This is the most intense and exposed time of year for admissions teams. It’s also the time they’re least likely to have headspace for anything beyond sheer delivery. Decisions are still being made. Enrolment planning is tightening. Clearing prep is in full swing. Meanwhile, new-cycle UCAS application enquiries are starting to appear, and international activity hasn’t slowed. Teams are tired, stretched, and often working around systems and processes that were designed for a different time or never really designed at all.

This is exactly the point in the cycle when cracks become visible. When workarounds pile up, decision-making bottlenecks become unavoidable, and the limits of current capacity are plain to see. It’s also the point at which there’s the most risk: to reputation, student experience, compliance, security, and income.

And before you know it, the new UCAS cycle will open — and teams will find themselves seeing out the old cycle while seeing in the new one, without a breath in between. No time to address what didn’t work last year. No updates to policies and procedures. And no room to make changes mid-cycle once UCAS rules lock things down.

And that’s just UCAS.

There’s a parallel track of non-UCAS admissions activity, which is growing every year. Franchise partners, TNE pathways, articulation agreements, direct and agent-led applications – all vying for attention, all reliant on efficient systems and clear decision-making. And all quick to highlight inefficiencies, perceived or otherwise.

We’re hearing a lot about transformation across the sector – automation, AI, self-service, digital journeys – and in principle, those things can make a real difference. But you can’t layer good technology onto unclear processes and expect it to fix the fundamentals. If your process doesn’t work without automation, it probably won’t work with it.

At the same time, policy continues to shift. Reforms to personal statements and qualifications. New approaches to holistic assessment. More scrutiny of franchise partnerships, recruitment, and offer-making practices. Admissions is front and centre — but that doesn’t mean it’s properly resourced or supported.

For institutions that want to be more responsive, more joined-up, and more future-ready, this summer presents a real opportunity. A chance to take a step back and ask:

• Are our admissions processes clear, consistent, and aligned with what we’re trying to achieve?
• Are we ready for automation – not just technically, but operationally?
• Where are we still relying on individual workarounds, and where are decisions getting stuck?
• How much of our data is still held in spreadsheets?
• How can we better connect admissions, enrolment, recruitment, and student support across the whole student journey?

These aren’t abstract questions. They’re the kind of questions that help you avoid the last-minute scramble. That help you avoid the wrath of the regulators. That make it easier to onboard new staff. That prepare you for digital transformation. That create sustainable practices. That reduce risk when policy changes again (because it will). And that ultimately free up time and energy for the work that actually adds value.

Admissions teams know what needs to change. What they don’t often have is the capacity, perspective, or permission to stop and do it. That’s where external support can make a real difference. Not to take over, but to work alongside. To ask the right questions, test assumptions, and design solutions that reflect how things actually operate. 

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to tackle it alone either. Whether you need a fresh pair of eyes, short-term capacity, or a strategic partner to help you fix the fundamentals, we’re here to help. Let’s make time this summer to step back, take stock, and build admissions processes that are future-ready, efficient, and aligned with your institution’s goals. Get in touch to start the conversation — before the next cycle starts all over again.

📩 Let’s talk about what’s possible before the next cycle starts all over again: consulting@ahep.ac.uk

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