With only four months left until prospectuses begin to feature new Tariff points, this comprehensive update provides useful information to support your implementation plans. We’ve answered some frequently asked questions, provided useful resources and included an update on the process for nominating qualifications to be added to the new Tariff.
Within this update
- Find out how Bucks New University are progressing with their implementation of the new Tariff
- An update on the new Tariff process, including next steps
- Courses rollover for 2017 entry - required action
Links to additional resources
- New Planners’ factsheet and updated qualifications spreadsheet
- Information on the Tariff calculator API, to enable you to create your own Tariff calculator
- Other resources and support material, including detail on future webinars
Bucks New University – progress so far
Since attending the UCAS South East Forum and Annual Admissions Conference, Bucks New University has been carefully planning implementation of the new Tariff. Here’s an update from the university on its progress:
‘Since receiving the comprehensive resources available on the UCAS website, we have assigned time in our weekly team meetings and in planning days to assess our position and implementation of the Tariff for 2017 entry. The admissions team has taken the lead on communication and engaged key departments in training and discussions.
‘Momentum is maintained by engaging other colleagues who are keen to be kept abreast of developments. Regular discussions at Directorate meetings have allowed word to spread at various other meetings and committees.
‘We have devised a table which depicts our new Tariff score and have maintained the same level of qualification entry requirements.’
You can find the Bucks New University Tariff points table in our new Tariff toolkit on ucas.com – see the ‘Other resources & support’ section below.
How does this compare with your progress? We shared Bucks New University’s Tariff points table with teachers and advisers in a recent webinar and they found it helpful. If you have produced new Tariff material as part of your engagement with local schools and colleges and you would like to share with other providers, please email us.
New Tariff Process – qualification nominations for May 2016 update
On the 9 October 2015 we will publish a qualifications nomination form, which includes a list of qualifications proposed for the new Tariff update in May 2016.
Thank you to everyone who emailed suggestions to us, we are now processing the final nominations. This is the introductory year of the new Tariff process, as explained on ucas.com. You can email throughout the year to suggest qualifications to be added for future cycles.
The new nominations will be uploaded to the new UCAS Tariff web page, for you to provide feedback on until 31 December. Your feedback will be used to determine the list of qualifications added to the May 2016 update.
You’ll see from the list that a large number of international qualifications have been nominated. We will process these qualifications on to the new Tariff subject to provider support and engagement from international ministries. It may not be possible to add all the listed qualifications to the new Tariff by May 2016, but the list will be updated annually, and we’ll continue to work with international ministries for these future updates.
Courses rollover 2017 – introduction of the new Tariff
If you currently use the Tariff in your entry requirements and offer-making strategy and intend to use the new Tariff points, you’ll need to update entry requirements in Course Collect to reflect the new points.
The principle used in transferring qualifications from the current Tariff to the new Tariff has been to minimise disruption in terms of qualification values. But please remember the new model is different and the AS, for example, has been repositioned. It is therefore important to discuss the new Tariff with your planning/student records colleagues and model the new points against your typical entry cohort when considering your entry requirements.
Advice on managing entry requirements in Course Collect is available on ucas.com. If you need further guidance please contact the Data Collection Team on 01242 544 864.
Planners’ factsheet and updated spreadsheet
Even if you don’t use the Tariff in your entry requirements, we would urge you to share our updated planners’ factsheet with your planning and student records colleagues. It contains the latest information following our joint HESPA, HESA and HEP Planners and Student Records Group meeting in August, including details of the November test window for new Tariff reference data.
We have also updated the New Tariff qualifications spreadsheet to include the UCAS qualification key. The qualification key could save a lot of time in mapping new Tariff points to your management information systems.
Tariff calculator API
We’ve released a new Tariff calculator application programming interface (API) to allow you to create your own online tools for displaying Tariff related data.
View the documentation and terms & conditions for the new UCAS Tariff API. Please contact whoever’s responsible for the development of your website if you’d like to use the API.
An example of a Tariff calculator that can be created using the API can be found here.
Other resources & support
In addition to the advice on the new Tariff web page (including a video and calculator), these resources are also now available:
• a new toolkit
• updated planners’ factsheet
• updated international factsheet
• updated qualifications spreadsheet
Over the next two months we’ll be holding a series of webinars. Some are specifically for planning and student records teams, and will be of use to Tariff and non-Tariff using providers. These webinars will be run with HESPA and HESA on:
• 26 October 2015
• 5 November 2015
• 11 November 2015
Exact times will be confirmed.
The new Tariff will also continue to be discussed at regional forums and the November Annual Review Meeting.
If you have any queries regarding implementation please don’t hesitate to contact the Policy and Qualifications Team at newtariff-feedback@ucas.ac.uk or your Relationship Manager.