| Author: | Head of Higher Education (Quality & Standards) |
|---|---|
| Consultation: | TSCG Leadership Team |
| Approval: | TSCG Board of the Corporation |
| Version Date: | May 2026 |
| Approved Date: | July 2026 |
| Next Review: | July 2027 |
Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG) recognises the importance of admitting applicants to a course suited to their ability and aspirations and the selection process therefore takes account of all aspects of an application and not just an applicant’s academic profile.
The student recruitment process takes account of a wide range of factors that support an application. TSCG welcomes applications from under-represented groups and is proud to admit students who meet the entry criteria of their chosen programme of study regardless of their background.
TSCG endeavours to ensure that policies and procedures used to admit students are clear, fair, and explicit and consistently applied and are compliant with relevant legislation and meet the expectations of the UK Higher Education Quality Code and in particular the Advice and Guidance Section: Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access. Policies and procedures are reviewed annually.
TSCG also recognises good practice in HE admissions as provided by UCAS and Advance HE.
Equal consideration will be given to applications received by the main annual UCAS deadline in January, in accordance with UCAS’ published cycle timelines. Late applications will be considered at the individual department’s discretion and appropriate offers made if places are still available.
TSCG expects that an applicant will, in line with the UCAS regulations where applicable, provide full and accurate information to be considered for admission.
Full-time undergraduate applicants suspected of submitting, or found to have submitted, false information will be referred to UCAS. In the case of international applicants, details may also be passed to the United Kingdom Visas & Immigration Service (UKV&I). TSCG reserves the right to withdraw an offer of a place if fraud is discovered following an applicant receiving an offer.
TSCG applies the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to the Data Protection Policy for further information. All applicant and student data is regularly analysed to meet the requirements of Trafford & Stockport College Group and funding agency purposes.
In addition to these statutory data returns, TSCG will also use this data for teaching, learning and assessment planning and delivery, market research and resource audits and checks. All of these are routine TSCG activity to ensure Trafford & Stockport College Group meets the needs of its students. Information provided to prospective students will be clear, accurate and accessible, in line with consumer protection requirements and OfS expectations. Any use of applicant or student data will align with the College’s published privacy notices and will not disadvantage applicants during the admissions process.
2.1 Admission to Trafford & Stockport College Group is co-ordinated in partnership between different parts of TSCG and follows this Policy.
2.2 The admission criteria are approved at programme validation and review stages of programme design.
2.3 Applications are managed centrally by the Admissions Team who review applications against the published entry criteria and refer the application to Programme Teams for selection. Those applicants who do not meet the published entry criteria will be referred to the relevant Programme Leader or Head of Studies who will make a decision as to whether they should be interviewed based on work/life experience.
2.4 TSCG ensures that staff involved in admissions receive appropriate training and guidance so that decisions are fair, transparent and consistent with the College’s regulatory obligations.
2.5 Responsibility for final admissions decisions sits with Programme Leaders or designated senior academic staff, in line with published entry requirements and internal quality procedures.
3.1 TSCG aims to provide clear, accurate and transparent information about its programmes, that are appropriate to the needs of prospective applicants, in both internal and external publications regardless of the medium (i.e. printed, audio-visual, world wide web, etc.) enabling them to make choices in an informed manner. Information will be kept up‑to‑date and consistent with the College’s obligations under consumer protection law and OfS guidance.
The main sources of information on entry requirements can be found in:
3.2 Any changes made to entry requirements post publication of printed materials will be communicated as soon as possible via the TSCG website (and the UCAS website where applicable). These sources should therefore be considered the most up-to-date and applicable.
3.3 TSCG will inform prospective students, at the earliest opportunity, of any significant changes to a programme made between the time the offer of a place is made and registration is completed, and that they are advised of the options available in the circumstances. Where relevant, information will also be provided about continuity‑of‑study measures outlined in the Student Protection Plan
4.1 TSCG recognises the principles of fair admission to higher education and aligns its admissions practices with the expectations of the Office for Students (OfS). Guidance from QAA and Advance HE may also inform good practice. Trafford & Stockport College Group’s admissions practices are therefore characterised by the guiding principles which include:
4.2 In considering applications, TSCG is interested in an applicant’s academic achievements to date, predicted academic achievement and any other evidenced information that demonstrates an applicant’s ability to pursue the course for which they have applied. In addition, the applicant’s personal statement and the referee’s report will be taken into account when making decisions.
4.3 As TSCG does not currently hold Student Sponsor approval under the UK Government’s Student Route, we are unable to recruit applicants requiring a student visa.
4.4 All programmes of Study at TSCG are taught, administered and assessed in English.
4.5 Applicants who do not have the required English language level may receive guidance about available English language courses that could help to prepare them for future studies before an application for a HE programme can be made.
