Ucas apologises after thousands of A Level students mistakenly told they had got into university

Mistake: Ucas had to apologise to more than 4,000 students for sending the email in error
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Chloe Chaplain3 August 2018

University admissions service Ucas has apologised to thousands of A Level students after they told they had been accepted by mistake.

More than 4,000 pupils who had applied to Newcastle or Northumbria universities were sent an email saying that they had been accepted on their chosen course

The message was sent to baffled students on July 26 – three weeks before the exam results are due to be published.

It was sent by the organisation to promote private student housing provider Fusion.

The students thought they had been offered a place at university
PA

The opening line read: “You have been accepted at university and you will be studying at Newcastle next year - congratulations!”

Tom Winetroube, 17, took the email to mean that he had failed to get the grades to make it into Leeds University to study journalism, his first choice.

“These emails really confused me because not only am I aware that results don’t come out until later in August but Newcastle was my second choice,” he told The Times.

“This caused me to feel a bit disappointed because being told that I’d been accepted to my second choice insinuated to me that I hadn’t got into my first choice.

“I think Ucas has caused even more unnecessary distress for students who are already on edge waiting for results that could make or break their plans for the next academic year and beyond.

“I am even more nervous for results day than I was previously as a result of this Ucas error.”

A Ucas spokesman said: “About 4,100 students awaiting their exam results received an email from Ucas which incorrectly said they had been accepted to study in Newcastle.

“Our mistake was quickly spotted and a follow-up email to apologise was sent that afternoon. All students can log into Track to see the latest information on their application.”

Students with concerns can contact Ucas on 03714 680468.

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