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UCAS Adjustment
UCAS have a section about Adjustment on the website:
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/
It includes 5 sources.
3 text:
a) Facts http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
b) before registeration http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/beforeregistering
c) after registraion http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/afterregistering
and 3 videos:
d) 3 minute general description of the system http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/#
e)plus 30 second interviews with university admissions heads from a range of universities including, Birmingham, Derby and Oxford. http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=28
f) 11 minute interview with Anthony Maclaren (AM) (head of UCAS) (This also includes some more 30 second comments from certain unis e.g. Cambridge and Aber. http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=27
Research Section
UCAS Adjustment: What is it?
The idea is to help students who either did better than expected or under applied. This is what Angela Milln (Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol) said in the UCAS Newsletter (which is directed to school teachers) in January 2009:
“Have you ever found yourself trying to advise a student who has been that bit too cautious in their UCAS choices? Maybe someone who underestimated their abilities and then emerged clutching a string of A grades and a nagging sense of disappointment that they didn’t set their sights higher? If so, you’ll be relieved to hear that a new alternative is now on offer – the opportunity to submit a fresh application following results publication, while at the same time protecting the original firm choice offer.”
What is confirmed by UCAS?
See the UCAS webpgaes linked to above.
Are the sources reliable?
I have found and used the following sources (in brackets I have given how I will refer to those sources in the rest of the FAQ):
1) Notts design for computer system.
http://alanpaull.co.uk/adom/ADoM-2008-05-20_Instance_0.php
ADoM Flowchart
ADoM is a JISC funded project led by the University of Nottingham, Centre for International ePortfolio Development in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, UCAS and APS Ltd.
design for software that will run the system
2) UCAS newsletter January 2009 (Bristol)
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/ucasnews_issue27.pdf
p6
Angela Milln
Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol
3) Reading Uni
Laura Kishore, Academic Registrar (Reading).
4) Steve Smith Chair of the England and Northern Ireland Council, Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University
http://www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/docs/YUConf08/Prof%20Steve%20Smith%20keynote%20speech%20day%201.pdf
(Exeter)
5) Chief Executive UCAS Anthony McClaran (Chief)
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/DevelopmentsinHEApplicationsandAdmissions-AnthonyMcClaran.ppt
6) Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/responses/dpcons3.doc
7) Government response to consultation (May 2006) (DCSF)
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Improving%20the%20HE%20Applications%20Process%20-%20Government%20Response%20.pdf
8)Report to Senate Committee at Loughborough University.
http://info.lut.ac.uk/admin/committees/senate/papers/2009/sen09-p25.htm
The quantity and quality of these sources mean that whilst some details are uncertain, we can be certain it is happening. Note sources are potentially talking in an individual capacity and hence their views may not represent an official institution specific viewpoint (despite me using the university name as a reference).
Who is eligible?
Students who exceeded their offer
(Originally discussion was on only students who surpassed their predicted being eligible but that is not happening now).
Bristol “Only applicants holding a conditional firm offer who meet and exceed the academic conditions of that offer will be eligible. Once the firm choice institution confirms an offer as unconditional, eligible applicants will have five calendar days to seek and secure an adjustment place. To do this, they will need to register using UCAS Track and, at the same time, contact admissions offices direct to seek out vacancies (much as Clearing applicants do). If an applicant doesn’t secure a place within this timeframe, their original firm choice will stand. Alternatively if they secure a new offer, they will become ‘unconditional firm’ with the new institution, relinquishing the original firm choice.”
What counts as exceeding your offer?
Examples of meeting and exceeding your offer - you are eligible to use Adjustment
Exceed Offer Actual grades
A level AAB A level AAA
A level CCD (C in Chemistry) A level ACD (A in Chemistry)
A level ABB (B in History) A level ABB (A in History)
SQA Higher BCC SQA Higher ABC
SQA Higher BBC (C in Chemistry) SQA Higher ABC (B in Chemistry)
SQA Adv Higher D in Italian SQA Adv Higher B in Italian
International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 5 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 6 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades BCC Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades ABC
Examples of not exceeding your offer - you are not eligible to use Adjustment:
Offer Actual grades
A level CCD (C in Chemistry) A level BCD (D in Chemistry)
SQA Higher CCC SQA Higher BCD
240 Tariff points overall including C in French 280 Tariff points overall including D in French
BTEC National Diploma MMM BTEC National Diploma MMP
International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 5 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry International Baccalaureate total 32 points including 4 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades BCC Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade C in Mathematics and Grades ACC
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
Do extra A-level count?
Well none of the examples above have more qualifications taken than required as part of the offer.
They could have (easily) included an example (e.g. AABB actual and an AAB offer) in either category.
So it looks to me like they are leaving themselves wiggle room on what to do here.
But from an applicant's point of view if you exceed using extra qualifications and there is somewhere with places in Adjustment you would prefer to go to then you might as well make a transfer application.
i.e. that you might not be eligible for a transfer is not a reason for not trying.
Will I be told if I am eligible?
No.
Bristol "The complexity of offers means that the process of identifying eligible applicants cannot be automated.
Initially applicants will need to ‘self-nominate’, with eligibility being confirmed by institutions later. To
avoid false hopes, applicants must understand the precision behind the phrase ‘exceeding offer
conditions’. If, for example, an offer reads ‘ABB (A in History)’, actual grades of AAB (B in History) won’t be enough"
This has been confirmed by UCAS: Anthony Maclaren says that students will not be told by UCAS if they are eligible for Adjustment as it may be "complex in certain cases"
If I apply through Adjustment do I risk losing my Firmed place?
No
i.e. they can't reject you just becuase you enquired about other unis. But
Originally Posted by UCAS
I've been accepted for an Adjustment place but want my original UF choice. What can I do?
You have made a commitment to your Adjustment choice so if you no longer want to attend the course you should contact the university or college to discuss your situation. As soon as you were accepted at your Adjustment choice, your original UF choice would have been informed - this means that the place is no longer held for you, so you will need to contact them to see if they can still offer you the place. If your Adjustment choice agree to withdraw your offer, you will be entered into Clearing - if your original choice can still offer you a place, they can make you an offer in Clearing.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/faqs/#Adjustment
Can my firm uni stop me?
No
(except by not firming you and that sounds a bit paranoid to me!)
If I meet my offer can my Firm uni dump me and take someone else through Adjustment?
No if you meet your offer your uni still has to take you
Will there be a listing available of what universities are in Adjustment for my subject?
UCAS webiste: "You need to contact admissions offices at universities and colleges direct to discuss possible vacancies and their entry requirements. There are no Adjustment vacancy lists"
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/afterregistering
But Anthony Maclaren in his interview said when asked about possiblity of vacancy lists:
"We are not certain yet (if that will be possible)"
So that gives UCAS a bit of wiggle room.
However universities (e.g. York on UCAS TV) are saying that some information will be on their websites but Adjustment will mainly be run by phone
Will many students benefit from the Adjustment system?
Not many as it is believed that only a few students better their offers.
Exeter “only 827 students on a 36,000 student survey will do better than expected enough to change institution.”
DCSF p27 "We do not intend to create a system in which there is very high demand for a small number of places. We acknowledge that exam results are only one of several factors that determine which place a student takes up. For us, the likely consequence of this is that few students will want to change their first firm conditional offer, even if they achieve higher grades than required. Some will, as now, opt to take a gap-year and re-apply, as pre-qualified students, in the following year. We are also clear that some high demand courses which are already oversubscribed are unlikely to have many vacancies for new, post exam results, applications."
Chief “Scale of the issue is unknown but is thought to be applicable only to a small number of people.”
