Data acquired by Vision shows a startling rise in the number of first year students who failed to attain their required entry grades to study at the University of York.
Statistics suggest that at least 18% of the current first year undergraduates did not meet the standards that were set out by the University, a significant increase on previous years.
The figures for the Department of History were particularly alarming, with at least 78 students being accepted to the department despite failing to meet their initial required grades. The figure may well be higher than 78, as dual-honours students only count as half a person.
Indeed the previous academic year saw only ‘12.5’ history students fail to attain their A-level or equivalent grades, as set out by York (the 0.5 derives from the fact that dual honours students only count for half a person in that department). Thus a colossal 524% rise can be accounted for in the number of first year students failing to acquire the required grades in the last 12 months.
For straight History, the published entry requirements are AAA, while the required grades vary for dual-honours students. There are roughly 290 first year history undergraduates who are attached to the University, and statistics show that roughly one-in-four failed to meet their entry requirements.
Significant rises can also be noted for Psychology, where the number of students not meeting their entry requirement increased from 18 in 2011 to 44 in 2012, and mathematics where there was a 240% increase.
First year Mathematics student Andrew Lister remarked: “I think the University should be more strict in deciding on entry requirements as they surely must have good reasons for asking for these particular grades.”
Indeed the pattern of increasing numbers of students being unable to attain their required grades continues throughout the majority of subjects, with only management showing a decline in figures between 2011 and 2012, and that being by only a single student.
Overall a minimum of 768 out of the 4,325 current first year undergraduates failed to attain their required entry grades; that amounts to 18% of all first year students. The figure is likely to be higher, since there is no data for the Philosophy Department and the school of Social and Political Sciences.
Figures for previous years are much lower, and in general there had been a stagnation in numbers of first years failing to meet their entry requirements from 2008 to 2011, before the astounding rise in 2012. In 2008 the total figure was 467, whilst the data received by Vision shows that in 2011, 305 students did not meet their entry grades, although that figure will be higher since data is missing for a third of departments.
Second year history student James Pemble told Vision: “I think it’s good that these students are still given such a good opportunity as they had met the original criteria to be offered a place. It’s good for them that one bad day doesn’t ruin this chance.”
Grade requirements did not change significantly from 2011 to 2012, but one explanation for this could be the current economic climate and the hike in tuition fees, which has dissuaded some students in the country from partaking in Higher Education.
Simon Willis, Director of Recruitment and Student Admissions at the University of York told Vision: “Last year was an anomaly for a number of reasons resulting in the number of admissions like this being higher than usual. It was the first year of the new fee arrangements so there were fewer gap year students holding offers from the previous cycle and more places available in-year; it was the first year of a new government policy removing quotas on universities in recruiting students gaining marks above AAB; and, nationally, there was an unexpected drop in the marks awarded by national exam boards.
“All these things combined resulted in a capacity to be more flexible in admitting strong candidates during confirmation in August, with more students than usual attaining an unexpected profile of marks.
“We are confident that the students we admitted will nevertheless be strong performers and make a significant contribution to the University and their departments.”
Another consideration is the intake of disadvantaged students, who are offered special dispensation.
More accommodation places to be filled, more money to be made by the Uni, more students accepted…
The entry grades required by departments have nothing to do with a students capacity to engage with the specific course. They simply reflect the ratio between applicants and places available. Most first year courses go back over A-level work anyway so don’t genuinely require all those A*s. York have just pushed their entry requires up too high to make the university look more prestigious based on demanding high grades, but has then had to let the requirements slide to fill the books. I would imagine many Universities do the same.
Why should students who fail to meet the required grades be let in. I am a history student who gained my place here by gaining AAA or higher at A/level if I have to do it why should others not also have to do it. You should have to earn your place at a prestigious university like ours not just be given it without earning it.