LSE Enterprise has undertaken a study for the European Parliament into higher education entrance qualifications and exams in Europe. A study on admission to higher education acquires greater policy salience at a time when higher education is under several and diverse pressures. First, admission systems have to moderate the higher education systems’ capacity to absorb an ever increasing demand for higher education; second, admission systems have to adjust to the altered higher education landscape resulting from the expansion and diversification of the student population; and third, admission systems have to adapt to the increasing mobility of students.
Against this background, the study examines admission systems in ten countries to see how they can tackle these challenges, and it concludes with policy recommendations for EU institutions. The analysis is structured along three axes, assessing the equity of admission systems, their quality and their ability to encourage students’ mobility. Among its findings is the need for a much greater exchange of information on admission requirements across Europe, as well as the need for a shift in focus beyond entry requirements to look at a student’s entire academic career, and the likelihood that they would successfully graduate.
It presents three possible courses of action for European institutions to consider: 1) maintaining the baseline where students continue to find information in the country of destination or the country of origin; 2) creating a registry of admission agencies in order to exchange best practices; and 3) implementing a support system for national agencies regarding multiple applications across states.
For the full findings, discussions and policy recommendations, download the report|.