Notts “It is estimated that from the 500,000 or so applying annually through UCAS, the number of applicants eligible for this process would be in the hundreds.”
But:
Birmingham say that 20% of their students exceed their offers. (This does not surprise me if other subjects are like Economics where they make ABB offers (AAB in 2010) despite being a top 15 course (much higher in certain newspaper tables).
http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=28
The uni places that go to students through Adjustment this year what would have happened to those places in previous years?
Three destinations:
i) Free Agents (students not holding any UCAS offers and hence who don;t need to be released from a uni)
e.g. students who were planning a GAP year or had got 5 rejections and did not find anything in EXTRA.
ii)Students who missed their grades
Cambridge "There is a risk that many more of the students who just miss their offers are disadvantaged by the process, should institutions decide to be unscrupulous and wait to see what applications they receive for adjustment. These students could find that they are kept waiting for a decision and therefore miss opportunities in clearing. It is likely that the 'just missed' group of students is much larger than those genuinely wanting to move because they have exceeded their offer"
iii)unfilled
How many students got Adjustment places in 2009?
384
A new feature this year was Adjustment. Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected, exceeding the conditions of their firm choice. The five-day window allowed over 380 students to find an alternative place.
Over 40% of applicants had the opportunity to use the scheme. Of a total of 3,600 registrations, 384 were placed in their Adjustment choice, 2,355 reconfirmed with their original choice and 444 were placed in another choice (main scheme, Extra or Clearing). 417 of those who registered were not placed.
Virginia continues: "The new Adjustment process operated smoothly. While only a small number of applicants utilised the service, it gave students, particularly those with more vocational qualifications, the chance to review their options within a secure framework"
http://www.ucas.co.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2009/2009-10-21
But in 2009 there were record numbers of applicants, so not surprising there was a lack of places come August.
Possible in 2010 there may be more places. e.g. a few thousand. But it may only be a few hundred again.
Am I guaranteed a place at a “better” uni?
Absolutely not. Indeed making PQA (Post Qualification Application) easier does not create any new places.
Cambridge: "The possibility of raising expectations in students which may not be able to be met. The process will not be able to create more places in very competitive courses, and therefore there will inevitably be dissatisfaction amongst some students."
Adjustment is ‘just’ a matching service between students who beat their offers and unis with places. It is not a place creation scheme.
Originally Posted by UCAS
Which universities and colleges can I apply to through Adjustment?
This depends on the vacancies available at each university or college. There is no course vacancy list published for Adjustment, so we ask universities and colleges to be open and transparent on their websites about potential Adjustment vacancies. If other applicants decide to use Adjustment, the vacancy situation may change on a daily basis.
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/resultsandnextsteps/faqs/#awhere
What about if I missed my Firm offer but got my insurance offer am eligible for UCAS Adjustment?
No sorry you are not
Bristol “Those with insurance ….offers will not qualify”
Originally Posted by UCAS
You cannot adjust your insurance choice.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
What about if I had an unconditional offer?
No you are not eligible.
Bristol “Those with …original unconditional offers will not qualify”
Originally Posted by UCAS
your original offer was unconditional.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
How long is Adjustment open for?
Originally Posted by UCAS
The Adjustment process is available from A level results day (20 August 2009) until 2 September 2009. Your individual Adjustment period starts on 20 August or when your conditional firm (CF) choice changes to unconditional firm (UF), whichever is later. From this time you have five calendar days (five 24 hour periods, including saturdays and sundays) to register and secure an alternative course, if you decide this is what you want to do.
Your Track 'choices' page shows you when your Adjustment period ends. If you become eligible to use Adjustment less than five calendar days before 2 September, you have the remaining time before then to find an alternative place. For example, if you become unconditional firm on 31 August you will have three days to use the process.
If you do not find a suitable place elsewhere you will remain accepted at your original choice.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
How do I use Adjustment?
Originally Posted by UCAS
How to use Adjustment
If you want to use Adjustment, you will need to register in Track. The option to register will be displayed for all applicants whose place has been confirmed (status has changed from conditional firm (CF) to unconditional firm (UF)). However, you are only eligible if you have met and exceeded your original CF offer conditions. It will be up to the universities and colleges to verify this.
To use Adjustment:
1. Register in Track by clicking on 'Register for Adjustment' on your 'choices' screen.
2. Contact a university or college to find another place.
3. The institution will check that you exceed the conditions of your unconditional firm choice.
4. The institution will tell you if they can offer you a place, and you tell them if you want to accept it.
5. If you are accepted through Adjustment, your Track screen will be updated with the new choice and we will send you a confirmation letter.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
So do I need to register for Adjustment before ringing around?
Well Universities are saying that they will not be able to see if your details unless you register. Once you register all unis will be able to see that you have registered for Adjustment (including your Firm).
Why are you telling us now?
If you miss Firm or Insurance choices you are less likely to get in now as other students can get in via adjustment. Hence should think about how conservative you are with your selections (esp with Insurance)
Will Scottish students (who get their reults early) be able to enter Adjustment earlier?
Anthony Martin in his interview made it clear that they would not.
Should I, if I get the opportunity should I go for a higher offer uni?
Not necessarily. If you are transferring you want to be making an informed choice. So transferring from uni X to uni Y if you applied to/researched deeply/visited uni Y is one thing. Conversely if you don’t even know where uni Y is in the UK is another.
Bristol “Adjustment isn’t compulsory and not everyone will want to pursue an alternative. Nothing really beats careful research earlier in the year and no-one wants to see students flattered into eleventh hour changes which they later regret”
Anthony Martin stressed importance of relationship with UF uni. Do you want to leave that?
There also may be practical issues:
Originally Posted by UCAS
You must consider non-academic arrangements such as accommodation and student finance. These may be difficult to secure or there may be delays if changes are made at short notice. You should contact your UF choice if you are concerned about arrangements that you have made with them.
i.e. if you adjust at your new uni you may no longer be guaranteed university accommodation and hence up in poor quality accommodation.
Can I apply to universities I did not apply to originally?
Yes.
Can I apply to universities I did apply to originally?
Yes.
Analysis Section
Will even top course be in Adjustment?
Well, Medicine has its own clearing system. So why not?
Will Oxford and Cambridge be using Adjustment?
They may possibly have some places in some subjects. But it certainly is not common and certainly is rare. But rare is not the same as never.
I can’t see them making post-qualification offers to applicants unless they have already interviewed them. If they do have capacity given the new rules I can’t see the fact that their desired candidate has a Firm at another uni stopping them from taking that person.
This is the official Cambridge position:
The final stage
If you are offered a place, you will be informed by the College and through UCAS. You must reply, observing UCAS requirements and deadlines. If you accept Cambridge ‘firmly’ you must meet the conditions of your offer (if your offer had conditions attached) by the deadline set by UCAS. In a few cases, applicants who have not quite met the conditions of their offer may still be offered a place, either at their original College, or at another College as a result of a small ‘summer pool’.
The University of Cambridge does not normally enter Clearing nor will places be available in the August 2009 adjustment period. If your A level results turn out to be much better than you expected and you decide that you wish to try for a place at Cambridge, you’ll need to apply in the following year’s application process.
Why do even top courses sometimes have spaces?
The facts are:
1) Universities do not want too many students on each course. As
i) Unis get fined if they take too many students. i.e. the government does not want too many students doing any one subject
ii) there are Practical issues: size of lecture halls, number of teachers etc.
