Analysis of UK’s UCAS System: DA Algorithm & Barriers

This report examines the university admission system in the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) as the central subject of analysis. As a centralized application platform, UCAS enables students to apply to up to five universities based on A-level results, supplemented by personal statements and other supporting documents. The report analyzes UCAS’s operational mechanisms and recent reform directions, particularly the introduction of the Deferred Acceptance (DA) algorithm, which facilitates stable matching through preference rankings and enhances fairness and efficiency in the admissions process. Furthermore, by referencing college admission algorithms used in China—such as the Professional Parallel Voluntary Enrollment implemented in Zhejiang Province—the report investigates potential challenges associated with applying the DA algorithm within the UK context. These include the lack of standardized evaluation criteria, the importance of institutional autonomy, and the difficulty in quantifying holistic assessments. Ultimately, this study highlights the complexities of balancing standardization with individualized assessment in the UK’s admissions framework, offering insights for the optimization of cross-border university admission mechanisms.