Equality and Diversity Committee
7 February 2012
Agenda Item : 8(a)
Paper EADC/12/04
Report to Equality and Diversity Committee: Undergraduate Admissions, October 2011 Entry
Overview
The information below is for all applicants to the University for October 2011 entry and focuses on applicants who were unsuccessful (rejected). The data includes all
students admitted through Clearing but because of the nature of the application process used during Clearing it does not include any Clearing applications that did not
result in admission.
The data shown is for admission to all full time undergraduate degree courses through UCAS, as this is the responsibility of the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
Admissions to two courses in Health and Human Sciences are handled independently and no data is provided for these. Admission to the Bridging Year is also handled
independently of central Admissions, by International Academy. However, Bridging Year students typically apply for first year entry at Essex on successful completion and
their data is therefore captured during the admissions process for first year entry. While admission to the Certificates of Higher Education delivered by the International
Academy has, in the past, also been handled independently of Undergraduate Admissions, a change in process last year means that some were admitted via UCAS and
will therefore feature in the data.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Equality Impact Assessment of Admissions and the SUMS Review of Admissions, which reported in 2009 and 2010
respectively, the central Admissions Office is currently engaged in a major in a significant project with MIS to re-structure admissions systems and processes in order to
provide an equivalent service to all applicants and to improve the availability of data about admissions activity that is currently managed in devolved units.
Joanne Tallentire
Deputy Director (Admissions)
Communications & External Relations
Total number of applicants
For information, the table below shows the total number of applicants rejected, by subject.
Applicants 2011
Art History
Biological Sciences
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
East 15 Acting School
Economics
Essex Business School
European Studies
Government
Health Sciences
History
Humanities
International Academy
Languages and Linguistics
Latin American Studies
Law
Literature
Mathematics
Philosophy
Psychoanalytic Studies
Psychology
Sociology
US Studies
University Total
Total
Applications
105
1615
1034
2355
883
2844
88
971
1225
719
62
674
831
23
934
940
631
416
47
946
734
146
17893
Rejected
8
610
290
852
183
919
17
225
792
103
9
352
165
4
243
250
115
61
0
163
201
44
5,542
% of Applicants
Rejected
7.6%
37.8%
28.0%
36.2%
20.7%
32.3%
19.3%
23.2%
64.7%
14.3%
14.5%
52.2%
19.9%
17.4%
26.0%
26.6%
18.2%
14.7%
0.0%
17.2%
27.4%
30.1%
31.0%
Overall the University rejected 31% of all undergraduate applicants during the October 2010 entry cycle. Rejection rates for 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were 26%, 19%,
16% and 19% respectively. The higher rejection rates in 2010 and 2011 are a reflection of the overall increase of 22% in applications for October 2010 entry compared
with 2009 and a further 10% increase in applications for October 2009 entry compared with 2010. This has afforded the University with the opportunity to be more robust in
applying standard entry requirements and more selective in specific subjects, resulting in an overall increase in rejection rates at the application stage.
Rejection rates vary at subject level, with higher rejection rates typically occurring in subjects where the entry requirements and/or the volume of applications were
particularly high.
Monitoring by Gender
The table below details the total number of applicants and total number of rejections by gender split.
