How we work with universities and colleges to ensure fair admissions

UCAS works closely with universities and colleges to make sure admissions processes in the UK are consistent, transparent, and fair, so every student has the opportunity to find their best fit.

To achieve this, we have developed admissions rules and principles, which are reviewed regularly. 

All universities and colleges in the UCAS scheme must operate in line with UCAS’ admissions principles and business rules, which support:

UCAS admissions principles and business rules

Admissions principles

1. Universities and colleges must show consistency, fairness, and the avoidance of bias in the consideration of all applications and the use of contextual information.
2. Entry requirements and offer-making strategies must be evidence-based, and designed to recruit students with the potential to succeed on their programme of study.
3. Universities and colleges must support the provision of clear, current, and transparent information, including listing opportunities for study on the UCAS search tool.
4. The types of offers made for commonly presented qualifications must be listed on the UCAS search tool, including indicating at university or college level the circumstances in which an offer may be made that is different to the published typical offer (for example, contextual offers).
5. All offer conditions must be clear, unambiguous, and within an applicant’s control to meet.
6. Universities and colleges must let applicants know why they need any additional information they have requested, and provide them with a reasonable deadline for supplying it. If the deadline must be short because of a UCAS or other (e.g. UKVI) deadline, then a university or college will let the applicant know why.
7. Applicants should be given reasonable notice of any interview, audition, or additional assessment (either in person or electronically). If short notice must be given because of a UCAS or other deadline, then universities and colleges will explain this to the applicant.
8. Universities and colleges should give reasonable consideration to applicant requests for flexibility outside the standard dates and deadlines.
9. Universities and colleges must not place undue pressure (i.e. that which is not in the applicant’s best interests) in order to directly or indirectly influence an applicant’s decision.
10. Universities and colleges should take note of relevant sector good practice guidelines, such as the Universities UK (UUK) and GuildHE Fair Admissions Code of Practice and the QAA Quality Code.

Business rules

1. To provide a fair, transparent, and comprehensive process for applicants and the sector, UCAS requires universities and colleges to list and recruit all full-time undergraduate applicants through UCAS, identifying UCAS as the application route on their website and in any marketing materials.
2. The standard application route should be used to recruit applicants in most cases. The Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) can be used according to exemptions listed in the Admissions Guide but must only be used in applicants’ best interests and must never be used in order to curtail student choice.
3. Universities and colleges must consider all applications for each course on an equal basis if they are received on or before the relevant equal consideration date.
4. Universities and colleges must not ask applicants where else they have applied. Each application must be considered on its own merits, and decisions should not be made on the basis of applications to other institutions made by the student.
5. Universities and colleges must use and update UCAS as the authoritative source of information on the decision(s) made on applications submitted, and transmit all of the following using UCAS systems.
   • The initial decision outcome (offer/reject)
   • The type of offer (conditional/unconditional/ alternative offer)
   • Any academic conditions
   • Any other conditions that may result in a change in offer status (conditional to unconditional/offer to reject)
   • Any decision or offer amendments
6. Offers must clearly distinguish between those offer conditions which must be met to enrol on the programme of study, and those which are not an enrolment requirement (such as those that change the type of offer prior to the receipt of examination results).
7. Once an offer is made to an applicant, the terms of the offer should only be changed with the applicant’s consent if the change would impose additional or more stringent conditions on the applicant.
8. Universities and colleges are required to process decisions on applications by the relevant published reject by default (RBD) deadline.
9. Universities and colleges must not ask applicants to reply to offers before the normal reply date, regardless of when the offer was made, unless the course starts before 1 September.
10. Universities and colleges should not incentivise early applicant replies in return for preferential access to benefits and services (e.g. priority access to limited accommodation). Even where courses start before 1 September, universities and colleges must allow applicants a reasonable period to consider their options and respond.
11. Universities and colleges must only communicate with applicants for purposes relating to admission to that university or college and must not seek to unduly influence or alter their decisions. Communications should be clear, unambiguous and timely, in line with the requirements of the Competition and Markets Authority.
12. Universities and colleges can send communications to applicants who have made their firm and/or insurance choice with them but must not seek to influence them to change their firm/insurance choice. A decline/reject/withdrawal decision is considered an opt out of communications relating to an application to that university or college, and the applicant must not be approached by the university or college unless:
    • The applicant has requested the contact (noting where contact is requested by an applicant, universities and colleges should keep a written record); or
    • The applicant has declined an offer with that university or college and the university or college is seeking feedback (noting that universities and colleges should keep a written record of such contact and must not use it in-cycle as a means of persuading applicants to change their decisions);
    • The university or college has rejected the application owing to a decision processing error and wishes to rectify this by making an offer.
    • Universities and colleges must not make offers on previously rejected applications owing to in-cycle changes in offer making strategy or recruitment policy.
13. Universities and colleges should not reject an applicant at Confirmation if they still have outstanding or missing conditions unless:
    • The information already received is sufficient to be certain that the applicant will be unable to meet the terms of their offer; or
    • The standard or university or college-published deadline has passed
14. If universities and colleges wish to receive examination results early, they must sign the results embargo agreement and complete UCAS embargo training. Universities and colleges are not allowed to discuss examination results obtained under the results embargo agreement with applicants until results are published as per the terms of the agreement.
15. Upon reasonable written notice, universities and colleges must provide UCAS with correct, accurate and up to date information (for example about applicants, acceptances, and acceptance routes) as soon as is reasonably practicable. UCAS shall have the right to access, copy, and review any such information provided by the university or college as necessary in order to verify adherence to terms of service. Any such review shall be undertaken in close cooperation with the university or college and shall not unreasonably interfere with the university or college’s normal business operations. UCAS shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by the university or college in cooperating with such a review.
16. Universities and colleges must inform UCAS immediately when they become aware of a security incident which has or may be likely to impact on university or college systems with access to applicant data and has the potential to affect UCAS systems and services. This includes (but is not limited to) the loss or theft of credentials used to access UCAS systems or any other security incident affecting university or college IT systems which may cause a direct impact to UCAS.