2) UCAS offers are binding on unis. So if then end up with too many students they can't turn some away
3) unis struggle to predict uptake rates. As the applicants they make offers to may or may not:
i) receive an offer at another uni that they prefer.
ii) do a GAP year
iii) Study abroad
iv) fail exams
These facts results in unis making many offers per place ( e.g. UCL are 4th or 5th for Economics but make approx 600 offers for 180 places). This means that sometimes on particular courses:
1)unis end up with more students than they wanted (e.g. in economics (2007 UCL and Warwick both 40% excess), 2008 Notts 40% Excess)
2)Unis end up with less students than they want and hence in the past have used informal clearing (e.g. Economics Warwick 2008) and this year will use Adjustment as well.
What do you mean by informal clearing?
This is when on Results Day unis are not listed in The Independent newspaper or on the UCAS website as being in clearing but are making offers to students who ring up
How many unis will be looking for people?
Hard to say as:
i)Past evidence is only for formal clearing through UCAS and Independent
ii) Informal clearing also exists but by its very nature is not formalised and recorded.
iii) Adjustment will have an impact this year.
Bristol: “The vacancy picture may fluctuate. Courses without vacancies may develop them later as ‘firm’ applicants move elsewhere”. So this could induce a wave of vacancies down the league tables
How can I tell which courses are perhaps a bit more likely to use Adjustment?
1) Empirical evidence. Some unis have been telling rejected candidates on the phone that if they get the grades to ring up on Results Day and they will sort something out.(e.g. economics at LSE and Notts). These are perhaps most likely to be students that were rejected purely on the basis of their predicted grades. So if you had all A grade predictions then perhaps this is less likely to work.
2) Analysis. Courses that had excess students last year may not have made enough offers this year and so may end up using Adjustment.
3) Some courses have a policy of making low offers to applicants even though their applicants get high grades. For example:
i) Edinburgh BBB offers to AAA candidates. Nearly all subjects ( inc. Econ)
ii) Warwick Economics AAB offers to AAB/AAA predicted applicants
With such courses come Results Day, almost none of their students will have offers that are binding on them. So some could move. But (and it is a big but) students can only move up if they have somewhere to go and if there are no space they can't. And in both the example I gave that may well be very very hard.
Why would a university be in adjustment but not Clearing?
Well I guess that would be a question of prestige.
i.e. being in clearing could sound desperate ( "We need bodies" )
whilst being in adjustment could sound socially aware ("we want to help out over achievers" ).
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/
It includes 5 sources.
3 text:
a) Facts http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
b) before registeration http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/beforeregistering
c) after registraion http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/afterregistering
and 3 videos:
d) 3 minute general description of the system http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/#
e)plus 30 second interviews with university admissions heads from a range of universities including, Birmingham, Derby and Oxford. http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=28
f) 11 minute interview with Anthony Maclaren (AM) (head of UCAS) (This also includes some more 30 second comments from certain unis e.g. Cambridge and Aber. http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=27
Research Section
UCAS Adjustment: What is it?
The idea is to help students who either did better than expected or under applied. This is what Angela Milln (Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol) said in the UCAS Newsletter (which is directed to school teachers) in January 2009:
“Have you ever found yourself trying to advise a student who has been that bit too cautious in their UCAS choices? Maybe someone who underestimated their abilities and then emerged clutching a string of A grades and a nagging sense of disappointment that they didn’t set their sights higher? If so, you’ll be relieved to hear that a new alternative is now on offer – the opportunity to submit a fresh application following results publication, while at the same time protecting the original firm choice offer.”
What is confirmed by UCAS?
See the UCAS webpgaes linked to above.
Are the sources reliable?
I have found and used the following sources (in brackets I have given how I will refer to those sources in the rest of the FAQ):
1) Notts design for computer system.
http://alanpaull.co.uk/adom/ADoM-2008-05-20_Instance_0.php
ADoM Flowchart
ADoM is a JISC funded project led by the University of Nottingham, Centre for International ePortfolio Development in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, UCAS and APS Ltd.
design for software that will run the system
2) UCAS newsletter January 2009 (Bristol)
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/ucasnews_issue27.pdf
p6
Angela Milln
Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol
3) Reading Uni
Laura Kishore, Academic Registrar (Reading).
4) Steve Smith Chair of the England and Northern Ireland Council, Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University
http://www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/docs/YUConf08/Prof%20Steve%20Smith%20keynote%20speech%20day%201.pdf
(Exeter)
5) Chief Executive UCAS Anthony McClaran (Chief)
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/DevelopmentsinHEApplicationsandAdmissions-AnthonyMcClaran.ppt
6) Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/responses/dpcons3.doc
7) Government response to consultation (May 2006) (DCSF)
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Improving%20the%20HE%20Applications%20Process%20-%20Government%20Response%20.pdf
8)Report to Senate Committee at Loughborough University.
http://info.lut.ac.uk/admin/committees/senate/papers/2009/sen09-p25.htm
The quantity and quality of these sources mean that whilst some details are uncertain, we can be certain it is happening. Note sources are potentially talking in an individual capacity and hence their views may not represent an official institution specific viewpoint (despite me using the university name as a reference).
Who is eligible?
Students who exceeded their offer
(Originally discussion was on only students who surpassed their predicted being eligible but that is not happening now).
Bristol “Only applicants holding a conditional firm offer who meet and exceed the academic conditions of that offer will be eligible. Once the firm choice institution confirms an offer as unconditional, eligible applicants will have five calendar days to seek and secure an adjustment place. To do this, they will need to register using UCAS Track and, at the same time, contact admissions offices direct to seek out vacancies (much as Clearing applicants do). If an applicant doesn’t secure a place within this timeframe, their original firm choice will stand. Alternatively if they secure a new offer, they will become ‘unconditional firm’ with the new institution, relinquishing the original firm choice.”
What counts as exceeding your offer?
Examples of meeting and exceeding your offer - you are eligible to use Adjustment
Exceed Offer Actual grades
A level AAB A level AAA
A level CCD (C in Chemistry) A level ACD (A in Chemistry)
A level ABB (B in History) A level ABB (A in History)
SQA Higher BCC SQA Higher ABC
SQA Higher BBC (C in Chemistry) SQA Higher ABC (B in Chemistry)
SQA Adv Higher D in Italian SQA Adv Higher B in Italian
International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 5 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 6 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades BCC Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades ABC
Examples of not exceeding your offer - you are not eligible to use Adjustment:
Offer Actual grades
A level CCD (C in Chemistry) A level BCD (D in Chemistry)
SQA Higher CCC SQA Higher BCD
240 Tariff points overall including C in French 280 Tariff points overall including D in French
BTEC National Diploma MMM BTEC National Diploma MMP
International Baccalaureate total 30 points including 5 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry International Baccalaureate total 32 points including 4 in Mathematics and 5 in Chemistry
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade B in Mathematics and Grades BCC Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level) grade C in Mathematics and Grades ACC
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
Do extra A-level count?
Well none of the examples above have more qualifications taken than required as part of the offer.
They could have (easily) included an example (e.g. AABB actual and an AAB offer) in either category.
So it looks to me like they are leaving themselves wiggle room on what to do here.
But from an applicant's point of view if you exceed using extra qualifications and there is somewhere with places in Adjustment you would prefer to go to then you might as well make a transfer application.
i.e. that you might not be eligible for a transfer is not a reason for not trying.
Will I be told if I am eligible?
No.
Bristol "The complexity of offers means that the process of identifying eligible applicants cannot be automated.
Initially applicants will need to ‘self-nominate’, with eligibility being confirmed by institutions later. To
avoid false hopes, applicants must understand the precision behind the phrase ‘exceeding offer
conditions’. If, for example, an offer reads ‘ABB (A in History)’, actual grades of AAB (B in History) won’t be enough"
This has been confirmed by UCAS: Anthony Maclaren says that students will not be told by UCAS if they are eligible for Adjustment as it may be "complex in certain cases"
If I apply through Adjustment do I risk losing my Firmed place?
