This page contains a selection of feedback received from stakeholders about the application form over the course of this project, along with our responses.
Feedback collected January 2015 at user group meeting
- = Project response
The group gave the following suggestions for changes
- The links on the coversheet should be clickable.
- (not available in this phase)
- Improved instruction on language test “disputed”.
- The form is to be kept as ‘clean’ as possible with no explanation clutter. Accompanying information will be provided with release. In this case “disputed” means that the applicant thinks they should not need to provide a language test, and will provide further information on this. This does not mean that GAO will not set a language condition, but that they will assess the evidence provided.
- Clarity on dates for the funding competitions (ie applicant deadline / dept deadline?)
- Funding competition dates will not be included on the application form, as this is not the purpose of the form.
- Where is the field for an applicant being employed by the University of Cambridge?
- This question was asked on the old form to establish whether or not the applicant was eligible for the staff fee. This has now been moved to the header and is more explicit: eg Staff fee: eligible
- The course code and subplan should be included on the coversheet
- Applicants do not apply using subplan, so these cannot be included.
- Course code has been included
- Grades should be given in terms of a grade ‘out of’ a total (including language)
- This has been included though isn’t mandatory as not all grades can easily be represented in this way eg ‘A’ etc
- Would the grade to date be an optional field? What if the applicant cannot provide it?
- Yes, this field is optional
- The word count on questions is a good feature.
- This is staying
- The named supervisor field should be free text, to allow applicants to enter more than one supervisor.
- ok
- Add the Referees department to the summary information on the referee (currently only recording the institution.
- Yes, this is now included in the reference header.
- Add a field for contact email address “valid until”
- This is not possible, as the email address is entered when the applicant creates a log-in, however applicants will be clearly advised on the registration screen that they should use an email address that will be valid at least until the proposed start date of the course.
- Include a photo (non-mandatory)
- (not available in this phase)
- Home address – “I have lived at this address since” The group felt that this information may be useful to other parties, particularly in establishing eligibility for certain funding competitions. It was agreed to re-instate this field
- This field has been re-instated
- Length of course – colleges would find it useful to include the length of masters courses on the output