Undergraduate Admissions Statement

1. Admissions Process

This Statement should be read in conjunction with University’s Admissions Principles and Procedures :-
http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/governance/policies/admissions-policy.html

Year of admissions cycle – 2011

Courses covered

Psychology (C801)
Philosophy and Psychology (VC58)

Admissions Team

Dr Chris Benton (Admissions Tutor)
Dr Josie Briscoe (Admissions Tutor)
Dr Clive Frankish (Admissions Tutor for Psychology/Philosophy Joint Honours)
Dr Ian Penton-Voak (Admissions Tutor for Psychology/Zoology Joint Honours)
Mrs Chris Moroney (Admissions Secretary)

Outline of assessment methods

All UCAS forms are considered independently by at least two members of the Admissions team.

All applications are considered on an equal basis, without regard to the category or type of educational institution attended.

Applications from those proceeding more or less directly from sixth forms and colleges are assessed on the basis of information contained in the UCAS form; candidates in this group are only interviewed if the admissions team consider that the evidence from the written application is ambiguous, or indicate circumstances where additional information would be helpful.

In assessing the merits of each application, all sections of the form are taken into account. We do not apply a numerical tariff on which to score and rank candidates, but judge each application ‘in the round.’

Other correspondence with applicants

Applicants to whom we have made offers are invited to Departmental Open Days, which are typically held in early Spring.

Additional assessment: (a) interviews

Applicants from those proceeding more or less directly from sixth forms and colleges are only interviewed if the admissions team consider that the evidence from the written application is ambiguous, or indicate circumstances where additional information would be helpful.

All promising mature applicants and those with non-standard qualifications are interviewed by two members of the academic staff (at least one of whom will be an admissions tutor) with training in fair and effective recruitment techniques. These interviews are undertaken in accordance with the University’s policy on equal opportunities. Although interviews include some standard questions to facilitate comparison, the procedure is designed to provide an opportunity for each applicant to discuss their individual experience and qualifications.

Additional assessment: (b) tests/written work

None.

Procedures for specific categories of applicant

Mature: We welcome applications from mature students taking an Access course, or who may be taking a limited range of A-levels.

Non-standard applicants (i.e. those not taking A-levels or examinations with an accepted standard of equivalents) are considered separately and on an individual basis. The Department has a notional admissions target for non-standard applicants, but all decisions are made on merit, with offers made to those students we feel would most benefit from our degree programmes.

Applicants for deferred entry are assessed in the same way as applications for direct entry, but particular attention will be paid to how the gap year is being spent and how relevant it is to the chosen course. In fairness to other applicants in the following cycle, only a limited number of offers will be made available to applicants in this category.

We are familiar with a range of qualifications from around the world and liaise with the International Office to ensure an equitable offer to prospective students from overseas.

Cross-dept/joint course admissions arrangements

The procedure for admission to our joint degree programmes is the same as for single honours, with consideration being given independently by two members of the admissions team.

2. Criteria for assessing applicants

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements for standard qualifications (A-level, SQA, IB, Access, BTEC, Welsh Bacc, 14-19 Diploma, GCSEs) can be found in the online Undergraduate Prospectus at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2011/sections/PSYC/247/admissions

Other qualifications, including international qualifications, will be considered on their individual merits; further information is available at:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/study-at-bristol/how-to-apply/country-specific/

Academic Record Criteria

Breadth and quality of academic attainment is important for a Psychology degree, and assessment under this heading takes account of both the appropriateness of the subjects offered and the grades predicted or obtained.

Preference will be given to applicants who offer subjects at A Level (or equivalent) that demonstrate skills in mathematics, science and writing. It would therefore be an advantage to offer a combination which balances arts and sciences, with an emphasis on science (e.g. two Science subjects and one Arts subject). Maths, Geography and Psychology qualify as science subjects for this purpose. Psychology A level is not a requirement.

We would expect to see high grades in Science, Mathematics and English subjects at GCSE (or equivalent) level (minimum grade B).