No
i.e. they can't reject you just becuase you enquired about other unis. But
Originally Posted by UCAS
I've been accepted for an Adjustment place but want my original UF choice. What can I do?
You have made a commitment to your Adjustment choice so if you no longer want to attend the course you should contact the university or college to discuss your situation. As soon as you were accepted at your Adjustment choice, your original UF choice would have been informed - this means that the place is no longer held for you, so you will need to contact them to see if they can still offer you the place. If your Adjustment choice agree to withdraw your offer, you will be entered into Clearing - if your original choice can still offer you a place, they can make you an offer in Clearing.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/faqs/#Adjustment
Can my firm uni stop me?
No
(except by not firming you and that sounds a bit paranoid to me!)
If I meet my offer can my Firm uni dump me and take someone else through Adjustment?
No if you meet your offer your uni still has to take you
Will there be a listing available of what universities are in Adjustment for my subject?
UCAS webiste: "You need to contact admissions offices at universities and colleges direct to discuss possible vacancies and their entry requirements. There are no Adjustment vacancy lists"
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/afterregistering
But Anthony Maclaren in his interview said when asked about possiblity of vacancy lists:
"We are not certain yet (if that will be possible)"
So that gives UCAS a bit of wiggle room.
However universities (e.g. York on UCAS TV) are saying that some information will be on their websites but Adjustment will mainly be run by phone
Will many students benefit from the Adjustment system?
Not many as it is believed that only a few students better their offers.
Exeter “only 827 students on a 36,000 student survey will do better than expected enough to change institution.”
DCSF p27 "We do not intend to create a system in which there is very high demand for a small number of places. We acknowledge that exam results are only one of several factors that determine which place a student takes up. For us, the likely consequence of this is that few students will want to change their first firm conditional offer, even if they achieve higher grades than required. Some will, as now, opt to take a gap-year and re-apply, as pre-qualified students, in the following year. We are also clear that some high demand courses which are already oversubscribed are unlikely to have many vacancies for new, post exam results, applications."
Chief “Scale of the issue is unknown but is thought to be applicable only to a small number of people.”
Notts “It is estimated that from the 500,000 or so applying annually through UCAS, the number of applicants eligible for this process would be in the hundreds.”
But:
Birmingham say that 20% of their students exceed their offers. (This does not surprise me if other subjects are like Economics where they make ABB offers (AAB in 2010) despite being a top 15 course (much higher in certain newspaper tables).
http://www.ucas.tv/index.php?id=28
The uni places that go to students through Adjustment this year what would have happened to those places in previous years?
Three destinations:
i) Free Agents (students not holding any UCAS offers and hence who don;t need to be released from a uni)
e.g. students who were planning a GAP year or had got 5 rejections and did not find anything in EXTRA.
ii)Students who missed their grades
Cambridge "There is a risk that many more of the students who just miss their offers are disadvantaged by the process, should institutions decide to be unscrupulous and wait to see what applications they receive for adjustment. These students could find that they are kept waiting for a decision and therefore miss opportunities in clearing. It is likely that the 'just missed' group of students is much larger than those genuinely wanting to move because they have exceeded their offer"
iii)unfilled
How many students got Adjustment places in 2009?
384
A new feature this year was Adjustment. Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected, exceeding the conditions of their firm choice. The five-day window allowed over 380 students to find an alternative place.
Over 40% of applicants had the opportunity to use the scheme. Of a total of 3,600 registrations, 384 were placed in their Adjustment choice, 2,355 reconfirmed with their original choice and 444 were placed in another choice (main scheme, Extra or Clearing). 417 of those who registered were not placed.
Virginia continues: "The new Adjustment process operated smoothly. While only a small number of applicants utilised the service, it gave students, particularly those with more vocational qualifications, the chance to review their options within a secure framework"
http://www.ucas.co.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2009/2009-10-21
But in 2009 there were record numbers of applicants, so not surprising there was a lack of places come August.
Possible in 2010 there may be more places. e.g. a few thousand. But it may only be a few hundred again.
Am I guaranteed a place at a “better” uni?
Absolutely not. Indeed making PQA (Post Qualification Application) easier does not create any new places.
Cambridge: "The possibility of raising expectations in students which may not be able to be met. The process will not be able to create more places in very competitive courses, and therefore there will inevitably be dissatisfaction amongst some students."
Adjustment is ‘just’ a matching service between students who beat their offers and unis with places. It is not a place creation scheme.
Originally Posted by UCAS
Which universities and colleges can I apply to through Adjustment?
This depends on the vacancies available at each university or college. There is no course vacancy list published for Adjustment, so we ask universities and colleges to be open and transparent on their websites about potential Adjustment vacancies. If other applicants decide to use Adjustment, the vacancy situation may change on a daily basis.
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/resultsandnextsteps/faqs/#awhere
What about if I missed my Firm offer but got my insurance offer am eligible for UCAS Adjustment?
No sorry you are not
Bristol “Those with insurance ….offers will not qualify”
Originally Posted by UCAS
You cannot adjust your insurance choice.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
What about if I had an unconditional offer?
No you are not eligible.
Bristol “Those with …original unconditional offers will not qualify”
Originally Posted by UCAS
your original offer was unconditional.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
How long is Adjustment open for?
Originally Posted by UCAS
The Adjustment process is available from A level results day (20 August 2009) until 2 September 2009. Your individual Adjustment period starts on 20 August or when your conditional firm (CF) choice changes to unconditional firm (UF), whichever is later. From this time you have five calendar days (five 24 hour periods, including saturdays and sundays) to register and secure an alternative course, if you decide this is what you want to do.
Your Track 'choices' page shows you when your Adjustment period ends. If you become eligible to use Adjustment less than five calendar days before 2 September, you have the remaining time before then to find an alternative place. For example, if you become unconditional firm on 31 August you will have three days to use the process.
If you do not find a suitable place elsewhere you will remain accepted at your original choice.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
How do I use Adjustment?
Originally Posted by UCAS
How to use Adjustment
If you want to use Adjustment, you will need to register in Track. The option to register will be displayed for all applicants whose place has been confirmed (status has changed from conditional firm (CF) to unconditional firm (UF)). However, you are only eligible if you have met and exceeded your original CF offer conditions. It will be up to the universities and colleges to verify this.
To use Adjustment:
1. Register in Track by clicking on 'Register for Adjustment' on your 'choices' screen.
2. Contact a university or college to find another place.
3. The institution will check that you exceed the conditions of your unconditional firm choice.
4. The institution will tell you if they can offer you a place, and you tell them if you want to accept it.
5. If you are accepted through Adjustment, your Track screen will be updated with the new choice and we will send you a confirmation letter.
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment/facts
So do I need to register for Adjustment before ringing around?
Well Universities are saying that they will not be able to see if your details unless you register. Once you register all unis will be able to see that you have registered for Adjustment (including your Firm).
Why are you telling us now?
If you miss Firm or Insurance choices you are less likely to get in now as other students can get in via adjustment. Hence should think about how conservative you are with your selections (esp with Insurance)
Will Scottish students (who get their reults early) be able to enter Adjustment earlier?
Anthony Martin in his interview made it clear that they would not.
Should I, if I get the opportunity should I go for a higher offer uni?
Not necessarily. If you are transferring you want to be making an informed choice. So transferring from uni X to uni Y if you applied to/researched deeply/visited uni Y is one thing. Conversely if you don’t even know where uni Y is in the UK is another.
