Challenging minds in challenging times. A brief overview of some key issues with Higher Education applications and admissions Christopher Fuller February 2013
Challenging minds in challenging times • Application and admission figures • The globalization of HE and Russell Group universities • League tables • Fees • State verses independent intake
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UCAS Applications and Acceptances 1996 - 2010
Hundreds of thousands 7 6
HEFCE adding places year on year Acceptances until capped in 2008 – 2009. 334,594
5
4
479,057
44%
3
2 1 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Year of Entry Source: UCAS
3
Daily Telegraph, January 8, 2010
Daily Mail, February 1, 2011
4
Independent, 1 August 2011
Applications and Acceptances 23% increase in applications/applicants
85% of
70% of
students placed
students placed
7% increase in acceptances
408,500 634,086
492,030 700,161
487,329
657,351
481,854
639,860
456,627 588,689
413,430
534,495
390,890 506,304
Source: UCAS <http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/stat_services/stats_online/data_tables/ datasummary> [accessed 19 November, 2012].
* Year
* Based on UCAS figures from 20 September, 2012
Russell Group applications per places 2011-12 Applications
Places / Offers
Ratio
London School of Economics
18,693
1,290
14.5
University of Bristol
39,420
3,849
10.2
The University of Edinburgh
45,868
3,868
11.9
King's College London
37,046
4,059
9.1
The University of Warwick
34,868
4,178
8.3
University College London
34,559
4,031
8.6
The University of Manchester
58,252
8,942
6.5
4,431
7.2
15%
11%
The University of Liverpool
08-09 09-10
AAB32,0222%
University of Leeds
52,823
7,462
7.1
The University of Birmingham
43,383
5,480
7.9
Cardiff University
33,054
4,892
6.8
The University of Sheffield
39,920
5,048
7.9
University of Southampton
38,410
5,404
7.1
The University of Nottingham
48,904
6,898
7.1
Newcastle University
28,639
4,678
6.1
Imperial College London
14,935
2,477
6.1
University of Glasgow
29,851
4,432
6.7
Queen's University Belfast
21,195
3,733
5,7
University of Oxford
17,895
3,214
5.6
University of Cambridge
16,225
3,378
4.8
AVERAGE
34,298
4,587
7.5
Sources: Russell Group, Sunday Times University Guide 2012
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Times Higher, 21 August 2012
Telegraph, 19 November, 2012
Applications and Acceptances 13% decrease in applications/applicants
17% decrease in number of students placed
408,500 634,086
492,030 700,161
487,329
657,351
481,854
639,860
456,627 588,689
413,430
534,495
390,890 506,304
Source: UCAS <http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/stat_services/stats_online/data_tables/ datasummary> [accessed 19 November, 2012].
* Year
* Based on UCAS figures from 20 September, 2012
Russell Group applications per places 2012-13 Sources: Russell Group, Sunday Times University Guide 2013
Applications
Places / Offers
Ratio
London School of Economics
17,654
1,271 (-19)
13.9
University of Bristol
39,023
3,688 (-161)
10.6
King's College London
35,122
3,535 (-524)
9.9
University College London
34,476
3,617 (-414)
9.5
The University of Edinburgh
44,495
4,874 (+1006)
9.1
The University of Warwick
31,293
3,798 (-380)
8.2
The University of Liverpool
35,554
4,369 (-62)
8.1
The University of Birmingham
42,497
5,464 (-16)
7.8
University of Leeds
52,488
6,884 (-578)
7.7
University of Southampton
35,767
4,987 (-417)
7.2
The University of Nottingham
46,734
6,638 (-260)
7.1
The University of Manchester
59,911
8,048 (-894)
7.1
Queen Mary, London
25,830
3,694 (N/A)
7.1
Newcastle University
29,814
4,357 (-321)
6.8
University of Glasgow
27,502
4,149 (-283)
6.6
The University of Sheffield
33,415
5,120 (+72)
6.5
Durham University
24,420
3,747 (N/A)
6.5
University of York
23,400
3,669 (N/A)
6.4
Imperial College London
14,801
2,377 (-100)
6.2
University of Exeter
26,152
4,220 (N/A)
6.2
Cardiff University
30,844
5,047 (+155)
6.1
Queen's University Belfast
20,609
3,689 (+44)
5.6
University of Oxford
18,194
3,237 (+23)
5.6
University of Cambridge
15,507
3,261 (-117)
4.8
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Increase in available places for AAB+
Guardian, April 27, 2012
AAB+ 2011-12 - Cap removed for AAB students (est. 85,000)
Core and Margin
2011-12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20,000 places for institutions at ÂŁ7,500
Source: <http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/name,72760,en.html>
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BBC News, 16 August, 2012
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Fall in A*/A grades in 2012
Number of candidates Year Source: Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Examination Results: A-Levels <http://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-results/a-levels> [accessed 19 November, 2012].
