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/resultsandnextst...justment/facts
b) before registeration
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextst...oreregistering
c) after registraion
http://www.ucas.com/resultsandnextst...terregistering
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
[SIZE="4"]Research Section[/size]
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-200...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/docume...ws_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....0day%201. pdf
(Exeter)
5) Chief Executive UCAS Anthony McClaran (Chief)
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/Deve...nyMcClaran.ppt
6) Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
Cambridge submission to the consultation exercise (Cambridge)
http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/unde...es/dpcons3.doc
7) Government response to consultation (May 2006) (DCSF)
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations...esponse%20.pdf
8)Report to Senate Committee at Loughborough University.
http://info.lut.ac.uk/admin/committe.../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/resultsandnextst...justment/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/resultsandnextst...qs/#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/resultsandnextst...terregistering
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
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/resultsandnextst...justment/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/resultsandnextst...justment/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/resultsandnextst...justment/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/resultsandnextst...justment/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.
[SIZE="4"]
Analysis Section[/size]
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" ).
University course discussion for economics.
Useful Resources:
UCAS Adjustment
www.hepi.ac.uk/downloads/DevelopmentsinHEApplicationsandAdmissions-AnthonyMcClaran.ppt+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&c t=clnk&cd=8&gl=uk
www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/responses/dpcons3.doc+ucas+adjustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&c d=12&gl=uk
www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/Improving%2520the%2520HE%2520Applications%2520Proc ess%2520-%2520Government%2520Response%2520(Word).doc+ucas+a djustment+period&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=41&gl=u
