Dear R Simmons,

I acknowledge receipt of your email received by this office on 27th August 2024.

Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and has been allocated reference FOI24-298 which should be quoted in all correspondence. We will respond to your request within 20 working days starting the next working day after receipt, therefore you can expect to receive a response no later than 24th September 2024.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and, if that is the case, we will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

Finally, should you require the disclosure in an alternative format, e.g. screen reader accessible, large print etc, please let us know as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Ebost : [email address]

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhwy oedi.
University Secretary's Office
Cardiff University
Email: [email address]

The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

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Dear R Simmons,

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated
27^th August 2024.

For ease of reference, I have reproduced your questions below and set out
our corresponding responses.

For the academic years between 2015/16 and 2024/25 inclusive – please
detail the number of applicants to your LLB (Hons) Law undergraduate
programme, the number of offers made and the number of students who ended
up enrolling.

Please break these numbers down by (a) home and (b) international
applicants

┌──────────────┬─────────────┬─────────┐
│Academic Year │Applications │Enrolled │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2015/6 │ 1855 │ 267 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2016/7 │ 1977 │ 342 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2017/8 │ 1795 │ 321 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2018/9 │ 1699 │ 280 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2019/0 │ 2062 │ 348 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2020/1 │ 2343 │ 397 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2021/2 │ 2823 │ 608 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2022/3 │ 2491 │ 433 │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────┤
│2023/4 │ 2606 │ 494 │
└──────────────┴─────────────┴─────────┘

Number of offers and home/ international status

The recruitment of  both home and International students, is a very
competitive environment where UK universities face competition not just
from each other but also from other institutions around the world.
Students are highly mobile and have wide choices over where they may
study. Cardiff University is looking to ensure an appropriate balance
between disciplines, maintain a diverse student body, deliver against
corporate strategy and financial forecasts, while subject to government
and funding body student number controls, where applicable.

The release of information on offers into the public domain would be
highly likely to prejudice the University’s commercial interests, by
allowing competitor institutions to undermine the University’s recruitment
activity. Disclosure of this information would reveal details of the
outcome of the University’s recruitment strategy and to release this
information into the public domain would enable our competitors to benefit
by copying our strategy or programmes. In so doing this will affect the
University’s ability to distinguish itself from its competitors in a
highly competitive market

The release of international applications, international acceptances and
all offers into the public domain would prejudice the University’s
commercial interests, by allowing competitor institutions to undermine the
University’s recruitment activity. Any loss of market share and reduction
in enrolled student numbers would have significant impact on the
University’s student fee income, with attendant impact on the University’s
long term financial sustainability.

As public funding sources for higher education have declined, student fee
income has become an increasingly important source of income and is a key
factor in ensuring the University’s long term financial sustainability.
The ability for the universities in general, and Cardiff University in
particular as a major research-intensive university in Wales, to compete
effectively in a global market is an important strategic objective as set
out by the Welsh Government in Post-Compulsory Education and Training
(PCET) Principles for Change which is available at 
[1]principles-for-change-post-compulsory-education-and-training.pdf
(gov.wales).It is also important that Cardiff University is able to
continue competing on an equal footing with similar large,
research-intensive institutions in the UK and overseas.

Based on the above it is considered that the commercial interest of the
University would be prejudiced by release and as such the Section 43(2)
exemption is engaged. In applying for the Section 43 exemption the
University has taken account of the public interest as required by the
Act.

The University has reviewed the arguments in favour of disclosing the
information (openness and transparency in public life) and found them to
be outweighed by the greater general public interest in the protection of
the University's competitive edge and market positioning.

The University must consider the public interest test when applying this
exemption and this is considered below.

Public Interest Test

Factors in Favour of Disclosure

It is in the public interest to release information that provides a
greater public understanding of the way the University operates and its
provisions for future delivery of its services.

Factors in Favour of Non-disclosure

It is not in the public interest to release information that would be
likely to damage the commercial interests of the University by undermining
its ability to compete in the marketplace. It is not in the public
interest to release information that would reduce the efficiency and
effectiveness of the University by having the effect of damaging the
ability of the University to pursue its recruitment strategies on an equal
footing to other public and privately funded educational institutions.

On balance it is considered that it would not be in the public interest to
release the information requested.

Academic year 2024/25

As the enrolment period will take place in September and October, we are
unable to release information on the current admissions year. Information
in relation to student enrolments is published annually by HESA and in
relation to information for the period 2024/25 this is due to be published
by HESA in March 2026 and will be available to the public on the HESA
website at: [2]http://m.hesa.ac.uk/ .  As this information is intended for
future publication it is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 22 of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 subject to a public interest test. 

It is acknowledged that there is a public interest in making information
available that contributes to public debate and understanding about higher
education and this would include information around student numbers.
However, HESA is the official agency for the collection, analysis and
dissemination of quantitative information about higher education in the
UK. It would not be in the public interest to undermine established
processes for the publication of such information particularly where a
commitment has been made to make this information generally available and
a date for publication has been fixed. Therefore, in the absence of any
compelling public interest to disclose this information prior to its
scheduled release date it is considered reasonable, in all the
circumstances, to withhold this information prior to HESA's publication
date. As such Section 22 of the FOI Act applies.

I trust this information satisfies your enquiry.  Should you feel
dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was
handled you can request an Internal Review. This should be made in writing
within 40 working days of the date of this email. Please provide your
unique reference number of your request, information on why you are
dissatisfied and any detail you would like us to consider as part of the
Internal Review process. Email your request to [3][email address] where it
will be forwarded to the University’s Data Protection Officer who will be
responsible for overseeing the review.

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for consideration.  The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Further information is available on their
website: [4]Make a complaint | ICO.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Cardiff University. If you require further assistance, please feel free to
contact me.

Kind regards,

Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol University Secretary’s Office

Prifysgol Caerdydd Cardiff University

Ebost : [5][email address]   Email: [6][email address] 

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu The University welcomes correspondence
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n in Welsh or English.  Corresponding in
Saesneg.  Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg Welsh will not lead to any delay.
yn creu unrhwy oedi.

References

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2. http://m.hesa.ac.uk/
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4. https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
5. mailto:[email%20address]
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