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Less than half top university courses accept new diplomas
Tim Ross6 May 2009
Teenagers studying for the Government's new diplomas will be considered for places on less than half of courses offered by top universities.
Admission requirements for next year will include the diplomas for the first time. Students taking the advanced diploma, the equivalent of A-levels, will begin applying to university from this autumn. The first diplomas, in engineering, construction, IT, media and health, will be awarded next summer.
Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service indicated that overall about 80 per cent of undergraduate courses at all UK universities will consider applicants with the diploma. But these figures are lower at the traditional Russell Group universities.
Russell Group director general Dr Wendy Piatt said: "Entry is extremely competitive and many of our courses are heavily over-subscribed with highly qualified candidates.
"It is therefore significant that diploma students will be considered for approximately 40 per cent of courses."
Schools minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry will say today that the overall figures mean 30,000 courses will accept the new diplomas next year.
She will say: "It means if you do the right diploma and get the right grades, you can access the vast majority of undergraduate courses."
