Shortlisting & Interview Criteria: Chemistry
Dear University of Oxford,
Please could you provide me with a copy of spreadsheets, forms, assessment tools and/or
criteria that are used to score UCAS applications and consequently select which applicants are shortlisted for interview for the MChem. I ask in reference to a previous similar request on 2 June 2021 where you provided equivalent information https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...
I would also like to know the UCAS application score required for shortlisting during the 2023/24 admission cycle for admission in October 2024.
Yours faithfully,
Michael T Farnworth
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your freedom of information request to the University of
Oxford.
Subject to any clarification required, the University will reply to your
request within the statutory deadline of 20 working days, starting from
the day after receipt of your request.
Yours sincerely
FOI Oxford
Information Compliance Team
Assurance Directorate | University of Oxford
University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD
[1]4554C140
| [2]https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/
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Dear Michael T Farnworth
Our reference: 202402/194.
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request to the University of Oxford. Please find our response attached.
With best wishes
FOI Oxford
Dear FOI,
Unfortunately you have not actually answered the question I posed.
I provided a link to the previous freedom of information request from a few years ago which included information provided at that time which clearly detailed the exact process by which you calculated the UCAS application score.
I am confident that an equivalent document, if not the same document, must still exist and is still in use.
I wish to see that document.
Yours sincerely,
Michael T Farnworth
Dear University of Oxford,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of University of Oxford's handling of my FOI request 'Shortlisting & Interview Criteria: Chemistry'.
I believe the information I have received is incomplete and that there exists a document which details the simple mechanical process by which UCAS Applications are scored, here is a copy of the document which was previously released as part of a FOI request in 2021, I would like to see the latest version of it ...
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s...
Yours faithfully,
Michael T Farnworth
Dear Michael
I write to acknowledge your request for a review of the University’s response to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
The University’s aim is to respond to internal review requests within 20 working days, starting from the day after receipt of your request.
Yours sincerely,
Information Compliance Team
Assurance Directorate | University of Oxford
University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD
Dear Information Compliance Team,
I am rather disappointed that it is now around 30 working days since the internal review was requested and I have yet to receive any response, albeit that your aim is to respond to internal review requests within 20 working days.
Are you having a particular difficulty locating this document?
As we know the document exists, it has been provided under a previous FOI request, and a member of the chemistry department used the prescribed process last year it should surely be immediately to hand?
Thanks,
Michael T Farnworth
Dear FOI,
By my calculations you have now taken over 40 working days to respond to my request for an internal review. Can you please confirm how long this internal review is likely to take and why you are withholding the requested information?
Yours sincerely,
Michael T Farnworth
Dear Michael
Our reference: 202402/194.
We apologise for taking longer than expected to respond to your request for an internal review. Please find our response attached.
With best wishes
FOI Oxford
Dear FOI,
Apparently the Department of Chemistry is able to score all UCAS applications at an administrative level prior to distribution to tutors at individual colleges, but no documents exist that detail the criteria for scoring. There are no forms, there are no spreadsheets, there is no detailed criteria and there are no tools.
The website I have been pointed to provides no detailed information on how UCAS applications are scored. There must be internal documentation on how UCAS applications are analysed to generate a score and as we know this is initially done at administrative level for hundreds of applications it must be well defined and reasonably mechanical.
The claim that nothing exists is truly staggering and needs to be looked into.
Yours sincerely,
Michael T Farnworth
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