Almost two out of five applicants from England, Ireland, and Wales were offered unconditional university offers.
Unconditional university offers are a record high
This year marks a huge mark up in unconditional university offers sent out to applicants all across England, Ireland, and Wales. Despite the government’s objection to this “unethical” recruitment practice, UK universities seem to disregard it.
Critics call it a desperate move to fill up classroom seats.
This year’s rate is up 3.3 percent from 2018, which is now at 37.7 percent. According to the University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS), almost two out of five applicants from England, Ireland, and Wales are being offered unconditional university offers.
What are unconditional offers?
Unconditional offers often work as an automatic admission into a university, granting the applicant puts the university in its first option for college.
Grades, affiliations, and other academic accomplishments do not affect or change the outcome of an unconditional university offer.
Former Department of Education Secretary Damian Hinds condemns this university practice, branding it “unethical” and deceiving.
In April, the former education secretary formally asked the universities to eliminate the practice, claiming that it damages the global reputation of UK universities. As a response, several vice-chancellors sought legal advice on restraining state control over university admissions.
Effects of unconditional offers to students
The latest UCAS analysis shows that students offered unconditional university offers were most likely to miss their targeted grades. In 2019, around 57 percent of unconditional offer grantees have dropped three or more grades. Men are more likely to exhibit adverse effects of unconditional offers than women.
The General Secretary of the Association of School and College, Geoff Barton, made an aggressive remark on the widespread of unconditional offers.
It is quite triggering, universities responded to our call of eliminating unconditional university offers by making more of it.
Unconditional offers are appropriate for certain scenarios, but when the offer restricts the applicant to a university of choice, then it is a marketing move. It pressures an applicant to choose between an easy entry or aiming for a university of choice.
