Joint statement on university admissions

20 March 2020

After the Department for Education set out further details of how GCSE and A Level exam grades will be awarded this year, the heads of the Russell Group, GuildHE, MillionPlus and University Alliance today put out a joint statement confirming that universities will do all they can to support students and ensure they can progress to university.

The joint statement is below:

We know many students are anxious about what the cancellation of exams and assessments might mean. Our message to students is: we understand and universities are here for you. 

Universities are committed to doing all they can to support students and applicants and ensure they can progress to university. This will involve being flexible and responsive in their admissions processes.  

We want to reassure students who have applied to university, or are thinking of doing so through clearing, that every effort will be made to ensure they are not disadvantaged in any way by the decision not to go ahead with exams this summer.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive, Russell Group

Gordon McKenzie, Chief Executive, GuildHE

Dr Greg Walker, Chief Executive, MillionPlus

Vanessa Wilson, Chief Executive, University Alliance