College students with A-level grades as little as three Es are being accepted into British universities to fulfil Authorities range targets, new knowledge has revealed.
Figures from admissions physique UCAS present many prime universities are decreasing the entry requirements in a bid to fulfil equality, range and inclusion (DEI) targets.
The establishment contains the College of East Anglia, Oxford Brookes and Kent College.
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Authorities-sponsored Workplace for College students (OfS) regulator, which has the facility to impose fines, has warned universities to be extra "formidable" in "decreasing inequality".
The watchdog threatened that universities should slim what they described as an "entry hole" between college students by this yr.
Pupils throughout the UK are set to obtain their A-level examination outcomes on Thursday, though college students who don’t obtain their desired grades can apply for programs out there in Clearing, a course of which matches unplaced college students with unfilled programs.
Oxford Brookes, which requires college students to attain grades of at the least ABB to check economics, has accepted college students with DDE grades, in line with the info.
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Kent College has admitted CDD college students onto its maths diploma, whereas it formally asks for grades of ABB.
The College of East Anglia has admitted college students with CCD onto its American research course, formally requiring ABB.
And the College of South Wales welcomed these with D grades to their nursing course, which normally requires a BBB.
Establishments settle for these decrease grades if the scholars declare that they suffered an obstacle, which might embody race or gender.
These contextual admissions at the moment are being utilized by 1 / 4 of all British universities, in line with Sutton Belief analysis.
Bournemouth College admitted college students with EEE grades onto its pc science course, which ordinarily calls for BCC; nevertheless, they have been admitted by means of an extra "basis yr", which has a lot decrease entry necessities.
The variety of UK universities providing basis years rose by over double from 52 in 2011/12 to 105 in 2021/22, in line with the newest Authorities figures.
Applicant numbers rose by over 700 per cent in the identical interval, hovering from 8,470 to 69,325.
Officers declare basis years are a "beneficial pathway to increased schooling, significantly for college kids from under-represented backgrounds".
Nevertheless, critics warn that course content material could possibly be too difficult for these not reaching the entry grades and threat UK college requirements slipping.
One motive for decreasing the entry necessities by way of basis years is that it’s financially helpful for the establishment to fill locations on much less common programs.
The OfS mentioned: "Our intention is that anybody with the flexibility and need to pursue increased schooling can entry the life-changing advantages it may convey.
"Particular person admissions choices are for every establishment to make, and universities and faculties usually change their presents – for instance, after interviewing college students.
"It's vital that every one college students recruited onto high-quality programs are effectively supported whereas requirements are rigorously maintained."
A Division for Training spokesman mentioned: "Whereas universities are unbiased from Authorities and chargeable for their very own admissions choices, it’s important that high quality is maintained and that the scholars they admit are more likely to succeed.
"College students deserve high-quality instructing, truthful admissions and a transparent path to good jobs, whether or not by means of a level or technical route.
"Apprenticeship begins, participation and achievements are all on the rise, serving to extra individuals achieve the abilities they want."
Bournemouth, South Wales, and East Anglia universities admitted to the Mail they use contextual admissions for deprived college students however mentioned they preserve excessive educational requirements.
GB Information has approached all talked about universities for a remark.