Admissions Policy

							                                     ADMISSIONS POLICY


Aims

University of Teesside aims to:

      attract and retain students, from a wide and diverse community, who have the
       potential to succeed and benefit from the experience;

      ensure that there is equality of opportunity for all applicants to gain admission to a
       course suited to their aspirations, and their ability to meet the demands and
       professional requirements of the course.

The University will achieve these aims by:

      ensuring that clear, consistent and accessible information and guidance is available
       to all stakeholders in the admissions process e.g. applicants, parents, schools,
       colleges, and all University staff involved in the admissions process;

      assessing all applications on an individual basis;

      ensuring that all assessment methods used for selection of students are explicit,
       reliable, appropriate and fair, and take into account prior learning and experience,
       national qualifications guidelines, formal University-level agreements in determining
       stage of entry and the requirement to make reasonable adjustments.

      ensuring that all principles surrounding the procedures for admission to the University
       are as transparent and accessible as possible;

      ensuring that all staff involved in making decisions about an applicants entry to the
       University do so in a clear, consistent and reliable manner.

This policy and associated procedures comply with relevant legislation and are designed to
ensure that the University is compliant with the QAA Code of Practice: Admissions to Higher
Education (currently under revision). The policy also takes into account the principles
outlined by the Admissions to Higher Education Review (Schwartz – 2004).

Entry Requirements

All applications are assessed on an individual basis and admission to the University is based
on an applicant’s relative merits and abilities. The principal academic criterion for
determining a candidate’s suitability for admission to a course is that there is a reasonable
expectation that he/she will be able to fulfil the learning outcomes of the course and achieve
the standard required for the award. The University will look for evidence of academic


D:\Docstoc\Working\pdf\b860004a-e789-4605-bf1e-3fbb7b38fa57.doc
                                              C2 - 1
achievement as well as personal and professional experiences that provide an indication of
ability to meet the demands and professional requirements of the course.

Specific entry criteria for a given course are set by the Academic School responsible for the
course. Academic criteria are specified in terms of the English, Scottish and International
Baccalaureate qualification frameworks, with indicative substitutes summarised for
international applicants.

Entry criteria are reviewed by the responsible School annually and updated as required.

Entry criteria are published in the University Prospectus and on the University website.

Minimum entry criteria are for all courses entering clearing and deemed to be the same as
those used at all other times unless a variance is specifically authorised by the appropriate
Dean of School.

Applications from disabled people are encouraged and reasonable adjustments will be made
to accommodate needs.

Admissions Procedures

To ensure consistency of process, written standard administrative procedures exist that
cover:

      Home/EU undergraduate and postgraduate admissions

      International admissions

      Research admissions

These procedures are maintained and updated as required by the Academic Registry and
the Research Degrees Office.

All admissions procedures are made available in electronic and hard copy format to all staff
engaged in admissions processes, whether academic or support staff.

Transparency and Consistency

The University is committed to providing clear, accurate, complete and accessible
information on its courses, relevant entry requirements and associated admissions
procedures.

The University strives to ensure that clear, accessible information is made available with
regard to any non-academic requirements for entry to its courses. Where additional
methods of assessment (e.g. interview or portfolio submission) are used to select
candidates, this will be explicitly stated for the benefit of applicants in the University
Prospectus and on the University website.

To ensure consistency of process and decision, the majority of all home/EU admissions
decisions are made by trained admissions tutors and administrative staff within the
Academic Schools.

Responsibilities

The Academic Registrar is responsible for ensuring that:

D:\Docstoc\Working\pdf\b860004a-e789-4605-bf1e-3fbb7b38fa57.doc
                                              C2 - 2
      Admission processes for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate applicants are
       clear and updated regularly;

      All admissions staff are aware of and support the University’s Admissions Policy and
       associated procedures; are competent to make fair and sound judgements; are
       trained to an appropriate standard in admissions work; are aware of the University’s
       policy on Equality and Diversity and how to obtain further advice on the issues
       related to Equality and Diversity when dealing with enquiries and applications; have
       sufficient time to carry out their duties to a high standard;

      Admissions processes for research applicants are clear and updated regularly;

      All Research Degrees Office Staff are aware of and support the University’s
       Admissions Policy and associated procedures; are competent to make fair and sound
       judgements; are trained to an appropriate standard in admissions work; are aware of
       the University’s policy on Equality and Diversity and how to obtain further advice on
       issues related to Equality and Diversity when dealing with enquiries and applications;
       have sufficient time to carry out their duties to a high standard.