4.6 TSCG welcomes applications from students with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, mental health conditions or specific learning differences.
4.7 Applicants are encouraged to disclose support needs early in the process to allow appropriate reasonable adjustments to be explored.
4.8 Applicants with disabilities are asked to make this known via their application forms so that the College can discuss how to ensure applicant’s health and safety and enable their academic success.
4.9 This Policy is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and reflects TSCG’s commitment to providing an inclusive environment.
4.10 Students with disabilities should refer to guidance on the Disabled Students Allowance (administered by the Student Finance England) as they may be eligible for specialist non-medical help (NMH) to support their study at Higher Education.
4.11 Applicants must disclose relevant unspent criminal convictions where required under current UCAS and programme‑specific guidance. Having a criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent an applicant from gaining admission to Trafford & Stockport College Group. In reaching decisions on those with criminal convictions, TSCG will consider not only its own responsibilities and duties to the academic community at large but also the safety and well-being of the individual and its ability to provide any appropriate support arrangements.
4.12 The test TSCG will use is whether any criminal conviction disclosed by an applicant gives reasonable grounds for considering that the admission of the individual:
4.13 Trafford & Stockport College Group has a ‘duty of care’ to students, employees and visitors. It considers that this duty is both ‘moral’ – a general responsibility to promote the welfare of their students and employees and ‘legal’ – in the form of a duty to take appropriate steps to protect students, employees and visitors.
4.14 To ensure it maintains this ‘duty of care’, TSCG will not admit students who may pose a significant risk to any of these individuals.
4.15 If it is discovered that the applicant has a ‘relevant’ conviction that is not spent and the box has not been ticked on their application, TSCG will wish to take a view on the circumstances.
4.16 It may decide that this is due to an error and can be easily rectified, or it may consider that the applicant has knowingly withheld this information in which case it may consider that the applicant has made a ‘fraudulent’ application.
If it is considered that the application was ‘fraudulent’ it will wish to take the matter forward including reporting it to the UCAS Verification Unit – if it is an application through UCAS – and possibly treating it as ‘cancelled’; thereby refusing admission.
5.1 Deferring entry is recognised as an option for some applicants who may wish to utilise a gap year or whose personal circumstances change significantly and affect their ability to begin study.
5.2 Applications seeking deferred entry will be considered using the same processes outlined in this Policy. Decisions will be fair, transparent, and consistent with published entry criteria.
5.3 Deferred applications will only usually stand for one year. Applicants wishing to defer a place for a second year will usually be required to contact Trafford & Stockport College Group to discuss their circumstances. Applicants will be informed of any implications for fees, funding or programme changes.
5.4 Applications for entry to the second or third year of an undergraduate degree course may be considered where applicants can demonstrate that they have undertaken and successfully completed the equivalent of the first (and second) year of the course applied for. This is known as Accreditation of Prior Credited Learning (APCL).
5.5 Assuming the credit is acceptable, i.e. certificated credit obtained from another institution, it can be recognised in one of two ways:
5.6 The appropriate level of credit transfer will differ for each applicant and will be managed on a case-by-case basis. Information about APCL decisions will be communicated clearly so that applicants understand how credit has been applied.
5.7 TSCG will work with its partner Universities and awarding bodies where appropriate, to ensure consistency and fairness for all applicants.
6.1 As part of the selection process for specific courses, applicants will be required to attend an interview before making an offer.
6.2 Interviews will be arranged and administered by the Admissions Team who will work with the relevant HE Course Leader.
6.3 TSCG reserves the right to invite any applicant to an interview to further assess an applicant’s suitability.
7.1 Applications for fulltime undergraduate programmes can be made via the TSCG website or through UCAS.
7.2 TSCG expects that an applicant will provide full and accurate information in order to be considered for admission. Full-time undergraduate applicants suspected of submitting, or found to have submitted, false information will be referred to the Head of Higher Education (Quality & Standards).
7.3 Applications for full-time undergraduate programmes can be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). A single course application may be made direct via the website and the UCAS fee will be waived.
7.4 Equal consideration will be given to applications received by the main annual UCAS deadline in January in line with UCAS’ published cycle timelines. Late applications will be considered and appropriate offers made if places are still available.
7.5 Applicants will receive notification of Trafford & Stockport College Group’s decision on their application electronically (via UCAS) and/or by letter. If the applicant is to be made an offer of a place, the offer will specify any conditions of entry that they must meet and the date by which these conditions must be fulfilled. The offer will also include the first‑year tuition fee (or indicative guidance if the fee has not yet been finalised).
7.6 Applicants will be expected to respond to an offer using the appropriate method e.g. online through UCAS for full-time programmes. Any deadline for reply and the method for responding will be indicated by TSCG, and where applicable, by UCAS.
