The admissions process for entry to British universities could be overhauled following a review that the national body that coordinates applications for all higher-education institutions has begun.

Under the existing application system, which the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service notes “has not changed significantly since its introduction over 50 years ago,” British students apply to universities after taking A-level examinations in their final year of high school but before they receive those examination results. The review is expected to propose a shift to a post-results admissions system, as was recommended by a government-commissioned report in 2004, but higher-education institutions have been divided in their support for the measure.

A statement from the Russell Group, which represents 20 leading research-intensive universities, expressed concern that the “proposals might restrict the ability of institutions to make a fair and thorough assessment of applicants and also limit the opportunities for applicants to make informed decisions about which university to apply to,” adding that “it is far from clear that a new post-qualification system would be fairer or improve access to leading universities.”