Dear Sarthak

I am writing to acknowledge your request under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. The University of Manchester will respond to you within 20
working days.

Best wishes

Holly

Holly Haslam|Information Officer | Information Governance Office |
Directorate of Compliance and Risk |Professional Support Services | G6
Christie Building | The University of Manchester | Oxford Road |
Manchester | M13 9PL | Tel +44(0) 161 275 5782 | [1]www.manchester.ac.uk

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References

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1. http://www.manchester.ac.uk/
3. http://www.dataprotection.manchester.ac....

Dear Sarthak,

Thank you for your request for information received by The University of
Manchester on 14 November 2018 which was as follows:

1. For the last three years, how many international students were
shortlisted for interviews and how many offers were given?

2. For the last three years , what was the interview cutoff score required
out to get an offer?

3. If possible, could you give me the country wise distribution for
international applicants getting  an offer last year?

4. How many international students will you be shortlisting this year for 
interview and how many offers will you be giving ( Even an
approximate/estimated number will do)?

Please accept my apologies for the delay in our response. The University
has now considered your request and our response can be found below.

1.       This information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of the
listed exemption at Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(FOIA) – Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means. This is because
it is freely available on The University of Manchester website at:
[1]https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/m.... This email
serves to act as a Refusal Notice for this part of your request, as per
Section 17 (1) of the FOIA.

2.       No information held. Offer making is made based on academic
judgement therefore we do not operate a ‘cut-off score’. Our team use a
combination of qualitative and quantitative data recorded by individual
interviewers alongside available metrics (for example, UKCAT performance,
work experience and achieved qualifications) to arrive at a global
judgement about the suitability of any applicant for the programme. 

3.       This information is deemed to be exempt from disclosure by virtue
of the listed exemption at Section 43 (2) of the FOIA – Commercial
Interests. Under Section 1 (1) of the FOIA, The University of Manchester
confirms that the information requested is held however we are refusing to
provide it in response to your request for the reasons set out below. 

Section 43 (2) – Commercial Interests

Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would,
or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person
(including the public authority holding it).

We are applying Section 43 (2) as a prejudice-based exemption.  We may
rely on this exemption if the disclosure would prejudice someone’s
commercial interests (including the University’s own).  Commercial
interests may be prejudiced where a disclosure would be likely to:

Damage its business reputation or the confidence that customers, suppliers
or investors may have in it

Have a detrimental impact on its commercial revenue or threaten its
ability to obtain supplies or secure finance

Weaken its position in a competitive environment by revealing market
sensitive information or information of potential usefulness to its
competitors.

It is the latter two of these considerations that we believe on this
occasion would be prejudiced by the disclosure of this information. This
is because medical schools operate in a highly competitive environment for
the recruitment of both home and overseas students. The UK government
places a cap on the number of overseas students that we can recruit,
therefore competition for overseas students is very intense and insight
into overseas markets is critical. Releasing this information would put us
at a competitive disadvantage in selecting students and would allow our
competitors to target those international locations for their own
recruitment activities.

Public Interest Test

As Section 43(2) is a qualified exemption we are required to carry out a
public interest test; please see the details below.

Factors in Favour of Disclosure

There is a public interest in disclosing where the international
applicants who receive offers from The University of Manchester are from,
particularly as these places are subject to government subsidy. Disclosure
would also reassure the public that The University of Manchester operates
in a transparent manner.

Factors Against Disclosure

Disclosure of the requested information would undermine our position
within a highly competitive market and would therefore be likely to
prejudice our commercial interests. It would also be likely to prejudice
our ability to attract the best possible students from around the world.

The University of Manchester has carefully considered the balance of
public interest in this instance and has concluded that for the reasons
outlined above, the balance lies in maintaining the exemption at this
time. This email serves to act as a further refusal notice for this part
of your request, as per Section 17 (1) of the FOIA.

4.       No information held as the time point is in the future. Please
note that the link provided at question 1 will be updated with this
information later in the academic year.

The University of Manchester Freedom of Information Act appeals procedure 

If you feel that The University of Manchester has refused access to
information to which you are entitled, or has not dealt with your request
appropriately under the FOIA, you have a right of appeal.

An appeal in the first instance should be directed to the Information
Governance Office at [2][email address]. You should include: 

·         details of your initial request

·         any other relevant information

The University will deal with your appeal within a reasonable time, and
will inform you of the projected time scale on receipt of your complaint.
You are also welcome to contact the Information Governance Office with
informal questions about the handling of your request. 

After The University’s internal appeals procedure has been exhausted, you
have a further right of appeal to the Information Commissioner’s
Office. Details of this procedure can be found at [3]www.ico.org.uk.

Kind regards

Sharon

Sharon Glen | Information Officer | Information Governance Office |
Directorate of Compliance and Risk |Professional Services | G6 Christie
Building | The University of Manchester | Oxford Road | Manchester | M13
9PL | Tel +44(0) 161 306 7549| [4]www.manchester.ac.uk

[5]data_matters_logo2-(3)

We are all responsible for protecting personal data held by the
University, including who we share that data with. Stop and think before
you send your email.  For further guidance see:
[6]www.dataprotection.manchester.ac.uk

Confidentiality and Legal Privilege: The contents of this email and its
attachment(s) are confidential to the intended recipient and may be
legally privileged. It may not be disclosed, copied, forwarded, used or
relied upon by any person other than the intended addressee. If you
believe that you have received the email and its attachment(s) in error,
you must not take any action based on them, nor must you copy or show them
to anyone. Please respond to the sender and delete this email and its
attachment(s) from your system.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/m...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.org.uk/
4. http://www.manchester.ac.uk/
6. http://www.dataprotection.manchester.ac....