I don’t think I’ve ever seen a provider-level look at entry qualification types before – but as a way of thinking about the differing impact of the 2022 cycle on applicants it is quite fascinating.
It’s not a part of the formal equalities release – I’ll get there later in this piece – but it is notable how different providers cater to students from non-traditional backgrounds. Listening to the annual debates on university access (and the dark hints of “social engineering” that seem increasingly to run alongside them) you would think most people got to university with three good A levels – in fact, in many providers, those with A levels are in the minority.
Of course, the bulk of recruitment for many traditional English and Welsh providers is from students with A levels. For those on the bleeding edge of subject specialism or reaching underserved groups the mix is much more varied – both BTECs and “other” qualifications tend to dominate, and we also see more A levels taken alongside other qualifications.
