Changes announced
today to the allocation of university places increase the focus on
putting students at the heart of system.
Uncapped recruitment for high achieving students will be further
eased in 2013/14. The A-level threshold will lower from AAB+ to ABB+.
A further 5,000 places will be allocated through a competitive
core and margin to universities and colleges offering good quality
and value for money.
It is expected that a further 35,000 students will now join the
pool of unrestricted students which universities can recruit from.
In total 120,000 places, one in three, are expected to be freed up.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“These changes will enable more high achieving students to get
into their first choice university. At the same time we are also
increasing the number of places on courses which offer value for
money, backing those universities and colleges which have focused
on keeping their costs to students down.”
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:
“A third of all students will now be free of number controls.
This is what our university reforms are all about - putting choice
and power in the hands of students. We are rolling back the
controls on places at individual universities that have been a
barrier to competition. Students will gain as universities attract
them by offering a high-quality academic experience.”
These changes build on the easing of student number controls
introduced for the academic year beginning this autumn which will
enable universities to recruit as many of the estimated 85,000
students achieving A-level grades of AAB or greater as they wish.
Universities and colleges were also allocated 20,000 places
through a competitive core and margin in the coming year.
Notes to editors:
1. We estimate that by reducing the grade threshold to ABB in
2013/14 we will increase the uncontrolled population to around 1
in 3 places, or 120,000 entrants.
2. Those institutions who have secured places through the core
and margin in 2012/13 will have them added to their core student
numbers in 2013/14. In total, 45,000 places will be allocated
through the margin in 2013/14.
3. The Higher Education Funding Council for England will allocate
an additional 5,000 places from universities and colleges through
a competitive core and margin exercise. The majority of these
places will be allocated to institutions charging an average of
£7,500 or lower, with the remainder being allocated to those
charging between £7,500 and £8,250 meaning that in total 45,000
high quality value-for-money places will be available in 2013/14.
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http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
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Contacts:
BIS Press Office
bispress.releases@bis.gsi.gov.uk
Michael Gibbs
Phone: 020 7215
1635
michael.gibbs@bis.gsi.gov.uk