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Fall in A*/A grades in 2012 estimated a 5,000 increase in number of students getting A*/A 2011 – 27% A*/As 2010 – 27% A*/A
2009 – 26.7% A 2008 – 25.9% A 2007 – 25.3% A 2006 – 24.1% A 2005 – 22.8% A
(234,176)
2012 – 26.6% A*/As
(229,243)
(228,683)
(221,006)
(214,384)
4,933 reduction in number of students getting A*/A
(203,831)
(194,173)
(178,724)
Source: Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), ‘Examination Results: A-Levels <http://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-results/a-levels> [accessed 19 November, 2012].
13
Increase in available places for ABB+
Guardian, April 27, 2012
AAB+ 2011-12 - Cap removed for AAB students (75,000)
Core and Margin
2011-12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20,000 places for institutions at ÂŁ7,500
2012-13 - Cap removed for ABB students (est.35,000) Source: <http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/name,72760,en.html>
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Challenging minds in challenging times â&#x20AC;˘ Application and admission figures â&#x20AC;˘ The globalization of HE and Russell Group universities
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The globalization of Higher Education Sweden - 2
Finland - 1
Denmark - 2 Ireland - 1
Canada - 3
UK - 18
France - 2
Switzerland - 4
USA - 31
China - 3
Netherlands - 4
Germany - 4
South Korea - 3
Japan - 6
Belgium - 1
Taiwan - 1
Hong Kong - 4 Singapore - 2
Australia - 7 New Zealand - 1 Source: QS World Rankings 2012-13 <http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-universityrankings/2012>
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Global graduates
Oxford
Southampton
Cambridge
UCL
Edinburgh
Nottingham St. Andrews Birmingham
Bristol
Manchester
York
Glasgow
UK universities in the World Top 100 Imperial
Leeds
QS World University Ranking 2012-13
LSE
Durham Kings
Warwick
Sheffield 17
Global graduates
Oxford
Southampton
Cambridge
UCL
Edinburgh
Nottingham St. Andrews Birmingham
Bristol
Manchester
York
Glasgow
RG universities in Imperial
World Top 100
Leeds
QS World University Ranking 2012-13
LSE
Durham Kings
Warwick
Sheffield 18
Research intensive universities •University of Birmingham
•London School of Economics (LSE)
•University of Bristol
•University of Manchester
•University of Cambridge
•Newcastle University
•Cardiff University
•University of Nottingham
•Durham University
•Queen Mary, University of London
•University of Edinburgh
•Queen’s University Belfast
•University of Exeter
•University of Oxford
•University of Glasgow
•University of Sheffield
•Imperial College London
•University of Southampton
•King’s College London
•University College London (UCL)
•University of Leeds
•University of Warwick
•University of Liverpool
•University of York
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Research
Education
Enterprise 20
Problems
Solutions
Jobs 21
Challenging minds in challenging times • Application and admission figures • The globalization of HE and Russell Group universities • League tables
22
23
Key Information Sets
24
25
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Building the perfect CV History Language â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Arabic Level 1-6
Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s War on Terror The Rise of Islam
The First Crusade
Politics
International Relations
From Empire to Globalisation
American Power and World Order
Issues in Third World Politics
Iran and the West
International Security
Year 3
Specialist Subject and dissertation of 10,000 words27
Employability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey
91%
of our graduates were employed or undertaking further study six months after graduation 28
Source: Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2010-11 <http://www.southampton.ac.uk/careers/DLHE/>
Employability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey
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Sources for checking on university performance The Good University Guide, The Times (paysite) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug/?CMP=KNGvccp1-sunday+times+university+guide
Guardian University Guide http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide
The Complete University Guide (with Independent) http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
QS Top Universities http://www.topuniversities.com/
Times Higher Education World University Rankings http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/world-ranking
Unistats http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/ 30
Challenging minds in challenging times • Application and admission figures • The globalization of HE and Russell Group universities • League tables • Fees
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Average graduate earnings, 2000 - 2010
Source: Office of National Statistics, <http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_233872.pdf>
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Comprehensive support package Those institutions asking for full fees are required to provide the most generous financial support packages
Fee waivers Southampton Entitlement Bursary support
33
