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Unconditional Offers have increased by 1600% since 2014

In the scramble to secure students amid fierce competition from rival institutions, universities are awarding tens of thousands of offers to students regardless of what results they obtain.

Since 2014, the number of unconditional places handed out to sixth form pupils has surged from 2,985 to 51,615, up by more than 1,600 percent.

Of the 259,230 sixth form students who applied to university this year, nearly one in five received an unconditional offer.

The new figures also show that students predicted to get Cs are twice as likely to receive an unconditional offer as those with straight A*s.

While such offers were traditionally awarded to exceptional candidates, in recent years, they have been awarded in increasing numbers.

Full article here:
Universities accused of making a 'mockery' of A-levels as the number of unconditional offers surges by more than 1,600 per cent
Original post by C_Richards99
In the scramble to secure students amid fierce competition from rival institutions, universities are awarding tens of thousands of offers to students regardless of what results they obtain.

Since 2014, the number of unconditional places handed out to sixth form pupils has surged from 2,985 to 51,615, up by more than 1,600 percent.

Of the 259,230 sixth form students who applied to university this year, nearly one in five received an unconditional offer.

The new figures also show that students predicted to get Cs are twice as likely to receive an unconditional offer as those with straight A*s.

While such offers were traditionally awarded to exceptional candidates, in recent years, they have been awarded in increasing numbers.

Full article here:
Universities accused of making a 'mockery' of A-levels as the number of unconditional offers surges by more than 1,600 per cent


Interesting. This article is based on freedom of information requests, but there was another report today based on UCAS data.

It says unconditional offers counted for less than 1%, so there must be some differences in the data groups.

Its clear some unis use it as a marketing tool , so where they see someone who is likely to have the potential they try and firm them to build numbers. Education is a business these days.

I dont think 1600% is much to worry about if you start from a low base. Seems to have peaked out at this level.

Not sure what to make of the difference in achieving students. I would think the C graders are more likely to apply to less competitive unis, who are more likely to use unconds..
Original post by 999tigger
Interesting. This article is based on freedom of information requests, but there was another report today based on UCAS data.

It says unconditional offers counted for less than 1%, so there must be some differences in the data groups.

Its clear some unis use it as a marketing tool , so where they see someone who is likely to have the potential they try and firm them to build numbers. Education is a business these days.

I dont think 1600% is much to worry about if you start from a low base. Seems to have peaked out at this level.

Not sure what to make of the difference in achieving students. I would think the C graders are more likely to apply to less competitive unis, who are more likely to use unconds..


Well you can look at it from the perspective of counting the number of unconditional offers made by unis or from the perspective of the applicants (who have probably picked 5 unis in ucas) receiving at least one unconditional.

Ucas report is here
https://www.ucas.com/file/140406/download?token=pfzLAKRe

notable fact is that 62 providers make less than 1% of their offers unconditional - doesn't say which ones though... but there are regional and subject area breakdowns in there.

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