Deans of School are responsible for ensuring that:

      Appropriate admissions criteria are developed for each course, communicated to the
       Admissions Office/Centre for International Development (CFID) and updated
       annually;

      Admissions Tutors and other staff engaged in admissions work are aware of and
       support the University’s Admissions Policy and associated procedures; are
       competent to make fair and sound judgements; are trained to an appropriate
       standard in admissions work; are aware of the University’s policy on Equality and
       Diversity and how to obtain further advice on issues related to Equality and Diversity
       when dealing with enquiries and applications; have sufficient time to carry out their
       duties to a high standard.

Applicants with Criminal Convictions

In the majority of cases, a prior criminal conviction will not preclude a candidate from being
offered a place at the University. However, the University will be required to assess such
applications in order to ensure that neither the applicant, the staff nor students of the
University will be put at risk should the applicant become a student of the University. All
such applicants will be considered for admission to the University in line with the University’s
Policy and Procedure for Handling Applications from Students or Applicants with Previous
Criminal Convictions.

All applicants to courses where their studies will require interaction with children and/or
vulnerable adults will be subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and
Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) check prior to admission to the University.

Course Changes

Changes to any of the University’s courses involving significant restructuring or
discontinuation will be communicated to applicants affected by such changes at the earliest
possible opportunity. The Admissions Office is responsible for co-ordinating the process of
communicating with applicants affected by changes to courses.


D:\Docstoc\Working\pdf\b860004a-e789-4605-bf1e-3fbb7b38fa57.doc
                                              C2 - 3
Enrolment

The University will ensure that all successful applicants are provided with full detailed and
accessible information concerning their enrolment to the University. An information leaflet
will be issued to all successful applicants providing full details of the enrolment process.



Feedback to Unsuccessful Applicants

Feedback will be provided on request. Feedback will usually only be provided to the
applicant themselves and not to any third party e.g. parent, teacher unless specific
permission has been granted.

Admissions Appeals

There is no right of appeal for unsuccessful applicants. However, in order to safeguard the
interests of prospective students, the University has established an Admissions Appeals
Procedure. Where an applicant believes that their application has not been dealt with in
accordance with the University’s policies, principles and procedures, an appeal can be
submitted.

An appeal against a decision may only be submitted on the grounds of:

1.     a procedural irregularity;

2.     if there is evidence of bias or prejudice;

3.     new material information, which may have affected the decision. (In this instance
       reasons why this was not made available at the time of application MUST be given
       and failure to do so may impact on progression of the appeal).

This procedure may only be initiated on the basis of one of these grounds. It may not be
used when and where there are not adequate grounds for doing so and may not be used
simply because a candidate has been unsuccessful with his/her application, or is unhappy
with the conditions of an offer. This process is inclusive of all admissions including those
decisions based on Accreditation of Prior Learning, either experiental (APEL) or certificated
(APCL). There shall be no provision of appeal against the academic or professional
judgement of those making the decision on the application.

Monitoring and Review

The University Admissions Policy will be reviewed annually by the University Admissions
Committee (in liaison with the Admissions Manager, Centre for International Developments
Office and the Research Degrees Officer) in order to ensure it continues to meet national,
international and institutional requirements.




D:\Docstoc\Working\pdf\b860004a-e789-4605-bf1e-3fbb7b38fa57.doc
                                              C2 - 4
D:\Docstoc\Working\pdf\b860004a-e789-4605-bf1e-3fbb7b38fa57.doc
                                              C2 - 5