University of Southampton fee waiver Graduate contribution (ÂŁk)
10 9
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
21%*
15%*
64%* * percentage of students that fall into each bracket
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 70 Household income (ÂŁk)
Source: http://www.soton.ac.uk/study/feesandfundin g/undergradfees_2012.html
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Key Information Sets
Tuition Fees
£9,000
£8,200 35
Researching fees and finances • Government website <http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/Unive rsityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm?> • Martin Lewis, heading independent “fees taskforce” <http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/studentloans-tuition-fees-changes> • Individual institutions own sites e.g. ‘University of Southampton Student Finance Calculator’ <http://www.soton.ac.uk/calculator/index_2012.html> 36
Challenging minds in challenging times • Application and admission figures • The globalization of HE and Russell Group universities • League tables • Fees • State verses independent intake
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State and independent sectors
Jeevan Vasagar, Guardian, 7 January 2011
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State and independent sectors 82%
18%
39
60%
62%
63%
66%
71%
73%
40%
38%
37%
34%
29%
27%
84%
60% 40%
Source: HESA, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Young full-time undergraduate entrants by state school markerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, <http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2060&Itemid=141> [accessed 07 February, 2013].
16%
Southampton
59% 41%
73%
55% 45%
Russell Group full-time UG intake 2010-11
The reasons for independent school success 1) Less state school students apply to Russell Group universities ‘Low aspirations, lack of guidance and, most important, under-achievement […] remain significant barriers.’ Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, quoted in Rowenna Davis, ‘Working-class revolution not reaching ‘posh’ universities’, Guardian, 28 September, 2010 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/sep/28/working-class-studentsposh-universities> [accessed 30 September, 2010].
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The reasons for independent school success 2) Subject choice at GCSE and sixth-form
‘Non-selective state school students are far more likely to take non-traditional A-levels […].’ ‘The hard truth about “soft” subjects’, Fazackerley and Chant, Policy Exchange, December 2008
42
‘Hard’ A-levels verses ‘soft’ A-levels
43
Google “Russell Group Informed Choices”
Source: <http://www.russellgroup.ac. uk/media/informedchoices/InformedChoiceslatest.pdf>
44
Source: <http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/informed-choices/InformedChoices-latest.pdf>
45
Facilitating subjects at A-level Mathematics Further Maths Biology
Physics
Geography History English Literature Languages (Modern and Classic)
Chemistry Two facilitating subjects keeps your options open for a wide variety of degrees.
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A-level exam performance A / A* ratio
35.3 %
Source: UCAS results summary 2009 - 2010
27.7 %
47
University degree performance 1/2:1 ratio
64 %
68 %
Source: ‘The Social Composition and Future Earnings of Postgraduates’, London School of Economics’ Centre for Economic Performance, March 2010 <http://www.suttontrust.com/research/the-social-composition-and-futureearnings-of-postgraduates/>
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Undergraduate degree performance
Source: A. Hoare & R. Johnston, Widening Participation Through Admissions Policy - a British Case Study of School and University Performance, University of Bristol, (2010); HESA DLHE survey data analysis, UpReach report, November 2012, http://upreach.org.uk/upReach%20– %20Access%20to%20the%20Professions%20for%20Undergraduates%20from%20Less-Privileged%20Backgrounds%20–%20The%20Issue.pdf [accessed 16 January, 2013].
Degree performance 1 / 2:1 ratio â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;In the state sector there's more independent learning. Students are more used to working things out on their own rather than having a teacher giving them individual attention. When they get to university, where the classes are much larger than at school, they're better equipped to cope than those from private schools.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Richard Murphy, Research Economist, LSE, Friday 23 July, 2010 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jul/23/state-school-pupils-better-university> [accessed 16 September 2010].
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Summary • More places available than ever before for those that achieve the grades • UK students have access to world-class institutions
• Careful use of league tables, in particular the combination of student satisfaction and employability, is vital • A degree from a good university will recoup its costs • One of the biggest obstacles to progression into highly selective universities is a lack of confidence 51
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