The forms start to arrive in the department from UCAS in October and can arrive up to the end of June. However the vast majority come in by the end of December.

All offers are made through UCAS. The decision on each application is entered by Admissions Tutors on the form, and UCAS then informs the candidate officially of the decision. The decision can be to accept Unconditionally (U), accept with some Conditions (C), or Reject (R).

When a candidate has received decisions for all courses, he or she has to choose which course to accept and which to reject. Each applicant has to make one Firm choice (F) and normally one Insurance choice (I), in case they do not achieve the conditions of their Firm choice.

Main dates and deadlines

• Mid-September: UCAS opens for submission of applications
• 15 January: First deadline date for application. All applications received by UCAS up to this date should be treated equally. Applications submitted after this date are classified as "late" and do not have to be considered by universities.
• End of March: Admissions Tutors aim to have submitted all decisions for candidates who applied before 15 January.
• Early of May: Candidates decide on which firm and insurance choices.
• Middle of August: A-level results released. All candidates who have made their offer conditions are accepted. Other "very near-miss" candidates might be accepted if places are available.
• Mid-to-late August: Insurance candidates who were rejected by their first choice but met our offer are accepted.
• From mid-August: Clearing. If places are still available, then candidates who have no place can be considered directly. Official vacancy lists are published on the UCAS website. Candidates should contact the admissions tutors directly with their Clearing Number.

Departmental responsibilities

• The Admissions Tutor (Internal): Makes decisions on all UK applicants.
• The Admissions Tutor (External): Heads up the UCAS days and deals with external publicity/marketing with the executive assistant and others.
• The Overseas Admissions Tutor: Makes decisions on overseas applicants.
• The Executive Assistant: Maintains the database and other records of applications, in collaboration with the Faculty Admissions Secretary. The department will keep its own copy of the admissions database.

Check-List of Actions for Admissions Team

• August-October: Ensure departmental publicity material is prepared in time for pre-season publicity, general enquiries and handouts at open days and admissions days.
• August-September: Revise university prospectus entry and return to Senate House.
• September: Ensure pre-season publicity is sent out. Mailshots to schools, advertisements in suitable publications etc.
• October-March (weekly): Process incoming forms (see Decision Procedures).
• October: Decide on admissions day dates for coming year (approximately 10). Ensure availability of staff, student helpers, booking of coaches, rooms for presentations, coffee/teas, labs etc.
• October-December: Liaise with Faculty Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Admissions regarding targets, and number of offers in order to achieve targets.
• Mid-August: Attend meeting in Senate House after A-level results have been processed. Decide on near-miss candidates, and make recommendations to Faculty Admissions meeting.
• Mid-to-late August: If applicable, make decisions on Clearing candidates.
• All year: Be available to answer enquiries, and arrange visits to the department.

Databases, Reports and Statistics

The Admissions Office in Senate House sends fortnightly statistics on applications and decisions.

Decision Procedure

• UCAS forms are sent over from Senate House to Executive Assistant.
• These are sorted into home and overseas (addresses) and passed to appropriate Admissions Tutors.
• Initial decisions on UK-based applicants:
  • Whether to reject, invite for an admissions day, make offer immediately, or ask for further information about qualifications (e.g. syllabus for non-standard qualifications, or mature candidates' experience).
  • For candidates to be invited, a letter of invitation is sent by the Faculty, including a departmental brochure.
• Decisions on overseas applicants:
  • Whether to reject, make offer immediately or ask for further information on qualifications. Offer letter to be accompanied by departmental brochure.
• The decision is coded on the UCAS form and returned to the Faculty Admissions Secretary. All offers have to be countersigned by a second member of staff. By default the second signer is the Faculty Assistant Dean of Admissions, but by arrangement a second member of staff in Computer Science can sign.
• A letter announcing an informal offer is usually made to appropriate candidates meeting the admissions criteria after attending a departmental admissions day. However, the second signature is required before the letter is sent. Official notification of any offer made is through UCAS.