Senate

Subject: Full-time Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Recruitment Report on Outcomes 2009 Entry

Origin: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching)

Manager of Student Recruitment and Admissions

Executive Summary:

Across all groups of students the recruitment process has produced highly successful outcomes. UK/EU undergraduate intake was managed effectively in August with few concessions. ‘A’ level entry grades have increased across the Faculties. The University has benefitted from a sector-wide increase in demand among UK/EU students for taught postgraduate study and intake has exceeded target.

It was anticipated that international student recruitment would be challenging, notably in view of the new points-based visa system and the competitive advantage of other countries as locations for study. Within this context recruitment has been exceptional.

Senate Action Required:

Senate is asked to note the content of the paper.

Summarised below are the latest student registrations taken from data published by the Planning Office

University

	Registrations*	Target	% Difference
Undergraduate (UK/EU)	3059	3103	-1.4
Undergraduate (International)	296	307	-3.6
Taught Postgraduate (UK/EU)	424	336	+26.2
Taught Postgraduate (International)	851	828	+2.8

Faculty Breakdown

	Registrations*	Target	% Difference
Engineering
Undergraduate (UK/EU)	755	730	+3.4
Undergraduate (International)	96	93	+3.2
Taught Postgraduate (UK/EU)	94	54	+74.1
Taught Postgraduate (International)	191	175	+9.1
Science
Undergraduate (UK/EU)	589	614	-4.1
Undergraduate (International)	103	90	+14.4
Taught Postgraduate (UK/EU)	70	67	+4.5
Taught Postgraduate (International)	159	158	+0.6
Social Science and Humanities
Undergraduate (UK/EU)	1715	1759	-2.5
Undergraduate (International)	97	124	-21.8
Taught Postgraduate (UK/EU)	260	215	+20.9
Taught Postgraduate (International)	501	495	+1.2

* including expected to register category

UK/EU Recruitment

Undergraduate

The University’s objective of recruiting within target has been met. A significant rise in both applications and firm acceptances necessitated a tight control of the admissions process during confirmation of offers week. Measures were implemented with the co-operation of all departments and comprised:

Strictly limited concessions (with a quality threshold)
A substantial reduction in the number of changed course offers
An embargo on offers to new applicants in Clearing

The following table illustrates the impact of these measures compared to 2008. It gives the proportion of the total intake achieved as a result of specific interventions.

Year

Concessions

CCO*

Acceptances

Clearing**

2009

6.0

4.4

1.1

2008

19.9

9.4

5.9

* changed course offers

** all existing applicants “retrieved” through Clearing

Applicants processed in confirmation week, who met or exceeded the conditions of their offers, coupled with UF applicants, accounted for 81.8% of the intake compared to 58.3% in 2008.

A welcome result of the controls applied in confirmation week has been a rise in average A Level scores* for all three Faculties**:

	2009	2008
Engineering	314.5	298.6
Science	302.4	285.7
Social Science and Humanities	324.5	314.1

* best three grades

** excluding SEFS.

Please note that 2009 Faculty figures take into account the new School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences within SSH.

A proposal is being made to Operations Committee that the institutional target should remain at 3103 for 2010, with no change to the distribution between the Faculties. Standard conditional offer levels have been increased for programmes within all three Faculties and the Faculty of Science has established a minimum offer threshold of 300 points (BBB grades) for 2011.

Taught Postgraduate

The total of 424 registrations represents the strongest performance in recent years. Recruitment in 2008 reversed a trend which has developed since 2005 of undershooting the target, and this positive development has been maintained. The expansion of a vigorous promotional campaign launched by the Graduate School in 2006/07, including targeted mail shots and the University Open Day and accompanied by scholarship and bursary schemes, has contributed to the result. The impact of the recession should also be acknowledged.

International Recruitment

Undergraduate

The total number of registrations has fallen slightly short of the target. Analysis indicates that a higher proportion of international students withdrew prior to arrival than in 2008. There is no evidence to suggest that this is a consequence of the new visa application process. One factor of note is the late decision of the Government of Brunei (now an important market for Loughborough) to move some of its sponsored students to different programmes at other universities. The perceived high cost of studying in the UK persuaded other students to remain in the their home country or move elsewhere. The International Office has embarked on a campaign to strengthen links with UK Colleges recruiting international students onto their A Level and Foundation Programmes and this has already led to a rise in applications and intakes from this sector.

The International Foundation Programme delivered by Loughborough College and validated by the University has recruited its first intake of 42 students. It can be anticipated that a number of these students will progress to first degree programmes at the University in 2010.

Taught Postgraduate

Recruitment has exceeded target. An intake of over 800 for the third year in succession is an impressive outcome in the face of intense competition not only from other UK universities but also from other countries. Working in co-operation with academic departments and the Student Recruitment and Admissions Section of the Academic Registry, the International Office continues to develop existing markets and to explore new ones. One key element in the recruitment strategy is to strengthen relationships with agents. Referrals from agents are increasing and it is a priority of the International Office to encourage this while closely monitoring the quality of the applications.

The recent success of the University in regaining its recognition as an approved institution for US Federal Loans will permit an expansion of recruitment activity in the United States. A strategy is being led by the International Office.