Higher Education Admissions Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide prospective students and staff with a guide to the admission of Higher Education (HE) students at Sandwell College. The policy has been drawn up following examination of sector best practice guidance from UCAS, Supporting Professionals in Admissions (SPA) and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and aims to provide an efficient, fair and transparent HE admission function for Sandwell College.

  1. Scope

This policy covers admissions to all HE courses at Sandwell College, both full-time and part-time. For further information regarding admissions to courses awarded by our partner institutions, please see Sandwell College admissions policy.

  1. Principles of fair admissions

Sandwell College seeks to ensure a fair HE admissions system which provides equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of background, to gain admission to a course suited to their ability and aspirations. Our approach to the admission of students also upholds the principles of fair admission outlined inSupporting Professionalism in Admissions, through being:

  • Transparent
  • Fair
  • Honest
  • Consistent
  • Accessible
  • Personalised
  • Timely
  1. Information and Guidance

Sandwell College will provide potential applicants with as much information as possible to enable them to make informed choices and appropriate applications. We will provide high quality information and advice on all aspects of recruitment, selection and admissions including our entry requirements and course information. All course entry requirements, course content, duration and fees will be made public in line with information in the programme specification. Primary sites of publication are the Sandwell College website and UCAS. It will be the joint responsibility of relevant heads of section/curriculum leaders and the marketing department to ensure that all public information is consistent.

  1. Applications

Applications will be accepted both electronically and paper based. The form used will depend on the course and whether it is full-time or part-time, but the website will link to the correct form. If required, admissions will send a paper based application form with a pre-paid envelope for return. All applicants will be logged centrally and then passed to the relevant administrator who will liaise with the curriculum staff over assessment of applicants.

  1. Assessment of applications

Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • Academic achievement or predicted achievement – do they meet the entry requirements?
  • Personal statements – to understand skills, motivation and interest in subject
  • References
  • Interview/tuition and selection events – to assess any non-academic requirements
  • Portfolios to be assessed by tutors
  1. Issues in considering application

Plagiarism

If UCAS notifies Sandwell College of the detection of plagiarism in personal statements, we reserve the right to decline the application or withdraw any offers made.

Criminal Convictions

Criminal convictions will be dealt with by the college safeguarding team in accordance with the college's Criminal Convictions Policy.

Declared Learning Needs

We aim to support all learners regardless of their support needs. For applicants with a declared learning need Sandwell College will conduct an assessment to ensure that the College can make the required, reasonable adjustment to support learning.

  1. Communication with applicants

Decisions reached following assessment will be communicated to the applicant via UCAS or directly from Sandwell College. The decision to interview/audition is communicated to the applicant directly from the College. In the regular admission cycle applicants will usually receive an invitation, via email, to attend an interview on the first day of the application being received. Any course specific additional information required for interview will also be sent with the invitation. There will be a minimum of two weeks’ notice given prior to interview dates. If the decision not to offer an interview is made notification will be sent to the applicant within two weeks of the application being received.

  1. Feedback

Consistent generic feedback will be provided to applicants who are not invited for interview/audition/selection or who are subsequently not offered a place. More specific individualised feedback may be available on request.

  1. Appeals and complaints

Unsuccessful applicants have the right of appeal in writing to the Admissions Enrolment Manager within five working days of being refused admission to the College, explaining the reasons why the College should reconsider its decision. Appeals will be considered by a Panel chaired by the Vice Principal, whose decision is final (please see appendix 1 for the Higher Education Admissions Appeal Procedure).

  1. Support and training for admissions staff

Sandwell College staff will continue to attend UCAS and Student Loan Company training events as required for CPD. They will also attend meetings at partner universities to ensure compliance with university policies. Regular training on admissions processes will be conducted by the Admission and Enrolment Manager and via Funding Data.

Appendix 1

Higher Education Admissions Complaints and Appeals Procedure

  1. Introduction

1.1 The College welcomes applications from individuals with the potential to succeed in higher education. Our commitment to equal opportunities ensures that all applicants are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential. We recognise, however, that there may be occasions when applicants feel they have cause for complaint.

