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1024869

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>​Widening participation is a priority for this government. We want to ensure that everyone with the potential to benefit from a university education has the opportunity to do so, regardless of their background or where they grew up. Significant progress has been made in recent years; in 2018, 18-year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds were 52% more likely to enter full-time higher education than in 2009.</p><p> </p><p>However, we have made clear our expectation that the Office for Students (OfS) will challenge universities to make greater progress in widening access and participation.</p><p> </p><p>For example, we have asked the OfS to explore further the use of contextual information in university admissions, such as whether an applicant comes from a low participation neighbourhood or attends a school that does not send many students to university.</p><p> </p><p>​We expect universities to use unconditional offers responsibly. There are cases where the use of unconditional offers can be justified, however the systematic use of unconditional offers is not in the interest of students.</p>

1027204

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>As autonomous and independent organisations, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) determine what support services they provide to their students. Each institution will be best placed to identify the needs of their particular student body. The government places a high priority on how the particular needs of care leavers are addressed by HEIs. Many already provide all-year-round accommodation and bursaries for care leaver students. The Department for Education’s Guidance to the Office for Students (OfS), on completing 2019/20 access and participation plans, specifically identifies care leavers as a key target group whose needs HEIs should address. This is reflected in the OfS own guidance to the sector.</p><p> </p><p>The government recently launched the Care Leaver Covenant, which provides a way for organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors – including universities – to set out and publicise what support they provide to care leavers. A number of universities have already signed the Covenant, including Leeds, Liverpool John Moores, Huddersfield and Bradford; and we will continue to work closely with the OfS to encourage all universities to sign it.</p>

1087595

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The review is taking a systemic view of provision and funding across the post-18 education and funding landscape. The lead departments, including Her Majesty’s Treasury, are continuing to work together to make progress with the review so we can deliver a post-18 education system that is accessible to all, delivers the skills that the country needs and is value for money for both the taxpayer and students.</p>

1056914

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of ensuring there are sufficient skilled graduates to meet industry demand. We are working with different veterinary sector stakeholders, to look at ways of increasing veterinary school capacity and the number of graduates in all UK vet schools going forward.</p><p>The government also subsidises the costs of teaching high-cost subjects such as veterinary medicine, where tuition fee income does not meet the costs of teaching. This is supported through the teaching grant allocated annually to providers via the Office for Students.</p><p>In 2018/19, the recurrent teaching grant provided by the government totals £1,290 million, of which £681 million is specifically targeted at supporting high-cost subjects, including veterinary science. This is currently around £10,000 per veterinary science student.</p><p> </p><p>English higher education providers are autonomous institutions. Their institutional autonomy, which includes decisions as to what they teach, is protected by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.</p><p>However, the lifting of student number controls in 2015/16 means that there is no longer an artificial cap on the numbers of students that higher education providers are able to recruit, including for veterinary science courses.</p><p> </p><p>There has been progress in the sector in increasing places for veterinary students. The first cohort of students to graduate with the University of Surrey's new veterinary degree is scheduled for July 2019, thereby bringing more domestically trained vets in to the profession. Alongside this, the new Harper and Keele Veterinary School will be commencing its new 5 year degree course in 2020.</p><p> </p>

1019302

	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Our Digital Charter aims to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. As part of this work, we will publish an Online Harms White Paper in winter 2018/19, which will include a range of proposals including setting out how we will ensure that parents, children and other users develop the skills they need to stay safe online.</p><p> </p><p>Government is committed to increasing cyber security capacity across all sectors to ensure that the UK has the right level and blend of skills required to maintain our resilience to cyber threats and be the world’s leading digital economy.</p>

1056486

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>We are in close contact and working with the UK National Agency to ensure that in the event that the UK leaves the EU with no agreement in place, the government’s guarantee on Erasmus will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ bids submitted before the end of 2020.</p><p>The UK government has repeatedly made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of its vision for a global Britain, and we believe that the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world leading universities post-exit. This is reliant on the UK government reaching agreement with the EU for UK organisations to continue participating in Erasmus+ projects and we are seeking to hold these discussions with the EU.</p><p>We published a new technical notice, attached, at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020) in the event of no deal. The notice can also be found at: <a href="https://bit.ly/2GaP28y" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2GaP28y</a>.</p>

