UCAS - Student number controls

Controls on the number of undergraduate places at universities and colleges in England for 2013

Last updated on 17 December 2012

What you need to know

Changes in number control arrangements

On behalf of Government, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) caps the number of publicly-funded undergraduate places for home and EU students at English institutions. This is necessary to help the Government to control the budget for student finance.

Government introduced a new number controls system for entry into higher education at English institutions in 2012 and these have been revised for 2013. These are the key changes.

Applicants who achieve ABB+ at A level or certain equivalent qualifications* will not count towards an institution's student number population. Universities and colleges have been given the opportunity to expand their number of places for these highly-qualified applicants - defined as those holding ABB+ at A level or equivalent. It is estimated that this will account for a third of funded places in England. This was previously set as AAB+.
There is a cap on the number of non-ABB+ places available at HEFCE-funded institutions in England. This accounts for two thirds of available places across England, although proportions in individual institutions will vary significantly.
In 2012 20,000 non-AAB+ undergraduate places were redistributed to institutions offering high-quality courses with average tuition fees £7,500 per year or less. These places have been retained for 2013 and a further reallocation of 5,000 places will take place.
Specialist institutions have been given the opportunity to opt out; applicants to these institutions are not affected by the new arrangements.

These changes are intended to help the government to manage the student finance budget, to encourage competition and efficiency in the higher education sector, and to increase student choice.

Below is the list of ABB+ 'equivalent qualifications' which has been defined by HEFCE. It is NOT the same as all equivalent qualifications on the UCAS Tariff.

What this means for English institutions

Institutions who wish to grow their number of undergraduate places can do so, where they are admitting applicants who have ABB+ at A level or equivalent. Not all institutions have sought to do this for a number of reasons, such as physical capacity and wishing to maintain a certain student to teacher ratio.
Although some institutions will be expanding their number of undergraduate places for highly qualified applicants, many others will maintain their current numbers.
5,000 non-ABB+ places have been distributed by HEFCE to institutions that offer high quality, good value provision. The majority of these places will go to institutions charging an average fee of £7,500 or less.
Some institutions are likely to be competing with each other for ABB+ or equivalent students.
All institutions could be penalised if they over recruit.

Messages for UK and EU applicants to English institutions applying for entry in 2013

Applicants who achieve ABB+ at A level or equivalent are not automatically entitled to an undergraduate place - admission to higher education remains a competitive process and popular courses continue to attract many more applicants than there are places. Universities continue to manage their own admissions processes and make autonomous decisions about each applicant.
It is possible that some applicants who have been predicted ABB+ or equivalent may find it more difficult this year to secure their firm or insurance choice if they narrowly miss their grades ie achieving BBB or equivalent. Institutions may have filled their student number control quota and therefore may be unable to accept them. However, institutions' student number control limits have been calculated to reflect levels of recruitment of students in previous years. The most selective institutions, ie those who have traditionally recruited a very high proportion of ABB+ or equivalent students, are provided with additional numbers in their student number control to ensure that they can continue to offer fair access to all applicants. However, applicants may still wish to take this into account when deciding on their firm and insurance choices.
As in previous years UCAS will be operating Adjustment in 2013 which allows applicants who have met and exceeded their terms of their conditional firm offer, and who have been accepted on that course, to enter 'an adjustment period' to enable them to look for a place at an alternative institution whilst still holding their confirmed place.
The Government nor HEFCE have released details on what the situation will be for 2014-15. We will communicate this information once it has been made available.

HEFCE ABB+ equivalence table

Find the list of qualifications and grades considered as ABB+ or equivalent.

Applicants who hold the qualifications and grade combinations in the above table will not count towards an English university's or college's student number control. In theory a university or college can recruit as many of these learners as they wish.

These are NOT the same as the equivalencies in the UCAS Tariff, which includes a much broader range of qualifications to support fair and transparent admissions, and they are not linked in any way to the offers made to applicants.

Please note that it is possible HEFCE may release further information regarding these equivalent qualifications, so please check our website regularly for any updates.

Find further information regarding student number controls.

HEFCE has also provided information in relation to student number controls on its website.