Senate

Subject: Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Recruitment 2009 Entry

Origin: Morag Bell, Pro Vice Chancellor (Teaching) and Howard Jones, Student Recruitment Manager

Executive summary:

The purpose of this paper is to update Senate on the recruitment position based on the most recent data for undergraduate and taught postgraduate student entry in 2009/10.

Senate action required: Senate is asked to note the content of the paper.

1) Undergraduate Recruitment: UK/EU

Key facts are as follows:

Category	% change
Applications	+18.2
Conditional offers	+12.9
Conditional firm accepts (CF)	+21.2
Conditional insurance accepts (CI)	+14.8
Unconditional firm accepts (UF)	+17.4
Intake target 2009	3103
Actual intake 2008	3568

Data sources: UCAS reports 28/052008 and 30/05/2009

The HE sector as a whole has experienced an increase in applications of around 8.0%.

The figures above indicate that the University’s position is a buoyant one. An overall Intake forecast based on an average of the CF to UF conversion performance in recent years, suggests that a greater proportion of places will be filled prior to any interventions than in 2008, with a number of departments settling very close to their targets.

In order to ensure that the University’s eventual intake does not exceed its target (which is 465 below the actual intake for 2008), a series of measures have been agreed by the Student Recruitment (SR) Team to manage the decision making process during results week in August (16 – 21 August)

· Initial processing of results to be completed by the end of Monday 17 August

· First management meeting Tuesday morning 18 August

· Departments to be briefed on current position and scope (if any) for concessions and changed course offers Tuesday afternoon 18 August

· Specific quotas to be issued to departments covering concessions and changed course offers

· Second management meeting Wednesday 19 August for review and decision on Clearing

Likely yield from the conditional insurance (CI) category will be allowed for in calculating the University’s position in relation to its target. It is expected that significantly fewer places will be filled through concessions, changed course offers and Clearing than in the recent past. This will serve to improve the quality of the intake. The various stages of the process in results week will be taken consecutively rather than concurrently to ensure maximum control over outcomes.

The new “adjustment” period which enables applicants to transfer between universities if they have achieved better results than required to satisfy the offer they accepted originally, is not expected to have a major impact. The SR Team has resolved that existing CF applicants will be given priority ahead of new applicants when final vacancies are being filled.

2. Undergraduate Recruitment (International)

Key facts are as follows:

Category	% change
Applications	+20.6
Conditional offers	+18.8
Conditional firm accepts (CF)	+39.1
Conditional insurance accepts (CI)	+28.8
Unconditional firm accepts (UF)	+69.2*
Intake target 2009	307
Actual intake 2008	288

*44 compared to 26

Although 28% of international applicants receiving offers have still to reply, the overall position already looks strong compared to 2008. In August, the processing of results will be expedited and the constraints relating to UK/EU recruitment will not apply.

There is every prospect, therefore, that the University will meet its target. The introduction of the new Points Based System for visa applications has the potential, however, to make a negative impact on international admissions (undergraduate and taught postgraduate) for the sector as a whole. The new system has been operating since March of this year and it is clear that, as yet, the officers employed in country by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) are not applying the new rules consistently. This has resulted in visa applications being rejected for trivial and in some cases perverse reasons. Much effort has already been expended by admissions staff and the International Office at Loughborough, with assistance from the Student Support Centre, to ensure that the visa letters now being issued comply with the emerging UKBA guidelines. The experiences of prospective international students, when presenting these letters to the clearance officers, is being monitored carefully.

3. Taught Postgraduate (UK/EU)

The most recent analysis of applications (12 June 2009) indicates a rise of 26.9% compared to 2008. All three Faculties have experienced increases and this applies also to all but three departments. Offers have grown by 14.6% and the UF total stands at 64 (-4.5%). The number of Loughborough University students among the applicants is 198, an increase of 56% compared to last year. The Graduate School supported by the taught Postgraduate Office and academic departments has continued to promote vigorously study opportunities within and beyond the institution. This consolidated effort may account in part for the growth in applications together with the unfavourable employment situation.

Current statistics suggest that the University’s target will be reached.

Target 2009: 336

Actual intake 2008: 359

4. Taught Postgraduate Recruitment (International)

Currently, initial applications are showing a rise of 37.8%. An analysis by domicile reveals sharp variations: China has increased by 49.1% while Nigeria has fallen by 13.9%. The role of the University’s agent in filtering out weaker applications may account for the reduction from Nigeria.

Offers have grown by 9.0% and the UF total stands at 335 (-11.3%).

The sharp rise in applications together with an associated rapid acceleration in e-mail traffic has presented a challenge to the Taught Postgraduate Office. The ability of the Office to absorb the additional volume and maintain the high standards of service to which they are committed has been seriously affected by staff absence through ill health and injury. Assistance has been provided by other parts of the Academic Registry and the University has granted the Office additional temporary resources with the result that all back logs have now been virtually eliminated.

There is concern that the changes to the visa applications and assessment system, referred to above, could damage the University’s international recruitment prospects. It is too early to make any judgements but as soon as feedback is received on the visa letters already issued, prompt action will be taken to address the causes of any rejections.

Target 2009: 828

Actual intake 2008: 841