Admissions in Context; The use of contextual information by leading universities

Abstract

While the university access gap between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers
\nhas narrowed somewhat in recent years, the gap at the most selective universities remains
\nstubbornly wide. Contextualised admissions – taking into account a candidate’s background when
\nmaking decisions on whom to admit – is one way through which universities may be able to make
\ngreater progress towards narrowing these gaps.
\n
\nAnalysis of information made available via university websites during the 2016-17 academic year
\nby a group of the UK’s most selective universities, the Sutton Trust (ST) 30, indicates that a
\nmajority of these universities use contextual data to inform their admissions processes. Four types
\nof contextual indicators are commonly used: individual-level, area-level, school-level, and
\nparticipation in outreach programmes. Individual indicators, such as having been in receipt of free
\nschool meals, are the least commonly used. Participation in widening access programmes is the
\nmost common contextual indicator used, with two-thirds of ST30 universities reporting that they
\ntake this into account, although this is often restricted to programmes run by the same institution.