1091634

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The government fully recognises the important contribution that international students make, both economically and culturally, to the UK’s higher education sector.</p><p>On 16 March, the government published its international education strategy, attached, setting out its ambition to increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year and to increase the total number of international students hosted by UK universities to 600,000 by 2030.</p><p>To provide certainty to prospective EU students, we have confirmed that EU nationals starting courses in the academic year 2019/20 or before will continue to be eligible for undergraduate, postgraduate and Advanced Learner Loan financial support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided that they meet the residency requirements.</p>

1092456

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The department continues to plan for EU Exit and to ensure that we are best prepared for all potential scenarios. As part of our planning, we are taking steps to ensure that our schools, further education and higher education institutions, and local authorities are similarly prepared.</p><p> </p><p>The department published guidance to provide information and advice to our stakeholders on how to best prepare. The notices include information on the EU Settlement Scheme and on the arrangements that apply to EU, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens arriving after EU Exit. The notices form part of the government's public information campaign which can be viewed at this link: <a href="https://euexit.campaign.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://euexit.campaign.gov.uk/</a>. This campaign ensures that UK citizens and organisations, EU citizens living in the UK, and UK nation​als living in the EU are well informed about how EU Exit will affect them and about the practical steps they will need to take to be ready for it.</p><p> </p><p>The department has shared guidance with a large number of our stakeholders across the education sector. This includes the document ‘EU exit: no deal preparations for schools in England’, attached[1].</p><p> </p><p>It also includes ‘EU exit: no deal preparations for higher education institutions’ guidance, attached,[2] and ‘EU exit: no deal preparations for further education and apprenticeship providers’ guidance’, also attached[3].</p><p> </p><p>The document ‘EU Exit: No deal preparations for local authority children's services[4]​’, which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england</a>.</p><p>[2] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-higher-education-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-higher-education-institutions</a>.</p><p>[3] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-further-education-and-apprenticeship-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-further-education-and-apprenticeship-providers</a>.</p><p>[4] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-local-authority-childrens-services-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-local-authority-childrens-services-in-england</a>.</p>

1091620

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The UK has a robust system for the recognition of international qualifications. The UK National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) provides expert advice on behalf of the government on the comparability of international qualifications with those of the UK. Our universities and colleges are supported by the UK NARIC service in making decisions on the eligibility of applicants for places in their courses.</p>

1104666

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 established a new independent regulator in England, the Office for Students (OfS). The act gives the OfS powers to assess the quality and standards applied to higher education by English providers.</p><p>The government has made it clear in guidance to the OfS that grade inflation must be tackled. In their strategy, attached, the OfS includes ensuring “qualifications hold their value over time” as a key objective. In December 2018, the OfS published analysis of changes in degree classifications between 2010-11 and 2016-17, which is attached. This includes data on the University of Surrey and the University of Bradford.</p><p>On 24 March, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education called for universities to end the steep rise of “unjustifiable” first class degrees which is a threat to the world class reputation of the university sector, and risks undermining the efforts of hard working students. The government expects the OfS, when it has its full range of powers, to challenge those institutions that record an unjustifiable rise in the proportion of top degrees being awarded.</p><p>The OfS’ statutory powers are on course to be strengthened through new regulations due to be laid in Parliament later this year, which will allow the OfS to levy fines of up to £500,000 or 2% of a university’s income (whichever is higher). The UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment is developing sector-recognised standards to ensure that all degree awards are consistent and fair - due to be completed this academic year. Together, these measures will strengthen the regulator’s ability to challenge universities with unwarranted grade inflation and hold them to account.</p><p>Any university found to be damaging students’ interests could be subject to sanctions such as placing additional conditions on their registration, fines, or in the worst case scenario removing a university’s powers to award degrees.</p><p> </p>

1063551

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Under the definitions of “contracting authorities” and “bodies governed by public law” as specified by regulation 2 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, not all universities fall under these regulations because, for some, the majority of their funding does not come from public sources.</p><p>Where the regulations do apply, it is the universities’ responsibility, as independent contracting authorities, to ensure they comply with their legal obligations. Failure to comply can leave them open to legal remedies, as set out in the regulations, following complaints from aggrieved suppliers.</p>

1105826

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The government pays universities directly in respect of the tuition fee loans which are approved for eligible students each year. Students are then legally obliged to repay any tuition fee loans in accordance with the contract they sign when taking out the loan. The Office for National Statistics classifies the money provided by the government to cover tuition fees as a debt for the purposes of the public finances. The government does not ordinarily disclose its legal advice as that is protected by legal professional privilege.</p><p> </p>