7.7 Those applying after 30 June and who have not previously applied through UCAS may make a direct application via a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA) form. Applicants must be in receipt of their results.
7.8 TSCG will ensure that all admissions criteria, including academic and non‑academic factors, are published clearly and are accessible to applicants.
7.9 Reasonable adjustments will be offered for any required interviews or additional assessments to ensure fair and inclusive admissions practice.
8.1 Applications for part time programmes should be made using the online application form via the TSCG website and not through UCAS. Paper application forms are available upon request and will be processed through the College’s internal admissions system.
8.2 Part time applications are considered using the same processes described in this Policy. This includes ensuring that parttime applicants receive clear, accurate and accessible precontract information, in line with consumer protection law and OfS expectations for transparency. Admissions criteria and decision‑making processes for part‑time study will be published clearly and applied consistently. Reasonable adjustments will be available for any applicant who requires them.
9.1 TSCG recognises the statement of good practice issued by The Office for Students regarding changes to course information, content, and course closure. The HE Student Protection Plan outlines what may happen if a course is no longer able to operate
9.2 TSCG will only close courses when it is not financially viable to run them or when the student experience will be compromised. Decisions will be informed by a proportionate, riskbased assessment of risks to the continuation of study, as required by the OfS Student Protection Plan framework.
9.3 Decisions about whether a course will commence will be made using a riskbased academic viability assessment rather than a fixed minimum number of applicants. This assessment will consider staffing, resources, quality of student experience, and risks to continuation of study. Decisions will be taken through senior governance processes and communicated to applicants as early as reasonably practicable.
9.4 Where it may be the case that a course will not run, applicants will be contacted regularly so that they have all the information they need to make a decision about their application. Communication will be clear, timely, and include information about available alternatives, in accordance with the College’s approved Student Protection Plan
9.5 If a course does close, TSCG will assist affected applicants in identifying suitable alternatives, both internally and externally. For enrolled students, TSCG will implement the mitigation measures outlined in its Student Protection Plan, including teach‑out arrangements, transfer options, or other steps designed to preserve continuity of study.
9.6 Trafford & Stockport College Group will not coordinate applications but will give advice and support.
9.7 TSCG reserves the right to make changes to programmes where it considers such changes to be reasonable. If such changes are made, applicants will be notified as soon as reasonably practicable and the TSCG website will be updated to reflect the changes. Changes will be implemented in a manner consistent with consumer protection obligations and OfS expectations around clarity and transparency. These changes will usually be for one or more of the following or similar reasons:
9.8 TSCG will make all reasonable endeavours to avoid making changes to a programme later than 28 days before a programme starts. However, sometimes such changes need to be made, for example, for the reasons as set out above in Section 9.7. Most changes of this nature will be made to improve the programme for the benefit of students and will not adversely affect students. Most changes will become effective from the start of the next academic year, but sometimes in-year changes need to be made. Applicants will be notified of changes to the programme as soon as reasonably practicable.
9.9 Applicants will be notified of changes to the programme as soon as reasonably practicable. Enrolled students will also be notified in line with the Student Protection Plan, with clear information about continuity‑of‑study arrangements where relevant.
10.1 Trafford & Stockport College Group publishes its tuition fees on the website. Applicants will also be able to access information about additional financial support on those pages. All fee information will be kept accurate, up‑to‑date and presented clearly in line with consumer protection requirements.
10.2 TSCG reviews its tuition fees annually. As a provider charging fees above the basic fee level for certain courses, the College is required to maintain an approved Access and Participation Plan (APP), which details how fee income is invested in widening participation activity in line with Office for Students requirements.
10.3 Applicants will be informed of the tuition fee applicable to their course at the earliest opportunity, and any mandatory additional costs will be published clearly. Where fee levels have not yet been finalised, indicative information will be provided along with an explanation of when final confirmation will be available.
11.1 Feedback will be provided for unsuccessful applications upon request. Feedback will take one of two forms, either by telephone or by letter / email. Feedback will be clear, constructive and provided within a reasonable timeframe
11.2 It is recognised that very occasionally applicants may have reason to question or express an opinion to Trafford & Stockport College Group about its decision or the way in which their application has been handled.
11.3 Applicants in this situation should direct their query to the Admissions Team for further clarification.
11.4 If they remain dissatisfied, the query should be directed to the relevant Head of Study for review.
11.5 TSCG reserves the right to refuse admission to applicants who have not met academic entry thresholds; or where there is evidence that they cannot (or are likely to be unable to) meet the academic, professional (such as DBS checks) or vocational requirements.
11.6 If an applicant remains dissatisfied after completing the processes described at 11.3 and 11.4, they will be referred to the TSCG Complaints, Compliments, and Incidents Procedure. Applicants will be provided with clear guidance on how to access and use this procedure.
