History of the Tariff
The UCAS Tariff was first introduced in 2001 to help those working in admissions to make comparisons between qualifications. However, both the range of qualifications held by applicants, and the variety of progression routes into HE increased. Therefore, in 2012, UCAS completed a review of what information universities and colleges, students, and schools and advisers needed about qualifications to facilitate admission to HE. The review identified the needs of admissions teams for more detailed, structured information about qualifications, hence the development of QIPs.
The UCAS Board also decided that a new Tariff should be developed to meet certain design principles. It decided the new Tariff should be a simple metric for data returns, easy to administer, fit for purpose, and allow to add more vocational and international qualifications. This simple mathematical model could still be used by universities and colleges instead of grades in their entry requirements.
After a feedback exercise with the HE sector and secondary education community, and in agreement with the UCAS Board, the new Tariff was launched for the 2017 admissions cycle and beyond.
In 2021, UCAS launched a consultation with providers which proposed changes in the way qualifications are included in the Tariff. If approved, all Level 3 (and equivalent) regulated UK qualifications would begin to receive Tariff points – this would include all Level 3 qualifications in the Ofqual Register, the Qualifications Wales database, and the SCQF database. Additional proposals were to remove international and unregulated qualifications and to remove the nomination process.
UCAS received support from the providers they engaged with to approve these changes, except for the removal of the Irish Leaving Certificate, which will remain in future versions of the Tariff Tables.
This new-style Tariff was launched in May 2022, though the methodology used to calculate the points themselves is unchanged from the previous Tariff system.