Contextual data in admissions

How is contextual data used?

There are many ways in which contextual information may be used by HEIs, which include:

for widening participation - to target aspiration raising and WP and fair access activities
to inform the decision as to who to interview
to inform admissions decision making
to identify applicants who may need additional learner support or practical advice during their application process, transition or when registered as a student
to help assess applicants eligible for bursaries or other financial support
for statistical and qualitative monitoring and reporting purposes.

Most of the attention has been on fair access and the desire that applicants from all backgrounds be considered fairly for entry to HE.

For example the guidance from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in England to the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) in February 2011 with regard to the new Access Agreements specifically encouraged the use contextual data by HEIs. Although contextual data can be used to target outreach, be used to identify applicants who may need additional learner support or practical advice during their application process, transition or when registered as a student etc the focus has fallen on admissions decision making. It should be stressed that contextual data may be used in addition to the main academic or other criteria for entry to a course or programme, and no one factor is considered on its own, as the application is still the main source of information.

For example the University of Manchester website highlights that contextual information is simply additional information provided to admissions decision makers alongside applicants’ UCAS forms. Four pieces of data can be flagged, school performance at GSCE and A level or equivalent, ACORN software that associates specific geo-demographic profiles to individual UK postcode and whether an applicant has been looked after/in care for more than three months. No decisions will be made on the basis of this information alone and all undergraduate applicants must meet the standard academic criteria to be considered for entry.

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Reviewed and updated: February 2011