Students face new admissions system

Students could apply to university after receiving A-level results under proposals for a shake-up of the admissions system.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service has suggested that from 2016, universities should no longer offer places based on a student's predicted grades.

The proposals were put forward by Ucas chief executive, Mary Curnock Cook, during a private meeting at the Ucas annual conference in London last week.

A source close to Universities Minister David Willetts said the proposal is of "real interest" to ministers. If a move to post-qualification application (PQA) is to go ahead, it will need the backing of universities, Ucas and ministers.

Such a reform would mean an overhaul of the admissions system, with teenagers taking A-levels earlier than June, and then applying to university.

Students currently apply between September and January before they sit their A-levels, and are given conditional places based on predicted grades.

Some experts say a move to PQA will mean poorer students, who are less likely to apply because they do not believe they will get the grades, will be more likely to apply.