

	Introduction to HE
	HE and Curriculum 2000
	Understanding HE's requirements
	Widening participation
	Key skills and HE
	Advising students on HE entry

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Understanding HE's requirements

UCAS analysis of the 47,000 courses for entry year 2003 offered through its application system shows that, where they specify requirements, HEIs are seeking:

breadth
59 per cent of courses require 12 units of achievement, while 21 per cent of courses require 18 units

43 per cent of courses prefer 18 units and 11 per cent of courses prefer 21+ units

depth
67 per cent of courses require at least 12 units to come from 6- or 12-unit qualifications (ie GCE/VCE A level, or VCE double award)



Qualification	per cent of courses accepting this qualification on its own for entry	per cent of courses accepting this qualification as a component of requirements for entry

GCE AS	4	89

GCE A level	94	95

VCE AS	4	84

VCE A level	70	92

VCE double award	73	90

Of the courses on which UCAS holds entry qualification information, 33 per cent positively accept key skills points as a contribution to the tariff. More than half of HE offers from an analysed sample do not exclude general studies.

From this, it can be seen that some widely held perceptions of what HE wants are not valid. The requirements of some HEIs have tended to shape the perceptions of young people, parents, and school and college staff.

HEIs frame requirements and offers in different ways, using:

new UCAS tariff points only; or
a tariff points score qualified to specify
- a minimum amount of depth from 6- or 12-unit qualifications
- required qualifications and/or grades
- any excluded qualifications
- the maximum number of key skill points accepted.

Also see

> A brief guide to level 3 qualifications