Bristol “Adjustment isn’t compulsory and not everyone will want to pursue an alternative. Nothing really beats careful research earlier in the year and no-one wants to see students flattered into eleventh hour changes which they later regret”
Anthony Martin stressed importance of relationship with UF uni. Do you want to leave that?
There also may be practical issues:
Originally Posted by UCAS
You must consider non-academic arrangements such as accommodation and student finance. These may be difficult to secure or there may be delays if changes are made at short notice. You should contact your UF choice if you are concerned about arrangements that you have made with them.
i.e. if you adjust at your new uni you may no longer be guaranteed university accommodation and hence up in poor quality accommodation.
Can I apply to universities I did not apply to originally?
Yes.
Can I apply to universities I did apply to originally?
Yes.
Analysis Section
Will even top course be in Adjustment?
Well, Medicine has its own clearing system. So why not?
Will Oxford and Cambridge be using Adjustment?
They may possibly have some places in some subjects. But it certainly is not common and certainly is rare. But rare is not the same as never.
I can’t see them making post-qualification offers to applicants unless they have already interviewed them. If they do have capacity given the new rules I can’t see the fact that their desired candidate has a Firm at another uni stopping them from taking that person.
This is the official Cambridge position:
The final stage
If you are offered a place, you will be informed by the College and through UCAS. You must reply, observing UCAS requirements and deadlines. If you accept Cambridge ‘firmly’ you must meet the conditions of your offer (if your offer had conditions attached) by the deadline set by UCAS. In a few cases, applicants who have not quite met the conditions of their offer may still be offered a place, either at their original College, or at another College as a result of a small ‘summer pool’.
The University of Cambridge does not normally enter Clearing nor will places be available in the August 2009 adjustment period. If your A level results turn out to be much better than you expected and you decide that you wish to try for a place at Cambridge, you’ll need to apply in the following year’s application process.
Why do even top courses sometimes have spaces?
The facts are:
1) Universities do not want too many students on each course. As
i) Unis get fined if they take too many students. i.e. the government does not want too many students doing any one subject
ii) there are Practical issues: size of lecture halls, number of teachers etc.
2) UCAS offers are binding on unis. So if then end up with too many students they can't turn some away
3) unis struggle to predict uptake rates. As the applicants they make offers to may or may not:
i) receive an offer at another uni that they prefer.
ii) do a GAP year
iii) Study abroad
iv) fail exams
These facts results in unis making many offers per place ( e.g. UCL are 4th or 5th for Economics but make approx 600 offers for 180 places). This means that sometimes on particular courses:
1)unis end up with more students than they wanted (e.g. in economics (2007 UCL and Warwick both 40% excess), 2008 Notts 40% Excess)
2)Unis end up with less students than they want and hence in the past have used informal clearing (e.g. Economics Warwick 2008) and this year will use Adjustment as well.
What do you mean by informal clearing?
This is when on Results Day unis are not listed in The Independent newspaper or on the UCAS website as being in clearing but are making offers to students who ring up
How many unis will be looking for people?
Hard to say as:
i)Past evidence is only for formal clearing through UCAS and Independent
ii) Informal clearing also exists but by its very nature is not formalised and recorded.
iii) Adjustment will have an impact this year.
Bristol: “The vacancy picture may fluctuate. Courses without vacancies may develop them later as ‘firm’ applicants move elsewhere”. So this could induce a wave of vacancies down the league tables
How can I tell which courses are perhaps a bit more likely to use Adjustment?
1) Empirical evidence. Some unis have been telling rejected candidates on the phone that if they get the grades to ring up on Results Day and they will sort something out.(e.g. economics at LSE and Notts). These are perhaps most likely to be students that were rejected purely on the basis of their predicted grades. So if you had all A grade predictions then perhaps this is less likely to work.
2) Analysis. Courses that had excess students last year may not have made enough offers this year and so may end up using Adjustment.
3) Some courses have a policy of making low offers to applicants even though their applicants get high grades. For example:
i) Edinburgh BBB offers to AAA candidates. Nearly all subjects ( inc. Econ)
ii) Warwick Economics AAB offers to AAB/AAA predicted applicants
With such courses come Results Day, almost none of their students will have offers that are binding on them. So some could move. But (and it is a big but) students can only move up if they have somewhere to go and if there are no space they can't. And in both the example I gave that may well be very very hard.
Why would a university be in adjustment but not Clearing?
Well I guess that would be a question of prestige.
i.e. being in clearing could sound desperate ( "We need bodies" )
whilst being in adjustment could sound socially aware ("we want to help out over achievers" ).
Scroll to see replies
This is sik 
Slight q,..
I was rejected from LSE, with the feedback being that my application was unsuccessful because of a single predicted grade (due to high competition),...surely now if I smash that prediction (I most certainly will), I can phone them up and ask to be reconsidered for a place?
It's not straight Economics (L101) which I'm sure would not accommodate such a request, but Economics & Economic History,which historicallyhas a very low intake
Slight q,..
I was rejected from LSE, with the feedback being that my application was unsuccessful because of a single predicted grade (due to high competition),...surely now if I smash that prediction (I most certainly will), I can phone them up and ask to be reconsidered for a place?
It's not straight Economics (L101) which I'm sure would not accommodate such a request, but Economics & Economic History,which historicallyhas a very low intake
Paulwhy
UCAS Adjustment: What is it?
The idea is to help students who either did better than expected or under applied. This is what Angela Milln (Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol) said in the UCAS Newsletter (which is directed to school teachers) in January 2009:
“Have you ever found yourself trying to advise a student who has been that bit too cautious in their UCAS choices? Maybe someone who underestimated their abilities and then emerged clutching a string of A grades and a nagging sense of disappointment that they didn’t set their sights higher? If so, you’ll be relieved to hear that a new alternative is now on offer – the opportunity to submit a fresh application following results publication, while at the same time protecting the original firm choice offer.”
What is confirmed by UCAS?
Very little information has been sent directly to students. The only official communication has been via the UCAS Website flowchart (UCAS flowchart):
“If applicant achieves better grades than required for their firmly accepted offer, they may look for an alternative course that has places available whilst still holding their original choice. Full details of the process will be available closer to the time.”
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/flowchart/appflow09_routeA.pdf
This is because communication so far has been from UCAS to Unis and Schools rather than from UCAS to applicants.
Are the sources reliable?
I have found and used the following sources (in brackets I have given how I will refer to those sources in the rest of the FAQ):
1) Notts design for computer system (Notts)
http://alanpaull.co.uk/adom/ADoM-2008-05-20_Instance_0.php
ADoM Flowchart
ADoM is a JISC funded project led by the University of Nottingham, Centre for International ePortfolio Development in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, UCAS and APS Ltd.
design for software that will run the system
2) UCAS newsletter January 2009 (Bristol)
Angela Milln
Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/ucasnews_issue27.pdf
p6
3) Laura Kishore, Academic Registrar (Reading)
Reading Uni
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Events/Documents/Laura%20Kishore%2012.10%20-%2012.30.ppt.
4) Steve Smith Chair of the England and Northern Ireland Council, Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University (Exeter)
http://www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/docs/YUConf08/Prof%20Steve%20Smith%20keynote%20speech%20day%201.pdf
5) Chief Executive UCAS Anthony McClaran (Chief)
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/DevelopmentsinHEApplicationsandAdmissions-AnthonyMcClaran.ppt+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=uk
6) Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/responses/dpcons3.doc+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=12&gl=uk
7) Government response to consultation (May 2006) (DCSF)
Education Department
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Improving%2520the%2520HE%2520Applications%2520Process%2520-%2520Government%2520Response%2520(Word).doc+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=41&gl=u
The quantity and quality of these sources mean that whilst some details are uncertain, we can be certain it is happening. Note sources are potentially talking in an individual capacity and hence their views may not represent an official institution specific viewpoint (despite me using the university name as a reference).
