Ungraded offers ‘harm universities’

THE current university admissions system should be overhauled to curb the rise in unconditional offers, a study by the University and College Union has said.

A report by the trade union for academics found that the rationale for unconditional offers for students with predicted grades “lacks rigour” and “undermines the professionalism” of the admissions process.

It says the growth in these offers is “driven by a marketised approach” to student recruitment, rather than by “genuine educational aims”.

The body called for a post-qualification application system, where students applied for degree courses after receiving their A-level results.

It suggests that A-level students could make their university applications in the first week of August, after their results have been published. Applicants would then receive decisions in September and be placed by the end of the month, ready to begin their first year of university in November.