because some people already have the necessary grades by the time they apply

durr

They have been doing it for 50 years plus , nothing to see here..

but if you apply before you have taken your A-levels??

And that has been going on for decades also 

yes I know, but it just suddenly struck me that it seems entirely stupid and demonstrates that the emphasis is on revenue rather than education

Also what is the ACTUAL value of A-levels if the Universities that use them to assess your application tell you your offer is unconditional? And then people are still judged by their A-Levels many many years later, whilst the university (AN ACTUAL UNIVERSITY) officially said "it doesnt matter about your A-Levels"

???

yes I know, but it just suddenly struck me that it seems entirely stupid and demonstrates that the emphasis is on revenue rather than education

Also what is the ACTUAL value of A-levels if the Universities that use them to assess your application tell you your offer is unconditional? And then people are still judged by their A-Levels many many years later, whilst the university (AN ACTUAL UNIVERSITY) officially said "it doesnt matter about your A-Levels"

???

I was only ever aware of it being a thing at oxbridge and I kind of get the (massively up itself) rationale but I did read recently that every former adult education centre and sixth form college now masquerading as a university is offering them in an attempt to get bums on seats and fees in pockets. 

Garghh why does it always double post 

I applied after my Highers and before my A-levels

heh@A-levels

Garghh why does it always double post 

*because you're an idiot

The point was that you hadn't got the grades needed at the time because you hadn't taken your A-levels by then.  In most cases you'd satisfied their academic criteria by taking their own entrance exam.

The point of course being that if you had an oxbridge degree then your a levels probably didn’t matter, but if you’ve a Desmond from Bolton University then they do

Im pretty sure most of my russell group offers were unconditional

My point is that if you can get an unconditional offer Pre A-Level what is the point of the A-Level

Also from what I remember the Oxbridge offers still required two E's so weren't completely unconditional.  Seems mad that obscure universities are making unconditional offers to people just to guarantee enough students to offer the course.

IIRC the rationale for the EE offer was that Her Majesty's Govt was somewhat disinclined to pay to the university the cost of your degree if you'd fooked it up that badly so that was the minimum they'd accept.  Course this is the early 90s pre-expansion so post then I suppose there was probably a bums on seats element 

because the system is a bit corrupt

end of threaf

You need to distinguish two things - the older unconditional offers where Oxbridge knew you were very bight and couldn't care less about A level grades and today's unconditinoals mostly from the universities you ought best to avoid which are a kindo f poisoned chalice and tend to be only if you firm their offer - usually uyour 5th and worst choice and abandon the 4 much better universities you probably could get into, does it become an unconditional offer. The new changes are all about nmbers of students increasing - the cap the universities used to haev is removed now for those with ABB  or AAB and higher I think it is as long as there is physical space so there are more spaces in better universities than there were and it's all become a bit of competition to seduce sixth formers.

Well that's my eyesight well and truly fooked.

Come on buzz, like you aren't on board with seducing sixth formers...

Me? In a sixth form girl's dormitory? At three o'clock in the morning? With my reputation?

I think you're confusing me with the 13th Duke of Wyebourne.  Or maybe Clubbers.