Students getting into university without right qualifications

More than a third of new students in 2010 had no UCAS “tariff points”, used by universities when making offers.

It is thought the figures result from a surge in the number of mature students applying with qualifications which are not recognised by the UCAS system.

The study by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that two in five students had fewer than 80 UCAS points, the equivalent of two E grades at A-level, double the number in 2003.

It shows that last year 144,543 students living in England – more than 40 per cent of those accepted onto courses – had fewer than 80 points, compared to 67,167, 24.2 per cent of new students, in 2003.

Mature students may have achieved O-levels or access course qualifications which are not recognised by the UCAS tariff system while others may have earned qualifications overseas which would not have registered.

Figures from UCAS show 43,631 applicants between the age of 25 and 39 and a further 11,380 over the age of 40 were accepted onto university courses in 2010.

The report found that the largest increase in university rejections was among those without any tariff points, with 51,273 missing out last year.

However the research also concluded that many qualified students were being denied university places and this is likely to rise in the future.

HEPI director Bahram Bekhradnia said: “We already have a lot of students that aren’t making it to university and it’s a major political problem for the Government that will get worse. They can either increase the number of places, but without cost to themselves, which would mean making students pay more.

“The other possibility is to have more shorter courses.

“There’s quite a lot coming from the Government at the moment about two-year courses – foundation degrees, but also concentrated degree courses. That won’t make a major dent in the problem and it’s not a long-term solution.”

The report also suggests that the middle classes are likely to dominate higher education in future.