Total Apps
Art History
Biological Sciences
Computer Science and
Electronic Engineering
East 15 Acting School
Economics
Essex Business School
European Studies
Government
Health Sciences
History
Humanities
International Academy
Languages and
Linguistics
Latin American Studies
Law
Literature
Mathematics
Philosophy
Psychoanalytic Studies
Psychology
Sociology
US Studies
University Total
Total no
Gender
provided
apps
Total
Female
apps
Total
Male
apps
% Female of
Total apps
% Male of
Total apps
Total
Rejected
Female
Rejected
Male
rejected
%
Female
rejected
% Male
rejected
105
1615
1034
2
0
1
89
699
135
14
930
903
84.76%
43.28%
13.06%
13.33%
57.59%
87.33%
8
610
290
6
242
39
2
368
251
75.00%
39.67%
13.45%
25.00%
60.33%
86.55%
2355
883
2844
88
971
1225
719
62
674
831
0
4
12
0
2
0
1
0
2
1
1,356
266
1,235
64
471
1,032
301
38
228
588
1,053
615
1,623
25
502
214
421
24
447
247
57.58%
30.12%
43.42%
72.73%
48.51%
84.24%
41.86%
61.29%
33.83%
70.76%
44.71%
69.65%
57.07%
28.41%
51.70%
17.47%
58.55%
38.71%
66.32%
29.72%
851
183
919
17
225
792
103
9
352
165
504
52
357
12
117
642
35
5
110
118
347
131
562
5
108
150
68
4
242
47
59.22%
28.42%
38.85%
70.59%
52.00%
81.06%
33.98%
55.56%
31.25%
71.52%
40.78%
71.58%
61.15%
29.41%
48.00%
18.94%
66.02%
44.44%
68.75%
28.48%
23
934
940
631
416
47
946
734
146
17893
0
3
2
1
1
0
3
1
0
36
13
604
602
261
166
39
712
492
90
9,332
10
335
339
373
249
8
236
244
56
8,765
56.52%
64.67%
64.04%
41.36%
39.90%
82.98%
75.26%
67.03%
61.64%
52.15%
43.48%
35.87%
36.06%
59.11%
59.86%
17.02%
24.95%
33.24%
38.36%
48.99%
4
243
250
115
61
0
163
201
44
5541
4
157
149
52
17
0
113
134
27
2,853
0
86
101
63
44
0
50
67
17
2,688
100.00%
64.61%
59.60%
45.22%
27.87%
0.00%
69.33%
66.67%
61.36%
51.49%
0.00%
35.39%
40.40%
54.78%
72.13%
0.00%
30.67%
33.33%
38.64%
48.51%
The table shows the University overall to have an almost equal gender split in both its applicants and rejections; this has been the case for a number of years.
There is generally a close correlation between the gender split for applicants and the gender split for those rejected. The historic popularity of some subjects with
males and females is evident in the data.
Monitoring by Disability
The table below gives the total number of applicants with a disability and the number of rejected applicants as a number and percentage.
Applicants with a disabilty 2011
Art History
Biological Sciences
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
East 15 Acting School
Economics
Essex Business School
European Studies
Government
Health Sciences
History
Humanities
International Academy
Languages and Linguistics
Latin Amerian Studies
Law
Literature
Mathematics
Philosophy
Psychoanalytic Studies
Psychology
Sociology
US Studies
Total
All applicants
with a disabilty
All rejected applicants wih a
disabilty
F
M
Total
Females
Rejected
9
32
7
148
5
15
0
11
56
19
0
8
24
1
8
34
8
10
2
32
27
7
443
3
35
43
119
19
33
1
28
9
32
2
23
13
1
7
25
13
16
1
16
10
4
448
Total
12
67
50
267
24
48
1
39
65
51
2
31
37
2
15
59
21
26
3
48
37
11
891
1
9
1
63
0
4
0
4
31
6
0
6
7
0
2
8
0
0
0
4
8
3
152
Total
Males
Rejected
1
12
11
44
7
11
0
4
5
6
0
16
2
0
1
7
3
3
0
5
0
1
139
Total
Rejected
2
21
12
107
7
15
0
8
36
12
0
22
9
0
3
15
3
3
0
9
8
4
291
% Applicants
with
Disability
Rejected
16.67%
31.34%
24.00%
40.07%
29.17%
31.25%
0.00%
20.51%
55.38%
23.53%
0.00%
70.97%
24.32%
0.00%
20.00%
25.42%
14.29%
11.54%
0.00%
18.75%
21.62%
36.36%
32.66%
Of the total number of undergraduate applicants to the University in October 2011 4.9% declared a disability compared with 6% and 4.6% respectively for October
2010 and 2009 entry. There is an increase in the percentage of applicants with disabilities rejected for October 2011 entry. This is 32.6% compared with 26.5% for
October 2010 entry 26% for 2009 entry. The rejection rate for applicants with disabilities was only 17% for October 2008 entry so there is a definite upward trend,
which may bear further investigation. Rejection rates have been particularly high in the last two years in the following departments, which may form a useful
starting point for further analysis:
% Applicants with Disability Rejected
2011
2010
East 15 Acting School
40.07%
28.8%
Health Sciences (includes Nursing)
55.38%
58%
International Academy
70.97%
62.5%
Gender does not appear to be a factor in the rejection of applicants with declared disabilities.
