L100 BSc Economics Information

The request was successful.

Dear University of Warwick,

Firstly, I would like to request 'Learning Outcomes' or 'Structured Learning Objectives' given to Economics students in all 3 years. This may be limited to a handbook or may be documents which detail what students who take the Economics Course will study within each module. Where applicable both are requested. To clarify, I am looking for a list of what students studying economics will learn over the 3 year course.

Secondly, I would like to request all undergraduate economics papers sat by students in the academic year 2015-16, and, if possible, the corresponding examiners' reports.

Thirdly, I would like to request the following information about all successful applicants who received an offer to study Economics at UCL in 2016 and 2017.

For each successful applicant:
1. The A-Level subjects the applicant took
2. The A-Level grade attained by the applicant in each of their A Levels
2. The GCSE grades of the applicant

For all applicants:
1. A list of the most studied subjects at A Level of the successful applicants
2. The average number of A*s at A-Level of the successful applicants
3. The average number of A*s at GCSE of the successful applicants

Yours faithfully,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Thank you for your email which has been received by the University's
Information and Data Compliance Team. 

The University undertakes to respond to Freedom of Information requests
within 20 working days and to Subject Access Requests within 40 calendar
days.

If you have any queries do please email us and we will endeavour to reply
to you as soon as possible.

Thank you

Information and Data Compliance Team.

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Dear Angelo,

Thank you for your email asking for information from the University of
Warwick.

In order to comply with your request, please could you clarify the
following:

·         Please can you provide your full name?

The ICO states that the legal requirements for a request are as follows:

For your request to be dealt with according to the Freedom of Information
Act, you must:

contact the relevant authority directly;
make the request in writing, for example in a letter or an email. You can
make a verbal or written request for environmental information;
give your real name; and
give an address to which the authority can reply. This can be a postal or
email address.

As you have only provided us with your initials we would appreciate your
full name for the purposes of this request.

We look forward to hearing from you. We will aim to respond to your
request within 20 working days of receipt.

Kind Regards

 

Information and Data Compliance Team

 

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Dear infocompliance, Resource,

My full name is Angelo Thavaratanrajah

Yours sincerely,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Dear Mr Thavaratanrajah,

Thank you for contacting us and providing us with your full name with
regards to your Freedom of Information request from the University of
Warwick. In order to comply with your request, please could you clarify
the following:

·         Can you provide us with a working definition of the Term
"Learning Outcomes", "Structured Learning Objectives" and "Corresponding
examiners' reports".

·         The title of your request refers to one Economics Course L100
BSc Economics Information, can you confirm is this the only course you are
seeking information for?

·         Where you have stated "To clarify, I am looking for a list of
what students studying economics will learn over the 3 year course", does
the information held at the link below assist in answering this part of
your request? :

           
[1]https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/...

·         For the third part of your request can you confirm if you are
seeking information regarding applicants applying in 2016 and 2017 or
applicants who are prospectively entering onto their chose course in 2016
and 2017?

 

We look forward to hearing from you. The University will be unable to
proceed with your request until you have provided the requested
information. Please note that the 20 working day statutory time limit does
not begin until clarification has been received and we will close your
request in 20 working days if we receive no reply.

Kind Regards

 

Information and Data Compliance Team

 

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Dear infocompliance, Resource,

Thank you very much for your help with my request so far.

These are the working definitions for the following terms.

- Learning Outcomes: The topics and detailed information about the courses that students studying economics at Warwick will read
- Structured Learning Objectives: Perhaps a student handbook detailing what economics students will be studying
-Examiners' reports: Mark Schemes for tests (if available) or a reports of how students found them.

I can confirm that the L100 Economics course is the only course I am seeking information for.

I can also confirm that the information held at the link given is sufficient for that part of the request.

For the third part of my request, I can confirm that I am seeking information regarding applicants who are prospectively entering onto their chose course in 2016 and 2017,

Yours sincerely,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Thank you for your email which has been received by the University's
Information and Data Compliance Team. 

The University undertakes to respond to Freedom of Information requests
within 20 working days and to Subject Access Requests within 40 calendar
days.

Please note that during the Christmas period the University will be closed
from the afternoon of Friday 22^nd December 2017 until the morning of
Wednesday 3^rd of January 2018. Upon our return we will expedite any
requests received during the Christmas period and endeavour to respond
within the relevant statutory time period.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Information and Data Compliance Team.

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Dear Angelo,

Thank you kindly for your clarification points below.

We also note in your original request you ask for "Thirdly, I would like
to request the following information about all successful applicants who
received an offer to study Economics at UCL in 2016 and 2017."

