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Educational background

An applicant's previous school or college type. The type is derived from the National Schools Register. Usually presented by detailed type (Educational establishment) or grouped (Educational sector). The Unknown group includes some applicants from miscellaneous agencies, such as careers offices.

For 1998 entry, there were amendments made to the classification of school types, rendering them not comparable to previous years. The 1998 and 1999 datasets includes an OLDSector variable to provide previous educational establishment sectors corresponding to earlier UCAS data. Educational establishment has been dropped for 2003 entry owing to difficulties associated with accurately reporting establishment at this resolution. In addition, minor reporting expansions have been made to educational sector labels.

Ethnicity

Applicants are asked to record their ethnic origin on the UCAS application form. Provision of this information is voluntary and it is not passed to institutions until after the selection process. Ethnicity is published in detail (Ethnic origin) or summarised into broad groupings (Ethnic group). Ethnicity data are only available for home (UK domiciled) applicants.

There have been a number of changes to the Ethnic origin classifications between 2001 and 2005 entry, including the division of White into British/Irish/Scottish/Other and the introduction of other groupings such as mixed and Chinese. Direct comparisons between the years are therefore not recommended.

Extra

UCAS Extra enables applicants who have used all five choices but are without an offer to have an additional choice (or choices) through UCAS without having to wait until Clearing. Extra operates from mid-March to the end of June.