Who is eligible?
Students who exceeded their offer
(Originally discussion was on students who surpassed their predicted being eligible but does not look like that is happening now).
Bristol “Only applicants holding a conditional firm offer who meet and exceed the academic conditions of that offer will be eligible. Once the firm choice institution confirms an offer as unconditional, eligible applicants will have five calendar days to seek and secure an adjustment place. To do this, they will need to register using UCAS Track and, at the same time, contact admissions offices direct to seek out vacancies (much as Clearing applicants do). If an applicant doesn’t secure a place within this timeframe, their original firm choice will stand.Alternatively if they secure a new offer, they will become ‘unconditional firm’ with the new institution, relinquishing the original firm choice.”
If I apply through Adjustment do I risk losing my Firmed place?
No
Can my firm uni stop me?
No
(except by not firming you and that sounds a bit paranoid to me!)
If I meet my offer can my Firm uni dump me and take someone else through Adjustment?
No if you meet your offer your uni still has to take you
Will many students benefit from the Adjustment system?
Not many as it is believed that only a few students better their offers.
Exeter “only 827 students on a 36,000 student survey will do better than expected enough to change institution.”
DCSF "We do not intend to create a system in which there is very high demand for a small number of places. We acknowledge that exam results are only one of several factors that determine which place a student takes up. For us, the likely consequence of this is that few students will want to change their first firm conditional offer, even if they achieve higher grades than required. Some will, as now, opt to take a gap-year and re-apply, as pre-qualified students, in the following year. We are also clear that some high demand courses which are already oversubscribed are unlikely to have many vacancies for new, post exam results, applications."
Chief “Scale of the issue is unknown but is thought to be applicable only to a small number of people.”
Notts “It is estimated that from the 500,000 or so applying annually through UCAS, the number of applicants eligible for this process would be in the hundreds.”
The uni places that go to students through Adjustment this year what would have happened to those places in previous years?
Three destinations:
i) Free Agents (students not holding any UCAS offers and hence who don;t need to be released from a uni)
e.g. students who were planning a GAP year or had got 5 rejections and did not find anything in EXTRA.
ii)Students who missed their grades
Cambridge "There is a risk that many more of the students who just miss their offers are disadvantaged by the process, should institutions decide to be unscrupulous and wait to see what applications they receive for adjustment. These students could find that they are kept waiting for a decision and therefore miss opportunities in clearing. It is likely that the 'just missed' group of students is much larger than those genuinely wanting to move because they have exceeded their offer"
iii)unfilled
Am I guaranteed a place at a “better” uni?
Absolutely not. Indeed making PQA (Post Qualification Application) easier does not create any new places.
Cambridge: "The possibility of raising expectations in students which may not be able to be met. The process will not be able to create more places in very competitive courses, and therefore there will inevitably be dissatisfaction amongst some students."
Adjustment is ‘just’ a matching service between students who beat their offers and unis with places. It is not a place creation scheme.
What about if I missed my Firm offer but got my insurance offer am eligible for UCAS Adjustment?
No sorry you are not
Bristol “Those with insurance ….offers will not qualify”
What about if I had an unconditional offer?
No you are not eligible.
Bristol “Those with …original unconditional offers will not qualify”
How long is Adjustment open for?
Adjustment is only open for 5 calendar days. So all adjustment transactions need to be completed by 25th August
Reading
“Applicant registers on Track (by 25th August)
Applicant contacts institutions to find whether there are Adjustment vacancies
(2 possible outcomes)
- Applicant receives and accepts Unconditional offer through Adjustment; Applicant now placed at “adjustment” institution
Applicant does not receive offer through Adjustment within 5 days; Applicant remains placed at original Firm institution
All takes place within 5 days of publication of A-level results or of applicant becoming UF”
(Note the original source said 31st August but I am assuming that is a typo!)
Which unis will be using Adjustment?
Highly unlikely that the very very best unis for each subject will be in Adjustment as:
1) hardly anyone refuses offers from them
2) those unis will not be making offers to students who will not be reaching their offers.
So that means Cambridge and Oxford in any subject plus those unis that rival them for specific subjects (e.g. LSE for economics) will not be in Adjustment.
But all the rest some chance
why?
Think about offerslace ratios. In economics these are 600:180 at UCL (which is top 5 for econ).
So even at unis that are top 5 (but not in the top 2 or 3) a lot of applicants don't take up offers.This induces a high degree of variability in the number of students who end up accepting offers at those unis: So in the last couple of years in economics:
2007
UCL, Warwick 40% excess of students with places on Results Days
2008
Notts 40% excess
Warwick did not have enough students so took a few students through informal clearing
What do you mean by informal clearing?
This is when on Results Day unis are not listed in The Independent newspaper or on the UCAS website as being in clearing but are making offers to students who ring up.
How many unis will be looking for people?
Hard to say as:
i)Past evidence is only for formal clearing through UCAS and Independent
ii) Informal clearing also exists but by it’s very nature is not formalised and recorded.
iii) Adjustment will have an impact this year.
Bristol: “The vacancy picture may fluctuate. Courses without vacancies may develop them later as ‘firm’ applicants move elsewhere”. So this could induce a wave of vacancies down the league tables.
Why are you telling us now?
If you miss Firm or Insurance choices you are less likely to get in now as other students can getin via adjustment. Hence should think about how conservative you are with your selections (esp with Insurance)
Should I,if I get the opportunity should I go for a higher offer uni?
Not necessarily. If you are transferring you want to be making an informed choice. So transferring from uni X to uni Y if you applied to/researched deeply/visited uni Y is one thing. Conversly if you don’t even know where uni Y is in the UK is another.
Bristol “Adjustment isn’t compulsory and not everyone will want to pursue an alternative. Nothing really beats careful research earlier in the year and no-one wants to see students flattered into eleventh hour changes which they later regret”
Finally one practical issue is the question of accommodation. i.e. if you adjust will you end up with no longer be guaranteed university accommodation and hence up in poor quality accommodation.
The idea is to help students who either did better than expected or under applied. This is what Angela Milln (Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol) said in the UCAS Newsletter (which is directed to school teachers) in January 2009:
“Have you ever found yourself trying to advise a student who has been that bit too cautious in their UCAS choices? Maybe someone who underestimated their abilities and then emerged clutching a string of A grades and a nagging sense of disappointment that they didn’t set their sights higher? If so, you’ll be relieved to hear that a new alternative is now on offer – the opportunity to submit a fresh application following results publication, while at the same time protecting the original firm choice offer.”
What is confirmed by UCAS?
Very little information has been sent directly to students. The only official communication has been via the UCAS Website flowchart (UCAS flowchart):
“If applicant achieves better grades than required for their firmly accepted offer, they may look for an alternative course that has places available whilst still holding their original choice. Full details of the process will be available closer to the time.”
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/flowchart/appflow09_routeA.pdf
This is because communication so far has been from UCAS to Unis and Schools rather than from UCAS to applicants.
Are the sources reliable?
I have found and used the following sources (in brackets I have given how I will refer to those sources in the rest of the FAQ):
1) Notts design for computer system (Notts)
http://alanpaull.co.uk/adom/ADoM-2008-05-20_Instance_0.php
ADoM Flowchart
ADoM is a JISC funded project led by the University of Nottingham, Centre for International ePortfolio Development in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, UCAS and APS Ltd.
design for software that will run the system
2) UCAS newsletter January 2009 (Bristol)
Angela Milln
Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions University of Bristol
http://www.ucas.ac.uk/website/documents/acrobat/ucasnews_issue27.pdf
p6
3) Laura Kishore, Academic Registrar (Reading)
Reading Uni
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Events/Documents/Laura%20Kishore%2012.10%20-%2012.30.ppt.
