Number of Masters Applications to Cardiff University

The request was refused by Cardiff University.

Charlotte Rawlings

Dear Cardiff University,

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information:

I would be grateful if you could tell me the number of Masters degree applications (this isn't ones that have been accepted, just the number of applications in total) you have received for all of your Masters courses, for the following time frames:

For the 2020/2021 academic year from when applications opened.
For the 2019/2020 academic year from when applications opened.

It would be great if you could provide this information in an Excel spreadsheet broken down in monthly categories ie January 2020 received xxxx applications, if this is at all possible.

If you need any clarification then please do not hesitate to contact me. Under Section 16 it is your duty to provide advice and assistance and so I would expect you to contact me if you find this request unmanageable in any way.

If you can identify any ways that my request could be refined I would be grateful for any further advice and assistance.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Charlotte Rawlings

InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Dear Charlotte

I acknowledge receipt of your email/letter received by this office on 9th February 2021.

Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and has been allocated reference FOI21-063 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 10th March 2021.

Please note that in order to fulfil your request we need to liaise with other teams across the University. Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic most staff are now working remotely, and it is likely that there will be a delay in responding to your request. Staff may not be able to assist as they may need to prioritise other work, cover for colleagues who are ill or be away from work themselves due to illness. However, we will do our best to meet this deadline and keep you informed should we be unable to do so.

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.

Yours sincerely

University Secretary's Office
 
Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol
Cardiff University
 
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Friary House
 
Friary House
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
 
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
 
CF10 3AE
 
 
 
E-mail: [email address]
 
We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.
 
E-bost: [email address]
 
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy'r Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhyw oedi.

show quoted sections

InfoRequest, Cardiff University

Dear Charlotte,

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated 9
February 2021.

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

I would be very grateful if you can kindly provide the following data for
2020/21 admission cycles:

 

I would be grateful if you could tell me the number of Masters degree
applications (this isn't ones that have been accepted, just the number of
applications in total) you have received for all of your Masters courses,
for the following time frames:

 

For the 2020/2021 academic year from when applications opened.

For the 2019/2020 academic year from when applications opened.

 

The University is unable to release this information as it is withheld
under the exemption provided by S43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act
entitled “Commercial Interests”. In particular section 43(2) states that
information is exempt 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).

 

The recruitment of Masters’ 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. 

 

The release of information on applications and 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 'For Our Future:
the higher education strategy plan for Wales' and in the Welsh Government
Policy Statement on Higher Education which is available at:
[1]http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publicat....
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 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 protection of the University's
competitive edge and market positioning.

 

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.

 

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 market place.

 

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
education institutions.

 

On balance it is considered that it would not be in the public interest to
release the number of student places that the University plans to offer in
the years specified and therefore the information will not be released at
this time.

 

I trust this information satisfies your enquiry. The University has a
Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure should you feel dissatisfied
with this response or the way in which your request was handled.
Complaints must be made in writing and must set out why you believe the
University has not met its obligations under the Freedom of Information
Act. You may email your complaint to [2][email address] where it
will be forwarded to the Head of Compliance and Risk who will be
responsible for overseeing the review.

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint, 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.

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

 

 

University Secretary’s Office   Swyddfa Ysgrifenydd y Brifysgol
Cardiff University   Prifysgol Caerdydd
Friary House   Friary House
Greyfriars Road   Heol y Brodyr Llwydion

Cardiff Caerdydd
CF10 3AE   CF10 3AE
     
E-mail: [3][email address]   E-bost:
[4][email address]
 
 
We welcome correspondence in Welsh
or English. Corresponding in Welsh Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy’r
will not lead to any delay. Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg. Ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhyw
oedi.

 

 

References

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