 

Where you have stated UCL we must inform you that we would not hold such
data, and only data for the University of Warwick. Was your intention to
write the University of Warwick?

 

We look forward to hearing from you in due course.

 

Kind Regards

 

Information and Data Compliance Team

 

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Dear infocompliance, Resource,

That is correct, my intention was indeed to write the University of Warwick and not UCL
I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Yours sincerely,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Dear Angelo,

Can you confirm that where you have stated :

" I can also confirm that the information held at the link given is sufficient for that part of the request."

Do you mean to say that the information provided answers the first part of your request in full:

" Firstly, I would like to request 'Learning Outcomes' or 'Structured Learning Objectives' given to Economics students in all 3 years. This may be limited to a handbook or may be documents which detail what students who take the Economics Course will study within each module. Where applicable both are requested. To clarify, I am looking for a list of what students studying economics will learn over the 3 year course."

If not, can you confirm which parts of this you would like to us to still approach?

Kind Regards
 
Information and Data Compliance Team

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Dear infocompliance, Resource,

Yes, I can confirm that the link answers that part of the request in full.

Yours sincerely,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

Dear Angelo,

Thank you for your patience whilst we deal with your FOI request, we are
currently locating and collating the information requested. One of the
departments responsible for holding the information has noted the
following :

·         The University is unable to provide information in relation to
part 3 i), ii) and iii) of your request -

 

            "Thirdly, I would like to request the following information
about all successful applicants who received an offer to study Economics
at UCL in 2016 and 2017.

For each successful applicant:

1. The A-Level subjects the applicant took 2. The A-Level grade attained
by the applicant in each of their A Levels."

 

The information regarding exam results is held individually for each
applicant within the University’s systems. The University’s admission team
does not have the software or the expertise to collate exam performance
into the requested groupings. Each qualification for an applicant is
presented as a single entry, therefore, to determine what A-level subjects
the applicants took or the grades attained it would be necessary to
conduct a manual search of each line for each applicant to ascertain each
subject and each grade, which the University estimates would exceed the
cost limit.

 

Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act states that a public
authority is not obliged to comply with a request for information if the
authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would
exceed the appropriate limit. This is currently £450, which equates to 18
hours of staff time calculated at £25 an hour as set out in the Freedom of
Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations
2004.

 

To determine what one individual's total collection of grades and/or
subjects was we need to analyse and manipulate the data line by line. Even
if it is estimated that it would take 30 seconds to do this for one
applicant the University has made just under 3,500 Economics offers across
both years and this would result in almost 30 hours of work. This is
excluding the export of the raw data, plus additional work such as
checking for possible identifying combinations and so on.

 

Therefore, can you confirm you are happy for us to exclude these questions
from your Freedom of Information request?

 

We look forward to hearing from you. Please note we will close your
request in 20 working days if we receive no reply.

Kind Regards

 

Information and Data Compliance Team

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear infocompliance, Resource,

I understand the problems relating to that part of my FOI request and am happy for it to be excluded.

Yours sincerely,

Angelo

infocompliance, Resource, University of Warwick

47 Attachments

Dear Angelo Thavaratanrajah,

Thank you for your emails dated 24^th, 28^th, 30^th of November and 1^st
and 13^th December 2017 requesting information about the University of
Warwick. Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. Please find below your original request and our response.

Firstly, I would like to request 'Learning Outcomes' or 'Structured
Learning Objectives' given to Economics students in all 3 years. This may
be limited to a handbook or may be documents which detail what students
who take the Economics Course will study within each module. Where
applicable both are requested. To clarify, I am looking for a list of what
students studying economics will learn over the 3 year course.

From our previous communications we understand the information sought was
available utilising the link provided below:

[1]https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/...

Secondly, I would like to request all undergraduate economics papers sat
by students in the academic year 2015-16, and, if possible, the
corresponding examiners' reports.