Monitoring by Ethnicity
Data on applicant ethnicity is not currently accessible at the point of application. Ethnicity data is currently received by the University as part of the HESA data
requirements, for students who are registered.
Report to Equality and Diversity Committee, January 2012
Graduate Admissions – Year of Entry October 2011
Monitoring equality and diversity of admissions focuses on the proportion of total applicants who were unsuccessful, i.e. rejected. In reviewing this data it is worth noting
that we currently record applicants with incomplete applications in the total number of rejects. These are applicants who start the admissions process, but whose
paperwork never reaches the point at which a formal selection decision is made by an Admissions Selector. This has been the University’s long-term practice and is
currently under review. This practice means that a substantial number of rejections should be disregarded for equality and diversity monitoring purposes, since they
represent the final record in an administrative process rather than the result of an academic selection decision.
Full data is attached at Appendices 1 to 4. Data is supplied for the 2011 entry cycle and exhibits broadly similar patterns as that for the 2010 and 2009 entry cycles.
1. Gender
There is no significant preponderance in male or female applicants in the total applicant body, though there is some variation by year with 53% of male applicants in
2011 and 2009 entry and 51% of female applicants in 2010 entry.
However, there are more marked differences in the proportion of male and female applicants by market (fee status). Appendix 2 shows that 53.6% of overseas
applicants for October 2011 entry were male, whereas females dominate application numbers in all other markets.
The gender balance of applicants also varies significantly by subject area (Appendix 1), in line with the historic popularity of certain subjects with males and females.
These trends are also observed at undergraduate level.
Overall we see a substantially higher proportion of male applicants rejected than females with 57% rejected in 2011 and 61% in each of 2010 and 2009. This figure
may be influenced significantly by the fact that overseas applicants, among whom male applicants represent 53.6%, also form a significant majority of the overall
applicant pool.
At subject level the proportion of rejected applicants is generally consistent with the proportion of applications overall, although some variation may be observed in
individual subject areas (Appendix 1). In some cases, the small numbers make percentage comparisons statistically insignificant.
2. Disability - Full data is attached at Appendix 3.
As in previous years a very small percentage of applicants declared a disability and the distribution of applicants to the categories of disability is very similar to 2010
and 2009. 135 declared a disability compared with 138 in 2010 and 123 in 2009. Given the small number of applicants, a summary of the disabilities by department is
not shown and it is not feasible to analyse the rejections to any meaningful statistical level. The percentage of applicants declaring disability continues to be lower than
for undergraduate study. The differences are likely to be influenced heavily by the fact that overseas students represent a significant majority within the postgraduate
applicant pool and a significant minority in the undergraduate applicant pool.
3.
Ethnicity - Full data is attached at Appendix 4.
2011 represents the third entry cycle in which all direct applicants used an online service and were asked to disclose this information routinely. The number of
applicants providing this information has increased from 4,930 in 2009 to 7,843 in 2010 and 6,456 in 2011.
In the previous two reports to Equality and Diversity Committee the extent of variation in the rejection rate by category was noted and the author proposed that
rejection rates over 50% should be reviewed in a year’s time. A review of 2011 entry data compared with 2010 suggests there may be significant variation in the ethnic
categories affected by high reject rates year by year, which indicates that, to date, there is no specific trend that can be identified and addressed. However, it is worth
noting that no ethnic category had a rejection rate over 50% in 2010, whereas for 2011 entry this occurs in four categories, of which three represent black applicants. It
is proposed that close scrutiny should be given to the reject rate of black applicants in 2012 entry.
