UoB getting desperate?

Brum is set to ignore A-Levels and make unconditional offers to prospective students. 

The uni will allocate up to a quarter of undergraduate places this year based on teachers’ predictions alone.

These lucky 1,000 students are expected to achieve straight As, but are still guaranteed a place, even if their final results fall short. No worries for them, then!

A level results day – soon to be a thing of the past?

However, there is a catch.

Students who accept the unconditional offers will be expected to name UoB as their firm choice on UCAS, taking away the dilemma of choosing between universities but also denying the opportunity to explore other options.

The courses involved include: classics, maths, modern languages, philosophy, sociology, economics, materials engineering, political science, accounting and finance, business management, international relations and European politics, society and economics.

Pupils hoping to study maths must be predicted the high achievement of three A*’s. But is it fine if they get three Ds?

The university says the move will reward students of the highest potential and take the pressure of teenagers in their final year of full time education.

‘LOL- I was predicted an A, but I only got a C! Banter.’

The number of undergraduates starting university nationally dropped last autumn, a result of rising fees. But ultimately, it suggests that unis are having to step it up a notch in order to  attract students to fill their places.

Prof David Eastwood, Birmingham’s vice-chancellor and Russell Group chairman, insists the issue is “less about filling our quotas” but using the policy to attract the top students to a “highly-selective university.”

He said:  “We believe that the effect of this is that they will do better in the summer…we think there is no danger of them coasting.”

This news may be heart wrenching for students over the past few years that missed out on a place at UoB because they fell short of one grade after having ‘a bad day.’

And will these students be treated differently by their colleagues? Not everyone gets to pass go and collect student loan without achieving the entry requirements first.

Coming to all good universities near you soon: free Bentleys for first 100 to apply.