1105656

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Department for Education (DfE) deals with numerous stakeholders in the higher education (HE) sector. The bodies representing HE providers are set out below.</p><p> </p><p>Universities UK is a membership body that includes the vice chancellors of most UK universities. Its membership can be found at: <a href="https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/about/Pages/member-institutions.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/about/Pages/member-institutions.aspx</a>;</p><p> </p><p>GuildHE represents a number of smaller and specialist HE providers. Its membership can be found at: <a href="https://guildhe.ac.uk/our-members/" target="_blank">https://guildhe.ac.uk/our-members/</a>; and</p><p> </p><p>Independent HE (formerly Study UK<strong>) </strong>is a UK membership organisation and national representative body for independent providers of HE (alternative providers) and professional training and pathway providers. Its membership can be found at: <a href="http://independenthe.com/members" target="_blank">http://independenthe.com/members</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The DfE also deal with the following self-organised mission groups:</p><p> </p><p>The Russell Group is an association of 24 long-established universities. Its membership can be found at: <a href="https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/our-universities/" target="_blank">https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/our-universities/</a>;</p><p> </p><p>Million+ describes itself as a university think-tank, whose members are mainly more recently established universities. Its membership can be found at: <a href="http://www.millionplus.ac.uk/who-we-are/members" target="_blank">http://www.millionplus.ac.uk/who-we-are/members</a>; and</p><p> </p><p>University Alliance represents a number of post92 universities. Its membership can be found at: <a href="https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/alliance-universities/" target="_blank">https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/alliance-universities/</a>.</p>

1104650

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The government values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of its vision for a global Britain. Irrespective of the outcome of Article 50 negotiations with the EU, the government wants UK and European countries to continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world leading universities post-exit.</p><p>Under the terms of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement, UK organisations and participants will continue to be able to take part in the Erasmus+ Programme this year and in the future up to the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework.</p><p>While securing a negotiated deal remains the government’s top priority, we are committed to ensuring that organisations, students and participating staff are prepared in the event of a no deal EU exit. To provide more clarity, we published a new technical notice at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014-20) in the event of no deal. The technical notice, attached, can be found at: <a href="https://bit.ly/2GaP28y" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2GaP28y</a>.</p><p>As is set out in this notice, the government’s underwrite guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK organisations for all successful (those that are approved directly by the European Commission or by the National Agency and ratified by the European Commission) Erasmus+ bids. This includes projects and participants that are only informed of their success, or who sign a grant agreement, after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and commits to underwrite funding for the entire lifetime of the projects.</p><p>The UK is open to participating in the next Erasmus+ programme (2021-27). We have been considering the draft regulation for the successor scheme carefully and have been actively participating in discussions on this. Ultimately, participation in the successor programme is a matter for negotiations to come about our future relationship with the EU.</p>

1037605

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Review of Post-18 Education and Funding is being informed by independent advice from an expert panel, chaired by Philip Augar.</p><p> </p><p>The panel have undertaken an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement and evidence gathering. They will report in 2019 before government concludes the overall review.</p><p>The government will want to move swiftly to improve the post-18 system once the review has concluded. Implementation timetables will depend on the review’s findings and recommendations and the legislative and operational requirements.</p><p> </p>

1028321

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Music qualifications are not included in the EU Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive. The EU only has supporting competence in education and there is no EU law on the recognition of academic qualifications.</p><p> </p>

1020045

	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Government is making important progress in tackling online safety issues through the Digital Charter, which is guided by a number of principles and whose core purpose is to make the Internet work for everyone – for citizens, businesses and society as a whole.</p><p> </p><p>Online anonymity is an important part of a free and open internet, providing essential protection for those who need it and allowing for many kinds of self expression and communication that would not otherwise be possible. But being anonymous online does not give anyone the right to abuse others or break the law.</p><p> </p><p>In the Winter, the Government will publish an Online Harms White Paper setting out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures to ensure tech companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users.</p>

1050775

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>​The terms and conditions of repayment of student loans are set out by the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009 (as amended). These regulations make provision for repayment for borrowers resident both in the UK and overseas, including the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education continues to work closely with the Student Loans Company (SLC) to ensure a robust overseas repayment strategy. The SLC has arrangements in place to collect repayments from borrowers who move away from the UK and establishes a repayment schedule based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of repayment available.</p><p> </p><p>If borrowers based overseas fail to remain in contact with the SLC, the SLC will set up a fixed repayment schedule and place those borrowers in arrears. Borrowers with post-2012 loans who have not remained in contact with the SLC are charged the maximum interest rate of RPI+3% until they get back in touch. Further action, including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery.</p>

