Admissions Policy

Admissions Policy

The University of Worcester welcomes applications from candidates from all social and ethnic backgrounds and is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities for all.

Principles

The admission of students is based on the reasonable expectation that the applicant will be able to fulfil the objectives and achieve the standard required for the award for which they are registered.

Entry requirements should be explicit in identifying the knowledge, skills and competences required at admission and relating these to content, mode of delivery and outcomes of the award.

Selection criteria should set out the standards and means by which an applicant will be judged.

The University is committed to widening access to and participation in HE by raising awareness and expectations in the pre-university community in order to increase the pool of qualified candidates who can benefit from the provision on offer.

No student will be subjected to less favourable treatment on grounds of race, ethnic or national origins, colour, gender, sexuality, parental status, marital status, disability status, creed, political belief or social or economic background.

Support for disabled students can be negotiated through the Disability Co-ordinator who works from the Disability & Dyslexia Service. Early contact is advisable to ensure appropriate levels of support from the outset of the student’s course.

The University recognises the importance of the provision of accurate and appropriate pre-entry information and support to prospective students in order to ensure that all applicants will be given every opportunity to choose courses in an informed manner and to be admitted to a suitable course.

Constant monitoring and review of its admissions practices and procedures is necessary to effect improvements as required and to respond to any changes in the institutional mission and external factors including changing patterns in the applicant market.

Complaints

If you are unhappy about the way your application is handled, then in the first instance you should contact the Assistant Registrar (Recruitment and Admissions). This can be done informally, in person, by telephone or via e-mail.  The Assistant Registrar (Recruitment and Admissions) is Francesca Fairhurst who can be contacted on 01905 855010 or f.fairhurst@worc.ac.uk

If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should put your concerns in writing. You can expect a reply within fifteen working days. If you are not satisfied with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Head of Registry Services, who will investigate accordingly.

The University of Worcester reserves the right to make academic judgements on the suitability and potential of an applicant.

Distance Contracts Regulations

The admissions process falls under legislation that regulates ‘contracts formed at a distance’. The contract that is created when you accept an offer either through UCAS or directly to the University of Worcester is binding on the University (i.e. the University of Worcester must admit you if you satisfy all of the conditions specified in the offer). You can withdraw at any time and without penalty after accepting an offer; the ‘distance contracts’ regulations simply reinforce your rights.

The same regulations also require us to clarify that the services with which we will provide you, should you accept an offer from us, are as set out in the sections of this prospectus that detail the content and duration of our courses of study (subject to the caveats below regarding withdrawal or variation of courses).

Criminal Records

When an applicant reveals a criminal record on an application form, the University of Worcester will ask the applicant to declare information about ‘unspent’ convictions, unless the course of study is likely to bring the student into contact with children or vulnerable adults where information will be sought regarding all convictions and cautions.

The University of Worcester is a Registered Body with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and uses its services to assist with the admission decisions to courses of study that involve working with children or vulnerable adults e.g. applications for teaching and nursing. As a registered body, the University of Worcester complies with the CRB Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants fairly and consistently.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from being admitted to a course of study at the University of Worcester. The decision will depend upon the course of study and the circumstances and background of the offences.

Feedback policy

In order to support our transparent admissions system we acknowledge an applicant’s need to know why their application was deemed unsuccessful. Initial summary feedback will be provided via UCAS Track for those applying via UCAS. We will also provide feedback on an individual basis in response to receiving a formal request (written or emailed) from the applicant within 6 weeks of the decision being made. The request must include:

• UCAS Personal Identification Number
  AND
• Full Name
• Date of birth
• Course applied for

Feedback will only be given in written format (not over the telephone or in person) within 8 weeks of receipt of the request. The Admissions Office will not consider an application that has been re-submitted in the same cycle in light of the feedback provided for the same course, however we may consider for an alternative course.

In line with our Data Protection policies we will not be able to provide feedback to anyone other than the applicant unless Admissions have been advised to do so. The feedback will be sent to the email address the applicant has provided on their application form. Therefore please be sure to inform the Admissions Office of any changes.

The University of Worcester does not allow appeals against an admissions decision, and the Complaints Procedure should be followed, if an applicant is unhappy with the feedback received.