What we do
The team provides internal research for UCAS, and also undertakes externally-funded research for organisations such as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the Open University (OU), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the National Audit Office (NAO) using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Recently, the team has been involved in both internally and externally funded projects, for example:
QCA/UCAS survey (annual)
UCAS has been commissioned by the QCA, for the last eleven years, to collect opinions and insights from English schools and colleges on curriculum reforms.
NAO survey (2007)
UCAS was commissioned by the NAO to survey all applicants who had dropped out of the application process prior to starting their higher education course and to investigate the reasons for this.
QCA Diploma focus groups (2008 and 2009)
UCAS has completed two projects on behalf of the QCA to explore admissions tutors' views on the Diplomas, using focus groups.
The OU's Young Applicants in Schools and Colleges Scheme (YASS) (2009)
This research evaluated the benefit of YASS for Year 12 students progressing into higher education, by survey and focus group work.
Frank Buttle Trust (charity providing assistance to vulnerable children, young people and families) (2008)
UCAS reviewed the types of higher education choices that are made by applicants who registered that they had spent time in care, the types of offers made, and the success of the applications.