their arrival.
5.10 In assessing individual applications, admissions tutors are to follow the specific procedures
which apply to specific groups (eg. applicants with disabilities, PARTNERS applicants etc.) as
set out in the relevant documents (see 1.3 above). For example, they are to ensure that
appropriate adjustments are made to enable disabled applicants to engage in the same or
equivalent application procedures as other applicants without disadvantage.
5.11 In any given admissions cycle, the terms of conditional offers made to applicants will not
normally differ significantly from the entry requirements published in advance in respect of the
admissions cycle concerned. Any necessary amendments to typical entry requirements which
take place during the admissions cycle will be published on the University’s central website.
5.12 Where entry requirements for an undergraduate degree programme are expressed as a range of
grades (eg AAA-ABB), each offer will be determined on an individual basis, taking account of
an applicant’s profile. Account also has to be taken of the broader competitive context and the
relative merits of each applicant within the whole group of those who apply. It is not possible