4) Steve Smith Chair of the England and Northern Ireland Council, Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor, Exeter University (Exeter)
http://www.yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/docs/YUConf08/Prof%20Steve%20Smith%20keynote%20speech%20day%201.pdf
5) Chief Executive UCAS Anthony McClaran (Chief)
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/DevelopmentsinHEApplicationsandAdmissions-AnthonyMcClaran.ppt+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=uk6) Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/responses/dpcons3.doc+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=12&gl=uk7) Government response to consultation (May 2006) (DCSF)
Education Department
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache
www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Improving%2520the%2520HE%2520Applications%2520Process%2520-%2520Government%2520Response%2520(Word).doc+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=41&gl=uThe quantity and quality of these sources mean that whilst some details are uncertain, we can be certain it is happening. Note sources are potentially talking in an individual capacity and hence their views may not represent an official institution specific viewpoint (despite me using the university name as a reference).
Who is eligible?
Students who exceeded their offer
(Originally discussion was on students who surpassed their predicted being eligible but does not look like that is happening now).
Bristol “Only applicants holding a conditional firm offer who meet and exceed the academic conditions of that offer will be eligible. Once the firm choice institution confirms an offer as unconditional, eligible applicants will have five calendar days to seek and secure an adjustment place. To do this, they will need to register using UCAS Track and, at the same time, contact admissions offices direct to seek out vacancies (much as Clearing applicants do). If an applicant doesn’t secure a place within this timeframe, their original firm choice will stand.Alternatively if they secure a new offer, they will become ‘unconditional firm’ with the new institution, relinquishing the original firm choice.”
If I apply through Adjustment do I risk losing my Firmed place?
No
Can my firm uni stop me?
No
(except by not firming you and that sounds a bit paranoid to me!)
If I meet my offer can my Firm uni dump me and take someone else through Adjustment?
No if you meet your offer your uni still has to take you
Will many students benefit from the Adjustment system?
Not many as it is believed that only a few students better their offers.
Exeter “only 827 students on a 36,000 student survey will do better than expected enough to change institution.”
DCSF "We do not intend to create a system in which there is very high demand for a small number of places. We acknowledge that exam results are only one of several factors that determine which place a student takes up. For us, the likely consequence of this is that few students will want to change their first firm conditional offer, even if they achieve higher grades than required. Some will, as now, opt to take a gap-year and re-apply, as pre-qualified students, in the following year. We are also clear that some high demand courses which are already oversubscribed are unlikely to have many vacancies for new, post exam results, applications."
Chief “Scale of the issue is unknown but is thought to be applicable only to a small number of people.”
Notts “It is estimated that from the 500,000 or so applying annually through UCAS, the number of applicants eligible for this process would be in the hundreds.”
The uni places that go to students through Adjustment this year what would have happened to those places in previous years?
Three destinations:
i) Free Agents (students not holding any UCAS offers and hence who don;t need to be released from a uni)
e.g. students who were planning a GAP year or had got 5 rejections and did not find anything in EXTRA.
ii)Students who missed their grades
Cambridge "There is a risk that many more of the students who just miss their offers are disadvantaged by the process, should institutions decide to be unscrupulous and wait to see what applications they receive for adjustment. These students could find that they are kept waiting for a decision and therefore miss opportunities in clearing. It is likely that the 'just missed' group of students is much larger than those genuinely wanting to move because they have exceeded their offer"
iii)unfilled
Am I guaranteed a place at a “better” uni?
Absolutely not. Indeed making PQA (Post Qualification Application) easier does not create any new places.
Cambridge: "The possibility of raising expectations in students which may not be able to be met. The process will not be able to create more places in very competitive courses, and therefore there will inevitably be dissatisfaction amongst some students."
Adjustment is ‘just’ a matching service between students who beat their offers and unis with places. It is not a place creation scheme.
What about if I missed my Firm offer but got my insurance offer am eligible for UCAS Adjustment?
No sorry you are not
Bristol “Those with insurance ….offers will not qualify”
What about if I had an unconditional offer?
No you are not eligible.
Bristol “Those with …original unconditional offers will not qualify”
How long is Adjustment open for?
Adjustment is only open for 5 calendar days. So all adjustment transactions need to be completed by 25th August
Reading
“Applicant registers on Track (by 25th August)
Applicant contacts institutions to find whether there are Adjustment vacancies
(2 possible outcomes)
- Applicant receives and accepts Unconditional offer through Adjustment; Applicant now placed at “adjustment” institution
Applicant does not receive offer through Adjustment within 5 days; Applicant remains placed at original Firm institution
All takes place within 5 days of publication of A-level results or of applicant becoming UF”
(Note the original source said 31st August but I am assuming that is a typo!)
Which unis will be using Adjustment?
Highly unlikely that the very very best unis for each subject will be in Adjustment as:
1) hardly anyone refuses offers from them
2) those unis will not be making offers to students who will not be reaching their offers.
So that means Cambridge and Oxford in any subject plus those unis that rival them for specific subjects (e.g. LSE for economics) will not be in Adjustment.
But all the rest some chance
why?
Think about offers
lace ratios. In economics these are 600:180 at UCL (which is top 5 for econ).So even at unis that are top 5 (but not in the top 2 or 3) a lot of applicants don't take up offers.This induces a high degree of variability in the number of students who end up accepting offers at those unis: So in the last couple of years in economics:
2007
UCL, Warwick 40% excess of students with places on Results Days
2008
Notts 40% excess
Warwick did not have enough students so took a few students through informal clearing
What do you mean by informal clearing?
This is when on Results Day unis are not listed in The Independent newspaper or on the UCAS website as being in clearing but are making offers to students who ring up.
How many unis will be looking for people?
Hard to say as:
i)Past evidence is only for formal clearing through UCAS and Independent
ii) Informal clearing also exists but by it’s very nature is not formalised and recorded.
iii) Adjustment will have an impact this year.
Bristol: “The vacancy picture may fluctuate. Courses without vacancies may develop them later as ‘firm’ applicants move elsewhere”. So this could induce a wave of vacancies down the league tables.
Why are you telling us now?
If you miss Firm or Insurance choices you are less likely to get in now as other students can getin via adjustment. Hence should think about how conservative you are with your selections (esp with Insurance)
Should I,if I get the opportunity should I go for a higher offer uni?
Not necessarily. If you are transferring you want to be making an informed choice. So transferring from uni X to uni Y if you applied to/researched deeply/visited uni Y is one thing. Conversly if you don’t even know where uni Y is in the UK is another.
Bristol “Adjustment isn’t compulsory and not everyone will want to pursue an alternative. Nothing really beats careful research earlier in the year and no-one wants to see students flattered into eleventh hour changes which they later regret”
Finally one practical issue is the question of accommodation. i.e. if you adjust will you end up with no longer be guaranteed university accommodation and hence up in poor quality accommodation.
Is this only for those who were initially rejected from Warwick/UCL, or can someone like me - who originally did not apply to these institutions- still ring up and ask for a place?
Marykate5
I've never heard of anything like this.
I just presumed once you had chosen your universities and courses then that was that-a gamble-you might get in or you might not.
This is great!
I just presumed once you had chosen your universities and courses then that was that-a gamble-you might get in or you might not.
This is great!
Well it will be a help to some students. But as I said in the OP it will not create any new spaces so it may not be that much help.
1 Economic Historian
This is sik
Slight q,..