1050776

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student loans for each of the UK government administrations. The information is not held in the requested format, however the SLC publishes data on the number of EU nationals who have been placed in arrears, as they have not provided details of their income. Around 9,600 EU borrowers had not provided details of their income and had been placed in arrears as at 31 April 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics covering loan repayments are published annually by the SLC for each UK government administration as part of the ‘Debt and repayment statistics for England 2017-18’. More detailed information on the repayment statuses of home and EU domiciled borrowers, who are liable for repayment, can be found in tables 3A and 3B of the statistics publication (attached).</p><p> </p>

1052513

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The government and the Office for Students (OfS) are focused on addressing inequalities in higher education. Government consulted on the publication of data on senior staff remuneration, including in relation to gender and ethnicity. The OfS retains the power to require the disclosure of such information through its accounts direction.</p><p>Higher education institutions are independent and responsible for decisions about who they employ. Universities, like every employer, must ensure they meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. On February 1, the government announced measures to tackle ethnic disparities in higher education including encouraging higher education providers to make use of tools such as the Race at Work Charter and the Race Equality Charter to drive forward a step-change in the recruitment and progression of ethnic minority employees.</p><p>The government has also consulted on ethnicity pay reporting in order to inform future government policy.</p>

1052514

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Higher education institutions are independent and responsible for decisions about who they employ. Universities, like every employer, must ensure they meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Through the Race Disparity Audit, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister set out her expectation that more must be done to create a workforce that is representative of British society today. On 1 February, the government launched measures to drive change in tackling inequalities between ethnic groups in higher education.</p><p>Equality and Diversity in higher education is a priority for government and the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS will use Access and Participation Plans to hold higher education providers to account for disparities in access and attainment of black and ethnic minority students.</p><p>This year, for the first time, registered higher education providers will be required to publish data on measures including attainment broken down by ethnicity, gender and socio-economic groups. This will increase transparency on attainment gaps for ethnic minority students, shining a light on those providers that are not performing well.</p><p> </p>

1037590

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Universities are autonomous from government, and consequently control the criteria used to determine admissions. We are aware that some universities, notably those that comprise the Russell Group, identify the A level subjects most likely to facilitate entry to university. However, many other higher education institutions are guided simply by UCAS calculations of tariff points, which give equal weighting to A levels, regardless of subject. The government recognises the importance of arts subjects, including music. Students’ ability to make informed choices is at the heart of our recent reforms to higher education. The department is increasing the information available to students to ensure they can make informed choices about what and where to study.</p>

1078958

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>This government recognises the importance of arts subjects, including music. Universities are autonomous from government and consequently control the criteria used to determine admissions. We are aware that the Russell Group, which comprises 24 of the UK’s leading universities, publish guidance designed to assist applicants in identifying the A level subjects most likely to facilitate entry to one of their member universities. From engagement with the Russell Group, we understand they are currently reviewing their guidance.</p><p>The ability for students to make informed choices is at the heart of our recent reforms to higher education. We are increasing the information available to students to ensure they can make informed choices about what and where to study.</p>

