This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information from
the University of Liverpool.   Your reference number is FOI/2020/271. We
will review and process your request as soon as possible.

In line with recent recommendations, many of our staff are now working
from home and we ask that you bear with us through this period. We may
take a little longer than normal to respond to certain enquiries and staff
may not have access to information requested.

We will aim to respond within 20 working days of the day we received the
request.  You will hear back from us by 4 August at the latest.

If for any reason we are unable to meet this deadline, we will keep you
fully informed of the reasons for this as soon as practical.

If you have any queries about this email or your request or if at any
stage you are unhappy with the way in which your request is being handled
please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely

Kirsty Rothwell
Freedom of Information Officer / Data Protection Co-ordinator
Legal & Governance

University of Liverpool, Foundation Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69
7ZX

The information in this email and any attachments is confidential. Unless
you are the intended recipient, you must not read, copy, distribute, use
or retain this message or any part of it. If you are not the intended
recipient, please notify the sender immediately.

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FOI/2020/271

3 August 2020

Name:  Mini Thom

By email to: [FOI #674401 email]

Thank you for your email of 4 July requesting information from the
University of Liverpool.  Colleagues have provided the information
requested below.

My questions are based on the past 4 medicine admission cycles.

How many people were placed on the reserve list who had post-interview
rejections?

The University does not confirm a ‘reserve list’ until A-level results
Thursday. After the UCAS decision deadline we approach individuals who
offer a satisfactory interview score and ask them to contact us if they
are interested in a place should one become available. Interested
individuals are contacted to give details of how to confirm their interest
at the time of confirmation.  The table below lists applicants who
received AAA/higher or equivalent and expressed interest in a place on the
programme for the year stated. Please note we might consider AAB
applicants depending on circumstances:

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Entry Year |Number expressing interest |
|----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|
|2016 | 30 |
|----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|
|2017 | 35 |
|----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|
|2018 | 38 |
|----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|
|2019 | 51 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

How many post-interview rejected people from the reserve list were made an
unconditional offer (come results day) and accepted into the medicine
course?

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Entry Year |Number accepted (actual entry and deferred entry) |
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------------|
|2016 | 17 |
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------------|
|2017 | 13 |
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------------|
|2018 | 13 |
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------------|
|2019 | 25 |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

What was the lowest interview score student who got a place on results day
from the reserve list after being post-interview rejected?

Whilst the University holds this information, we are unable to provide the
requested information within the appropriate time limit prescribed by the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  Section 12(1) FOIA provides that an
authority is not obliged to respond to a request for information if it is
estimated that the cost of complying with that request would exceed the
“appropriate limit”. The “appropriate limit” for universities set by the
Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)
Regulation 2004 is 18 hours and takes into account the activities involved
in determining whether the requested information is held, locating,
retrieving and extracting the information from the record containing it.

For this information to be provided we would need to examine each
applicant’s file individually in a number of databases.  It is estimated
that this would take at least 15 minutes per record which exceeds the
appropriate fees limited defined by the Act.

Would you know the A-level grades of post-interview reserve listed
applicants before them on results day?

For most applicants, the University can access this information and we
will consider what is likely to happen if an applicant confirms their
interest with us on A-level results day. Institutions typically receive
results on the weekend prior to A-level results day under the terms of
what is called the UCAS Embargo. Practically this means that we will not
be able to enter any discussions with individuals from the 27^th July
through to 8.30 am on Thursday the 13^th August. Interested applicants are
given specific instructions and a time frame of when to contact the
University on A-level results day. Failure to do this will result in
applicants not being considered for any places that may become available.

Would applicants calling you first for available places to see if you
accept them be prioritised when filling up available spaces?

The University implements a ‘gathered field’ approach when making
admissions decisions. There will be an opportunity for applicants to
contact the University on 13^th August.

Would post-interview rejected applicants (who are on reserve list) be
contacted by you about the decision if so is it by email, phone? When
would you expect post-interview rejected reserve listed applicants to be
notified by?

The University asks applicants to confirm their telephone details and
e-mail addresses. We usually telephone applicants in the first instance
and follow up by email; this may vary depending on the situation. Due to
COVID19 restrictions, practices may differ for 2021 entry.

May I please know if you have gone into clearing for each of the past 4
admission cycles. Do you consider all applicants on your reserve list (who
had been post interview rejected) before you go into clearing?

The University only entered clearing in 2017. We would consider the
applications of those who express an interest in joining us before
entering clearing.

o If a person who was post-interview rejected but placed on the reserve
list at a more of a chance of gaining a place if they have better
achieved a-levels (more A* grades) e.g. 3A* or 2A*1A than a
post-interview rejected individual with the minimum entry standards of
3As but a higher interview score?

o If a person who was post-interview rejected but placed on the reserve
list at a more of a chance of gaining a place if they have better
achieved a-levels (more A* grades) e.g. 3A* or 2A*1A than a person who
was initially offered a place but failed to meet the offer by a margin
e.g. by a grade (e.g. they get AAB on results day)?

o If the University of Liverpool were forced to consider the reserve
list do you select the students based on how good their A-levels are
e.g. prioritising 3 A* students more than 3 A grade students or is it
just based on the interview score, UCAT etc?

o If this university was going into clearing would you consider everyone
on your reserve list before going into clearing?

o If you have been placed on the reserve list of applicants who were
post-interview rejected, when results day come if I receive at least 3
As would I have to do the interview again before being made an
unconditional offer bearing in mind places become available?

o Would you know the A-level results of applicants who have been
post-interview rejected (but were placed on reserve/waiting list)
before a-level results day or would we have to call you up on results
day to tell you what A-level grades we have received in attempting to
secure a place?

o As you are sending out reserve lists for post-interview rejected
applicants, are you expecting to go into clearing this summer/is it
likely that you would be going into clearing (what are the chances)?

Please be advised that the Freedom of Information Act gives a general
right of access to all types of recorded information held by public
authorities. We are not required to give a judgement, anticipate
scenarios, or give opinions that are not already recorded. The questions
above fall outside the scope of the Act. The University will not respond
to these at this time.

If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your request for
information, you have a right under Section 50 of the Freedom of
Information Act to ask the University to review it; however, you must do
so within 40 working days of the date of this response. Your request
should include our reference number and explain the reason for requesting
a review. Email [University of Liverpool request email] or write to the Freedom of Information
Reviewer, Legal & Compliance, University of Liverpool, Foundation
Building, 765 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 7ZX.  We will respond to your
request for an internal review within 20 working days of receipt.

Following an internal review, if you remain dissatisfied with the handling
of your request, you have a right to appeal to the Information
Commissioner at The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. Telephone:  0303 123 1113
www.ico.org.uk.

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Kirsty Rothwell
Freedom of Information Officer  / Data Protection Co-ordinator
Legal & Governance

University of Liverpool, Foundation Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69
7ZX

The information in this email and any attachments is confidential. Unless
you are the intended recipient, you must not read, copy, distribute, use
or retain this message or any part of it. If you are not the intended
recipient, please notify the sender immediately.

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