UCAS - Tariff Q&A and myth busters

UCAS Tariff Q&A and myth busters

Q&A

Why is UCAS suspending the assessment of new qualifications for inclusion in the Tariff?

UCAS analysis shows that the vast majority of qualifications which are used by UK learners when applying for entry to higher education are already covered by the UCAS Tariff. Assessing the approximately 3,200 which are not covered by the Tariff would take many person-years of effort.

UCAS is currently undertaking a Qualifications Information Review to better understand what information universities, colleges and learners need about qualifications to facilitate fair admissions. This review will inform the future for the UCAS Tariff.

Will current or future UCAS applicants be adversely affected by this decision?

No. Our analysis shows that for year-of-entry 2010, 96 per cent of qualification types used by more than 50 applicants in applications to full-time undergraduate courses attracted UCAS Tariff points.

Applicants with qualifications that do not attract UCAS Tariff points should follow the existing process. For applicants using qualifications that are not currently in the Tariff - such as those within some Apprenticeship frameworks - the application process remains unchanged. Applicants should continue to check specific entry requirements using Course Search on www.ucas.com, and speak with the admissions office at the relevant institution to determine whether their qualifications are suitable for the courses they have chosen.

If someone is doing qualifications that do not attract Tariff points, does that mean that they can't apply to HE?

No. Not all post-16 qualifications attract Tariff points. Likewise, not every university or college uses the Tariff for offer making. Minimum entry requirements for specific courses are at the discretion of the individual college or university. HE admissions staff take a wide range of factors into account in their admissions decisions. In 2010, 47% of applicants with qualifications not on the Tariff were offered places at universities and colleges

What should applicants who are worried about the impact of this decision do to optimise their application to HE?

Applicants will not be adversely affected by this decision. Our advice for those students who wish to apply using qualifications not currently in the Tariff is to check specific entry requirements using Course Search and speak with the admissions office at relevant universities or colleges to ensure those qualifications will be considered.

What will happen to qualifications that are currently on the Tariff?

Nothing. If a qualification changes for any reason, the UCAS Tariff Advisory Group will reconsider Tariff points based on standard criteria.

What will happen to qualifications that have expired?

Tariff points continue to apply to qualifications once they have been achieved, even if the qualification expires. If replaced by a new qualification, the UCAS Tariff Advisory Group will consider Tariff points for the new version based on standard criteria.

What is the Qualifications Information Review?

The Qualifications Information Review taking place throughout 2011 aims to:

understand and articulate what requirements learners, institutions, and other stakeholders have for information about qualifications to enable fair, transparent and efficient admissions to higher education
review how effective the Tariff and other approaches are in meeting these needs
work with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulators and awarding organisations, to develop and consult on improvements and alternative approaches

Almost 300 stakeholder organisations have submitted evidence to the Review.

Who decides on how to allocate Tariff points for amended qualifications?

UCAS provides summaries of qualifications for consideration by the UCAS Tariff Advisory Group - comprised of admissions specialists from HEIs. UCAS also engages appropriate subject specialists from HEIs should additional expert input be required.

Will this decision affect social mobility opportunities?

We don't believe so. For year-of-entry 2010, 96% of qualification types used by more than 50 applicants in applications to full-time undergraduate courses attracted UCAS Tariff points. Not every university or college uses the Tariff in admissions decisions. In 2010, nearly half of all offers made (47%) were based on qualification grades rather than Tariff point requirements.

Will this decision discriminate against applicants with vocational qualifications?

We don't believe so. According to UCAS data from 2009, over 80% of applicants with vocational qualifications were accepted to HE courses regardless of whether these qualifications attracted Tariff points.

The UCAS Tariff is the system for allocating points to qualifications used for entry to higher education. It allows students to use a range of different qualifications to help secure a place on an undergraduate course. Universities and colleges use the UCAS Tariff to make comparisons between applicants with different qualifications.

Myth busters

MYTH: UCAS Tariff points tell you how good a qualification is

Truth: The UCAS Tariff is a tool for comparing how well different qualifications prepare people to study at HE. It allows students to use a range of different qualifications to help secure a place on an undergraduate course and helps universities and colleges to make comparisons between applicants with different qualifications.

UCAS does not endorse the use of Tariff points for other purposes, such as graduate recruitment.

MYTH: Tariff points give students an entitlement to entry to higher education

Truth: Students can assemble points in a variety of ways and not all of these will necessarily be acceptable for entry to a particular higher education course. The achievement of Tariff points therefore does not imply an entitlement to entry, and many other factors are taken into account in the admissions process (such as the quality of an applicant's personal statement and references).

MYTH: All universities set minimum UCAS Tariff points in their entry requirements for HE courses

Truth: In 2010, 29% of all UCAS member institutions did not make reference to the UCAS Tariff in their entry requirements for any of their courses, whilst only 4% referred to a minimum Tariff point requirement for all of their courses.

MYTH: All universities use UCAS Tariff points to make offers

Truth: Many HEIs offer places subject to applicants meeting specific conditions. These conditional offers are generally made based on Tariff points, actual qualification grades or a combination of both. In 2010, 54.6% of all offers made through UCAS used Tariff points or a combination of Tariff points and qualifications.

MYTH: All pre-HE qualifications get Tariff points

Truth: There are currently 4,379 level 3 (level 5/6 in Scotland) regulated qualifications offered in the UK, of which 26% (1,150) currently attract Tariff points.

MYTH: Qualifications without Tariff points do not aid progression to HE

Truth: Not all post-16 qualifications attract Tariff points. Qualifications without Tariff points have not been submitted for UCAS to consider. No judgement has been made one way or the other.

MYTH: You cannot get into HE if your pre-HE qualifications do not attract Tariff points

Truth: Not all post-16 qualifications attract Tariff points. Likewise, not every university or college uses the Tariff when making offers. Applicants may be accepted onto their chosen course without Tariff points if they meet the published entry requirements for that course.

MYTH: Higher education institutions have to accept UCAS Tariff points

Truth: All entry requirements and admissions practices for HE courses are at the discretion of the individual college or university. There is no requirement for them to use the UCAS Tariff. In 2010, 16% of UCAS members made Tariff offers to all their applicants, whilst 39% did not refer to the Tariff in any of their offers.