1049558

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Applicants to full-time undergraduate degrees apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). UCAS have published data on the number of unconditional offers and the proportion of offers made that were unconditional since 2010. The data covers offers made to 18 year olds from England, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p><p>The table shows the number of unconditional offers made and the proportion of offers made that were unconditional to 18 year old applicants from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of unconditional offers</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion of offers made that were unconditional</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>5,105</p></td><td><p>0.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>3,355</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2,605</p></td><td><p>0.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2,985</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>12,115</p></td><td><p>1.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>23,410</p></td><td><p>2.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>36,825</p></td><td><p>3.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>51,615</p></td><td><p>5.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>67,915</p></td><td><p>7.1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: UCAS End of Cycle reports 2017 and 2018:</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/196151/download?token=jzRAy4kS" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/196151/download?token=jzRAy4kS</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/140406/download?token=pfzLAKRe" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/140406/download?token=pfzLAKRe</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><ol><li>UCAS defines an unconditional offer as a provider decision to grant a place to an applicant that is not subject to the applicant satisfying academic and/or other criteria.A conditional unconditional offer is an offer made by a provider which was originally conditional, but becomes unconditional if the applicant selects that offer as their firm (first) choice. By definition, conditional unconditional offers that are selected as a firm choice by the applicant become unconditional and are also included in the unconditional offers group.Offer with an unconditional component are defined as an offers showing as having an element of unconditional offer-making, that is, unconditional offers plus conditional unconditional offers that have not been selected as firm (and hence remain conditional unconditional).</li><li>Figures provided in the table are based on the offer status at the 30 June application deadline.</li><li>Data on conditional unconditional offers, and offers that had an unconditional component have not been included in the table due to data not being published prior to 2013.</li></ol><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information regarding which universities allocated places to applicants on an unconditional basis and for each of those universities, what percentage of total offers were unconditional in each of those years is not held centrally.</p><p>However, on 31 January UCAS published data on unconditional offers by each provider for the first time as part of their 2018 End of Cycle data releases. For each provider, UCAS have published data on the number and proportion of offers that were unconditional, conditional unconditional, and offers that had an unconditional component since 2013. Further information can be found at: <a href="https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-reports/2018-ucas-undergraduate-unconditional-offer-making-provider-reports" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-reports/2018-ucas-undergraduate-unconditional-offer-making-provider-reports</a> – then select ‘Individual 2018 provider level unconditional offer-making CSVs’.</p><p> </p><p>The government are concerned by the increase in unconditional offers, and have asked the higher education (HE) regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to monitor and review how they are being used by HE providers. Where institutions cannot justify the rising numbers being offered we have made clear to the OfS that they should use the full range of powers at their disposal to take action.</p>

1049559

	answering body	Department for Education
	house id	2
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Applicants to full-time undergraduate degrees apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). UCAS have published data on the number of unconditional offers and the proportion of offers made that were unconditional since 2010. The data covers offers made to 18 year olds from England, Northern Ireland and Wales.</p><p>The table shows the number of unconditional offers made and the proportion of offers made that were unconditional to 18 year old applicants from England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of unconditional offers</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion of offers made that were unconditional</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>5,105</p></td><td><p>0.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>3,355</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2,605</p></td><td><p>0.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2,985</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>12,115</p></td><td><p>1.4%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>23,410</p></td><td><p>2.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>36,825</p></td><td><p>3.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>51,615</p></td><td><p>5.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>67,915</p></td><td><p>7.1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: UCAS End of Cycle reports 2017 and 2018:</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/196151/download?token=jzRAy4kS" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/196151/download?token=jzRAy4kS</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.ucas.com/file/140406/download?token=pfzLAKRe" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/file/140406/download?token=pfzLAKRe</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><ol><li>UCAS defines an unconditional offer as a provider decision to grant a place to an applicant that is not subject to the applicant satisfying academic and/or other criteria.A conditional unconditional offer is an offer made by a provider which was originally conditional, but becomes unconditional if the applicant selects that offer as their firm (first) choice. By definition, conditional unconditional offers that are selected as a firm choice by the applicant become unconditional and are also included in the unconditional offers group.Offer with an unconditional component are defined as an offers showing as having an element of unconditional offer-making, that is, unconditional offers plus conditional unconditional offers that have not been selected as firm (and hence remain conditional unconditional).</li><li>Figures provided in the table are based on the offer status at the 30 June application deadline.</li><li>Data on conditional unconditional offers, and offers that had an unconditional component have not been included in the table due to data not being published prior to 2013.</li></ol><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information regarding which universities allocated places to applicants on an unconditional basis and for each of those universities, what percentage of total offers were unconditional in each of those years is not held centrally.</p><p>However, on 31 January UCAS published data on unconditional offers by each provider for the first time as part of their 2018 End of Cycle data releases. For each provider, UCAS have published data on the number and proportion of offers that were unconditional, conditional unconditional, and offers that had an unconditional component since 2013. Further information can be found at: <a href="https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-reports/2018-ucas-undergraduate-unconditional-offer-making-provider-reports" target="_blank">https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-reports/2018-ucas-undergraduate-unconditional-offer-making-provider-reports</a> – then select ‘Individual 2018 provider level unconditional offer-making CSVs’.</p><p> </p><p>The government are concerned by the increase in unconditional offers, and have asked the higher education (HE) regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to monitor and review how they are being used by HE providers. Where institutions cannot justify the rising numbers being offered we have made clear to the OfS that they should use the full range of powers at their disposal to take action.</p>