Thousands of A-level students could lose their unconditional university offers

"Thousands of A-level students could have their unconditional university offers withdrawn this summer, as ministers and the higher education regulator try to crack down on panic offers made during the pandemic.

Sources at Westminster say the universities minister, Michelle Donelan, is determined to constrain universities, after private government data showed that 30,000 offers that had been dependent on A-level grades were suddenly switched to “unconditional” when the pandemic struck in March.

The competition to recruit UK students will be more important than ever this summer, as universities brace for the loss of thousands of international students, who generally pay higher fees. Some institutions are expecting to lose £100m in fees.

Now the regulator, the Office for Students, is seeking sweeping temporary powers to control universities’ admissions, including the ability to force institutions to retract offers it disapproves of. As well as new unconditional offers, experts say this could include making universities withdraw offers accepting low grades that they made to fill places."

The rest of the article is here - https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/22/thousands-of-a-level-students-could-lose-their-unconditional-university-offers?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Reply 1

SportScience98

16

Good, my university was becoming way too crowded. Too many unconditionals were sent out... More violent students in the street as a result

Doing it now is definitely problematic... Though it was inevitable that conditional unconditional offers (including Birmingham's pisstake CCC offer as an attempt to circumvent intervention) were going to go the way of the dodo very soon. They're predatory and underhanded, and it's a poor reflection on any instutition that offers them, since it isn't ever out of the kindness of their hearts or due to being impressed by an application.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 3

swanseajack1

19

Original post by _gcx

Doing it now is definitely problematic... Though it was inevitable that conditional unconditional offers (including Birmingham's pisstake CCC offer as an attempt to circumvent intervention) were going to go the way of the dodo very soon. They're predatory and underhanded, and it's a poor reflection on any instutition that offers them, since it isn't ever out of the kindness of their hearts or due to being impressed by an application.

Prior to 2015 there were none of these unconditional offers. The government decided to remove the cap that had been in force to create a market. The result of this was some universities expanded and this led to Birmingham offering unconditional as they didnt fill all their places. Many followed led by Nottingham and Lancaster. The government have in the last year tried to outlaw these offers which came about as a reaction to their policies. In many ways I dont blame the universities. They are doing what is necessary to fill their spaces and this year to fill as many spaces as possible universities are not surprisingly making these offers. This was always likely. Maybe the government should consider why this has happened and look at their own cabinet member who encouraged these dopey plans. Step forward Michael Gove.

Original post by swanseajack1

Prior to 2015 there were none of these unconditional offers. The government decided to remove the cap that had been in force to create a market. The result of this was some universities expanded and this led to Birmingham offering unconditional as they didnt fill all their places. Many followed led by Nottingham and Lancaster. The government have in the last year tried to outlaw these offers which came about as a reaction to their policies. In many ways I dont blame the universities. They are doing what is necessary to fill their spaces and this year to fill as many spaces as possible universities are not surprisingly making these offers. This was always likely. Maybe the government should consider why this has happened and look at their own cabinet member who encouraged these dopey plans. Step forward Michael Gove.

Have little sympathy for how they're done, they're misrepresented - they often seem to be portrayed as merit based (or at least interpreted as such by students) and give the false impression the university has some special interest in their application, compelling them to firm it, when in reality it's probable everyone applying for that degree with above x predicted grades received one. I'd like to see universities defend the "unconditional (or, in Birmingham's case, reduced to be practically unconditional for the calibre of students applying there) only if firmed" caveat. Hopefully the universities will find less deceitful ways to put bums on seats.

Thousands of A-level students could lose their unconditional university offers

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