1.2. Therefore, the purpose of the Higher Education Admissions Complaints and Appeals Procedure is to provide an opportunity for applicants to raise matters of concern without risk of disadvantage and for the College to resolve as quickly and fairly as possible complaints about the admissions process.

2. Principles

2.1. The principles which underpin the Admissions Complaints and Appeals Procedure are that:

  • the process should be fair, effective, timely and comprehensible with complaints being resolved as quickly as possible and in a reasonable manner;
  • any investigations undertaken as part of the Admissions Complaints Procedure;
  • the applicant and relevant members of staff will be informed of the outcome of the complaint;
  • appropriate action will be taken to improve the College’s procedures where the outcome of a complaint suggests that improvement is necessary.
  1. Procedure

3.1. Applicants who wish to complain or appeal should put their concern in writing to the Admissions and Enrolment Manager. Copies of all previous correspondence related to the complaint or appeal should be enclosed along with an explanation of the reasons for the complaint or appeal and the outcome desired by the applicant. Complaints or appeals submitted more than 10 working days after the original decision which is the subject of the appeal will not normally be considered.

3.2. TheAdmissions and Enrolment Manager will write to the applicant within 5 working days to acknowledge receipt of the complaint or appeal. If the complaint or appeal is related to a Partner HEI, they will be informed.

3.3. The Admissions and Enrolment Manager records thecomplaint or appeal and forwards it to the Vice Principal and also sends a copy to the Head of HE.

3.4. An investigation into the matters identified in the complaint or appeal will be undertaken by the Vice Principal and completed within 15 working days of receipt of the appeal. If it is not possible to complete the investigation within 15 working days, the applicant will be advised in writing of the reasons for this and given a date by which it is expected that the investigation will be completed.

3.5. The Vice Principal may request additional information from the applicant or relevant staff if this is deemed appropriate and, if necessary, may convene a meeting of the College’s Senior Management Team and/or the appealing applicant to discuss the appeal.

3.6. An appeal hearing is held and the Vice Principal will find either:

  • that there are grounds for further consideration and the application is to be reconsidered accordingly;

or

  • that there are no grounds for taking the matter further. At which point The Administration Team and Head of HE are informed, Partner Institutions are informed (if applicable) the Admissions Appeal record is updated and the applicant is informed.

or

  • an alternative course is proposed.

3.7. If the appeal hearing finds that there are grounds for further consideration and the application is to be reconsidered the relevant Course Team are informed that the applicant should be accepted. The Higher Education Administration Team is informed; Partner Institutions are informed (if applicable) and the Admissions Appeal record is updated.

3.8. The decision reached is considered to be final and will be communicated to the applicant within 10 working days of considering the complaint or appeal.

  1. Appeals and Complaints

4.1 Applicants do not have a right of appeal against the academic judgment of the College. However, if an applicant feels that an error has occurred, they have the right to request a formal review of the selection decision on one of the following grounds:

  • pertinent information was missing from the original application;
  • there has been a misinterpretation of information or data contained within the original application; and/or
  • there was a procedural anomaly in the handling of the application

4.2 Complaints (A complaint is normally a specific concern related to a procedural error,

irregularity or maladministration in the admissions procedures or policies)

  • Complaints are different to an appeal.
  • A complaint does not necessarily have to be in connection with a decision to turn down an applicant. A complaint is a concern about a particular procedure, an irregularity in the administration of an application, or a belief that a policy has not been correctly implemented. Complaints may cover any aspect of the admissions process and will normally focus on a specific issue or situation. A complaint does not necessarily question the decision of the College, but raises a concern about how the selection process has been managed.

The complaint or appeal should be sent to theAdmissions and Enrolment Managerat the following address:

1 Spon Lane

West Bromwich

B70 6AW

or emailed to for the attention of the Admissions and Enrolment Manager.

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