No student should be placed under additional pressure as a result of the pandemic - Dodds

No student should be placed under additional or undue pressure as a result of Covid-19.

That was the key message from Economy Minister Diane Dodds in a letter to more than 17,500 local students who have applied for higher education courses through UCAS this year.

The Minister said:

"I appreciate that students find themselves in a very difficult and unprecedented position this year as a result of the pandemic. Decisions made by students when they first thought of what they had hoped to do this coming academic year may now have changed and they may be revaluating their next steps.

"At the beginning of this pandemic, I was concerned that some universities across the UK were issuing unconditional or incentivised offers to prospective students, potentially putting them under pressure to accept the offer. I, along with Ministers from around the UK, have been working with providers to ensure that students will not be put under any undue pressure by UK higher education providers.

"My message to any student who has received an unconditional offer is: please consider whether this is the right provider and course for you, before you make a decision."

In supporting students and ensuring they have time to consider their options for next year, UCAS has extended its offer deadlines for Undergraduate applicants and the rolling decision dates for UCAS Teacher Training applicants and providers. Students affected by this extension will receive an email from UCAS with their new decision deadline. 

The Minister went on to set out the range of options available to students.

She said:

"For any student who is re-evaluating their next steps, there is a range of pathways available into higher education, especially locally.

"As well as opportunities through UCAS Clearing to gain an alternative higher education course, our local further education colleges deliver higher education courses that provide standalone higher education qualifications as well as a stepping stone into the final years of university. Some of these opportunities are available through UCAS but many others can be explored through contacting a local further education college. 

"There are also opportunities to allow students to continue their studies and gain a higher education qualification through a Higher Level Apprenticeship offered by a range of employers across a variety of subjects."

The Minister concluded:

"Moving to higher education is an exciting step, involving big decisions for young people. I urge anyone who is not sure of their options or their next step to contact the Careers Service, which provides impartial advice for anyone seeking to discuss their future prospects in more detail."

Contact the Careers Service for help by phoning 0300 200 7820, or visit: nidirect careers website

Notes to editors: 

1. UCAS emailed the letter from the Minister to all NI-domiciled prospective students who applied for higher education courses through its admissions system at 0600 on Friday 22 May.
2. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI  
3. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office on pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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