Joanne Tallentire
Deputy Director (Admissions)
Communications & External Relations
Appendix 1: Gender Distribution
Total Applicants
M
% of Male
Applicants 2011
F
Art History and Theory
Biological Sciences
Computational Finance and Economic Agents
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School
of)
East 15 Acting School
Economics
Essex Business School
Government
Health and Human Sciences
History
Human Rights
Institute for Social and Economic Research
International Academy
Language and Linguistics
Law (School of)
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Mathematical Sciences
Philosophy
Professional Development
Psychoanalytic Studies
Psychology
Sociology
Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust
Writtle College
University Total
Applicants Rejected
F
M
% of Rejects
that are Male
2011
90
260
55
191
12
331
142
819
11.76%
56.01%
72.08%
81.09%
25
46
9
55
4
78
54
332
13.79%
62.90%
85.71%
85.79%
207
287
1,733
224
682
38
109
16
120
569
385
149
64
34
6
79
128
156
34
7
5,623
136
461
2,003
274
289
33
48
14
78
253
303
87
137
73
2
37
56
119
14
1
5,722
39.65%
61.63%
53.61%
55.02%
29.76%
46.48%
30.57%
46.67%
39.39%
30.78%
44.04%
36.86%
68.16%
68.22%
25.00%
31.90%
30.43%
43.27%
29.17%
12.50%
53.30%
69
97
653
80
310
8
13
5
39
131
74
43
22
15
0
5
41
37
0
0
1,777
19
193
1,028
107
138
9
11
5
26
78
113
23
64
35
0
2
25
37
0
0
2,381
21.59%
66.55%
61.15%
57.22%
30.80%
52.94%
45.83%
50.00%
40.00%
37.32%
60.43%
34.85%
74.42%
70.00%
n/a
28.57%
37.88%
50.00%
n/a
n/a
57.26%
Appendix 2: Gender split by market (fee status)
F
ELQ
EU
Home
Overseas
Key:
62
666
1,010
3,961
Applications
Males as %
applicants
59
48.76%
485
42.14%
673
39.99%
4,581
53.63%
M
Rejected
F
M
11
203
312
1,213
12
175
204
1,911
Males as
% reject
52.17%
46.30%
39.53%
61.17%
ELQ – Student applying for Equivalent or Lower Qualification
EU – Non-UK EU
Home – UK
Overseas – Non-EU
Appendix 3: Disability Distribution
Asthma
Diabetes
Dyslexia
Hearing Impairment
Mental Health Difficulties
Multiple Disabilities
No Disability
Personal Care Support
Uncategorized Disabilities
Unseen Diability
Vision Impairment
Wheelchair/Mobility
Applicants
1
1
43
3
14
4
7,351
1
19
30
9
10
Reject
1
1
37
5
4
3
3,922
1
8
14
5
5
Appendix 4: Ethnicity
Not Given
Other/Refused
Asian
Black
Mixed
White
University
Total
Not Given
Sub - Total
Other
Refused
Sub - Total
Asian Bangladeshi
Asian Chinese
Asian Indian
Asian Other
Asian Pakistani
Sub - Total
Black African
Black Caribbean
Other Black Background
Sub - Total
Mixed White and Asian
Mixed White Black
African
Other Mixed Background
Sub - Total
Other White
White British
Sub - Total
Total
Applicants
4,151
4,151
403
129
532
40
1,241
443
749
178
2,651
637
41
145
823
71
42
Reject
1,465
1,465
141
42
183
25
510
192
271
86
1,084
335
22
74
431
34
17
113
236
1
2,342
2,343
45
96
0
747
747
40.5
39.8
40.7
0.0
31.9
31.9
10,736
4,006
37.3
% Reject
35.3
35.3
35.0
32.6
34.4
62.5
41.1
43.3
36.2
48.3
40.9
52.6
53.7
51.0
52.4
47.9