UCU comment on UCAS report showing further rise in unconditional offers

Commenting on the end-of-cycle report published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) today (Tuesday), University and College Union (UCU) general secretary, Jo Grady, said:

'These latest figures from UCAS highlight the degree to which the current admissions system is failing students. The current system is asking young people to base major life decisions on wildly inaccurate predicted grades, and has encouraged the exponential growth of controversial unconditional offers. The fact that more than two-fifths of students didn't get their expected results shows that predicted grades simply aren't fit for purpose.

'Our admissions system is a global outlier and is in desperate need of an overhaul. A shift to post-qualification admissions would not only be fairer for students, it would bring the UK into line with the rest of the world by basing offers on actual achievement rather than vague estimates of potential. We hope that the Office for Students' forthcoming review of admissions will recognise this.'