Partnership Admissions Policy and Procedure

This policy outlines the arrangements in place for admissions to courses delivered by partner institutions that lead to University of Wolverhampton awards.  This includes all UK and transnational education partnership provision, with the exception of UK collaborative partnerships with further education colleges, admissions for which is managed in line with our standard admissions policy..

The objectives of this policy are to ensure:

1. Admissions processes and guidelines are clearly understood and implemented by partners in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton
2. Partners understand their roles and responsibilities ensuring that admissions standards and quality are upheld

The implementation of this policy is in accordance with the University’s core values which are to be:

• Ethical
• Respectful
• Transparent
• Inclusive and fair
• Challenging
• Confident
• Collaborative
• Professional

The Partnership Admissions Policy applies to eligible prospective students of the University and our partners.  The responsibilities and organisational arrangements for the policy lie principally with the partner and the University Admissions Service, with liaison with other departments (where appropriate) as follows:

1. Faculties, including recruitment leads, heads of school and course teams
2. Student Support and Wellbeing services
3. Registry Services
4. Quality and Standards

• 3.1 Partner educational institutions are responsible for implementing agreed admissions criteria with the university when recruiting students to courses. 
• 3.2 Partners will be required to oversee and manage this process ahead of applicant detail transfer through to the university. Partners are required to provide the necessary resource, training and guidance for staff implementing the admissions process.
• 3.3 Entry requirements for partners and admissions processes may differ by partnership in order to meet the needs of the partnership and associated levels of risk. However, they are based on admissions principles of transparency and fairness.
• 3.4 Admissions processes including entry requirements and decision making are agreed as part of the partnership validation process. These processes are listed within the university’s Partnership Admissions and Recruitment Register as well as within the course specification document.
• 3.5 Any subsequent changes to the admissions process will need to be reflected within the partnership agreement and are subject to approval at the university’s Portfolio Planning and Review Committee.
• 3.6 The university is responsible for providing training and guidance for partners on admissions systems required for the transfer of data through to the university.
• 3.7 As part of the admissions process, partners are expected to assess the academic ability and potential of applicants, in line with agreed admissions criteria, along with appropriate work experience. The process by which these are assessed will be agreed with the university ahead of implementation.
• 3.8 The partner is responsible for conducting English Language competency checks with applicants and must ensure that all partner students are able to understand and converse in both spoken and written English the required level. This must be evidenced to the university.
• 3.9 Partner institutions based in the UK wishing to recruit international students for provision must have a relevant student sponsor license in accordance with UKVI requirements, unless it has been agreed that the university will act as the sponsor as set out in the relevant partnership agreement and this is compliant with the Government’s Immigration Rules and associated UKVI guidance.
• 3.10 Where partners are directly sponsoring students under their own UKVI licence, they will be responsible for issuing the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), otherwise this responsibility will lie with the university.
• 3.11 The partner is expected to implement and support students with additional circumstances and or requirements, which may include support students with disabilities as part of the applicant process.
• 3.12 Any applicants applying through recognition of prior learning must go through the university recognition for prior learning process, or partner equivalent. Where appropriate the final decision on recognition for prior learning will sit with the university’s admissions team and or the relevant link tutor.
• 3.13 Partner institutions using agents as part of the admissions process, must declare this as part of the partnership agreement process and must provide detail of this activity. Partners must ensure agent activity is in accordance with the UK Agent Quality Framework and must quality assure agent management practices.  This includes compliance with consumer protection law and advising applicants that they are not required to apply through an agent and can apply directly to the institution, or where appropriate via UCAS.
• 3.14 The university will ensure that students are not being recruited onto courses that are unsuitable for them by reviewing and approving admissions criteria and process with partners.
• 3.15 As part of the admissions and recruitment process, the partner has the responsibility on behalf of the university to clearly state information about fees, including the proportion of the fee the university will retain.
• 3.16 Partners are also responsible as part of the admissions and recruitment process to ensure students are aware of what they support they are entitled to, what the partner provides and make it clear that the university is awarding the degree.

• 4.1 Applications for partnered provision will first go through the partner, where there it is expected, there is a comprehensive check of applicants suitability and the agreed admissions process is followed. Where partners require additional advice and guidance from the university, this will be supported by the university’s Partnerships Admissions Team. 
• 4.2 As part of the partnership approval and continuous monitoring process, the admissions and recruitment process will be monitored and reviewed by the university in collaboration with the partner. 
• 4.3 Following initial admissions processing by the partner and a recommendation on the admissions decision, suitable applicants will then be transferred to the university’s admissions team for final review and compliance. The university has the final say on admission for partnered provision. 
• 4.4 The formal offer of a place and enrolment process is handled by the university, to ensure relevant student information is held centrally. Applicants will then enrol onto provision and be confirmed as students. 
• 4.6 Where an applicant is unsuccessful in their application to study partnered provision, they will normally appeal this decision, and if appropriate make a complaint, directly to the partner.  
• 4.7 In the event of an escalation of an appeal or complaint, whereby the applicant feels that the partner has not implemented the approved admissions process correctly, this may then go through the university admissions complaints procedure. 
• 4.8    The university retains the right to withdraw any offers and or change admissions decisions made by partners in the event where decisions have been made incorrectly and or using limited or inaccurate information and fraudulent documentation .

5.1 The university retains the right to screen applications to partner courses prior to offer on a full or sample basis, in order to provide assurance on the integrity of the admissions process and the consistency of partner decision-making.

5.2 The university will regularly review the admissions process with partners to ensure that the correct process and decisions are being followed. 

5.3 For UK partners the university will retain appropriate documentation of all students in line with Office For Students. For international partnerships documentation will be audited to ensure the quality and integrity of the admissions process and applicants.

5.4 The university will ensure that students are not being recruited onto courses that are unsuitable for them.

5.5 This policy will be reviewed annually in line with wider university admissions policies.

If you need to talk to someone with regard to this policy please contact the admissions team at admissions@wlv.ac.uk)

The following university policies are relevant to the RPL policy 

1. Admissions Policy and procedure 

1. Admissions complaints system: principles and procedure 

1. Admissions Recognition of Prior learning Policy