Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

University of Aberdeen

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201104634 Sector Education Category Admissions Decided 01 July 2012

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Summary

Mr C's daughter was unsuccessful in her application to study medicine at the university, and started a degree course at another university. When she reapplied the following year she was again unsuccessful because the university does not allow transfers for students who have started other degree courses. Mr C complained that his daughter’s application was rejected on grounds other than merit, which he believed was in direct contradiction of the university’s admissions policy. He said that the rule concerning transfers into the school of medicine, which applied to his daughter’s application, was not adequately communicated and, as a result, both he and his daughter were misled into choosing a course of action which fell foul of that rule.

We did not uphold the complaint, as we found that the university had offered advice to applicants who were unsuccessful in their application and that Mr C's daughter had not fully taken up that offer. In addition we found that there was comprehensive advice available on the subject on the university's website.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201104634 as a PDF (16.61 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

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