Please find attached the following pdf documents in order to respond to
this part of your request:

FOI Request F067.17-18 - External Examiner Report 1.pdf

FOI Request F067.17-18 - External Examiner Report 2.pdf

FOI Request F067.17-18 - External Examiner Report 3.pdf

 

EC104.pdf EC221.pdf EC313.pdf
EC108.pdf EC224 NF.pdf EC314.pdf
EC109.pdf EC226.pdf EC318.pdf
EC119.pdf EC228.pdf EC320.pdf
EC123.pdf EC230.pdf EC326.pdf
EC124.pdf EC231.pdf EC333.pdf
EC132.pdf EC233.pdf EC334.pdf
EC133.pdf EC235.pdf EC336.pdf
EC134.pdf EC236.pdf EC338.pdf
EC135.pdf EC301.pdf EC339.pdf
EC201.pdf EC303.pdf EC340.pdf
EC202.pdf EC306.pdf EC341.pdf
EC205.pdf EC307.pdf EC343.pdf
EC208 NF.pdf EC310.pdf EC345.pdf
EC220.pdf EC312.pdf

 

Thirdly, I would like to request the following information about all
successful applicants who received an offer to study Economics at Warwick
in 2016 and 2017.

For each successful applicant:

1.       The A-Level subjects the applicant took

2.       The A-Level grade attained by the applicant in each of their A
Levels

As noted in previous communications with you on 13^th December, the
University is unable to provide information in relation to part of your
request as the information regarding exam results is held individually for
each applicant. The University’s admission team does not have the software
or the expertise to collate exam performance into the requested groupings.
Each qualification for an applicant is presented as a single entry,
therefore, to determine what A-level subjects the applicants took or the
grades attained it would be necessary to conduct a manual search of each
line for each applicant to ascertain each subject and each grade, which
the University estimates would exceed the cost limit.

Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act states that a public
authority is not obliged to comply with a request for information if the
authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would
exceed the appropriate limit. This is currently £450, which equates to 18
hours of staff time calculated at £25 an hour as set out in the Freedom of
Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations
2004.

3.       The GCSE grades of the applicant

Section 1(1) (a) Freedom of Information Act imposes a duty on public
authorities to inform the requester whether or not the information
requested is held by the authority. The University does not hold the
grades achieved at GCSE level, so is unable to answer this part of your
request.

For all applicants:

1.       A list of the most studied subjects at A Level of the successful
applicant

Defining "successful applicants” as those receiving an offer and taking at
least one A Level, top ten A Level subjects were as follows:

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Most studied A Level Subjects of successful applicants for L100 |
| Economics course at the University of Warwick |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Year |Most studied A Level Subjects |Year |Most studied A Level |
| | | |Subjects |
|------+----------------------------------+------+-----------------------|
|2017 |Mathematics |2016 |Mathematics |
| | | | |
| |Further Mathematics | |Economics |
| | | | |
| |Economics | |Further Mathematics |
| | | | |
| |Physics | |Physic |
| | | | |
| |MEI Mathematics | |Chemistry |
| | | | |
| |Geography | |Physics A |
| | | | |
| |Chemistry | |History |
| | | | |
| |Chinese | |MEI Mathematics |
| | | | |
| |MEI Further Mathematics | |Geography and Biology |
| | | | |
| |Accounting | | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

2.       The average number of A*s at A-Level of the successful applicants

Defining "successful applicants” as those receiving an offer and taking at
least one A Level, the mean average number of A*s was as follows:

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Average number of A*’s at A-level achieved by successful applicants for |
| L100 Economics course at the University of Warwick |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 | 1 |2016 | 1 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

3.       The average number of A*s at GCSE of the successful applicants

Section 1(1) (a) Freedom of Information Act imposes a duty on public
authorities to inform the requester whether or not the information
requested is held by the authority. The University does not hold the
grades achieved at GCSE level, so is unable to answer this part of your
request.

After seeking clarification you provided the further following
information:

These are the working definitions for the following terms.

-  Learning Outcomes: The topics and detailed information about the
courses that students studying economics at Warwick will read

-  Structured Learning Objectives: Perhaps a student handbook detailing
what economics students will be studying -Examiners' reports: Mark Schemes
for tests (if available) or a reports of how students found them.

-  I can confirm that the L100 Economics course is the only course I am
seeking information for.

-  I can also confirm that the information held at the link given is
sufficient for that part of the request.

-  For the third part of my request, I can confirm that I am seeking
information regarding applicants who are prospectively entering onto their
chose course in 2016 and 2017.

-  I understand the problems relating to that part of my FOI request (Part
3 i), ii) and iii)) and am happy for it to be excluded.

If you are unhappy with the way in which your request has been handled by
the University of Warwick, you can request an internal review and in the
first instance you are advised to follow the procedure outlined here:
[2]http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/legal...

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint,
you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

Website: [3]https://ico.org.uk/

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Rowley

Ian Rowley | Director of Development, Comms & External Affairs| External
Affairs
University House | University of Warwick | Coventry | CV4 8UW

 

References

Visible links
1. https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/...
2. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/legal...
3. https://ico.org.uk/