Admissions Transformation

Transforming our student admissions service 

A transformation programme has been established with the aim of improving our admissions service to deliver an outstanding and world leading experience for students and staff.  

The Admissions Transformation Programme (ATP) is a three-year programme of activity that will examine and make improvements to all aspects of admissions, including our policies, processes, ways of working and systems.  

Experienced admissions specialist, Peter Derrick recently joined UCL from UCAS to lead the programme. At UCAS Peter led all aspects of the operational service delivery portfolio, including the end-to-end admissions cycle, the annual Confirmation and Clearing activity, delivering improvements to the service UCAS runs every year.  

“I am delighted to join UCL to lead the ATP. It is an exciting programme of work that will deliver institution wide improvements, such as reducing our turnaround times and ensuring we recruit and admit the students with the most to gain from a UCL experience. We will deliver the best admissions service to our applicants, of which I hope staff will be proud.” 

The programme has already agreed several changes including:

• Improved policy framework – a review of policies relating to admissions to enable UCL to have a robust decision-making framework, for example a new framework for applicants to meet the English language requirements of the programme, offering departments more nuanced approach to suit their needs.
• Improved information to applicants – working with colleagues in the Digital Team to improve the information we provide to applicants to help guide them through the next steps of their application, reducing the number of enquires we receive.  
• Change to Taught Postgraduate Applicants – streamlining the process for requesting a deferral and only allowing them in certain circumstances which will assist with planning and forecasting student numbers.  

The programme is structured around six work packages:

1. Deliver best practice/ seamless applicant experience
2. Responsive admissions enquiries service
3. Future Admissions Service & ways of working
4. Simplify, standardise & automate processes
5. Adopt effective policies (includes best-fit students & cohort diversity)
6. Accelerating Widening Participation 

Next steps

Central Admissions will shortly be contacting colleagues in departments to discuss new and revised selection templates and confirming the new English language requirements for their programmes. 

Governance  

The ATP board is chaired by Prof. Christoph Lindner, with senior representation from across UCL. The programme also has a Stakeholder Advisory Group comprised of staff from all Faculties who act as a steer and help us to shape proposed changes.  

More information on both groups can be found on the Admissions Transformation SharePoint site.