Universities called out over ‘unethical’ admission practices

More than 20 universities in the United Kingdom have been accused by the education secretary of using “unethical” admission practices that are “trapping” students into accepting higher education places, writes Dean Kirby for iNews.

Damian Hinds is writing to 23 named institutions warning that applicants are being “backed into a corner” to accept offers. He is calling for a review after the extent of the use of conditional-unconditional offers – where students are guaranteed a place if they list the university as their first option – was revealed by admissions body UCAS last year. Those offers could breach consumer protection laws, he said.

Labour has blamed the problem on the government’s approach to higher education, saying it has “piled pressure” on institutions to recruit students. Hinds has asked the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education in England, to look at whether current admission practices can be improved. The Office for Students warned universities in January that the indiscriminate use of unconditional offers is akin to pressure selling.
Full report on the iNews site