Dear University of Bath,

For the intake of course Computer Systems Engineering BEng, Q110 starting in Sept 2023:
1. How many students started the course?

Can you split this number as follows:
a) Number of students from the British Isles* who had an offer and selected your university as their firm choice (and joined the course)
b) Number of students from the British Isles* who had an offer and selected your university as their insurance choice (and joined the course)
c) Number of students from the British Isles* who joined the course via UCAS clearing
d) Number of International students who accepted a place
e) Any other students (briefly explain)
*or your definition of a UK/home student if easier to respond to

2. In respect of the students who joined the course via UCAS clearing:
a) What date was the final student accepted onto the course ie the date that UCAS clearing was closed and/or capacity for the course was reached; and
b) What was the highest and lowest (ie the range) of A-level grades across all students entering the course via UCAS (eg AAB highest to ABC lowest)

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Littler

Dear University of Bath,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of University of Bath's handling of my FOI request 'Computer Systems Engineering BEng - 2023 Admissions'.

Thank you for providing your feedback. I noticed that the breakdown for question 1 has not been answered and I could not locate the reply for question 2. Could you kindly provide that information, please?

I note that you have provided the information for 2021 and 2022, yet the request was for the intake starting in September 2023. I have requested the same information from a small number of other universities running similar courses I'm potentially looking to enroll in for 2024 - all of them provided the information. None cited competitive concerns. Accordingly, I'm surprised how not releasing this information at this point protects the university. I would ask that this be reconsidered, please?
For section 43 to apply, it must be likely that the university suffers a competitive disadvantage. Yet, it is mentioned that the harm is only "potential". I am not seeking numbers for all courses. I am not even seeking information for an entire faculty. I am asking for one course. I fail to see how that disclosure makes it likely to cause harm to the university. I will remain open to being convinced. I would also add that the September 2023 intake numbers are still historical (some students will have since left, transferred to other courses and other people transferred onto this course).

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Littler