I was rejected from LSE, with the feedback being that my application was unsuccessful because of a single predicted grade (due to high competition),...surely now if I smash that prediction (I most certainly will), I can phone them up and ask to be reconsidered for a place?
It's not straight Economics (L101) which I'm sure would not accommodate such a request, but Economics & Economic History,which historicallyhas a very low intake
Slight q,..
I was rejected from LSE, with the feedback being that my application was unsuccessful because of a single predicted grade (due to high competition),...surely now if I smash that prediction (I most certainly will), I can phone them up and ask to be reconsidered for a place?
It's not straight Economics (L101) which I'm sure would not accommodate such a request, but Economics & Economic History,which historicallyhas a very low intake
Well it would be worth the price of a call yes. But your chances would depend on how much cover LSE have given themselves this year for Economics & Economic History.
1 Economic Historian
Is this only for those who were initially rejected from Warwick/UCL, or can someone like me - who originally did not apply to these institutions- still ring up and ask for a place?
Yes you can apply to any uni whether or not you applied there originally.
joeyyyt
i have offers of ABB and BBB from Birmingham and Sheffield but more likely to get AAA/AAB but no maths, do you reckon this new thng could help me and what sort of places do you reckon i could get into?
Look at:
i) the Economics Clearing 2008 thread
ii) the Clearing page of the TAELT spreadsheet.
That will give you some idea of what unis will be in clearing and/or Adjustment. Also look at what unis require Maths as I don't expect them to remove that requirement even if they do end up in clearing and/or adjustment.
Wow! This informtion is sooo helpful! Thank you, Paulwhy! (this should be stickered if not so) 
Paulwhy
UCAS Adjustment: What is it?
Warwick did not have enough students so took a few students through informal clearing
Warwick did not have enough students so took a few students through informal clearing
Is this for any spefic degree - or just Economics?
Anyone?
robotic_dancer
Anyone?
If you re-read the 1st post you will see that I have added economics to all the relevant sentences to give emphasis to the point that the case study is for economics.
Which unis will be using Adjustment?
Highly unlikely that the very very best unis for each subject will be in Adjustment as:
1) hardly anyone refuses offers from them
2) those unis will not be making offers to students who will not be reaching their offers.
So that means Cambridge and Oxford in any subject plus those unis that rival them for specific subjects (e.g. LSE for economics) will not be in Adjustment.
But all the rest some chance
why?
Think about offerslace ratios. In economics these are 600:180 at UCL (which is top 5 for econ).
So even at unis that are top 5 (but not in the top 2 or 3) a lot of applicants don't take up offers. This induces a high degree of variability in the number of students who end up accepting offers at those unis: So in the last couple of years in economics:
2007
UCL, Warwick 40% excess of Economics students with places on Results Days
2008
Notts 40% excess
Warwick did not have enough Economics students so took a few students through informal clearing
Highly unlikely that the very very best unis for each subject will be in Adjustment as:
1) hardly anyone refuses offers from them
2) those unis will not be making offers to students who will not be reaching their offers.
So that means Cambridge and Oxford in any subject plus those unis that rival them for specific subjects (e.g. LSE for economics) will not be in Adjustment.
But all the rest some chance
why?
Think about offers
lace ratios. In economics these are 600:180 at UCL (which is top 5 for econ).So even at unis that are top 5 (but not in the top 2 or 3) a lot of applicants don't take up offers. This induces a high degree of variability in the number of students who end up accepting offers at those unis: So in the last couple of years in economics:
2007
UCL, Warwick 40% excess of Economics students with places on Results Days
2008
Notts 40% excess
Warwick did not have enough Economics students so took a few students through informal clearing
Paulwhy
If you re-read the 1st post you will see that I have added economics to all the relevant sentences to give emphasis to the point that the case study is for economics.
Paul, it says that places such as oxford, cambridge, lse wont be included, but what sort of universities will be, is there any way of knowing?
Does the university have to be undersubscribed (warwick from your example)
i.e any in the top 10, top 20 etc?
Hrov
Paul, it says that places such as oxford, cambridge, lse wont be included, but what sort of universities will be, is there any way of knowing?
Does the university have to be undersubscribed (warwick from your example)
i.e any in the top 10, top 20 etc?
Does the university have to be undersubscribed (warwick from your example)
i.e any in the top 10, top 20 etc?
The best way to find out is to phone up and ask. Phone them up now and see how receptive they are to them being in UCAS Adjustment and obviously the best way to know if to phone up on results day.
Hrov
Paul, it says that places such as oxford, cambridge, lse wont be included, but what sort of universities will be, is there any way of knowing?
The sum of our UCAS Adjustment knowledge is almost zero: we don't know the rules and as it is the 1st year we don't have any form. So there is no way of knowing that for certain..
So it is certainly possible that very good unis will use Adjustment to poach over-achieving students from other unis. But then it is also possible that not much will happen . Either due to:
i) unis not having the resource to check out the 'outside' option of taking Adjustent students and so instead just accepting their applicants despite them missing their offer.
ii)top unis having some kind of Gentleman's Agreement not to poach students from each other.
Hrov
Does the university have to be undersubscribed (warwick from your example)?
Well it depends on what you mean by 'under-subscribed'. Atleast 2 possible meanings:
i)Less applicants than places.
ii)Less students holding Firm offers than places.
In terms of i). No, unis can still use Adjustment even if they declined students during 'normal' UCAS and now have less students than they want.
ii)If there are now more studnets with places through Normal UCAS (or EXTRA) than they want then I am not sure why unis would go looking for more students.
Hrov
Does the university have to be undersubscribed (warwick from your example)i.e any in the top 10, top 20 etc?
As I tried to explain in the opening post, even unis which are near the top for their subjects get low offer acceptances: offer made ratios. e.g. UCL makes approx. 600 offers for 180 places. Hence this can result in them having less new students than they wanted come Results Day.Which is why they might be interested in Adjustment.
So:
i) it is certainly worth checking out Adjustment come Results Day if you beat your Firm offer.
ii) it is worth bearing in mind that unis may not be as tolerant with students who miss their grades. So bare that in mind when selecting your Firm and Insurance.
.ACS.
The best way to find out is to phone up and ask. Phone them up now and see how receptive they are to them being in UCAS Adjustment and obviously the best way to know if to phone up on results day.
Not sure how many unis will be open about their Adjustments at this stage. (or even if they will have any!).
Terms of what happens on Results Day hopefully it will be more web based than phone based. But again that is uncertain at this stage.
Grapevine
Good post Paul.
Glad you like it.
Grapevine
Personally, I think the system isn't a great idea (for some of the reasons stated in the OP).
Well the Adjustment 'idea' is one thing. The reality and practicalities may be another.
Grapevine
Also, I think a lot of people will assume a university is "better" just because it has higher entry requirements when this very often isn't the case.
That is an existing issue. But yes rushed offers can be bad decisions. So hopefully applicants will be informed as soon as possible and as fully as possible about how Adjustment will operate. That will enable them to make good researched decisions.
Viraj_c
I know im unwise to do so but am clutching onto this. I have an AAB offer from York for economics, but really wanted to go to Notts or Bristol. IF I do get my 3As, defo going to use this.
Thanks for the post Paul, clear and concise.
Thanks for the post Paul, clear and concise.
Well it is good you are not getting your hopes up too high. But it is certainly possible that Notts have over reacted to the large 40% excess in 2008 and not made enough econ offers in 2009. And indeed the Nots Econ offer critea in the 08/09 cycle do seem to be stricter. However it is certainly not a given and they may well not have over reacted and so there may be another excess this year.
Would universities in adjustment consider applications from students who are free agents?
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