We recognise that academic performance should be judged in the context of the overall levels of achievement in the candidate’s school or college, as set out in the University’s Widening Participation Policy (see below for more detailed information on how we do this).

Account is also taken of medical evidence and any other mitigating factors that may have affected examination performance, or constraints that have limited the choice of A level (or equivalent) programmes.

Contextual information

We take a holistic approach to all applications, ensuring that the educational and social context in which an applicant applies is taken into consideration, where supported by clear evidence that this may have adversely affected academic achievement. This may include time spent in Local Authority care, information about which is provided in the UCAS application.

We also consider evidence of clear motivation to study. This may include attendance at a University summer school, a targeted Access Scheme (such as Access to Bristol), or participation in Aimhigher outreach activities. Consideration will also be given to applicants who have completed a targeted Access scheme at another university, under the ‘Mutual Recognition Scheme’.

We do not take the following into consideration when making admissions decisions: the school type attended by an applicant or whether an applicant’s parent has any experience of higher education.

Personal Statement Criteria

Only about half of all entrants to the degree course will have studied Psychology prior to university. Admissions tutors therefore look for evidence in the personal statement that applicants are well informed, and appreciate the status of Psychology as a biological science. Statements about specific interests and aspirations will be considered in relation to the content of the Bristol course. We will also take note of any other information that candidates consider to be relevant and wish to present in this section of the UCAS form.

Reference Criteria

The reports provided by schools and colleges provide valuable information from those who have worked closely with the applicant in an academic setting. We look for strong, though not necessarily unqualified support from referees, together with an assessment of potential for further study. Information about the candidate’s particular achievements, and challenges faced, are also taken into account when evaluating information about actual or predicted examination performance.

Criteria for international applicants (if different)

English Language requirements can be found in the UG Prospectus at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2010/sections/PSYC/247/admissions#entry

and at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/governance/policies/admissions-english-lang-reqs.html

Applicants are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, disability or age.

3. Offers

Typical offers for A-levels and other UK qualifications can be found in the Entry Data in the online UG Prospectus at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2010/sections/PSYC/247/admissions#entry

Please note that we may use the A* grade as part of our holistic decision process to help us distinguish between otherwise equally strong applicants.

Offers to applicants with non-standard qualifications will be made equivalent to the published A-level offer.

Statistics from previous years are used to determine how many offers we should make in order to reach our entry target. The number of offers will vary from year to year according to the number of deferred entrants from the previous admissions round, and in response to any adjustments made in the entry target. We normally expect to make around 300 offers for the single honours degree, with an additional 50 to deferred entry applicants. For joint honours Psychology and Zoology the figure is about 35 (plus 10 deferred), and for joint honours Philosophy and Psychology, 25 (plus 5 deferred). Current entry targets are around 80 for single honours degrees, 15 for Psychology and Zoology joint honours, and 7 for Philosophy and Psychology joint honours.

The final decision is made for each applicant individually, taking into account all of the criteria used for assessment. Unless there are special circumstances, it is not our practice to make conditional offers that require grades higher than those predicted by an applicant’s school or college. Offers made to non A-level candidates taking vocational qualifications or Access courses are also decided on an individual basis.

Variations in offer level

We may make lower offers based on whether an applicant is deemed to have experienced educational disadvantage, as defined in section 7.5 of the University’s Admissions Principles and Procedures at:

http://www.bris.ac.uk/university/governance/policies/admissions-policy.html

In exceptional circumstances we may therefore make offers one grade lower than the standard offer published in the Undergraduate Prospectus. Please note that a Grade A (or equivalent) in at least one science subject will still be required.

4. Other

Requests for transfers to our courses may be made from suitable applicants from other degree programmes within the University at the end of Year 1.

Applications are considered from suitable applicants who have completed the first year of a degree programme at another institution for entry direct into Year Two, but this is dependent on availability of places.

Professor Peter Rogers
June 2010